• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Electronics
  • Luggage
  • Yard and Garden
  • Office
  • Interior
  • Instructions

PrizedReviews.com

Best Buyer's Guide and Reviews

Top 12 Best 7-inch Tablet Models in 2022

By William Hill · Last updated December 22, 2021 2 Comments

Best 7-inch Tablet in 2022 - ReviewsEver since smartphones entered the market as a viable daily driver for basic computing needs, the question of how large a touchscreen could be while staying portable enough to take along has been reflexively answered with tablets.

Tablets are designed for those who need a book-sized window into the cyber world but with the same computing functionality that one would find in a smartphone. The one catch that tablets typically suffer from, however, is the lack of an innate cellular connection, and it’s less that they don’t support it — most, in fact, do — as much as the fact that exorbitant premiums are usually charged on their service.

In this way, tablets as a whole are clearly intended to be used as Wi-Fi devices. The thinking seems to be that because they’re so much closer to desktop computing devices, they’re more likely to be used to fill highly data-consuming demands.

Regardless, tablets have always represented a misunderstood market that seems to fill an awkward niche between laptops and smartphones: e-book reading, the Android desktop experience and full-view gaming have been three of the reasons that people opt for them. While it’s possible to opt for a pico projector for the big-screen experience on a smartphone, this also lacks the expertly handled portability that tablets bring.

It’s worth noting that while tablets generally have comparable hardware compared to their smartphone brethren, their reliance on Wi-Fi, inability to fit in most pockets and inferior camera suite mean they can’t fill all the roles that smartphones can so well. With that said, let’s dive into the specifications behind each 7-inch tablet — the most portable kind — and determine which ones fill what roles best.

Table of Contents

  • Best 7-inch Tablet Comparison Table
  • Best 7-inch Tablet in Category
    • ASUS Nexus 7 2B32 — Best Android 7-Inch Tablet
    • ASUS Nexus 7 2B32 — Best 7-Inch Tablet for Gaming
    • Apple iPad Mini 4 — Best 7-Inch Tablet with 4G
    • Samsung Galaxy Tab A 7” — Best Samsung 7-Inch Tablet
    • LG G Pad V400 — Best Cheap 7-Inch Tablet
  • LG G Pad V400
  • ASUS Nexus 7
  • Samsung Galaxy Tab A 7″
  • Samsung Galaxy Tab E Lite Kids 7″
  • Apple iPad Mini 4
  • ASUS Zenpad 7″
  • Amazon Fire 7
  • Amazon Fire 7 Kids Edition
  • LeapFrog Epic
  • Lenovo TAB3 Essential
  • Acer ICONIA B1-790-K21X
  • Huawei MediaPad T1 7.0
  • Best 7-inch Tablet Buyer’s Guide
  • Best 7-inch Tablet FAQ
    • “What Specifications Should I Look for in a Tablet?”
    • “I’m Used to Physical Buttons! How Does a Tablet Work?”
    • “How Do I Set Up My Tablet?”
    • “How Do I Charge My Tablet?”
    • “What are Apps and How Do I Install Them?”
  • Conclusion

Best 7-inch Tablet Comparison Table

ProductLG G Pad V400
Editor's Choice
ASUS Nexus 7Samsung Galaxy Tab A 7″Samsung Galaxy Tab E Lite Kids 7″Apple iPad Mini 4ASUS Zenpad 7″LeapFrog EpicLenovo TAB3 EssentialAcer ICONIA B1-790-K21XHuawei MediaPad T1 7.0
PhotoLG G Pad V400 ReviewAsus Nexus 7 ReviewSamsung Galaxy Tab A 7 ReviewSamsung Galaxy Tab E Lite Kids 7 ReviewApple iPad Mini 4 ReviewASUS Zenpad 7 ReviewLeapFrog Epic ReviewLenovo TAB3 Essential ReviewAcer ICONIA B1-790-K21X ReviewHuawei MediaPad T1 7.0 Review
Check Price Check Price Check Price Check Price Check Price Check Price Check Price Check Price Check Price Check Price Check Price
Resolution1280 x 8001920x1200 (323 ppi)1280 x 8001024 X 6002048 x 15361024 x 6001024x6001024 x 6001280x7201024 x 600
CPUQuad Core: 1.2GHz Quad Core: 1.5GHzQuad Core: 1300 GHzQuad Core: 1.3GHz Dual Core 1.5 GHz Typhoon with Quad-Core GraphicsQuad-Core: 1.2GHz Quad Core: 1.3GHz Quad Core: 1.3GHzQuad Core: 1.30 GHzQuad Core 1.2 GHz
RAM1 GB2 GB1.5 GB1 GB2 GB1 GB1 GB1 GB1 GB1 GB
Storage8 GB32 GB8 GB8 GB16 GB; 64 GB; 128 GB16G16 GB8 GB16 GB8
Battery Life (Max)N/A9 hours10 hours8 hours10 hours8 hours6 hours8 hours7 hours9 hours
Operating SystemAndroid Lollipop 5.0Android 4.3Android™ 5.1 LollipopAndroid 4.4 KitKatApple iOS 9Android Lollipop 5.0Android 4.4Android 5.1 LollipopAndroid 6.0Android 4.4 (KitKat)

