I have a Galaxy S2 Tab that’s about 5 years old, and it’s showing its age. Plus it’s too old for the latest Android OS, so some apps I use will no longer run.
For the most part, I use it to read library books, play mindless arcade-type games from Google PLay, and occasionally surf or check email. It’s little more than a toy for the most part - I originally bought it as a reader. I guess what I’m saying is I don’t need a super-powerful tablet, I don’t store anything on it beyond maybe some recipes, and I rarely use the camera. I’d like to stick with the Galaxy line, but I’m open to other ideas using Android. And mostly, I don’t want to spend a lot - can I get by under $200 or so?
I’ve tried reading on-line reviews but frankly, they talk about things that I just don’t understand. I want a fairly basic, cheap, reliable, non-Fire tablet. And I don’t want anything bigger than 10". Do I ask too much?
I bought an 8" Samsung Galaxy Tab A7 Lite in August. Under $200 at Best Buy, IIRC. So far so good. Mine is also primarily used for reading (I have several e-reader apps), games, and light web surfing when I have WiFi access (this one doesn’t have cellular). Running Android 12 quite happily. 64GB storage (expandable via SD), 4GB RAM. I don’t know if you’d find an 8" screen too small, but anything larger can be a pain to hold for me.
Having the latest Android isn’t all it is cracked up to be. My previous phone ran Android 9 with 3 GB of RAM, no problem. On my new phone with Android 11 and 3 GB of RAM, it keeps running low on memory and closing apps in the background. Also changes to how permissions work breaks lots of older apps, which isn’t a problem if they are still being updated but if the app has been abandoned by the developers (but not by you) you are out of luck.
I don’t run apps in the background - like I said, this would be a reader with some games and a few apps (Alexa, a food diary, Domino’s) that I use occasionally. The games are pretty basic. Like I said, this is more of a toy than a computing device. As for Android - it’s something I know and am comfortable with…
I have a 10" Tab A7 and am happy with it. I don’t travel with it or anything so prefer the 10" for couch/bed browsing. Can see where someone else might want something a little smaller. This was $225 from Costco a year ago so I’m sure it’s under the $200 mark by now.
Ever have one app open, then switch to another one for a moment? Like, if you are playing a game and decide to pause it and order a pizza? At that moment, you are running the game app in the background. And if the device decides that it doesn’t have enough memory for the foreground app, it will close your game without notice, without asking for permission, and without saving the status.
I guess it depends on the apps and maybe the hardware. My tablet is running the latest Android and, with 3GB memory, still has 1GB remaining with my browser actively open and Discord, Gmail, the clock/timer and a Sleep Buds app open in the background and whatever background weather widgets and system stuff is running. I’ve never had any problem with stuff randomly closing even when playing games. The phone might keep more stuff open in the background for phone functions as well (texting, call monitoring, whatever)
My eyes would like a larger screen (the joys of being over 50), but my hands find anything larger hard to handle (might also be tricky shoving a larger one in my purse). You must have larger hands than I do.
nettie - I looked up your tablet - I like the size and it sounds like it’s just what I need. Amazon has it for $99!! That’s even better! Spousal unit tried to nudge me towards a higher-end, more memory. more $$$, “OMG, why do I want all of this” tablet. I can’t see spending $400-$500 for what is pretty much a toy for me. I don’t stream, I rarely watch videos, I will, on very rare occasions, use Messenger to live-chat with my daughter, but if I’m not reading, I’m doing Sudoku or some silly match game, or maybe checking email.
You may have named the winner, but I’ll hold off a bit longer and see what else might be recommended.
the other evening my wife admitted to me that she wanted to buy me a tablet for Christmas but was having a hard time deciding and would I tell her what to get. So I went down that rabbit hole for the last few days and finally decided on a Samsung galaxy S6 Lite. It has nowhere the functionality of what I would like, but I have a very good desktop computer for that. It will be a good compromise between expensive and useful.
I’m like you anyway. I just wanted something for sitting in my recliner playing simple solitaire type games, browsing the interwebs, and maybe checking my e-mails. Oh, and reading books. My Kindles don’t work so good anymore.
good luck.
Since this post last year I replaced the 3 GB Android 11 phone with an 8 GB Android 12 phone, and it still closes apps in the background even though it absolutely isn’t running low on RAM.
