Low-Res 10" Thin Light Tablet?

samlor on 31/03/2015 - 13:09

My mother's Samsung galaxy tab 2 10.1 is due for upgrade to something thinner and lighter (for travel away from home) but most available products also offer higher resolution screens capable of smaller text and menus that do not not suit her very bad eyesight. If all the default font, icon, etc. sizes can be set bigger then I could consider such a device but I would prefer a cheaper low-res but large 10" screen. The Samsung Galaxy Tab 4 10.1 has that but is unfortunately not very light/thin.

I went with Samsung because it has TeamViewer app QuickSupport add-on that helps me support her by enabling remote view/control of the tablet to provide assistance remotely as we live far apart.

Computing

Comments

  • 18 on 31/03/2015 - 13:19

    iPad Air 2

    • samlor on 31/03/2015 - 14:49

      Yeah, I should have written Android Tablet, thanks.

  • ProjectZero on 31/03/2015 - 14:40
    +1

    If all the default font, icon, etc. sizes can be set bigger then I could consider such a device but I would prefer a cheaper low-res but large 10" screen.

    On android, you can definitely change the font sizes… and on Samsung you can change the font without much drama… you'd be paying around $100+ for some low res anyway… why not get a Samsung tab 4 10.1 which isn't FHD and around $200?

    • samlor on 31/03/2015 - 15:01

      Thank you for your response/suggestion. Yeah, I'll give changing the font a go and I had another look at the Samsung Tab 4 10.1 in-store and even though it weighs 487g it is 94g less than the tab 2 and that 20% makes a big difference. Thanks for the link too.

  • iridiumstem on 31/03/2015 - 14:49
    +2

    If resolution and price is not an issue (i.e. you can scale it), Xperia Z2 and Galaxy Tab S is definitely thin and light.

    • samlor on 31/03/2015 - 15:11

      Yeah, I have an Xperia Z tablet that is very nice/light and the Z2 is crazy even lighter. I'll give scaling a go but these premium models cost around double, thanks.

      • iridiumstem on 31/03/2015 - 16:06

        Frankly speaking, I think the SoC and the screen technology is at that stage where you can get away with getting a decent one now and use it for ages without being too underspec'ed.

        I personally think the only company that has access to distinctively better hardware this year is Samsung and Apple. Qualcomm messed up big time with 810. Also, the screen resolution war, so to say, is offsetting the performance increase in SoC.

        In short, if you get those Tab 4, you'd probably have an hardware that would be considered an underspec'ed sooner or later, whereas those "premium models" would stay premium model for a while, due to technology improvement being stagnant at the moment.

        EDIT: Actually, since it is tablets we are talking about, we might get better SoC from NVidia, Then again, I've never seen that many companies using the latest K1…

        • ProjectZero on 31/03/2015 - 16:53

          Define underspec'd. From my opinion, as long as the device runs smoothly enough, it isn't underspec'd. Especially with Android whereby you can always use stock android or CM to give new life to your devices.

          Take my GS3 for example, the device is now 3 years old, running CM11. Yet I can honestly say that it is still zippy, probably slightly more so than my Z3 in some cases. Whilst I'm not saying that flashing your device will make it last forwever, but it does help with extending it abit longer. The best part about these devices is, when you think it is time to replace them, you can try and flash them to see if it will last an extra year or two. No damage to you seeing as you may be in need of a new one soon anyway.

          At the end of the day, underspec'd is just a word to describe devices that can't run an unoptimised OS. I wouldn't worry too much unless you like to get the latest gadgets.

        • iridiumstem on 31/03/2015 - 17:19

          @ProjectZero: True but XDA always go for something that was a flagship, very popular or a nexus, so your custom ROM selection do get larger for those ones. Obviously you can root it as well and get extra life off it by removing unwanted apps, but that usually is limited.

          When I said something underspec'ed I meant like as the apps end up having a requirement, i.e. 4.1+ onwards, or something like that, or requires hardware spec above something on Android, an underspec'ed gadget in my opinion is a gadget that cannot use many apps because it doesn't meet requirement of those apps and such.

