What brand is good for a sub RM1000 tablet? Mainly used for reading PDF files and surfing. Maybe some netflix and youtube. My dad is currently using a Samsung Tab A7 (or something, I forget the model) but the screen is small and 2GB ram means even the interface is not smooth

Based on my research, Samsung seems to be good for long lasting and also gives updates for a long time. But the Tab A9 is 4gb ram. Even if I bump up the budget a bit for the Tab S6 Lite, its still 4gb ram. I'm doubtful 4gb ram will be usable for the next 5 years or so.

So I looked at Redmi, they have some budget models with 6gb and even 8gb but I saw some posts about poor quality, made in India and melting cpu? And the worst thing I saw was about ads. I'm not sure how the ads appear, since whoever mentioned it on reddit wasn't specific... does it pop up when doing random stuff with your wi-fi on? Or just via browsers? Or just via their bloatware? Is it hard to uninstall the bloatware?

And then I looked at Honor Pad X8a, RM749 with 8GB ram. How is it? Anyone have any knowledge or experience with this brand? I only know its a Huawei sub-brand.

I didn't check any other brands, because my head was starting to throb...

Appreciate any comments and suggestions

If just for reading pdf, surfing, Netflix and YouTube you can't go wrong with an iPad. No need the latest even older model works awesome.

For tablet ram should be at least 8gb for long lasting

Ipad 9 when there is promo is below 1k
if can top up, ipad 10th around 1.2-1.3k
Else redmi pad pro rm8xx for 6gb/128gb
Mi pad 6 during promo also below 1k

Dad had the first generation Ipad (its still working!) Its a bit troublesome to move files in and out. Everything need iTunes. Especially since he has a ton of own PDF files. Don't really want to touch Apple again.

6gb or 8gb android was what I was thinking of, because 4gb is just too dated. Same thing with desktop PCs... its criminal to still sell 8GB models but at least for that you can plug in your own upgrades.


Do you have experience with Redmi? I'm concerned about the ads and the lastibility

If you just need a cheap reading tablet and occasional YouTube binge and not too picky, can look at the teclast tablets. My kids use them and they have surprisingly lasted well over 3 years and still going strong in the hands of those gremlins.

I think I paid 600ish for them back then (P20HD) and I think they should have newer models out by now.

I got fed up of them breaking iPads over and over again.

This post has been edited by jaycee1: Feb 27 2025, 11:57 AM

I've never heard of that brand... a quick check its really cheap. I wonder if there is a catch. Seems like have to buy online only because I've never seen their shop in malls. Will do more research thanks!

you are right if you don't have apple product eco system sometimes its quite challenging but in 2025 you can just upload those pdf in google drive and open it from there. I personally use iPad Pro and iPad mini . Fluidity and stability apple is still the best my old iPad mini after so many years still works smoothly as an ebook reader

This post has been edited by aspire2oo6: Feb 27 2025, 12:01 PM

I didn't think of that! Now its worth considering although still leaning on Android. Have Goodreader and some other apps purchased way back then I wonder if its still there... have to recover my apple ID lol

Not to say android not good but for those mentioned tasks you plan to do iPad still the best. If for android tablet for 8gb ram its slightly above RM1000

Here
Xiaomi Pad
https://shopee.com.my/product/698003580/274...1hoClvUQAvD_BwE

Honor
https://shopee.com.my/HONOR-Pad-X9-LTE-7(4-...492.23173567109

Well your dad's 1st gen ipad proves that Ipad is the lasting tablet to own.

No experience. For phones both android and ios is ok. But for tablet, msot of my friend even android users will recommend ipad.

This post has been edited by vince316: Feb 27 2025, 01:21 PM

my mom still have the 1st gen iPad. Just that old games still can play. Cannot update cannot download apps. If ts want an android just make sure its 8gb or more ram

Teclast has been around for some time already. Just that it fly's under most people's radar because they avoid cheap Chinese tablets which is understandable since most of them are pretty crap.

However , there are decent Chinese brands like teclast that have been around a while. But most of them are running lower powered CPUs. But if you just want light use, it's fine.

You can try tech tablets you tube channel, he reviews a lot of the cheap Chinese phones/tablets/gadgets.

It's certainly cheap, but buying online only have its own set of problems.

The Honor X9 looks good, with free keyboard. Leaning towards that now especially since can get from a physical shop.

L platform birthday is just around the corner, should be somewhere in march. Wait for promo and grab ipad 9th within your budget or top up little bit to get ipad 10 online.

