Nowadays, tablets have become great alternatives when deciding between getting a phone and a laptop. They are only slightly larger than an average cellphone but can perform functions equivalent to that of a computer. On top of that, finding the right budget tablet can help you save money and lessen the need to carry around multiple devices all the time.
Other than its lower price tag, there are many other specifications you need to consider to find the right one for you. Check out our buying guide below to learn about the different terminologies and the pointers you need to keep in mind when purchasing this item. You can also browse through our selection of the 10 best budget tablets to get you started.
There are numerous tablet options available at different price points. Before placing your order online, make sure you know what specifications to look for. Check out our buying guide below to know more.
Tablet sizes can go from anything larger than the average mobile phone to ones as close to the dimensions of a laptop. Choosing the right proportions depends mostly on how you want to use your gadget. For light social media browsing or e-book reading, a pocket-size, 7-inch tablet is a great option. This size also makes it lightweight and easy to carry around.
If you prefer to get a tablet for editing or multitasking, options that are 10 inches or higher can get the job done. Do remember that tablet measurements are usually denoted by just one number, which refers to the device’s length when measured diagonally. If you want to know its actual dimensions, look for values written as length x width.
In the tech world, you would often come across the term RAM, which stands for random access memory. It refers to the storage utilized by your tablet when it begins to run any type of application on your device. Once the applications are closed, your RAM storage is cleared.
Since RAM is not expandable, choosing a high-capacity one is a great investment. Tablet RAMs typically start at 2 GB, which should be enough to run low-power apps. If you wish to use your gadget for activities like gaming or editing, splurging on 4 GB to 8 GB options can save you more money in the long run.
The Read-Only Memory or ROM refers to your tablet's internal memory. This is what your gadget uses to store all your files, games, or apps. Having a high ROM capacity means that you can store more documents on your device for quick access.
Brands often carry multiple ROM options for the same tablet model. This could easily bump up the price should you go for one with a bigger capacity. However, it would be best to purchase a unit that has expandable memory. This means that the tablet has a card slot where a memory card can be inserted.
These memory cards are widely available in tech or gadget shops, so you won’t have trouble looking for them. Since they can be removed, you can have multiple cards for different file types. It is also an ideal feature for photographers since they can easily transfer their photos from their camera to the tablet and vice versa.
Getting a budget-friendly tablet doesn't mean that you can only take low-quality pictures and videos with it. Nowadays, you can get tablets that have HD cameras despite the lower price tag. Just make sure that the gadget you're eyeing has both a front and rear camera. This way, you can easily make video calls with your family or take pictures to post online.
A term typically used to refer to the camera’s quality is megapixels or MP. This value is equivalent to the number of individual dots of color in a photo. With a higher megapixel rate, a clearer and crisper image can be seen.
In today’s market, a good camera for a mobile device starts at 8 MP. This means there are 8 million pixels taken every time you capture an image. Do note that the front and rear cameras have different MPs, with the latter usually having the better quality.
A tablet is a great portable device that is best paired with a large battery capacity. This decreases the need to sit next to a power outlet all day or carry around a heavy battery pack to keep your gadget working.
Make sure to look for tablets that have a 5000 mAh battery capacity or bigger. This should be enough to run strong apps the whole day. You can also look for ones that are fast-charging. This convenient upgrade lets you get a full charge for half the time it would usually take.
Now that you know what specifications to look for in a budget tablet check out these options from different brands. Everything we've included below is available for purchase on online websites, so you don't need to leave the comforts of your home. Plus, all models listed are below Php 20,000 for a truly budget-friendly selection.
