Tablet rating 2015: the best 7-inch models

{ !!! block='price' type="big" idgood='390042' !!!}Digma Platina 7.2 4G 8 GB

Iconia One has the most affordable price among the models in our rating. We recommend it to those who are looking for a compact tablet, primarily for surfing and social networks with good value for money.Digma differs among our models rating by the presence of a 4G LTE module for accessing the Internet at high speeds (faster than 3G). Just check before buying a gadget whether there is access to LTE in your city. What's more, Platina 7.2 4G can be used for voice calls over regular cellular networks thanks to the built-in ear and speech speaker. At the same time, Platina 7.2 4G has compact dimensions (186x101 mm). Apparently, the body of the tablet was specially designed so small that it was convenient to use it for voice calls. True, in thickness it turned out to be not the most “slender” - 8.7 mm.

Acer is remarkable in that it is equipped with a 3G module that allows you to be online all the time (albeit in 2G mode), and in large cities, also use fast Internet access at a speed of several Mbps (depends mainly on the state of the network, and not on technology). The gadget's widescreen screen has a resolution of 1280x800 pixels (216 ppi), so that text and images look clear, and the IPS matrix demonstrates good viewing angles and rich color reproduction.Despite the number 7.2 in the model name, the screen of the gadget has a diagonal of 6.95 inches. The resolution is small (1024x768 pixels), so the pixel density is not high - 170 ppi. But the gadget is equipped with an IPS screen with all its advantages, such as good viewing angles, unlike other low-cost solutions with a TN matrix.

The Iconia One B1-730 stands out from the competition with its massive 3700mAh battery. Acer claims that when used as a video player, it can last up to 7 hours on a single charge. This is a very good, although not a record figure. When surfing, it will last longer. With memory, the situation is different - for data storage, a minimum of internal memory (8 GB) is used with the ability to expand it with a MicroSD memory card. True, the placement of a capacious battery in the case negatively affected the thickness - it was 9 mm. And the height and width are typical for 7-inch devices - 197x120 mm. As journalists note in the reviews, the Iconia One B1-730 case is made of durable polycarbonate with a texture that is pleasant to the hands on the back cover. It is a pity that the use of this material did not help to reduce the weight of the gadget. Acer weighs the heaviest of all models in this ranking - 330 grams.Digma Platina 7.2 4G is the only computer in our ranking equipped with 64-bit 4 -core processor, which, together with the Adreno 306 video core and 1 GB of RAM, shows decent results in speed. Moreover, due to the low screen resolution, the graphics core and the processor have a small load on video processing. So, 3D games, except for the most demanding ones, run on the tablet without any problems.

A 2-core processor is responsible for the speed of the tablet Intel Atom Z2560 with a low frequency of 1.6 GHz. However, the feature of the processor is support for multi-threaded Hyper-threading technology, which is used in Intel Core i3 and i7 processors. So this partially compensates for the modest parameters of Atom and its performance can be compared with 4-core processor models on the ARM architecture. The entry-level PowerVR SGX544 MP2 video chip is responsible for graphics processing, and the amount of RAM is 1 GB. The model is quite productive for many tasks, although FPS (frames per second) will most likely sag in 3D games. "allowed to equip the device with a 2700 mAh battery. In our ranking, this is the lowest indicator. Nevertheless, the battery is still capable of maintaining the autonomy of the device at the level of 6 hours of work in Wi-Fi networks or in video viewing mode without recharging.

Asus ZenPad C 7 8 GB

The 7-inch ZenPad C 7 Z170C is the most recent PC we've listed (it went on sale in September 2015). Therefore, it comes preloaded with Android 5.0.2 Lollipop, unlike other models. Moreover, on top of Android there is a custom-designed ZenUI shell. According to experts from various IT publications, this shell is one of the most convenient among branded Android add-ons. By the way, ZenUI is free and has already been installed by more than 300,000 Android users. On average, they rated it at 4.8 points - the highest rating among launchers.

The speed of its work spoils the impression of the gadget a little. Despite the new 4-core Intel Atom x3 C3200 processor and 1 GB of RAM, the computer runs slowly, sometimes showing delays when opening content-heavy applications or websites. It's all about the frequency of the processor - only 1.2 GHz. It's good that the tablet has a good low-cost video chip Mali-450-MP4. It takes on some of the work of graphics processing and allows you to run undemanding games.

The 7-inch screen is built on an IPS matrix, has a low resolution of 1024x600 - the lowest of our rating. Let the decrease in resolution not have a positive effect on the increase in ZenPad performance, but it affected autonomy. The gadget works 7-8 hours when watching a video.

The use of plastic has a positive effect on the weight of the device. This is the lightest tablet (265 g with dimensions of 189x108 mm) among those reviewed in our TOP 5. For those who are looking for a lightweight device, the ZenPad C 7 is suitable.

The main 5 MP camera is a bonus, which is not “for show” here - it takes very good photos, and autofocus even allows you to take macro shots . And it is better not to use the front 0.3 MP camera because of noticeable distortions. With navigation, the Asus ZenPad C 7 Z170C is in perfect order. The aGPS module, which works in conjunction with GPS, allows you to locate faster.