Ipad is the best choice for tablet currently and it just cost a little more compared to honor x9. Nowadays it's getting easier to transfer file from apple to Android unlike old time. Reliable & easy to use for elderly and easier after sales service.

Better avoid those cheap brand like telcast. Reliability is a question and if anything go wrong, it's very difficult to get after sales service. Just top up a bit and get an ipad will be the best choice.

This post has been edited by wolf1991: Feb 27 2025, 02:36 PM

I agree on the telecast. Its crappy brand my friend buy before. Better buy a better brand like honor or Xiaomi better iPad

I didn't expect so many people recommend iPad! Budget can stretch, RM1k is just a guide but definitely not going much higher than that. I can't imagine buying a tablet for more money than I paid for my Dell Inspiron 2in1.

However, I'm guessing buying online will be out. Dad likes to touch things before buying, especially expensive things. And with physical shop you can just go back there if got problem.

Don’t just see the current value. For same price of an Android tablet the iPad can last and perform better at least 3 to 5 years longer will update, fluidity, stability .

If one person says something is good, maybe it’s just their opinion. If ten people say it, maybe it’s luck. But if hundred of people say iPads last longer and perform better, they’re probably right.

Maybe you didn’t look proper the spec of tablet people recommend those are low and mid end processor so how long do you think it can last

This post has been edited by aspire2oo6: Feb 27 2025, 06:41 PM

When i tell ppl i use samsung tablet,many ask why samsung, ipad is the best
I ask how can use ipad for call, how to use whatsapp
And ios is trash for me

Lol you are right bro.
when I got the ipad, I was amazed where they don't have WhatsApp. 😂

Samsung tab is the best true, can have True calling via cellular.

But ipad is the best. Lol

To use native whatsapp, the device must able to use call and SMS, ipad cannot do both
Even wifi samsung tab cannot search whatsapp

Lol.
Just use facetime je la... All is good.

Teclast not bad

If want physical can go Harvey Norman.
Samsung tablets not bad also at about rm1k

You want to get a tablet that have high PPI (pixel per-inch) to have better viewing experience. At least 250ppi and above. If OLED and high refresh rate will be better.

iPad is good for reading text but for watching video because it's screen ratio is 3:2 the video display will be a lot smaller.

Android tablet mostly 16:9 or 16:10 so it's perfect for video, for reading it is still good. But the downside is most tablet have slow CPU and low RAM. The OS update is also questionable unless it is from Samsung but the price is a lot higher than other similar specced Android tablet, most other tablet usually get update for first year then it was abandoned.

Build quality wise iPad is a lot better than most Android tablet. iPad also have longer software support.

Your RM1,000 budget will be hard to get a better quality tablet. If up to RM2,000 then you can find more choices.

Long time never heard Teclast. Last time I have it's tablet with Intel powered CPU that dual boot Win 10 and Android. That purchase really worth my money.

X9 CPU is slow. I had a tablet with SD 870 and feel less responsiveness when compare to Y700 2023, X9 SD 685 will be even slower. I suggest you get a tablet with at least 800k Antutu score and 8GB RAM

I can say now samsung is crazy about the software update, i using crap Tab A7 Lite that only cost me RM500, also got 3 times android update, i don see other brand tablet can do it

Oh yes ipad is not suitable for watch video because of screen ratio

But around 1k Samsung tablets all 4GB ram only...


For the intended use, might be ok since no gaming. Bear in mind, my dad is using about 5+ year old Samsung (bought before Covid) and its still ok for him. Slow at times but he did complain the screen is a bit small nowadays, so I'm exploring for him.

In the end he might not want to change anyway since he's so thrifty lol. But I want to have an answer ready in case he's prepared to change. For me its slow sometimes when I update stuff for him the Play Store is so slow... 2GB ram!

So what I'm looking for is actually long lasting. 4GB is a bit short in my opinion which kind of rule out Samsung within the budget. Realme I heard a lot about the bloatware and advertisement crap, so a bit concerned as well. I saw Teclast reviews and they come almost stock Android, but buying online and the chance of getting a dodgy unit is not really worth it. Which is why I'm hovering on X9. I doubt I can convince him to go back to Apple...

