Better than Wi-Fi: TOP 5 tablets with 4G LTE support

Compare compact, powerful and functional tablets to find the right model for you. In addition, you can see alternatives in our catalog of tablets.

Attractive price, compact, you can call and send SMS.

Comparatively small battery life, low screen resolution, only 8 GB of memory.

Digma Platina 7.2 4G 8 GB

The most compact tablet (186x101.6 mm) from our rating was announced by the Chinese company Digma Platina in the spring of 2015. Its screen size, despite the name, is 6.95", which is even smaller than the Huawei MediaPad X1. But, despite the dimensions in length and width, Digma Platina 7.2 4G turned out to be the “thickest” — 8.7 mm. Small dimensions allow you to use the tablet as a smartphone, for which a microphone and earpiece are provided inside the case. Therefore, the built-in 4G LTE module is able not only to access the Internet, but also to communicate via voice.

The screen has the lowest resolution in our rating — 1024x768 pixels at a density of 170 ppi (pixels per inch). Given the low cost of the gadget, this is a normal result, although demanding users may be unhappy. Grain with a small screen size is not too noticeable, but the IPS matrix shows good results in colour reproduction and viewing angles.

Digma Platina 7.2 has a hardware filling consisting of a Qualcomm MSM8916 410 4-core processor with a frequency of 1.4 GHz. It is complemented by the Adreno 306 video chip, 1 GB of RAM and only 8 GB of flash memory, expandable with MicroSD cards up to 32 GB. The hardware is fresh, but low-cost. We can say that the not outstanding performance of the hardware is compensated by the low screen resolution, so that the owner will not feel discomfort in work (for example, in the form of interface slowdowns, etc.). It also allowed Digma Platina 7.2 to integrate a 2700 mAh battery, which is enough for 5-6 hours of battery life in LTE networks.

The above disadvantages are more than offset by the low cost of the tablet. After all, this is one of the most affordable LTE models — it is about four times cheaper than the Apple iPad mini 3 16GB 4G!< /p>

True mobile web. With 4G LTE, you can stream YouTube videos, make Skype video calls, surf websites at high speed even while in a moving vehicle, unlike 3G, which slows down a lot when driving more than 60 km/h.< /div>

Stylish design, compact size, high-quality camera, you can call and send SMS.< /div>

Performance is inferior to the competition.

Huawei MediaPad X1 16 GB

The Chinese brand Huawei has established itself as a manufacturer of quality devices that can compete with such industry giants as Samsung, Sony and others. In addition, the company is a leader in the production of wireless network equipment. So their tablet with LTE should have turned out pretty good... and it did.

The 7-inch Huawei MediaPad X1 tablet is equipped with a 4G LTE cellular module that supports the latest cellular standards. Moreover, unlike most other models of our rating, this gadget is even capable of receiving SMS and calls. Built-in speaker and microphone makes Huawei MediaPad X1 almost a full-fledged smartphone. Communication is not very convenient due to its size, but a good headset will help out. Dual-band Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n operates at 2.4 and 5.0 GHz. There are also Bluetooth 4.0 and GPS modules.

Outwardly, the model resembles the Apple iPad mini 3 — metal case, rounded edges, similar form factor, but smaller in size (183.5x103, 9x7.18mm) and the lightest in our selection at 239 grams. Moreover, the Huawei MediaPad X1 is running Android 4.2 with its own Emotion UI 2.0 shell, which is very reminiscent of the style of iOS 8.

The small screen has an LTPS matrix with a resolution of 1920x1200 pixels, with a pixel density of 323 ppi . The LTPS matrix is an alternative to IPS with better contrast and colour performance, but is more expensive to manufacture. According to experts from IT publications, the screen quality with LTPS is comparable to IGZO matrices (one of the best in the world in terms of image quality).

Inside Huawei MediaPad X1 is a 4-core Hisilicon Kirin 910 processor with a frequency 1.6 GHz. The slightly outdated video chip Mali450-MP4 is responsible for image processing. RAM in the device is 2 GB, flash memory — 16 GB, expandable by another 32 GB with MicroSD cards. The power indicators of the device are not class-leading, however, despite the modest test results in benchmarks, the speed of work is quite acceptable not only for surfing the Internet or watching Full HD movies. But for new games, this is not the best choice.

This hardware “hardware” is powered by a 5000 mAh battery, which, according to test results, lasts for 5 hours of gaming, 12-15 hours of HD video viewing, or 100 hours of listening to music tracks.

Huawei MediaPad X1 is equipped with the most powerful photo sensor among the models of the rating — 13 megapixels, which allows you to take pictures at a resolution of 4160x3120 pixels. This is probably a Sony Exmor sensor, because the image quality is good, like that of camera phones.

High resolution screen, thin and light body, multiple colour options, fingerprint reader, Wi -Fi-module 802.11ac.

Samsung TouchWiz interface slowdowns.

Samsung Galaxy Tab S 8.4 2014 16 GB

Every year, Samsung pits its tablets against Apple products, trying to be both similar in convenience and design, but trying to stay ahead of its competitor in hardware characteristics. The dimensions of the Samsung Galaxy Tab S 8.4 are slightly larger than the iPad mini 3 — 212.8x126.6 mm, but the "tablet" from South Korea turned out to be thinner — 6.5 mm and weighs less — 294 grams. However this was achieved by using plastic rather than metal in the construction of the body.

The 8.4-inch screen of the tablet is made on a SuperAMOLED matrix with a resolution of 2560x1600 pixels and the highest density of 359 ppi among the models in our rating . Such a display has wide viewing angles without distortion and a high contrast ratio, but as reviewers note, the colours on such a screen look oversaturated (compared to IPS screens).

