Are There Tablets That Are Just as Good as Smart Phones if You Don't Need to Make Calls on The Same Device?

bargain huntress on 27/01/2020 - 19:50
Last edited 27/01/2020 - 19:51

I have noticed the significant price difference between tablets and smart phones. Why is this?

If i was to have a dumb phone for making calls, could I do everything else a smart phone can do on a tablet with #g network access?

An example combination / comparison with approximate costs would be a;

telstra easy call 5 $129 https://www.telstra.com.au/mobile-phones/prepaid-mobiles/tel…
+ $30 a month prepaid

plus

samsung galaxy tab A 8 4g with spen $450 - https://www.dicksmith.com.au/da/buy/samsung-galaxy-tab-a-80-…
+ microsd card
+ $30 a month prepaid OR $0 more if i use dumb phone as wifi modem

VS

samsung galaxy note 10 $1200
+ $30 prepaid
OR $105 a month totalling $3786

Mobile

Comments

  • crentist on 27/01/2020 - 20:03
    +1

    You could probably take calls on a tablet too, if you wanted.
    The trickier thing seems to be portability, and how that affects messaging apps and general usage in public. Some people do it, it always seems a little weird but whatever.

    If you really prefer the size of a tablet you could do it. Given how massive modern phones already are, I'm surprised more people don't.
    But if it's just about saving money, there are $200 android phones around

    • bargain huntress on 27/01/2020 - 20:15

      the size 7 and 8 galaxy tablets seem about the same size as the galaxy note phones?

      how do you take a call on a tablet?

      • kerfuffle on 27/01/2020 - 20:18

        Use earphones with a microphone …

        • bargain huntress on 27/01/2020 - 20:20

          but what app would you use?

          • kerfuffle on 27/01/2020 - 20:29
            -3

            @bargain huntress: Gee, the Phone app perhaps? Or WhatsApp, Viber, etc.

            Note: You can’t make actual phone calls with the iPad as there’s no phone app

            • bargain huntress on 29/01/2020 - 02:37

              @kerfuffle:

              Gee, the Phone app perhaps?

              Note: You can’t make actual phone calls with the iPad as there’s no phone app

              i don't understand the contradiction and condescension in your answer

              • Cobertizo on 30/01/2020 - 11:47
                +1

                @bargain huntress: Not the author of the original reply, but my personal experience with a Samsung Galaxy Tab A (with a SIM card) [edit - just realised that it’s the exact one you linked above] is that there is a phone app which can be used. So maybe Android generally still lets you use the normal phone app as if it were a smartphone (Samsung certainly does with theirs). The iPad on the other hand doesn’t, so you’d have to use FaceTime / Skype / VoIP etc.

  • Rauland on 27/01/2020 - 20:12

    I don't think Android tablets are very good and I use an Android phone, try an Ipad. They're below $500 iirc.

    • bargain huntress on 27/01/2020 - 20:15
      -4

      but what is the smallest ipad?

      • kerfuffle on 27/01/2020 - 20:18

        You could have easily Googled this …

      • iforgotmysocks on 27/01/2020 - 22:34
        +3

        The iPad Angstrom, which is roughly twice the diameter of a hydrogen atom.

        • crentist on 28/01/2020 - 02:41
          +1

          double? kinda big

        • bargain huntress on 29/01/2020 - 02:50

          i tried to find a clip of the scene in futurama where amy puts down her phone, and then can't see it anymore, but i failed.

  • askme69 on 27/01/2020 - 21:12
    +1

    My mum got a Samsung Tab s4 with 200gb per month for $40 from the Optus deal a while back. I think its a fantastic bit of gear. Great camera md screen.

    • bargain huntress on 29/01/2020 - 02:45

      so they do have good cameras then… thank you.

      • askme69 on 29/01/2020 - 11:43

        Her Samaung camera wwthwe its the aize od tje acreen not aure.

        But i think it takes way better pics than her Note, or my LG V30+ or Samaung s8.

  • RockyRaccoon on 27/01/2020 - 22:46
    +1

    It can be done. An iPad mini, or even a iPod will work, you get a voip service, using a voip app and you just make calls via the internet. People can also call you, just that you number will be a landline number rather than a mobile number.

    Did this years ago when travelling in the US so remained in contact with family from Oz. But given now cheap mobile phone plans, it’s probably not as viable anymore.

    Cant recall app but search in the app store and you will find a number. You can then get a voip service with Maxotel, Mynetphone etc

  • try2bhelpful on 27/01/2020 - 23:03
    +1

    I would just get a low end phone and hotspot off for your Pad. I would look at some of the deals for the lower end iPads or the mini. You can use the phone for calls, taking pictures, music player, gps etc, and use the pad for everything else.

    • bargain huntress on 29/01/2020 - 02:39
      -1

      can the pad not gps or take pictures?

      • try2bhelpful on 30/01/2020 - 12:44
        +1

        If you get the ipad with a SIM, you get GPS. Yes, you can take pictures with your iPad but you do look a bit of a dick with the great big screen.

  • Hansi on 27/01/2020 - 23:30
    +1

    I would say it's because of convenience. In theory the concept make sense but carrying two devices around (one that does most likely not even fit in your pocket) seems annoying to me.

    Also calculate how much you'd then spend across two devices as opposed to a cheap mobile plan (Belong or Telstra $35 for 50GB sth) and big phone that can do what the tablet can (Samsung A20 for example) you'd end up cheaper overall and don't have to carry two devices around.

    • try2bhelpful on 28/01/2020 - 07:18
      +1

      I carry two devices in my bag, and a smart watch on my wrist. The bigger phones don’t really work in your pocket and you have to take them out then you sit down. You can have the cheap mobile phone, and the cheap plan, and use the pad for most of the rest of what you do. The extra real estate of the pad makes writing emails, comments, buying online things, booking online, etc much easier. My PC has been, mainly, sidelined unless I want to do some serious work. Pads have apps like The Age, where you can get the online crossword, as well. I carry a sling bag across my back, much easier than filling my pockets with “stuff” and when I pick it up everything I need is there, including spare bags for shopping.

      • bargain huntress on 29/01/2020 - 02:42

        thank you. the extra real estate is appealing. i think i would go for the biggest that would fit in a pocket though. i don't want to put it down and leave it behind all the time. my broken phablet is nearly as big as a small tablet and fitted in my pockets.

        • try2bhelpful on 29/01/2020 - 12:30
          +1

          The Apple minis are great but I find it disappointing they haven’t gone down the full screen pro, lose the button, path. I’ve got the 11” Pro, and it fits in my sling bag, but it is a bit of a squeeze with the other stuff in it. Sling bags are great. Pick it up, everything goes with you, stuff everything back in before you leave. I lost an iPhone 6, on a tram, because it fell out of my pocket when I was sitting down. I got it back because “find my friends” showed it was at the Preston tram depot.

  • [Deactivated] on 29/01/2020 - 17:31
    +1

    A review of the tab you have linked above -
    https://mynexttablet.com/samsung-galaxy-tab-a-s-pen-review/

    Huntress suggests adventurous, which may be one of the reasons for your interest in a SIM-enabled tablet, with S Pen, for OzB-friendly equivalent, to MS Paint links! :)

    Bluetooth headset w/mic will offer you the convenience of wandering away from the tab, if you do intend to ever use the tab for making or receiving calls. Something like this, will work for that.

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