For casual use eg movies YouTube angry bird newspaper 4gb is more than sufficient.
If you use it for heavy gaming then different

I think the best way for you is learn from experience. For me most of my gadgets I already switch to apple because of the fluidity and the best I know it can last. Hint old people = iCloud = restore like new = no frustration = no reinstall

.
Fyi, you can add up to 4GB of virtual memory (taken from the 64GB internal storage = called swap space in Linux) to the Samsung Galaxy Tab A9, for a total of 8GB of memory/RAM. .......

- Samsung Galaxy Tab A9/A9+ Extend RAM Memory - 23 Nov 2023
.

This post has been edited by lurkingaround: Feb 28 2025, 04:18 PM

Wbat i can say this function is slow down device, i turn off on all my samsung device

Ok, 4gb may be sufficient for now but who can tell in a few years? My question is, for around the same price why not go for the Honor instead of Samsung? Is there a reason to go for Samsung? I've seen a video review of the X9, it seems smooth. Of course, I will test it out if actually want to buy but for normal use and no gaming it seems good enough. I'm thinking 8gb vs 4gb will be better for browsing even if the CPU is weaker.

Mind you, I have nothing against Samsung. My dad uses it for his phone and tablet, and I used to have one although it died after some 5 years. Currently lucky (or unlucky) enough to be using one of the last Huawei with Google Play Store, before the first round of Trump banning. Still doing good after 5+ years, with a slightly shorter battery life as expected.


That's interesting. Honor Pad X8a which I mentioned in the first post actually does this with 4+4gb which I mistakenly thought was 8gb until I saw a review that said this feature doesn't really work that well and can't be turned off. Its like Windows virtual RAM And the X9 has two versions, the cheaper one being 4+3gb at RM899 and the 8+5gb at RM1099

This post has been edited by backwards: Feb 28 2025, 04:43 PM

.
I think the caveat to use RAM Plus is that you have ample free internal storage space and avoid very heavy workloads (eg open >10 browser tabs) = no to little slow down of device, eg 30GB free/unused storage out of 64GB for the Samsung Galaxy Tab A9. .......

https://phoenixnap.com/kb/swap-space - Swap Space in Linux: What It Is & How It Works - 31 Aug 2023
.

.
Note that the Honor Pad X9 does not come with the headphone jack whereas the Samsung Tab A9/A9+ does.
.

This post has been edited by lurkingaround: Feb 28 2025, 05:00 PM

No problem, he has wireless buds

Buy something from reputable brands so that he can get updates 3-4 years down the road. Some are cheap but lack updates.

Personally I dont recommend ipad just in case need to copy video and playback. I think it has file manager but not sure if it has improved on this area.

Avoid China set just in case. It could be lacking widewine L1 needed for HD content for some streaming app like Netflix.

Swap file is slow isnt because of free space. It's mostly down to the wait time swapping content between ram and swap file before it can be accessed by the cpu. Swap file is pre allocated thus there is no concern about free space.

.
If the RAM Plus feature is not used, there will be 4GB more of free space in the internal storage (which is like a computer's SSD) if the latter is quite full (= little free space left). .......

https://www.partitionwizard.com/resizeparti...-when-full.html
Do SSD Slow Down When Full

Do SSDs get slower when full? The answer is yes. SSD will run slower if you fill it up. According to a survey, the write speed of an SSD will obviously slow down when the used space accounts for more than 75%. What’s worse, your PC may slow down and get stuck when you’re playing games or running some boot applications.
.

This post has been edited by lurkingaround: Mar 5 2025, 07:39 PM

Dont use pc as comparison for phone as they are quite different in how they manage their resources.

This post has been edited by andrekua2: Mar 5 2025, 09:38 PM

.
Fyi, .......

https://www.howtogeek.com/why-freeing-up-st...d-phone-faster/ - Why Freeing Up Storage Space Makes Your Android Phone Faster - 5 Jan 2024
SUMMARY

- Flash memory slows down as it fills, causing your phone's performance to suffer.
- Keep at least 10–15% of your phone's storage space free for optimal speeds.
- Easy ways to free up storage space include deleting duplicate files, compressing videos, and uninstalling unused apps.
.

Phones are at least 128GB and needing 10-15% free space is overkill. Running a benchmark to prove your case just isnt what really happened in real world.

Basically even if you delete files to free up space, you might still get random speed like what was mentioned by the author. Its most probably a TLC or QLC which stored 3 or 4 bits. When you cleared your old cache, they do no clear the partial bit that were deleted and instead waiting until a rewrite is needed, and that is when they cleared the cell of all the data and rewrite the whole cell again.