See Also: Best IPTV Boxes

Best 7-inch Tablet in Category

ASUS Nexus 7 2B32 — Best Android 7-Inch Tablet

Well, what more is there to say: This 7-incher wins not one but two entries in the Best in Category section here. For those who are looking for the cream of the crop, this is the second best tablet out of the selection that you’ll find on the comparison table, bringing a razor-sharp 1080p+ panel and a solid 32GB of flash storage to hold all your apps with ease. You’re also looking at 2GB of RAM, the highest of all the tablets on the list besides the Apple iPad Mini 4.

However, the lone drawback of ASUS’ offering here is the highly outdated Android 4.3 Jelly Bean operating system, which predates 2014. This unfortunately means that some of the more advanced apps on the Play Store may not play nice or at all with this tablet, but most of the relevant ones – Facebook, Snapchat, Tumblr, Twitter, YouTube, Google Earth, Google Maps and so on – will pan out just fine.
Read Full Review
Check Price

ASUS Nexus 7 2B32 — Best Android 7-Inch Tablet

ASUS Nexus 7 2B32 — Best 7-Inch Tablet for Gaming

Winning a second entry on the list, ASUS’ rectangular slab keeps with every commandment of a gaming slate – well, compared to other offerings on the comparison table at least. Gaming platforms need more RAM, processing power and screen resolution to be what they are, and this tablet does all of it better than every tablet here except possibly the Apple iPad Mini 4.

Admittedly, it was a tough decision here, but the gaming customization of Android devices gave a slight lead on ASUS’ offering. In addition, the 32GB of inbuilt storage is important for gaming since most demanding titles will eat up hundreds if not thousands of megabytes in storage. Another important metric to look at is the Adreno 320: an outdated but still formidable GPU to this day.

Read Full Review
Check Price

 

Apple iPad Mini 4 — Best 7-Inch Tablet with 4G

It doesn’t take an Apple fan to appreciate the music-mixing, media-processing and general processing power that comes with the fruit company’s excellent lineup of 4G-compatible computer slates. The iPad Mini – not even the full-size version – jams a jaw-dropping 128GB of storage with a 1440p+ Retina Display for a pixel density that the naked eye can barely discern.

Apple iPad Mini 4 — Best 7-Inch Tablet with 4G

With Bluetooth 4.2 and a fairly recent iOS 9 on board, you aren’t running the most recent piece of portable tech on the market, but it’s a formidable offering nonetheless. Also, don’t forget the camera here: At 8MP on the backside and 1.2MP on the front, the snappers definitely aren’t cut for professional photography but certainly outstrip the competition on the comparison table above.

For all these reasons and more, this is a great package for anyone who needs a cellular-capable tablet for on-the-go processing on a large display.
Read Full Review
Check Price

 

Samsung Galaxy Tab A 7” — Best Samsung 7-Inch Tablet

Samsung is unquestionably the most popular Android manufacturer in both the smartphone and tablet market, and their Galaxy Tab A series is renown as a comfortably affordable but reasonably powerful offering.

Samsung Galaxy Tab A 7” — Best Samsung 7-Inch Tablet

Although you’re only seeing a whole 8GB for installing apps, you do have the option to install a microSD card to make up the difference in media storage, and packing 1.5GB of RAM to boot is a welcome turn from the aging 1GB that other tablets in its price range tend to stick by. This is especially important since tablets, being larger than their phone counterparts, are more capable and likely to be used as multitasking devices.

In addition, a 720p+ display keeps the imagery sharp while Android 5.1 Lollipop promises substantial battery life and a crisp Material Design user interface on top.
Read Full Review
Check Price

 

LG G Pad V400 — Best Cheap 7-Inch Tablet

It’s possible that you’re looking to pay bottom dollar for a tablet that doesn’t sweat the small stuff. LG, a quality manufacturer that’s known for its forays into innovation, has a functional rig to slide into your back pocket for the long road trips.

