Cheap(er) 14 Inch Tablet for Reading Music

Fredorishi on 17/05/2025 - 10:46

Looking for options if there are any, for a basic 14 inch tablet. Don't really want to pay premium prices for an S10 Ultra or similar if I can help it. Have done some very basic research, but I'm far from knowledgeable.

Main uses would be as a music reader and a few basic apps. Would only need WiFi. No movies no games etc. I have a S7+ plus for those, but like the idea of something bigger for music for my failing eyes. Needs to sit on a music stand, so not a laptop. (probably goes without saying)

The only option I can see locally is a TCL tablet, but $799 is more than I want to spend. Are they any good anyway?

Ideally looking at under $500 or less if there is such a thing. Decent AliExpress option or similar maybe?

Any ideas welcome.

Thanks.

Computing Tablet

Comments

  • skid on 17/05/2025 - 11:00
    +2

    Would a touch screen monitor work? You'd have to connect your phone to it.

    • Fredorishi on 17/05/2025 - 11:36

      Hmmm. Possibly. But I think I would prefer a stand alone unit in terms of having the music directly on that. Rather than having to faff around with my phone connecting it etc. Also in terms of "turning" pages and loading up new pieces etc. Would be much harder on a small phone. Especially if it came to using it in a performance setting. Also seems a bit thick and heavy for what I want. Thanks for the suggestion though. Gives me something else to consider. :)

  • sumyungguy on 17/05/2025 - 12:08

    If you're intending to use in a performance setting, iPads rarely crash… but I get that Android stuff is cheaper

    • Fredorishi on 17/05/2025 - 12:48

      Ipads don't seem to come in 14 inch versions either afaik. They're certainly more popular with the muso's I've played with though. Trying to keep the budget lower for now. Paper still works well enough. :)

      • AustriaBargain on 17/05/2025 - 19:55
        +1

        iPad has 13 inch. You can probably get an old 12.9 inch cheap. Don't go too old though.

  • spackbace on 17/05/2025 - 12:20
    +2

    https://www.ozbargain.com.au/tag/tablet

    Some ideas in there

    • Fredorishi on 17/05/2025 - 12:25

      Yeah, thankyou. I had a look through previous deals. (and forum posts) None for 14 inch jobs as far as I could see.

      Plenty of muso's use smaller screens, but I'm at the age where my eyesight isn't great and I haven't fully committed to wearing reading glasses yet. Might have to bite the bullet and maybe go for a used s8 ultra or similar if I can't find anything more suitable.

      • spackbace on 17/05/2025 - 12:30
        +1

        12.7?

        Not on special any more, but still a lot for under $400

        • Fredorishi on 17/05/2025 - 12:54

          Stubbornly aiming for 14.6 inches or so. Partly because it's closer to the same size as A4 as well.

          • sumyungguy on 17/05/2025 - 17:16

            @Fredorishi: You're trying to get an electronic display that mimics 210 x 297mm, but consider a formatted A4 document may have 2.5cm margins… so you're chasing a bigger display just so you can see the white space allocated to margins? Most users are fine to use a 13-inch tablet for music because the content displays at the same scale an A4 printed page.

        • CheapandUsed on 17/05/2025 - 15:15

          Was quite surprised how good the screen looked on the in store display unit of this version too

          IdeaPad pro 8 12.7"

          • Fredorishi on 17/05/2025 - 19:51

            @CheapandUsed: Yeah, ive tried using my s7+. Would prefer bigger if im going to buy something elae.

  • doperst on 17/05/2025 - 14:15
    +1

    I know nothing about this particular model, but Teclast tablets are generally decent quality and fairly popular on Ozbargain:
    https://vi.aliexpress.com/item/1005007892962739.html

    13" tablet, eligible for 15% cashback from Topcashback:
    https://vi.aliexpress.com/item/1005008073057698.html

    Aliexpress coupons:
    https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/905125

    • Fredorishi on 17/05/2025 - 19:52

      Thanks. I'll check em out

  • soan papdi on 17/05/2025 - 19:27

    How about a laptop that can fold into a tablet?

