Android, SD card, and because there aren't alternative attractive Android tablets in the price range (Samsung's Tab S3 is $400 in good day, and $450-500 normally).
For me there exist several reasons not to buy the iPad.
1. No stereo sound in landscape mode. 2. 4:3 aspect ratio screen means that a large portion of screen is wasted for watching movie/TV content. 3. I have a large library of video files that I'd love to upload to the tablet, but Apple has done its best to make this either impossible or as painful as possible 4. No sd card..
IMO, a move in the wrong direction. With many phone displays now approaching 7 inches, the only reason for me to still buy a tablet is a much larger screen to make reading, watching and some light game playing more enjoyable. The large iPad Pro has the size and aspect ratio correct, but it's very, very expensive, so no thanks. Now, an affordable Android tablet with a 2:3 aspect ratio 12 inch bright, crisp full HD IPS-LCD screen, a large battery, and a processor that has a bit more oomph on the CPU and GPU side than the MediaPad lite here would be an attractive device I might consider. Ideal to take with me when commuting or traveling. This one here is barely equal to my >3 year old 10" Android tablet, and that's likely true for many who already own something similar.
I've had a 5.2" phone with a 10" tablet. The tablet was rarely used (ICS days). I've had a 7" tablet and a 6" or a 5.7" phone. The 7" tablet was used only as a media player during commute. At home, it just lay in the corner and I either used my phone or my PC. I've come to the conclusion that the single task nature of tablets and phones just really isn't suited to my needs, so a tablet is even more superfluous than a smartphone that at least has some communication abilities my PC doesn't. If I were to get another tablet, it would be the 8" to 9" range, just because it is small enough to be easily portable while offering more screen real estate compared to my phone without competing with my 13" laptop.
Same-ish boat here... I did use my Nexus 7 (still kicking!) a bit more when my phones were 5" (pre Nexus 5 and throughout the 5 years I had it)... Stopped using it as much for anything but travel after I got my Pixel, I almost regret not getting a Nexus 9 when they were cheap... The initial build was abysmal but I got one for my mother later on and it's held up ok, ideal size and AR for me but there's not much else like it now.
What is this weird trend where only the cheaper and slower version of the same product gets the 3.5mm plug? Makes it so much harder to choose what to buy, even if money was no option.
If you want me to buy a new tablet, include wireless charging and a nice dock. I'm literally still using my HP TouchPad (with Android installed on it) because everything else is a total jank-fest in terms of charging.
Wouldn't wireless charging be pretty slow with 7,500mAh+ batteries? Everyone seems to have diverged from the Qi standard when it comes to charging beyond 5W too which is kinda puzzling, as that would've made it more workable for tablets... I'm still wireless charging an old Nexus 7, tho it's not what's kept me using it tbh. Just not a lot of decent cheap Android tablets, almost bought the Shield a few times but no USB-C and a worse display kept me at bay.
Anybody who is interested in this should also check out Xiaomi's Mi Pad 4 line. This particular M5 lite sells for the same price and has a bigger battery than the Mi Pad 4 Plus; but you do get SDM660, LTE, and double the NAND on the Xiaomi.
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20 Comments
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LarsBolender - Monday, January 7, 2019 - link
Why would I buy this, when I get can a 2018 Ipad with an A10 and way better software support for almost the same price?GC2:CS - Monday, January 7, 2019 - link
You should buy it because it comes in Space Gray. /sdeV14nt - Monday, January 7, 2019 - link
I had an me to run music and Uber Driver / Waze side by side horizontally in my car.deV14nt - Monday, January 7, 2019 - link
*m3 sorry I should have checked the autocorrect.sheh - Monday, January 7, 2019 - link
Android, SD card, and because there aren't alternative attractive Android tablets in the price range (Samsung's Tab S3 is $400 in good day, and $450-500 normally).UtilityMax - Monday, January 21, 2019 - link
For me there exist several reasons not to buy the iPad.1. No stereo sound in landscape mode.
2. 4:3 aspect ratio screen means that a large portion of screen is wasted for watching movie/TV content.