LG G Pad V400 — Best Cheap 7-Inch Tablet

Packing a conservative 1GB of RAM with a twig-thin 8GB of flash storage, you’re getting something that works but isn’t exactly a beast.

Still, for the price, the offerings are silk and honey, and it brings a surprisingly sharp 720p+ display that beats even some of the higher-priced 7-inchers that are being discussed here. Of course, you can’t forget about battery life, and with 4,000mAh under the hood, you’re getting day-long power in tandem with Android 5.0 Lollipop’s advanced power-saving features.
Read Full Review
Check Price

See Also: Best NAS for Plex 2022

LG G Pad V400

LG G Pad V400 ReviewOne of the reasons this entry won the Best Cheap Tablet category was thanks to its Qualcomm-sized helping of processing power that by no means wipes the floor with the iPad Mini 4 or ASUS Nexus 7 but certainly beats the MediaTek offering those other manufacturers used in their 7-inch slates.

This might not be a terribly important distinction to make, but it does help make up for the once-more lacking 1GB of RAM. On the upside, packing Android 5.0 Lollipop should help keep the performance smooth and all 4,000mAh of juice along with the upper range of the battery life spectrum.

There’s not much else to point out about this tablet: At a reasonable 1,280×800 resolution, it’s as plain as it can get. If you’re a fan of LG products, you might like the knock code feature for easy unlocking, but outside of that, you’re looking at a product that just works. Web browsing, music, social media, navigation — this device has you covered in true LG style.

Perhaps the only drawback that reviews have noted is an issue with the IR blaster not working with third-party apps, forcing you to stick with LG’s inbuilt one that supports a limited number of TV brands.

Verdict

Aside from that little caveat, this is a great device less because of its specs and more because it does everything you expect it to — nothing more, nothing less.


Pros
  • Reliable performance
  • Buttons feel solid
  • Maintains a low price while utilizing a Qualcomm chipset
Cons
  • You might struggle with the IR blaster some

ASUS Nexus 7

Asus Nexus 7 ReviewTo be honest, in 2022, the specifications on this slate are far from great. We have phones — basically mini-tablets — that easily pack three times the RAM and substantially more processing power, screen quality and the whole nine for a comparable asking price.

However, that’s just the reality of phones versus tablets no matter where you go, and it’s certainly not exclusive to ASUS’ 7-incher here.

Still, this is the best 7-inch tablet for Android on the list. This tablet won two Best in Category spots back-to-back, and there are swell reasons for that.

Firstly, 2GB of RAM graces the Nexus 7 — more than any other Android tablet on this list. A solid 32GB of storage once again puts this option above the competition, allowing the installation of more apps than you’ll probably bother with and enough left over for a cozy amount of media if you don’t happen to have a microSD card on hand. Just as impressive is the 1,920×1,200 display, which is razor-sharp and should be enough to obscure the pixels unless you’re actively looking for them.
Now, the downsides: Android 4.3 is absolutely weak. Dour criticism has befallen previous entries for their utilization of Android 4.4 KitKat, and while one or two were let off the hook because of their price or general purpose, this particular tablet has no reason in this day and age to pack less than Android 5.0 Lollipop. The hardware is certainly capable enough.

On the other hand, this is a 2013 release, which makes more sense when you think about it. Still, ASUS should have pushed updates to this beauty, and for its time, it was a swell little tablet, especially at a mere 7 inches.

Verdict

It’s hard to not recommend this tablet for any reason besides the dramatically outdated operating environment. As a winner in the Best Gaming 7-inch Tablet and Best Android 7-inch Tablet categories, this is certainly a looker — if you can afford it.


Pros
  • Razor-sharp 1200p display
  • 2GB for great multitasking
  • Solid GPU for gaming
Cons
  • Pricey
  • Horribly outdated Android 4.3 Jelly Bean operating environment

Samsung Galaxy Tab A 7″

Samsung Galaxy Tab A 7 ReviewIt can’t said that the Galaxy Tab A is good simply because it’s Samsung; the manufacturer has been known to churn out duds on occasion.

Still, this isn’t a bad helping of computing power for the price, and with a solid 1,280×800 resolution and 1.5GB of RAM to hold your favorite apps within reach of the quad-core CPU, the display is reasonably crisp while the multitasking capabilities should be breezy compared to other offerings on the list here.

