Recommendations wanted: 10" tablet, mostly for reading

[Dal]

Take a look at Teclast X98 Plus. It has the best battery life so it suits you for reading/watching on the go.

If you want full sized USB port, go with Chuwi Hi10, but read reviews first as it has issues on the first batch (touch issues and 32bit windows). New batches of Chuwi Hi10 is released this week, it should fix the issues but probably there’s no reviews to confirm this yet.

[apblamo]

Thanks Dal,

I’ve been keeping an eye on the Hi10 threads to see how things develop. A full sized port really would be nice. The various Teclast tablets are also on my list – I will keep gathering information for another couple of weeks because I doubt I’d get anything before chrismas now anyway.

[Farfle]

I would NOT get a 16:9 tablet.  I recently bought a Dell Venue 11 Pro (Core-i version, so it had a fan) and while the thickness of it didn’t really bother me, it being so large and also having 16:9 really sucked while in portraid mode.  I also did not like the low PPI, compared to my Lenovo Thinkpad 8 at 1920×1200 that I’ve been using up till now.  I think 16:10 is a minimum for portrait mode, and the maximum size for a tablet FOR TABLET USE is 10″.  My ideal aspect ratio compromise is 3:2 (Surface/Lenovo Miix 700/HP Spectre x2) but no one makes one that’s both a.) small enough, and b.) cheap enough.

The Hi10, if it ever comes out, looks pretty sweet at 10.1″ and 16:10.  I could probably live with the PPI, it wouldn’t be all that bad, although it still would obviously not be 260ish retina quality.

That leads me to the 9.7″ tablets, like the Teclast x98 and Onda 3G Air and Core M versions.  My IDEAL tablet is a Core M version with the iPad Mini 7.9″, but since that’s not going to happen anytime soon, the Onda 3G Core M seems nearly as sweet.  Unfortunately, as reviewed by Chris, it’s loaded with problems.  Despite this, though, I’ve almost been tempted to order it and take my chances.  I’ve read from several users saying theirs is ok, maybe Onda fixed some issues in production and it’s worth a 2nd look?

If Onda, or perhaps a quality company (Xiomi?), came out with a tablet using this 9.7″ 2048×1536 iPad Air chassis having a new Skylake Core-M, 8GB of RAM, at least 128GB SSD, and at least 1 USB-C, they could easily charge $500 and it would still be a great deal. The best part being the uniqueness of the display-the likes of which not even remotely being offered by a name brand.

[Farfle]

Regarding the Onda v919 3G Core M model.  It currently sells for around $360 from Bangood and Gearbest. Expensive for a Chinese tablet, no doubt. However, I’ve been trying like heck to get those two companies to price match a $320 offer on Aliexpress, but neither of those companies have responded to me. Well, the point of this post is, if this tablet-despite all its issues- could be gotten for around $300, I think it’d be something I’d take a gamble on.

[apblamo]

Farfle wrote:

I would NOT get a 16:9 tablet. I recently bought a Dell Venue 11 Pro (Core-i version, so it had a fan) and while the thickness of it didn’t really bother me, it being so large and also having 16:9 really sucked while in portraid mode. I also did not like the low PPI, compared to my Lenovo Thinkpad 8 at 1920×1200 that I’ve been using up till now. I think 16:10 is a minimum for portrait mode, and the maximum size for a tablet FOR TABLET USE is 10″. My ideal aspect ratio compromise is 3:2 (Surface/Lenovo Miix 700/HP Spectre x2) but no one makes one that’s both a.) small enough, and b.) cheap enough.

I think you’re right, 16:9 just doesn’t suit reading in portrait mode. I would love a 3:2 aspect ratio, but I’m not holding my breath to get a cheap 3:2 tablet any time soon. At the moment I am considering the Hi10 and the X98 Plus as recommended by Dal.

[Hualalai]

OP, is mobile data important?  If so, the Teclast X98 Air 3G (€165) fits your specs and budget.  4:3 2K IPS panel.   I personally would not roll the dice on an Onda if the extra MIPS in the Core M wasn’t that important.  If GPS is important, look for a used X98 Air 3G with the Atom 3736.  If 3G/4G and/or GPS is not important, then it’s Onda if you need the Core M and Teclast if an Atom is OK.

[apblamo]

Hualalai wrote:

OP, is mobile data important? If so, the Teclast X98 Air 3G (€165) fits your specs and budget. 4:3 2K IPS panel. I personally would not roll the dice on an Onda if the extra MIPS in the Core M wasn’t that important. If GPS is important, look for a used X98 Air 3G with the Atom 3736. If 3G/4G and/or GPS is not important, then it’s Onda if you need the Core M and Teclast if an Atom is OK.

Mobile data isn’t important to me as long as I have bluetooth, and GPS is something I prefer not to have. I would rather not roll the dice on an Onda after the last review I read. I’ve toyed with the idea of a Core M, but it is the classic trap of wanting the highest specs and forgetting the actual use case. I think for my immediate needs, an Atom would suffice. I’m finding it hard to keep track of the various Teclast models, but of the Teclast models I am looking at the X98 Plus and the Air III at the moment, as well as still considering a Chuwi Hi10 because of the full-sized ports.

[Francisco Guerra]

apblamo wrote:

Mobile data isn’t important to me as long as I have bluetooth, and GPS is something I prefer not to have. I would rather not roll the dice on an Onda after the last review I read. I’ve toyed with the idea of a Core M, but it is the classic trap of wanting the highest specs and forgetting the actual use case. I think for my immediate needs, an Atom would suffice. I’m finding it hard to keep track of the various Teclast models, but of the Teclast models I am looking at the X98 Plus and the Air III at the moment, as well as still considering a Chuwi Hi10 because of the full-sized ports.

I’m exacly on this situation, but my budget is more around 150€ (for tablet+keyboard case) xd.. also for movies and few hearthstone games probably.. and few office work, im looking for X98 Air III 32gb, wich is around 120€ at this moment i belive

[Author]

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