Tablet sales began to stagnate towards the end of the 2010s as our smartphone screens got bigger. Smartphones became ‘convergence’ devices with everything from binge watching to emails shifting to our pocketable phones. The pandemic altered that somewhat. Tablets were back in the mix as the need for second screens began to surge. Whether it was online classrooms or virtual meetings, we needed a larger screen. While the debate around tabs as productivity devices continues, there’s no disputing their capabilities as ‘content consumption’ devices. That’s one reason affordable tabs continue to thrive. Statista reported that worldwide tablet shipments stood at 45.7 million units for the last quarter (Q4) of 2022 up from 38.6 million units in Q3 2022.
We round up some of the best tabs you can buy under Rs 20,000. Whether you’re looking for a binge-watch screen or a large screen for e-books or graphic novels or gaming, we’ve got you covered.
Redmi Pad
One of the talking points of this budget tab is its 10.61-inch display (2000 x 1200 pixels/ 220 PPI) with a 90Hz refresh rate that maxes out at 400 nits. It is well under 500gm, making it light enough to hold for long periods of time. If you need to switch to virtual meeting mode, the 8MP selfie cam offers a wide-angle 105-degree field of view that is convenient for video calls. The Redmi Tab is powered by MIUI that features some handy features like multi-windows and split screen. (Rs 14,999 onwards)
OPPO Pad Air
OPPO’s first-ever tab lives up to its Air moniker with its ultra-slim form (The Pad Air is just 6.94mm slim). It looks good for its sticker price — we dig the unique 3D texture on the back. At its heart is a Qualcomm Snapdragon 680 processor with a choice of 4GB/64GB and 4GB/128GB storage variants. The Pad Air also offers support for OPPO’s ‘Smart Stylus Pen’, a handy optional accessory that you can use to make notes at meetings or annotate PDFs. (Rs 16,999 onwards)
Samsung Galaxy Tab A8
Samsung’s premium Galaxy Tab S8 series remains one of the best Android tabs out there. The Tab A8 is the brand’s value-for-money option with a 10.5-inch (1920 x1200 pixels) WUXGA (widescreen ultra-extended graphics array) display. Colours are vibrant on this TFT display while the Dolby Atmos surround sound on the quad speakers adds to its entertainment creds. The edgy design of the Tab A8 is an improvement over its predecessor (the A7); it weighs under 500gm and the 3.5mm headphone socket is a handy inclusion. (Rs 14,999 onwards)
Realme Pad X
It’s 7.1mm thin and weighs just 499gm. Realme’s premier tab features Realme UI 3.0 for Pad that offers split-screen functionality and allows you to multitask effortlessly. You can add optional accessories like the Realme pencil (that charges instantly via magnetic wireless charging) and the Realme smart keyboard. The 10.95-inch WUXGA+ display is one of the highlights and peaks at 450 nits. You also get quad speakers with Dolby Atmos. The Pad X is propelled by a Snapdragon 6nm processor, the top-end variant features 6GB of RAM and 128GB of internal storage. (Rs 19,999 onwards)
Moto Tab G70
Our favourite feature of the G70 is the 11-inch 2K display (2000 x 1200 pixels/ 400 nits of peak brightness) backed by Quad speakers optimised with Dolby Atmos. This device is powered by a MediaTek Helio G90T Octa-core processor coupled with 4GB or 6GB of RAM. There is a 7700mAh battery under the hood despite its 490gm footprint and an elegant aluminium alloy body. (Rs 19,999 onwards)
For the Apple loyalists
If you’re already invested in the Apple (iOS) ecosystem and are using an iPhone, you might want to consider an iPad. The most affordable iPad is the 9th Generation iPad (from Rs 33,900 onwards) that is powered by Apple’s A13 Bionic chip. Apple has also recently launched the all-new, colourful, 10th Generation iPad (Rs 44,900 onwards) with support for the Magic Keyboard Folio.