3. I have a large library of video files that I'd love to upload to the tablet, but Apple has done its best to make this either impossible or as painful as possible
4. No sd card..
eastcoast_pete - Monday, January 7, 2019 - link
IMO, a move in the wrong direction. With many phone displays now approaching 7 inches, the only reason for me to still buy a tablet is a much larger screen to make reading, watching and some light game playing more enjoyable. The large iPad Pro has the size and aspect ratio correct, but it's very, very expensive, so no thanks. Now, an affordable Android tablet with a 2:3 aspect ratio 12 inch bright, crisp full HD IPS-LCD screen, a large battery, and a processor that has a bit more oomph on the CPU and GPU side than the MediaPad lite here would be an attractive device I might consider. Ideal to take with me when commuting or traveling. This one here is barely equal to my >3 year old 10" Android tablet, and that's likely true for many who already own something similar.ET - Monday, January 7, 2019 - link
"With many phone displays now approaching 7 inches, the only reason for me to still buy a tablet is a much larger screen"Do you buy these 7 inch phones? Are you comfortable using one?
deV14nt - Monday, January 7, 2019 - link
I've had the going "Max" size for several years now but when I had an 8.4" tablet I picked it up more than my phone, 11" 2 in 1, or my desktop.Death666Angel - Monday, January 7, 2019 - link
I've had a 5.2" phone with a 10" tablet. The tablet was rarely used (ICS days). I've had a 7" tablet and a 6" or a 5.7" phone. The 7" tablet was used only as a media player during commute. At home, it just lay in the corner and I either used my phone or my PC. I've come to the conclusion that the single task nature of tablets and phones just really isn't suited to my needs, so a tablet is even more superfluous than a smartphone that at least has some communication abilities my PC doesn't. If I were to get another tablet, it would be the 8" to 9" range, just because it is small enough to be easily portable while offering more screen real estate compared to my phone without competing with my 13" laptop.Impulses - Monday, January 14, 2019 - link
Same-ish boat here... I did use my Nexus 7 (still kicking!) a bit more when my phones were 5" (pre Nexus 5 and throughout the 5 years I had it)... Stopped using it as much for anything but travel after I got my Pixel, I almost regret not getting a Nexus 9 when they were cheap... The initial build was abysmal but I got one for my mother later on and it's held up ok, ideal size and AR for me but there's not much else like it now.syxbit - Monday, January 7, 2019 - link
Launching in Q119 with Android 8.0. They should get called out for this. This is terrible.UtilityMax - Friday, January 18, 2019 - link
Was launched in August in Europe.ajp_anton - Monday, January 7, 2019 - link
What is this weird trend where only the cheaper and slower version of the same product gets the 3.5mm plug? Makes it so much harder to choose what to buy, even if money was no option.UtilityMax - Friday, January 18, 2019 - link
It's fsckup up that the more expensive M5 does not have it. The onlt reason I didn't buy one.piroroadkill - Monday, January 7, 2019 - link
If you want me to buy a new tablet, include wireless charging and a nice dock.I'm literally still using my HP TouchPad (with Android installed on it) because everything else is a total jank-fest in terms of charging.
Impulses - Monday, January 14, 2019 - link
Wouldn't wireless charging be pretty slow with 7,500mAh+ batteries? Everyone seems to have diverged from the Qi standard when it comes to charging beyond 5W too which is kinda puzzling, as that would've made it more workable for tablets... I'm still wireless charging an old Nexus 7, tho it's not what's kept me using it tbh. Just not a lot of decent cheap Android tablets, almost bought the Shield a few times but no USB-C and a worse display kept me at bay.Gemuk - Monday, January 7, 2019 - link
Anybody who is interested in this should also check out Xiaomi's Mi Pad 4 line. This particular M5 lite sells for the same price and has a bigger battery than the Mi Pad 4 Plus; but you do get SDM660, LTE, and double the NAND on the Xiaomi.UtilityMax - Friday, January 18, 2019 - link
They don't sell in America.1_rick - Tuesday, January 8, 2019 - link
"cost-down"? Please don't butcher the language like that.