In addition, Android 5.1 Lollipop makes this 7-inch slate hum along with Material Design and enhanced battery savings to keep the lights on all day.

Users complain that for the price, 8GB of storage is lacking, and this is worth noting. Once you get above a certain price point, you expect enough space to hold all the apps that the afforded processing power should handle. This isn’t the case with Samsung’s offering. As cheap as storage space is, this seems especially cruel coming from a company that makes its own storage solutions for everyday computing needs, so why Samsung would skimp out here is beyond us.

Still, you at least have microSD to pick up the slack for general media storage. However, that’s marred somewhat by Samsung’s notorious bloatware, which in turn slows down this device — an unfortunate result despite the tuned-up hardware.

Verdict

Altogether, this is a solid offering from the Korean manufacturer if space isn’t a concern. It can’t be recommended for any specific purpose other than putting the 1.5GB of RAM to use for multitasking purposes, and of course, Samsung has a style of their devices that can’t be denied.
Pros
  • 1.5GB of RAM puts it a notch above most tablets in this price range
  • Quad-core CPU complements the RAM for multitasking purposes
Cons
  • Samsung bloatware galore
  • A seemingly unwarranted 8GB of storage, which is on the low side for the price
  • The bloatware and storage create an ugly synergy of severely limiting the space that users can install apps on

Samsung Galaxy Tab E Lite Kids 7″

Samsung Galaxy Tab E Lite Kids 7 ReviewAnother kid-friendly offering arrives, courtesy of Samsung, and it’s not a bad offering at all.

One gigabyte of RAM is acceptable for the price since this is, after all, a kid’s tablet. With only 8GB of storage on board, there won’t be much app-installing available to the user, but kids aren’t expected to make much use of the space for this reason. In addition, packing a 600p panel limits the quality of downloaded media, so there isn’t much to do with additional space regardless.

On the plus side, the ruggedized edges keep it safe from the usual horseplay that you’d expect in the hands of a growing little fellow.

The main problems here are more to do with the price tag reflecting a device that’s supposedly premium just because it was given rubber edges and parental controls, neither of which justify the cost when faced with the mediocre specs on board. The problem now is that, indeed, kids don’t need the sharpest specs on their devices, but then why is the price so heavy-handed? Compounding that is the malware-prone Android 4.4, and while Android is a secure environment in its own right, dramatically outdated operating systems are more likely to be exploited in that one off chance that the wrong site is visited, the wrong app is installed or the wrong MMS is opened.

Verdict

There’s hardly anything more to say here. This is a Samsung tablet, and one should expect high quality from them, but perhaps to their credit, they’re a company that’s geared more toward adults with their fantastic flagships. The Galaxy Tab E Lite Kids isn’t bad; it’s just underwhelming. Still, if the price doesn’t bother you, this is a mighty fine tablet to grace your children with.


Pros
  • Ruggedized chassis is great for kids
  • Parental controls and the usual kid-friendly suite of apps makes this a safer option for the young ones
Cons
  • Rather expensive for its limited hardware offerings

Apple iPad Mini 4

Apple iPad Mini 4 ReviewWell, what can we say? It’s Apple, and while they certainly fill a niche that’s not for everyone, their soft- and hardware combinations are excellent for specific purposes although general-purpose use isn’t shabby at all on this device.

The iPad Mini 4 sports an awesome 1440p+ Retina Display in tandem with an equally impressive 128GB of inbuilt storage to hold pretty much the entire world in the palm of your hands. Rocking Apple’s in-house SoC — an absolute beast to be sure — and bringing iOS 9 in tow, the device’s fairly recent specs and feature spectrum blow away most of the tablets on this list.

The downsides start where refurbished models begin as the iPad Mini 4 has longevity issues in regards to the screen and battery. Reviews report that the screen suffers burn-in, which is interesting seeing as it uses IPS and not LED technology, and the battery quickly drops out of the race in a matter of months. The issue here is that due to the high price, customers naturally want to stick by refurbished versions, and when the device itself tends to burn out quickly, that results in quite a few dead-on-arrival scenarios.

Verdict

The explanation for the quick burn of devices among this model is unclear, but it’s important to emphasize that many people don’t report this issue at all. With that said, this is an excellent tablet for multimedia, gaming and more with its brilliant display and top-notch processing power. However, Apple’s restrictive software environment may displease habitual Android users.