          Budget tablets usually are worse off because the software support on them are much shorter (Samsung is infamous for their lack of software support on tablets, though tab S started getting Lollipop, so I think it is getting better).

        • ProjectZero on 31/03/2015 - 17:38

          @AznMitch:

          An underspec'ed gadget in my opinion is a gadget that cannot use the apps because it doesn't meet requirement of those apps and such.

          Fair enough, usually the apps only have a OS requirement though right?

          I've heard you can actually install stock Android on most devices or is that not correct? If it is correct, you could always try installing the latest OS on the devices.

          Cyanogenmod devices

          Based on that link above, I reckon the OP could give CM a shot to see if it can lengthen their current Tab 2 a bit.

        • iridiumstem on 31/03/2015 - 18:07

          @ProjectZero: Yeah, but CM could only do so much. It can optimise what the tablet can do, but that has its limits. Also CM is a custom ROM so you'd have to void the warranty as well if you are using it for Samsung phones/tablets with KNOX (it triggers the KNOX counter which is irreversible).

          I think right now, the price of older gen premium device is alright, I got Tab Pro for $348 delievered (To be honest, I had one Tab S 10.5 for my dad when it was at around $370ish with 20% off, TabPro is worse than Tab S, but I think it's alright). It's probably going to get cheaper. The older gen is not much different from current gen flagships because of higher resolution offsetting the performance increase and because of what I've said before hand. Flagships usually attract more people to work on a custom ROM on XDA as well compared to a budget phone.

        • ProjectZero on 31/03/2015 - 18:13

          @AznMitch:

          Flagships usually attract more people to work on a custom ROM on XDA as well compared to a budget phone.

          Agree, but there are still gems out there that have custom ROMs that aren't flagships, or at least less expensive.

          it triggers the KNOX counter which is irreversible

          That would only be a factor if it was still under warranty, I don't think the tab 2 would still be under warranty. I rooted and flashed my GS3 once the warranty finished lol.

          I completely understand what you are saying but it is an alternative to go for less premium models unless you are like me and love the latest and greatest. Hence why I bought a Tab S 8.4… was going for the LG Gpad 8.3 but there wasn't any that I could find for $200.

        • iridiumstem on 31/03/2015 - 18:45

          @ProjectZero: True that. There are plenty of decent budget tablets out there. I've been seeing G Pad 7 LTE unlocked at $150 AUD on USA and intel is actually giving out their CPU with subsidies that makes those intel android tablets more attractive.

          Though, my point simply was the prices of older gen flagship is going down fairly low (down to 300~400 region which is close to Tab 4's price) when they are pretty much on par with current gen flagships.

    • ProjectZero on 31/03/2015 - 15:18

      The 8.4 Tab S that I bought recently has served me well. Really thin and portable, only complaint I have is that I can't find any good looking cases for it. I think the Tab S is the best tablet you can get for your money right now right?

      Especially with the current sale @ $325. If you want to enhance the experience… you can root it and install CM12 on it (though it is still in nightlies so I would recommend waiting abit).

  • Speckled Jim on 01/04/2015 - 09:11
    +1

    Recently bought an Allwinner V140D 16GB quad core. Res is kinda low (1024x600), it's ~9mm thick and (edit) precisely 558 grams.

    Cheap at ~$100 but slightly thicker and ~60 grams heavier than SGT4.

  • samlor on 07/04/2015 - 10:30

    FYI, simply increasing the font size does apply to settings, menus and apps text but does not appear to affect home screen icons and notification bars sizes and text. Some further accessibility settings might help and I will look into it but being able to set screen resolution like on a PC would be better/nice of possible.

    • scrimshaw on 07/04/2015 - 23:47
      +1

      http://www.reddit.com/r/Nexus5/comments/2mjhee/highly_recomm…

      It is possible to change the DPI settings on most Android phones or tabs, you simply need to gain root access and use ROM toolbox.

      This voids the warranty AND it also is recommended to backup your device before tinkering with it.

      You can / should probably experiment first on a cheap tablet or on her old Samsung tab, before trying it out on a new device.

      • samlor on 08/04/2015 - 09:13

        Great, will give it a go, thanks heaps.

Login or Join to leave a comment
Login Join