$50-$90 Tablet Throwdown Review for 2018 – Amazon Fire vs. Lenovo Tab 4, Aoson S7+, Neutab, Fusion5
Last Updated on February 23, 2024 9:41 am by Jeffrey Powers
We’re updating the $50 tablet Throwdown! This year, I decided to look at tablets that would cost between $50-90. These tablets will most likely be on discount during Black Friday sales, so you can get yours at a great price! This is also in conjunction with the Tablet Buying Guide article on Geekazine. A full rundown of what to look for in a tablet.
Setting the Tablet Guidelines for this Review
All of these tablets had to have Android 7 (Nougat) or better. The tablets had to have Quad-core processing at at least 1.2 GHz, and a comparable graphics processor (GPU). 2 tablets were 7″, and 3 were 8″. Bluetooth, and WiFi b/g/n.
I set the $50-90 price point since many tablets under $50 could not meet the requirements. Keep in mind, an older operating system can be a security risk to your home. Nougat is still supported and used.
The FireOS is a proprietary system based on the Android 7.1 software.
All tablets are new. There were no comparable new Windows or iOS tablets. On the same token, there were no new Samsung tablets -another popular brand of mobile devices.
7″ Tablet – Aoson S7+ $62.99
The coolest part about this tablet is that it supports 3G cellular, and dual SD cards. With a 1024×600 display, this tablet supports GPS, WiFi b/g/n, and Bluetooth. 1GB RAM, 16 GB Storage, but the dual card can bring in almost 512 GB of storage.
5 MP rear camera, 2 MP front for photos, video chats, and more.
Other features include headphone jack, stereo speaker, Cortex A7 processor / Mali 400 GPU.
Thoughts: I tested all but the celluar service. The tablet runs fairly well, and the screen is crisp. Apps load ok, and games play with some lag. It’s not going to be a gaming tablet, anyway. The Aoson S7+ is a solid tablet for indoor or outdoor use.
7″ Tablet Neutab $49.99
This 7 inch tablet is $49.99 at the time of this recording. It actually is updated to Android 7.1.2 (May 2018) . Inside is a Quad-core Rockchip processor at 1.3 GHz. 1GB RAM, 8 GB storage, with SD card expansion.
The cameras are 2MP (rear) and .69 MP (front). 1024×600 resolution, with a 6 hour battery (active).
Other features include Wifi b/g/n, GPS, and Bluetooth.
Thoughts: This is also a decent device, but the slowest of the lot. The screen is darker, and will become harder to see pon slight tilting. I was able to load apps and play basic games easy. Surfing was also not an issue.
Games load. I also loaded TV apps like Hulu, Netflix, and Spectrum TV. Once again, slow loading, but it does work.
8″ Fusion5 Tablet $64.97
The first in our 8 inch tablets, the Fusion5 is a 1280×800 screen with a Rockchip RK3126 processor (quad-core 1.2 GHz) and Mali400 GPU. Installed is Android 7.1.2 (Feb 2018), and 1 GB RAM with 16 GB storage with SD card slot.
Wifi is 2.4 GHz b/g/n, and bluetooth. Both front and rear cameras are 2 MP
Thoughts: The photos from this camera are not really great. This tablet is slow, but manageable. The battery is not as powerful, either, but still can get a 6-7 hour lifespan.
The Fusion5 screen is very nice, using an IPS screen, and 170 degree brightness. Using a video app, you’ll be able to watch shows, even without a tablet stand.
Lenovo Tab4 8″ $95
Get the Lenovo Tab4 8″: https://amzn.to/2PuVqMQ
*NOTE: After purchasing this tablet, it was taken off Walmart’s website and replaced with the next model – the 8304F1. Differences include 1.4GB RAM, You can get that tablet here.
The Lenovo Tab4 8″ has a quad-core 1.3 GHz processor, and Mali T720 GPU. Screen size is 1280×800. 1GB RAM/16GB storage with SD card expansion.
Wifi 2.4 GHz b/g/n. GPS and Bluetooth available. 5 MP front camera, but .3 face camera.
Thoughts: This is the most expensive tablet out of the group, but does a great job in loading and using apps. The screen is also decent, and can be seen at an angle.
Was disappointed in the face camera, but the front camera is fairly clean. Lenovo also has a Panorama setting for both cameras, which works left-to-right or up-to-down.
Amazon Fire HD 8 $79.99 (with ads, + $15 w/out ads)
The HD8 2018 has a nice bump of process. A quad-core 1.3 GHz processor, with 1.5 GB RAM and either 16 or 32GB storage. SD card slot to add 400 GB storage. Fully charge in 6 hours, with a 10 hour battery life.
Camera is only 2MP for both front and back. The HD8 also has an Accelerometer and ambient light sensor.
Dolby audio in the integrated speaker. Tablet can also act like an Alexa Echo with show mode.
Wifi dual-band, and Bluetooth.
Thoughts: This tablet would be the choice hands down, but there are a few things that hold it back. Biggest issue is simply the walled garden. There are applications that can easily run on FireOS, but since they are not in the Amazon App Store, you cannot use them (unless if you side-load Google Play, which is technically not allowed).
The cameras are also a let down. The front camera should be at least 5 MP. Especially since Amazon has photo cloud storage that could play on HD televisions.
What it does have going is that it’s a stable tablet. Upon turning on, it’s easy to get into your apps, read books, and more. Of course, with the Amazon library, you have lots of entertainment to watch, read or listen to.
Final Thoughts
All five of these tablets will work for someone who wants to surf the web, check email, listen to some music, or use apps that are not too complex. A $50 limit is possible, but those tablets might have an older version of Android, which I don’t recommend if you are going to use your tablet for banking or higher security functions.
Of course, the Fire HD 8 and Lenovo Tab4 are the top two in this comparison. Depending on your need for a mobile device, you might simply choose the Aoson for the cellular ability.
What Do You Have?
Let me know what tablet you own and if you like it or not!
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