**Prices may vary depending on the website and their campaign period**
From ₱18,999
Display | 10.4 Inches |
---|---|
Camera | Front: 8MP Rear: 8MP |
Resolution | 2000 x 1200 Pixels |
Storage | 64 GB Up to 512 GB (MicroSD) |
Processor | HUAWEI Kirin 810 Octa-Core |
RAM | 4 GB |
Battery | 7250 mAh |
SIM-Card Ready | Yes (Nano-SIM) |
From ₱18,990
Display | 10.2 Inches |
---|---|
Camera | Front: 1.2 MP Rear: 8 MP |
Resolution | 2160 x 1620 Pixels |
Storage | 32 GB or 128 GB |
Processor | A12 Bionic Chip |
RAM | Not Indicated |
Battery | 6480 mAh |
SIM-Card Ready | Yes (Nano-SIM) |
From ₱11,990
Display | 10.3 Inches |
---|---|
Camera | Front: 5 MP Rear: 8 MP |
Resolution | 1920 x 1200 Pixels |
Storage | 32 GB Up to 256 GB (MicroSD) |
Processor | MediaTek Helio P22T |
RAM | 2 GB |
Battery | 5000 mAh |
SIM-Card Ready | Yes (Nano-SIM) |
2019
From ₱13,990
Display | 8 Inches |
---|---|
Camera | Front: 5 MP Rear: 8 MP |
Resolution | 1920 x 1200 Pixels |
Storage | 32 GB Up to 512 GB (MicroSD) |
Processor | Octa-Core |
RAM | 3 GB |
Battery | 4200 mAh |
SIM-Card Ready | Yes (Nano-SIM) |
From ₱6,990
Display | 8 Inches |
---|---|
Camera | Front: 2 MP Rear: 5 MP |
Resolution | 1280 x 800 Pixels |
Storage | 32 GB Up to 128 GB (MicroSD) |
Processor | MediaTek Helio A22 |
RAM | 2 GB |
Battery | 5000 mAh |
SIM-Card Ready | Yes (Nano-SIM) |
From ₱9,490
Display | 8.7 Inches |
---|---|
Camera | Front: 2 MP Rear: 8 MP |
Resolution | 1340 x 800 Pixels |
Storage | 32 GB Up to 1TB (MicroSD) |
Processor | Octa-Core |
RAM | 3 GB |
Battery | 5100 mAh |
SIM-Card Ready | Yes (Nano-SIM) |
From ₱8,495
Display | 10.1 Inches |
---|---|
Camera | Front: 2 MP Rear: 5 MP |
Resolution | 1280 x 800 Pixels |
Storage | 32 GB Up to 128 GB |
Processor | MTK8765 Cortex A53 |
RAM | 3 GB |
Battery | 5800 mAh |
SIM-Card Ready | Yes |
From ₱5,869
Display | 10.1 Inches |
---|---|
Camera | Front: 0.9 MP Rear: 2 MP |
Resolution | 1920 x 1200 Pixels |
Storage | 32 GB Up to 256 GB (MicroSD) |
Processor | Octa-Core |
RAM | 2 GB |
Battery | Not Indicated |
SIM-Card Ready | No |
From ₱6,499
Display | 10.1 Inches |
---|---|
Camera | Front: 2 MP Rear: 5 MP |
Resolution | 1920 x 1080 Pixels |
Storage | 64 GB Expandable (MicroSD) |
Processor | Spreadtrum SC9863A 8 Core |
RAM | 4 GB |
Battery | 6000 mAh |
SIM-Card Ready | Yes |
From ₱6,999
Display | 9.7 Inches |
---|---|
Camera | Front: 2 MP Rear: 5 MP |
Resolution | 1280 x 800 Pixels |
Storage | 32 GB |
Processor | Huawei Kirin 710A |
RAM | 2 GB |
Battery | 5100 mAh |
SIM-Card Ready | Yes (Nano-SIM) |
Image | 1 ![]() Huawei | 2 Apple | 3 Lenovo | 4 ![]() Samsung | 5 Lenovo | 6 ![]() Samsung | 7 ![]() Acer | 8 ![]() Amazon | 9 ![]() Teclast | 10 ![]() Huawei |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Name | MatePad 10.4 | iPad | Smart Tab M10 FHD Plus | Galaxy Tab A With S Pen | Tab M8 LTE | Galaxy Tab A7 Lite LTE | One 10 T4-129L | Fire HD 10 | P20HD | MatePad T 10 |