Pros
  • Excellent 1440p+ display
  • Razor-sharp processing power
  • Wonderful media-creation device for art, music and more
  • 128GB of on-board storage to hold your creations
  • Decent camera suite that isn’t great overall but still beats most tablets
Cons
  • The usual Apple priciness is at play here
  • Reports of the battery and screen burning out within months

ASUS Zenpad 7″

ASUS Zenpad 7 ReviewIt’s true that this tablet brings a measly 1,024×600 display that, at 7 inches, is fuzzier than a startled kitten.

What really did it was the quad-core Intel Atom on board with the eight hours of charge time — that’s a fresh bump in horsepower for a reasonable runtime figure. This comes alongside the 16GB of inbuilt storage and 1GB of LPDDR3 RAM, and while neither metric is very spacious on the whole, they suit the price tag. Of course, there’s always the microSD slot if you need more room.

ASUS is also known for making really nice offerings from time to time, and this tablet is said to feel nice and respond quite well during performance. There’s very little bloatware and the multitasking is handled smoothly, a feat that other tablets on this list can’t claim.

On the flip side, some reviews have the exact opposite to say about the Zenpad: unusably slow, poor multitasking, mediocre battery life. It’s hard to say what the next experience will yield, but everything accounted, it’s easier to believe that this device performs ahead of other budget 7-inchers.

Verdict

This tablet is recommended as an option for those who like ASUS and want to give a chance to a tablet that should, in theory, work well beyond its figures but is occasionally said to do the opposite.


Pros
  • Intel Atom CPU
  • Responsive UI
  • Good construction
Cons
  • Is sometimes cited for being incredibly slow, contrary to the upsides

Amazon Fire 7

If reading e-books is down your alley, this solution from Amazon is on fire.

Of note, the specialized support for Alexa gives this tablet a competitive edge over its brethren here when it comes to AI commands in addition to its book-like functionality with Amazon’s inbuilt optimization for Kindle and a bookstore to complement it on top.

You get all this and your standard gamut of functions at a surprisingly conservative dollar cost, but the drawback — if it can be called that — is Amazon’s operating system overlay, which to the dismay of many isn’t Android-like in its smoothness as reported by some.

While you also get a standard 1.3GHz quad-core CPU, microSD support and a 3.5mm headphone jack, there are comments to be made on the general performance of the system. While it should be rightly argued that this is a bookworm’s tablet, the 8-hour battery life is on the shorter end of the spectrum for a device that fills this purpose despite the lightweight sub-HD display resolution.

To be honest, this probably should have shipped with an e-ink display to go all the way on that front, but those are sold separately, so one might suppose that Amazon was aiming for a bold do-it-all device here. Price accounted, it’s acceptable.

Verdict

This tablet is recommended for anyone who needs a suitably low-cost tablet for e-books.
Pros
  • Great e-book solution with optimization for Kindle
  • Comfortably low price tag even if you’re just stepping into the tablet world for the first time
  • IPS display is cited for its unusually high quality despite the resolution
Cons
  • Resolution is quite low — a sub-HD 600p to be exact
  • General performance is argued back and forth due to Amazon’s UI overlay

Amazon Fire 7 Kids Edition

Amazon’s at it again, now with a kid-proof version of their bookworm-friendly slate. While pricier than the vanilla offering, it’s certainly more durable, and surprisingly enough, the hardware is overall better too.

Make no mistake: It looks like a toy and probably sounds like it should be one, but this is a full-featured tablet through and through.

For starters, the 64-bit operating environment and hardware brings support for microSD cards of up to 2TB — that’s 2,048GB. Of course, your children will have long outgrown this device by the time such memory modules are affordable, but it goes without saying that memory expansion is effectively bottomless on here.

With the other hardware offerings being less relevant, the focus is really on the kid-friendly software: The pre-installed FreeTime Unlimited provides access to over 15,000 apps, games and more from PBS Kids, Disney, and Nickelodeon. The first year is free, but the subscription price following that is pocket change — basically an unnoticeable factor on your budget.

Verdict

All in all, this is a great offering for parents who need a kid-friendly solution that offers parental controls. With the Internet’s many dangers, it’s never been more important to invest in such a device to protect the young ones.


Pros
  • Full array of apps and parental controls to keep it kid-friendly
  • Kid-proof chassis keeps it trucking through drops, spills and dings
  • Surprisingly powerful hardware for a device that’s aimed at the younger crowd
Cons
  • None

LeapFrog Epic

LeapFrog Epic ReviewThere’s no sense in beating around, on or directly into the bush here: It’s a kid’s tablet, and the specs speak to that effect.