The 8-core Samsung Exynos 5 processor inside the tablet, in team with Mali-T628 graphics and 3 GB of RAM will leave many competitors behind. The power of the tablet is felt in any video games and applications, and according to synthetic performance tests, the Samsung Galaxy Tab S 8.4 is only slightly inferior to the Sony Xperia Tablet Z3 Compact. However according to reviews, slowdowns of the TouchWiz proprietary interface are possible.

Samsung Galaxy Tab S 8.4 is able to work in 4G LTE networks with all operators in Russia. The tablet is able to work for 9 hours when surfing the Web (both Wi-Fi and 3G and LTE) with a battery capacity of 4900 mAh. Such indicators were achieved thanks to the economical SuperAMOLED display.

The tablet also has a fingerprint scanner, like the iPad mini 3, but the Samsung Galaxy Tab S 8.4 had such a scanner a little earlier. Unfortunately, due to Samsung's haste, the accuracy of fingerprint recognition turned out to be worse than in the Apple iPad mini 3.

Dust and water resistant, good screen, thin and light body, high performance, Wi-Fi -module 802.11ac.

High cost.

Sony Xperia Tablet Z3 Compact 16 GB

The Sony Xperia Tablet Z3 Compact 3G was created specifically for those users who wanted the same successful 10-inch Sony Xperia Tablet Z3, but with more compact dimensions. The model with the Compact prefix received an 8-inch display and a 4G LTE module. A logical move, because the smaller the tablet, the more convenient it is to use it on the road.

The main feature of the tablet is water resistance and dust resistance (according to the IP65/68 standard). It’s not scary to pour mineral water on such a tablet or submerge it in water to a depth of 1 metre to take pictures of the underwater world on vacation, and then send the resulting pictures to Instagram or Facebook using 4G LTE capabilities. Just before diving, you should make sure that all connectors are tightly closed with plugs.

The Sony Xperia Tablet Z3 Compact 3G is also the thinnest in our rating — its body has a thickness of only 6.4 mm, which, coupled with a weight of 280 grams allows you to hide it even in a handbag. However this tablet is longer than some competitors like the iPad Mini 3 — 213 mm.

The 8-inch IPS screen with TRILUMINOS backlight has a resolution of 1920x1080 pixels, with a diagonal size of 283 ppi pixel density. Experts from Hi-tech.mail.ru agreed that the screen is of high quality, but the colour reproduction is not perfect.

Sony Xperia Tablet Z3 Compact 3G hardware is the most performant in our rating: Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 quad-core processor with a frequency of 2.5 GHz, Adreno 330 graphics chip and 3 GB of RAM. With such filling, the tablet can handle any, even the most complex mobile 3D game or resource-intensive application that can be installed on the available 16 GB of flash memory, and if that is not enough, you can add a MicroSD card up to 128 GB. Moreover, the image of the tablet can be displayed on an LCD TV or monitor via microUSB and recharge the tablet via the HDMI (MHL) port.

Sony Xperia Tablet Z3 Compact 3G works in 4G LTE networks (band 1, 3, 7, 8, 20) and supports the fastest Wi-Fi 802.11 ac wireless protocol, capable of transmitting data at speeds up to 3 times faster than conventional solutions. However only when connected to the appropriate router.

Sony assures that the Sony Xperia Tablet Z3 Compact 3G can last up to 13 hours on a single battery charge, both in 4G LTE networks and when working via Wi-Fi . And you can listen to music all 200 hours, provided the display is off. And all this with a battery capacity of 4500 mAh. Based on reviews, these numbers are slightly lower in fact.

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Great screen, user-friendly interface, fingerprint scanner, white, gold and black colours.

High price, relatively large weight (341 g).

Apple iPad mini 2014 16 GB

Especially for connoisseurs of compact gadgets, Apple has released the iPad mini 3 tablet with a smaller display and dimensions than its older brother iPad Air 2. In addition, the compact iPad has more modest specifications, which has a positive impact on its price. Therefore, iPad mini 3 can be positioned as a more affordable model. Of course, compared with the iPad Air. Indeed, compared to other participants in the TOP-5, this is the most expensive model.

The Retina screen, which Apple is so proud of, is one of the best among tablets: a 7.9-inch IPS display has a resolution of 2048x1536 pixels with a density index at 326 ppi. The result is a sharp image with no visible pixels! The surface of the iPad mini 3 screen is covered with an oleophobic layer that “repels” fingerprints and dirt from the screen.

In such a compact case (200x134. 1.3 GHz (as in the first generation Air), 1 GB of RAM, PowerVR G6430 video chip and 16 GB of non-expandable flash memory. Although these are not the best technical characteristics among tablets, however, this is compensated by the excellent optimization of the iOS 8 operating system, working in which you absolutely do not feel the “low-cost” hardware.

In addition to LTE, the Wi-Fi module is integrated into the iPad mini 3 b /g/n (operating on both 2.4GHz and 5GHz), Bluetooth 4.0, and CDMA EV-DO Rev. A and Rev. B. The gadget is powered by the most capacious battery among the models in our rating with a capacity of 6471 mAh, which, according to Apple, will last for 10 hours of battery life on Wi-Fi or 9 hours on 4G LTE networks. Note that unlike other models, iPad mini 3 uses nano-SIM SIM cards.

The camera has a wide range of capabilities. The 5-megapixel 5-lens sensor has an ƒ/2.4 aperture that allows you to capture high-quality HDR shots or panorama views without much photography knowledge.

Apple has taken care of tablet security by equipping it with a fingerprint scanner in the Home button, which replaces entering a PIN code, pattern or password with a simple touch of a finger. And the number of accessories for the iPad mini 3 can please even the pickiest gourmet aspiring to individuality.

Better than Wi-Fi: TOP 5 tablets with 4G LTE support

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