Lenovo IdeaTab 2 16 GB

Lenovo's IdeaTab 2 A7-30HC, a low-cost tablet, became an interesting novelty in 2015. The device can make calls in GSM networks, and, to some extent, even replace the phone, and the 3G module allows you to use high-speed mobile Internet. Moreover, Lenovo has equipped the gadget with two stereo speakers, through which the interlocutor can be clearly heard even in a noisy place. They can also be used to listen to your favorite music - the sound quality is normal (as for such gadgets).

The hardware of the computer is productive, as for a "state employee", the processor is a 4-core MediaTek MT8382M with a frequency of 1.3 GHz. As noted in one review, unlike the Asus ZenPad C, the low frequency of the processor is not felt when working with a tablet. Everything works quickly and without delay, and modern games work briskly even on the obsolete Mali-400 MP video chip. Depending on the version, the A7-30HC has 8 or 16 GB of memory and can be expanded with microSD cards up to 32 GB. The gadget runs Android 4.4 by default, but there is information that an update to Lollipop will be released soon.

The screen of the Lenovo IdeaTab 2 A7-30HC is the same as that of the Asus ZenPad C 7, with all its shortcomings and advantages : IPS matrix with a resolution of 1024x600 pixels with an indicator of 170 ppi. Moreover, according to experts, the tablet does not have automatic brightness adjustment, and it is problematic to read information from the screen in the sun.

The GPS module works in conjunction with aGPS, so the tablet can be recommended to travel enthusiasts and drivers. A good battery life of 8 hours will allow you not to think about charging during the working day. And the small size (190.5x104.1x8.9 mm) and weight (268 grams) will not be felt on a hike or allow you to fix the gadget in the car when traveling around the city.

Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 Lite Plus 8 GB

Samsung's representative in our rating - Galaxy Tab 3 Lite Plus - turned out to be a low-cost solution in almost all respects. Like the company's old low-cost 7-inch tablets. According to experts from www.mobile-review.com, in this device they tried to save a lot to make it inexpensive, but at the same time maintain the bar for build quality and firmware reliability from Samsung. In addition, many people look at the brand before making a purchase decision.

The tablet, unlike some “creaking” competitors, is assembled really soundly, and the corporate design along with the white body color and the texture of the back cover under the skin can be liked by many. However, the Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 Lite Plus is not very compact. This gadget with a thickness of 9.7 mm is the most "complete" in the ranking, and its body dimensions are 193x116 mm. However, there is also a plus here - it sits confidently in the hands and does not try to slip out.

The processor and graphics chip are not the best for this class of tablets. The 2-core Marvell PXA986 with the exotic Vivante GC1000 video core produces the lowest results in benchmarks. So, in Antutu, the gadget scored about 11,000 points. Using this model for video games is not the best solution. But in reading mode, the tablet can work up to 18 hours, which is facilitated by a capacious 3700 mAh battery and a display with a resolution of 1024x600 pixels and low brightness, built on a TN matrix. So the model will suit those who value reliability and high autonomy more than screen quality... and are ready to pay a little extra for a well-known brand.

Asus Memo Pad 7 16 GB

The leader of our rating is the Asus Memo Pad 7 ME572C, equipped to the highest standard, as for 7 inch models. Those wishing to take a powerful and high-quality computer of this form factor should pay attention to it. However, those who want to experience the comfort and speed of work need to pay the highest amount among the tablets in our rating.

Although Memo Pad 7 went on sale on the verge of 2014 and 2015, it is still popular, and the price (in dollars) fell to a minimum. In addition, the manufacturer took care of the release of Android 4.4.2 update to the fifth version and compatibility with the proprietary ZenUI shell, like ZenPad C 7. So the model is not inferior to the new season in terms of software relevance.

4-core Intel Z3560 with a frequency of 1.83 GHz according to synthetic tests bypasses the top-level Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 chip and scores more than 41,000 points in Antutu. The PowerVR G6430 graphics core is not far behind, and the performance is equal to the powerful Adreno 330. Video game lovers should first of all pay attention to this tablet - it can handle any modern video game. The 5MP autofocus camera only shoots well during daylight hours, as Asus didn't consider it necessary to add a flash to it.

The 7-inch IPS screen has a resolution of 1920x1080 pixels (323 ppi). It is covered with protective glass Corning Gorilla Glass 3, which saves it from scratches, and an oleophobic coating - from fingerprints. ASUS TruVivid technology enhances the already good impression of the IPS matrix. According to reviews, readers will like the screen of the gadget, as in this mode the device automatically reduces the brightness so that the eyes do not get tired, and power consumption decreases for longer work.

Memo Pad 7 16 GB built-in memory can be supplemented with a memory card large capacity (up to 64 GB), and for cloud storage users Asus provides 5 GB in the WebStorage service. The tablet has the entire list of available wireless modules: Wi-Fi 802.11 n (dual-band, with Wi-Fi Direct), Bluetooth 4.0, GPS and GLONASS, NFC. Only 3G is missing. Because models with a modem from Asus are allocated to a special Fonepad line.

The dimensions of the device are not very compact - this is the largest participant in our rating (200x114.4 mm), it’s good at least the thickness is not a record one (8 .3 mm). Another important parameter is a capacious 3950 mAh battery that can power the tablet for up to 11 hours with an average load.