Fire tablet or anything better?

[Satsuma]

If you are looking at the Samsung Tab A 10.1 32GB and want to use it to watch video (as you indicated you would be) then it might be worth listening to one before buying.

It has two speakers but they are both on the bottom of the tablet (when held in portrait) so when watching they are both on the left (or the right) and the sound is really odd. I (or rather my wife) owns one and realistically wouldn't want to use it for video as I find it too annoying (I own a Lenovo Tab 2 which is far better as it has speakers on the front, although it has a 'unique' design for the battery which many find annoying).

Also with these Samsung Tab A tablets, they only have 2GB of RAM which means they can be a bit sluggish with some webpages and apps. Most Android phones these days have gone to 3 or even 4GB.

Anyway, just thought I would mention.

Thanks AF, good to know. I'll mainly be using it with headphones so hopefully it won't be too much of an issue. Also thanks for the note on RAM.

[BobbyD]

Thanks AF, good to know. I'll mainly be using it with headphones so hopefully it won't be too much of an issue. Also thanks for the note on RAM.

It's the same amount of RAM as the Lenovo and quite sufficient for browsing and streaming.

Headphones do eradicate any issue with the speaker, and family members who also use tabs seem quite happy with the sound. I do travel with a smallish bluetooth speaker for listening to audio from my phone though, which would provide far better sound quality and volume than any tablet if you weren't entirely happy.

[AF62]

It's the same amount of RAM as the Lenovo and quite sufficient for browsing and streaming.

I would have said adequate not sufficient. You do notice a lack of 'snapiness' when using Android devices with 2GB compared to those with 3 or 4.

[BobbyD]

You do notice a lack of 'snapiness' when using Android devices with 2GB compared to those with 3 or 4.

I don't since I don't own a device with 2GB, 3GB or 4GB RAM.

My ancient Tab browses quite happily on 1.5GB and my phone is probably a bit 'snappier' on 6GB, but not to the extent that I've ever actually noticed and having 4 times as much RAM is hardly the only difference between a cheap 2013 tablet and a flagship 2018 phone...

The 1.5GB Tab also handles video perfectly zipping up and down the VLC without any lag whatsoever.

[AF62]

My ancient Tab browses quite happily on 1.5GB

If you are happy with it then fine. However what you consider acceptable might not be to others.

[BobbyD]

My ancient Tab browses quite happily on 1.5GB

If you are happy with it then fine. However what you consider acceptable might not be to others.

You seem to be assuming you know how responsive my tablet my is.

[Satsuma]

Not sure if you're aware Sats, but Amazon currently have a £10 off voucher that you can tick, which brings their Samsung 10.1 offer down to £159 -

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B07Q117JTH

Cheers,

Itsallaguess

Dammit, looks like I faffed about too long and the £10 offer has vanished now!

[BobbyD]

Not sure if you're aware Sats, but Amazon currently have a £10 off voucher that you can tick, which brings their Samsung 10.1 offer down to £159 -

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B07Q117JTH

Cheers,

Itsallaguess

Dammit, looks like I faffed about too long and the £10 offer has vanished now!

If you don't have any upcoming trips you might benefit by waiting, Black Friday isn't that far away.

Reminds me I need to book a holiday.

[AF62]

My ancient Tab browses quite happily on 1.5GB

If you are happy with it then fine. However what you consider acceptable might not be to others.

You seem to be assuming you know how responsive my tablet my is.

You are incorrect and I am making no such assumption.

I know is that you are happy with the responsiveness of your tablet for the purposes that you use it for.

I also know that I am not happy with the responsiveness of tablets with those specifications for the purposes that I use them for.

My suggestions was to enable a potential purchaser to consider their use and perhaps try before buying rather than ending up disappointed.

[Satsuma]

If you don't have any upcoming trips you might benefit by waiting, Black Friday isn't that far away.

Reminds me I need to book a holiday.

Unfortunately I travel before then. I must make a note NOT to look up the price during that though

[Infrasonic]

If you don't have any upcoming trips you might benefit by waiting, Black Friday isn't that far away.

Reminds me I need to book a holiday.

Unfortunately I travel before then. I must make a note NOT to look up the price during that though

Set up alerts over on HUKD...https://www.hotukdeals.com/tag/computers

[Satsuma]

All ordered. I got sidetracked by a pretty decent Neocore offering for about £80, but went with the Samsung in the end. I always try and do the practical no fuss thing but this time I treated myself.

Also picked up a case and a half price 128gb Sandisk micro SD. All in (with cashback and vouchers I had) it's come to about £170, so I'm happy with that.