It’s hard to not appreciate the emphasis on specs where they’re needed, however, and keeping the resolution to an entry-level 1,024×600 was a smart move to save on the price.

On the plus side, the ruggedized bumper is removable, and for the low cost, 16GB of space is surprisingly good. You also get microSD expansion to store your kid’s favorite movies, and there are front- and back-facing cameras to let them zoom-zoom around the house while pretending to be an airplane.

Negative notes include a highly outdated Android 4.4 KitKat on board and — here it comes — DRM. The very fact that DRM is even installed on this thing, to begin with, is appalling on its own. But then you throw in the fact that all storage media is apparently rendered useless when this DRM isn’t satisfied by an internet connection once every two or three days, it suddenly seems almost too arrogant to invest in.

Even if you live in a house where Wi-Fi is a constant commodity, there’s a rebellious nerve that’s pinched by this requirement, and it only gets worse for situations where internet isn’t constantly streamed to the device. These situations are more understandable considering this is, in fact, a kid’s device that probably doesn’t need that resource as often.

Verdict

We’re not saying the LeapFrog Epic is an epic fail since it does what it’s supposed to rather well and at a humble asking price, so parents, this one’s for you. Just keep in mind that the integrated software might struggle to deal with long periods without internet access, so keeping it in your car for weeks at a time might not pan out.


Pros
  • Kid-proof rubber bumper that can be removed
  • Plenty of kid-friendly software built in alongside parental controls of the usual sort
  • Humble asking price
Cons
  • Crippling DRM software tends to render on-board media inaccessible if the device isn’t connected to the internet at all times

Lenovo TAB3 Essential

Lenovo TAB3 Essential ReviewAt quite the affordable price tag, Lenovo gives you the TAB3 Essential: a mere 1,024×600 but with a standard 1GB of RAM and quad-core CPU to boot.

This is by no means a powerhouse, but it’s not meant to be. Now, looking at the manufacturer notes will entail that the 600p display makes everything “closer, clearer and sharper” while the 0.3MP gives you “perfect shareable selfies”, but to put it straight to you, these are poor specs on the whole. What makes them acceptable here is the asking price, so we’ll sweep the performance under the rug in honor of that.

What can’t be swept under the rug are repeated claims that the device is unreasonably slow and suffers from severe Bluetooth lag. These apparently aren’t widespread issues, but they take a notable chunk of the pie when checking out the reviews. Additionally, a quad-core CPU isn’t everything it’s cracked up to be when it happens to be a MediaTek SoC — again, this is probably a good reason for the slowdowns, especially when you factor in the 1GB of RAM. That said, you at least get a decent 10-hour charge out of the average-sized battery, so there’s MediaTek’s efficiency at work even if you’re waiting for that much longer for apps to crawl along.

Verdict

Lenovo’s tablet is a peach if you’re leaning toward the affordable end of the spectrum and don’t mind a device that gets things done a little slower than slightly pricier offerings. It’s otherwise difficult to recommend the TAB3 Essential to anyone.


Pros
  • Low price
  • At least comes equipped with Android 5.1 Lollipop
Cons
  • Complaints of inconsistent Bluetooth and excessive performance lag in general
  • Weak chipset and resolution

Acer ICONIA B1-790-K21X

Acer ICONIA B1-790-K21X ReviewSliding into the slightly less expensive side of the fence is the 7-inch Acer ICONIA, which delivers a healthy helping of speedy LPDDR3 RAM — all 1GB of it, unfortunately, but that’s expected of the price.

It’s somewhat compensated on the quad-core CPU that’s clocked at 1.3GHz and a decent 16GB of storage. Right out the gate, this is already a solid helping of Android goodness on an affordable dime.

The really great thing about this particular tablet is that up to this point, every offering has been Android Jelly Bean, KitKat or Lollipop. This is the first on the list to bring a fairly recent OS with Marshmallow, which is a slightly more primitive version of the still-popular Android 7 Nougat. That’s great news as far as features and security go, and this one point alone gives Acer’s device a leg-up over its competition in speed and multitasking smoothness. Also, don’t forget about compatibility — more and more apps out there are cutting older Android versions out of the picture.

The good news ends on a comfortable note there, but the bad news is unfortunately just as compelling. Multiple reports of freezing and straight-up dying have hampered the ICONIA’s reputation this time around. Not all users report this, but a significant chunk have whispered mention of it, and on that note, we’ll call Acer’s tablet a gamble.