    $597 Asus Aspire
    https://www.officeworks.com.au/shop/officeworks/p/acer-14-as…

    $577 Lenovo IdeaPad
    https://www.officeworks.com.au/shop/officeworks/p/lenovo-14-…

    $569 HP Chromebook Plus
    https://www.jbhifi.com.au/products/hp-15a-nb0009tu-15-6-full…

    • Fredorishi on 17/05/2025 - 19:55

      As wirh the screen above. Probably a bit too thick and heavy. Thankyou though.

  • lucas deals on 18/05/2025 - 13:56
    +1

    I'm a professional musician and have not great eyesight. I use a surface pro. A few things to consider:
    - not sure if you are using in an orchestra or just at home etc, but 98% of people use iPads and it's annoying to not be able to use airdrop
    - you really don't want crashes or problems while performing. For that reason I wouldn't use anything unreliable from a no name brand
    - the iPad is smaller but the aspect ratio is actually better for sheet music so you get more usable space after cropping. I often have black bars at the bottom of my screen even with the surface's 3:2 ratio
    - if you want REALLY big, you can use your device landscape and do half page turns. All the big music reading software can do this

    IMO you'd be best getting a second hand iPad with good battery health or getting the battery replaced if that's feasible.

    • Fredorishi on 18/05/2025 - 15:17

      Thanks for the input. Just an amateur, but play in various groups. Brass band, orchestra, big band etc. Ideally would use for rehearsals and gigs.

      I generally either scan parts myself direct from paper, or most groups I'm in use google docs for any uploads. Already using "mobile sheets" on my S7+ which is 12.4 in, but I find that a little small, so mostly stick with paper.

      I'm really quite entrenched in Android. I have ipads at work and I can't stand the things! They're tiny and old though, so I probably shouldn't write them all off. However, I'm starting to think I might go with a used S8Ultra. Hard for me to justify $1500/2k or more for something new, when I'd only use it a couple times a week plus home practice which I don't do enough of. Lol.

      Of course, the other thing I really probably should do is go back to the optometrist and get some proper lenses sorted out. I'm on my first pair of reading glasses as of 18months ago and they're good for reading parts, but lousy for seeing the conductor/other players. Can't get used to wearing em either way. But I'm led to believe you can get multi-focus lenses or some such that cover both distances in one pair. Sucks to get older, but first world problems, really. I'm probably making it harder than I need to.

      Cheers.

      • lucas deals on 18/05/2025 - 16:14
        +1

        That one is 16:10. Maybe the large size will mean that's fine, but I'd try it out first. You may get big black bars and wasted screen real estate.

        MobileSheets is great! That's what I use on my surface.

        • Fredorishi on 20/05/2025 - 13:19

          Yeah, i might have to start taking a closer look at what the folks sitting beside me are using! Lol. Seems more a thing in the occasional gigs I've done, rather than my regular bands though, hence asking here.

  • framwockle on 19/05/2025 - 06:45
    +3

    I'm using a refurbished Microsoft Surface Pro 4 with windows 10 (without the detachable keyboard) which I got from Amazon for $299 last year. Weight is 786g compared to 760g for the TCL tablet. I can connect it to my phone's hotspot if necessary.

    There are cheaper ones with Windows 11 available now, for example:
    https://www.amazon.com.au/Microsoft-Surface-i5-6300U-256GB-R…?

    I use the free version of MobileSheets as a music score reader. I'm very happy with it.
    https://apps.microsoft.com/detail/9nblggh6ct6d?hl=en-US&gl=U…

    I use a cheap foot pedal page turner
    https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B09CP8HLG4?ref_=ppx_hzsearch_co…

    And this stylus pen
    https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B0B4NH4J53?ref_=ppx_hzsearch_co…

    Total cost was about $390. All in all, I'm very happy with this setup.

    • Fredorishi on 20/05/2025 - 13:15

      The Surface pro you linked is smaller than my current s7+. And yeah, as above. Already using mobile sheets. The paid version was pretty good value i thought..

      Will certainly look into a foot pedal once i get the screen sorted out.

      Cheers for the input.

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