Features | The Ultimate Tablet for Work or School | Has a Powerful Engine for Editors and Gamers | More Screen Surface for a Larger Work Space | Conveniently Comes With a Stylus | The Perfect Gadget for Long Road Trips | Great at Storing Hefty Files and Documents | For Students Learning From Home | A Smart Device for Bookworms | A New Name That Packs a Punch | A Good and Affordable Option for Your Kiddos |
Price Starts at | ₱18,999 | ₱18,990 | ₱11,990 | ₱13,990 | ₱6,990 | ₱9,490 | ₱8,495 | ₱5,869 | ₱6,499 | ₱6,999 |
Display | 10.4 Inches | 10.2 Inches | 10.3 Inches | 8 Inches | 8 Inches | 8.7 Inches | 10.1 Inches | 10.1 Inches | 10.1 Inches | 9.7 Inches |
Camera | Front: 8MP Rear: 8MP | Front: 1.2 MP Rear: 8 MP | Front: 5 MP Rear: 8 MP | Front: 5 MP Rear: 8 MP | Front: 2 MP Rear: 5 MP | Front: 2 MP Rear: 8 MP | Front: 2 MP Rear: 5 MP | Front: 0.9 MP Rear: 2 MP | Front: 2 MP Rear: 5 MP | Front: 2 MP Rear: 5 MP |
Resolution | 2000 x 1200 Pixels | 2160 x 1620 Pixels | 1920 x 1200 Pixels | 1920 x 1200 Pixels | 1280 x 800 Pixels | 1340 x 800 Pixels | 1280 x 800 Pixels | 1920 x 1200 Pixels | 1920 x 1080 Pixels | 1280 x 800 Pixels |
Storage | 64 GB Up to 512 GB (MicroSD) | 32 GB or 128 GB | 32 GB Up to 256 GB (MicroSD) | 32 GB Up to 512 GB (MicroSD) | 32 GB Up to 128 GB (MicroSD) | 32 GB Up to 1TB (MicroSD) | 32 GB Up to 128 GB | 32 GB Up to 256 GB (MicroSD) | 64 GB Expandable (MicroSD) | 32 GB |
Processor | HUAWEI Kirin 810 Octa-Core | A12 Bionic Chip | MediaTek Helio P22T | Octa-Core | MediaTek Helio A22 | Octa-Core | MTK8765 Cortex A53 | Octa-Core | Spreadtrum SC9863A 8 Core | Huawei Kirin 710A |
RAM | 4 GB | Not Indicated | 2 GB | 3 GB | 2 GB | 3 GB | 3 GB | 2 GB | 4 GB | 2 GB |
Battery | 7250 mAh | 6480 mAh | 5000 mAh | 4200 mAh | 5000 mAh | 5100 mAh | 5800 mAh | Not Indicated | 6000 mAh | 5100 mAh |
SIM-Card Ready | Yes (Nano-SIM) | Yes (Nano-SIM) | Yes (Nano-SIM) | Yes (Nano-SIM) | Yes (Nano-SIM) | Yes (Nano-SIM) | Yes | No | Yes | Yes (Nano-SIM) |
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Is your battery always running low? If so, there are simple ways you can lower your tablet's daily battery consumption. Watch this video from Very.co.uk to guide you on how to adjust your device's settings.
Tips:
Now that you've got your brand new tablet, improve your user experience by getting these helpful tools for your gadget. A stylus pen can be used for precise writing and drawing on the screen. You can also keep your screen free of dirt or marks by using a designated cleaner. Lastly, if you're looking to upgrade or replace a missing charger, then you can check out our article below.
Getting a functional tablet for you or your kids doesn't have to be expensive. Nowadays, popular and trusted brands offer several models that have different features and come at different price points.
We hope this article has provided you with the different specifications of tablets and how they affect each one's performance. This way, you get to choose one that fits all your tech requirements and most importantly, your budget.
Author: Roxanne A.
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