Verdict

If you want some of the latest features in Android with good speed and security on top, this one will fill the role nicely in addition to a fair 16GB to install apps on.
Pros
  • Decent amount of storage space
  • Recent Android version gives it a great advantage over other 7-inch tablets
  • Reasonably powerful CPU
  • Affordable
Cons
  • Consistent reports of freezing and even device death for no apparent reason

Huawei MediaPad T1 7.0

Huawei MediaPad T1 7.0 ReviewHuawei has had troubles getting both feet in the door on the Western side of the world, but that hasn’t stopped the Chinese company from yielding excellent devices that everyone can use.

While not the most “potank” tablet ever, its quad-core CPU should provide ample multitasking in conjunction with the conservative but passable 1GB of RAM. Eight gigabytes of inbuilt storage is on the slim side, but the inclusion of a microSD slot gives you plenty of room to expand with. However, the good stuff draws its line there.

With an outdated Android 4.4 KitKat and a resolution of 1,024×600 across 7 inches of real estate, you’re getting a fuzzy presentation on an insecure version of Google’s operating system. While other tablets have been getting a pass in these regards, it’s only because the point of their function didn’t call for such features to be more up to snuff. At the given price tag, you should have at least Android 5.1 Lollipop and an 800p resolution. An additional 512MB of RAM would also go lengths to improve the app hop-scotching game you might play if you’re a power user by any stretch of the term.

Verdict

It’s difficult to recommend this slate for anyone but those who fancy the Chinese side of Android smart devices, but all said and done, it’s not a bad offering; it’s just too scaled-back for the price. As a general-purpose tablet, this will do a fair job at handling basic apps, and while it can run the more demanding titles on the Play Store, it’ll struggle to do so expeditiously.
Pros
  • If you happen to like Huawei’s UI, this might suit you
  • Quad-core CPU handles multitasking reasonably well
Cons
  • A bit pricey for plain pickings and little to redeem it as more than a general-use tablet
  • Outdated OS

See Also: Best DAC AMP Combo 2022

Best 7-inch Tablet Buyer’s Guide

CPU: This is the central processing unit, and it’s responsible for converting your inputs into output data. CPUs usually have 4-8 cores — quad-core or octa-core — and run anywhere from 1.2GHz on the low end to over 2GHz on the high end. The number of cores determines how many “brains” are processing information while GHz measures the speed at which they process.

More CPU cores and a higher GHz metric generally indicate faster processing speeds.

GPU: This is the graphics processing unit, and its job is to control the display of images and video on the screen. GPUs are effectively CPUs that have been optimized to process graphics more efficiently, and nearly all tablets have both a CPU and a GPU on board.

A faster GPU will render more detailed graphics at smoother frame rates.

RAM: This is random access memory. The purpose of RAM is to serve as a temporary holding bay for data that the system expects it’ll need to access on a moment’s notice, making it an important metric in multitasking operations. The CPU can interact with data that’s stored in RAM much more quickly than data that’s in storage.

More RAM means faster multitasking and more apps that can stay open at once.

Storage: Storage simply provides room for holding media and app installations.

More storage means you can save more data on your tablet.

SoC (Chipset): The system-on-a-chip (SoC) is the motherboard that holds the CPU, GPU, RAM, and storage hardware together, allowing them to communicate and interact with one another.

Resolution: This is the number of pixels that the on-screen image is rendered with. Resolution is shown with such figures as 1,280×720 or 1,920×1080, which are abbreviated as 720p and 1080p respectively.

A higher resolution is made up of more pixels and produces a sharper image, but more CPU, GPU, and RAM will be needed to accommodate it.

See Also: Best Sublimation Printer 2022

Best 7-inch Tablet FAQ

“What Specifications Should I Look for in a Tablet?”

It depends on what purpose you’re using it for. Basic functions such as music, social media and news can be accomplished with 1GB of RAM and any Intel, Qualcomm or MediaTek chipset. More complex tasks like using Google Earth, playing 3D games, processing images and video, or performing heavy multitasking would benefit from a minimum of 2GB RAM, a Qualcomm chipset with 4-8 cores ideally running at 1.4GHz or higher, and boasting a screen resolution of at least 720p.

“I’m Used to Physical Buttons! How Does a Tablet Work?”

Some tablets will have a single button below the screen in the middle that can be pressed to take the device out of standby, landing you on what’s called a lock screen. From here, you swipe on the screen or follow security instructions to gain access to the home screen where your apps are located. Sometimes, the button won’t be physical but touch-based instead.

