Ameya DalviSep 23, 2022 6:35:06 PM IST
Not too long ago, with smartphone screen sizes increasing quarter over quarter, it seemed like tablets were almost extinct. The Apple iPad line was probably the only exception. But, of all things, the pandemic has changed its fortunes and caused a resurgence in the category. Due to the culture of work and study from home, many have started considering tablets as an alternative to laptops.
Whether attending online conferences or group video calls (both personal and business), a tablet seemed much more convenient. And of course, it also doubled as an extra screen at home for entertainment – bigger than a smartphone, but personal when it counted. Now that we’ve established that tablets are here to stay a little longer, at least, we’re looking to answer the most common question we get asked. Which tablet should you buy under Rs 20,000? Here are your 5 best options at the moment.
Realme Pad X (Wi-Fi only)
The Realme Pad X is easily the most powerful tablet in this bundle. It’s powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 695 SoC that you’ll find in many budget 5G phones in this price bracket. Incidentally, the Realme Pad X is also 5G compatible but the Wi-Fi + 5G variant is not available in this budget, and you will have to settle for Wi-Fi only. Even without the 5G element, this chip offers enough processing power for most things you would need this tablet for. The Adreno 619 GPU is also capable of handling games at medium settings.
You get 4GB of RAM and 64GB of internal storage, and it’s possible to add an additional 1TB via a microSD card. This tablet features a large 11-inch WUXGA+ display with 2000 x 1200 pixel resolution with low blue light emissions. Thanks to the 240Hz touch sampling rate, you can also use the Realme Pencil (stylus) with it, which must be purchased separately, but you have an option. The four Dolby Atmos enabled speakers add to the entertainment quotient.
The Realme Pad X has some cool tricks up its sleeve. For example, the Limelight feature tracks the position and movement of one or more people in the frame in real time through its 105° wide-angle front camera. It also simulates zooming and rotating to keep you in focus during video calls. A large 8340mAh battery lasts for a few days of moderate use and more importantly supports 33W Dart charging which is a must in tablets considering their large batteries. It runs on Android 12 with Realme UI 3.0 for Pad.
Realme Pad X (Wi-Fi only) price in India: Rs 17,999 for 64GB storage
Realme Tablet (Wi-Fi + 4G)
If you want a tablet with an equally impressive (but slightly smaller) 10.4-inch WUXGA+ display and design, and if data connectivity is important to you, then the Realme Pad (minus the X) would be a great option. good option at its current sale. the price. It is powered by a Mediatek Helio G80 SoC with Mali-G52 MC2 GPU and you get 4GB of RAM and 64GB of internal storage. You can expand it up to 1TB using a microSD card. The G80 processor is powerful enough for daily tasks such as browsing, watching videos, video calling or listening to music and some casual games.
Image Credit: Tech2 | Ameya Dalvi
It runs on Android 11 with a close to stock UI. Watching OTT content on this tablet is an enjoyable experience. The quad speakers present here do a terrific job most of the time, and Dolby Atmos compliance gives it a wider soundstage than you’d expect from built-in speakers on a tablet. Browsing the internet or reading e-books is also a smooth experience, thanks to the multiple viewing modes here. A 7100 mAh battery allows it to work for a few days with a moderate load. Overall, the Realme Pad is a complete tablet for content consumption.
Realme Pad (Wi-Fi + 4G) price in India: Rs 15,999 for 64GB storage
Oppo Pad Air (Wi-Fi only)
The Oppo Pad Air is another great option, but you only get its Wi-Fi variant in this budget. It is powered by a Snapdragon 680 SoC with 4GB of RAM and 64GB or 128GB of internal storage. There is a microSD card slot to expand it further. Considering the Rs 5,000 price difference between the two models at the moment, we think the 64GB variant offers much better value for money. This tablet also has a 7100 mAh battery and four Dolby Atmos compatible speakers.
You get a crisp 10.36-inch IPS display with a resolution of 2000 x 1200 pixels and supports a touch sampling rate of 240Hz. Hence, just like the Realme Pad X, you can use a stylus with the ‘Oppo Pad Air, although it is not part of the package. It runs Android 12 out of the box. Did I mention that the Oppo Pad Air is less than 7mm thick?
Oppo Pad Air (Wi-Fi only) price in India: Rs 14,999 for 64GB storage; Rs 19,999 for 128 GB of storage
Motorola Tab G62 LTE (wifi + 4G)
Motorola’s Tab G62 LTE, as the name suggests, offers Wi-Fi connectivity as well as LTE data connectivity. It has a 10.6-inch screen with a resolution similar to the tablets above. The metal construction gives it a sturdy feel. Just like the Oppo, this tablet is also powered by a Snapdragon 680 SoC and offers 4GB of RAM and 64GB of internal storage. No 128GB option, but you also get a memory card slot here.
The Motorola Tab G62 LTE runs Android 12 with a custom UI and some privacy-centric features. It has a larger capacity 7700 mAh battery and incorporates a 20 W charger to recharge it relatively faster. The high resolution display is also supported by the four Dolby Atmos enabled speakers for your entertainment needs. If you don’t need data connectivity, you get the WiFi-only variant of this tablet for Rs 2,000 less.
Motorola Tab G62 LTE (Wi-Fi + 4G) price in India: Rs 16,999 for 64 GB of storage
Samsung Galaxy Tab A8
Amazon is offering a deep discount on the Samsung Galaxy Tab A8, bringing the sale price of its Wi-Fi-only 64GB variant down to 14K. However, its Wi-Fi + LTE variant still sells for almost 20K. This difference is a bit too much in our opinion. But the WiFi-only variant for 14K is a bargain for a Samsung-branded tablet. It has a 10.5-inch screen with a resolution of 1920 x 1200 pixels, and yes, quad speakers with Dolby Atmos are also present here.
It is powered by an octa-core UniSOC T618 processor and accompanied by 4GB of RAM and 64GB of internal storage that can be expanded up to 1TB with a microSD card. It runs Android 11 and has some software tricks up its sleeve. Keeping it powered up is a 7040mAh battery that supports 15W fast charging, which isn’t exactly fast these days. A good complete package for its current price.
Samsung Galaxy Tab A8 price in India: Rs 13,999 for 64GB storage (Wi-Fi only); Rs 19,990 for 64 GB (Wi-Fi + LTE)
In case you were wondering, all of the tablets on this list have an 8MP camera on the back and a 5MP or 8MP camera on the front. They get the job done, especially video calling, but aren’t exactly enthusiast-grade, as is the case with almost all tablets under 20K.