It must be in high demand as delivery is 1-3 weeks (or longer if you specifically wanted the silver model!)

Again, many thanks to all for their advice and assistance.

Unfortunately I travel before then. I must make a note NOT to look up the price during that though

Set up alerts over on HUKD...https://www.hotukdeals.com/tag/computers

I expressly don't want to know how much I could have saved

Sats

[Infrasonic]

All ordered. I got sidetracked by a pretty decent Neocore offering for about £80, but went with the Samsung in the end. I always try and do the practical no fuss thing but this time I treated myself.

Also picked up a case and a half price 128gb Sandisk micro SD. All in (with cashback and vouchers I had) it's come to about £170, so I'm happy with that.

It must be in high demand as delivery is 1-3 weeks (or longer if you specifically wanted the silver model!)

Again, many thanks to all for their advice and assistance.

Unfortunately I travel before then. I must make a note NOT to look up the price during that though

Set up alerts over on HUKD...https://www.hotukdeals.com/tag/computers

I expressly don't want to know how much I could have saved

Sats

Aah, didn't realise you had already committed...

[Satsuma]

Just to close this off, I am now in possession of my new tablet.
It's very swish!

Having not used anything Android since probably v4 or 5, I was pleasantly surprised how intuitive it was, and I've got it all personalised and set up with various apps and settings to my liking, and so far all seems to be working well. There are a few very minor quirks that I wish were different, but I'll either live with it or find a workaround.

The case is also satisfyingly sturdy and well made, and snaps shut with a nice magnetic thunk. The charger is a USB-C on a very short cable, so I have already bought a longer one.

Thanks again to all
Sats

[BobbyD]

All ordered. I got sidetracked by a pretty decent Neocore offering for about £80, but went with the Samsung in the end. I always try and do the practical no fuss thing but this time I treated myself.

Also picked up a case and a half price 128gb Sandisk micro SD. All in (with cashback and vouchers I had) it's come to about £170, so I'm happy with that.

It must be in high demand as delivery is 1-3 weeks (or longer if you specifically wanted the silver model!)

Again, many thanks to all for their advice and assistance.

Unfortunately I travel before then. I must make a note NOT to look up the price during that though

Set up alerts over on HUKD...https://www.hotukdeals.com/tag/computers

I expressly don't want to know how much I could have saved

Sats

Look now and see how much you did save... It's gone up a bit!

[Satsuma]

Wheeeeee! Now I feel a bit smug, thanks Bobby!!

[6Tricia]

Satsuma, are you happy with your Samsung? I ask because I need some advice. I'm desperately in need of a new tablet after my third replacement Windows 10 Fusion5 in six months died just two days after it was delivered! It's packed up and will be picked up by Amazon courier tomorrow. Great customer service from Amazon and full refund agreed but I'm left with an old Android Fusion5 which drops WI-FI connection and hangs frequently so need a reliable tablet soonest!

The model you chose has increased in price quite a bit, just under £200 for tablet, case and screen protector, but needs must!

My needs are simple - banking, browsing, news and shopping mostly.

I'd be grateful for your advice.

TIA Tricia

[Satsuma]

Hi Tricia

Yes Its fine. I've only really used it for casual surfing and watching netflix and its been great for that!
I have noticed a couple of seconds lag a couple of times, as a pp alluded to in terms of processor speed. But nothing that worries me day to day.

If I was going to be doing regular banking or shopping though on it, I'd personally pick something that came with an external keyboard (or option for one) or at least a stylus. But you maybe absolutely fine with the on screen keyboard, depending what you are used to.

HTH
Sats

[BobbyD]

Hi Tricia

Yes Its fine. I've only really used it for casual surfing and watching netflix and its been great for that!
I have noticed a couple of seconds lag a couple of times, as a pp alluded to in terms of processor speed. But nothing that worries me day to day.

If I was going to be doing regular banking or shopping though on it, I'd personally pick something that came with an external keyboard (or option for one) or at least a stylus. But you maybe absolutely fine with the on screen keyboard, depending what you are used to.

HTH
Sats

You should find that with a USB OTG adapter you can plug in a usb keyboard/mouse/hub or pretty much anything else you want.

There was probably one in the box, which might have looked something like this:



If not they are widely available for a couple of quid.

[Bminusrob]

You shouldn't need an OTG adapter. With my Fire tablet, I have a cheap Bluetooth keyboard and mouse which work very well on the few occasions that I require more than just the touch screen.