All Android tablets have home, back and recent keys below the screen that are used to handle universal functions while the rest of your commands are made available by tapping on-screen elements. Apple iPads just have a single, pressure-sensitive touch key below the screen that functions as the home button while the back and recent functions are handled by on-screen cues that show up depending on the app you’re in.

Additionally, both tablet types have a volume rocker on the side of the device and a power key either on the opposite side or top edge.

“How Do I Set Up My Tablet?”

It’s as simple as prying it from the box and holding down the power key, which is usually along the top or one of the side edges. If this is your first time firing it up, you’ll be prompted to sign into Apple or Google’s services depending on whether you received an iPad or an Android tablet. Following this, every subsequent boot sequence will take you to the lock screen instead.

“How Do I Charge My Tablet?”

On the bottom of nearly all tablets is a USB or Lightning port for charging. All Android tablets support the USB interface while every iPad will use Lightning. A charger should be included with the tablet whether you bought it new or used, and all you need to do is plug it into a wall and connect the tablet.

“What are Apps and How Do I Install Them?”

Apps, short for applications, are basically the same thing as programs on a desktop computer. They’re acquired from the respective app store that supports your tablet’s operating system: Play Store for all Androids and the App Store for all iPads. Apps let you customize and add functionality to your tablet, and they can occur as games, productivity assistants, alternatives to preinstalled apps and other options.

See Also: Best Satellite Phones 2022

Conclusion

When you get right down to it, tablets aren’t for everyone. In truth, most needs are better answered with the portability of a smartphone or the raw computing power of a laptop, but tablets are able to fill the best of both worlds if configured properly. Aside from 7-inch tablets, there are versions that run up to 12 inches or more, and these are often much more powerful computing solutions with vastly more powerful CPUs and larger amounts of RAM.

Regardless, 7-inch tablets have the magic of a large screen that can actually fit in some pockets, and they’re certainly better when docked to a Bluetooth keyboard than a smartphone.

In addition, there are Windows tablets that run Windows 10 and are designed to be hybrid laptop-tablets. These usually don’t come in the 7-inch variety, but they’re a great computing solution for those who want the benefits of a tablet while keeping the perks of Windows.

There are also tablets that support Wacom styluses such as Samsung’s Galaxy Note series, not to be confused with the similarly named “phablet” smartphone that performs similar functions but at a smaller size. These Wacom-powered devices are excellent solutions for digital artists.

However, the future of tablets isn’t so optimistic. Manufacturers have discussed on and off whether tablets will be necessary anymore in the coming years with the increasing size of smartphone displays. Tablets occupy a significantly smaller chunk of the market than their laptop and smartphone alternatives, and this may result in a three-way fusion of these devices one day, erasing the lines that divide them.

In this way, the dwindling of tablets’ popularity isn’t actually a bad thing but rather a sign of development into something greater. Until then, tablets will happily fill the niche of e-books and general touchscreen Wi-Fi purposes at a relatively low dollar cost.

Related

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Joel says

    July 25, 2018 at 7:16 pm

    Hello. I have two questions about LG G Pad V400:
    1. Is this model suitable for reading books?
    2. Does it have a built-in GPS?
    Thanks!

    Reply
    • admin says

      July 26, 2018 at 1:28 pm

      Hello Joel,

      1. Yes, this is a multifunction device that is quite suitable for reading books.
      2. Yes, it does.

      Best regards

      Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

About Author

Hello! My name is William Hill. I am a full-time author of the website. My main goal is to facilitate the process of choosing the goods and provide our readers with everything they need to make a good purchase. I wrote this article upon analyses and information obtained by a group of specialists of our website. Read More…

Popular

  • Best NAS for Plex
  • Best NAS Hard Drive
  • Best Satellite Phone
  • Best DAC AMP Combo
  • Best Sublimation Printer
  • Best Paver Sealer
  • Best Deck Paint
  • Best Deck Stain
  • Best Blackout Blinds
  • Best Low Voltage Landscape Lighting Kits

Best 7-inch Tablet Navigation

  • Best Samsung Model
  • Best Choice for Gaming
  • Best Choice with 4G
  • Best Cheap Choice
  • Comparison Table
  • Buyer’s Guide

Copyright © 2023 · PrizedReviews.com · All Rights Reserved · About · Privacy Policy · Terms of Services · Contact Us · admin@prizedreviews.com

Some posts may contain affiliate links. PrizedReviews.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. Amazon Affiliate Disclosure