When I think about $50 tablets, I think about 512MB RAM, 4GB flash, 800×480 resolution display and so on… But there’s currently a 7″ quad core Android tablet (eZee Tab 7Q11-L) that sells for $46.99 on BuyinCoins including shipping, which has some slightly better specs with 1GB RAM, 8GB flash, and a 1024×600 resolution touchscreen display.
Here are the specifications listed on Buyincoins:
- SoC – Action Semi ATM7029B quad core Cortex A5 class processor @ 1.3Ghz with PowerVR SGX540 GPU
- System Memory – 1GB DDR3
- Storage – 8GB NAND flash and micro SD slot up to 32GB.
- Display – 7″ multi-touch capacitive touch screen with 1024 x 600 resolution
- Video Output – micro HDMI
- Audio Output – 3.5mm audio jack, speaker
- Connectivity – 802.11 b/g/n Wi-Fi, optional? Bluetooth (RTL8723AS-VT)
- Camera – 0.3MP front camera
- Sensors – Accelerometer, “automatic steering display screen”, G-sensor
- Misc – Volume +/-, power and home buttons
- Power Supply – 5V/1.5A via micro USB port
- Battery – 2,800 mAh battery
- Dimensions – 19.10cm x 11.60cm x 1.15cm
- Weight – 330 grams
The tablet runs Android 4.1, and ships with a data cable, and a power adapter. I could also find this tablet model, on a French website, which has slightly different specs, i.e. 4GB storage instead of 8GB. 1.3MP camera, and Android 4.2, so it’s quite possible the specs listed in BIC are not fully correct, with the downside being you may end up with just 4GB flash. Nevertheless, a quad core tablet, albeit for a weak CPU and GPU, will all these features for $47, is quite a deal, and you could even consider it instead of a quad core mini PC considering it also features a micro HDMI port.
Thanks to onebir for the tip.
Since I’m talking about cheap tablets in this post, I’ll also mention the latest CUBE iWork7 powered by Intel Z3735 SoC and running Windows 8.1 (with Bing), selling for just about $65 (399 CNY) in China. I would not normally write about Windows only tablets, but since many people believe Windows + Intel = expensive, I wanted to show it may not always be the case. If you want to use Office however, price goes to 599 CNY (~$98).
Cube iWork7 specifications:
- SoC – Intel Atom Z3735G quad-core processor, with Intel HD graphics
- System Memory – 1GB RAM
- Storage – 16GB eMMC flash
- Display – 7″, 1280 x 800 pixel IPS display
- Connectivity – Wi-Fi and 3G (China only?)
- Video Output – (micro?) HDMI output
- Camera – Front and rear cameras
- Battery – Up to 8 hours of battery life.
- Dimensions – 5.5 mm thick
- Weight – 280 grams
The tablet may eventually be available on Aliexpress for prices that could be around $85 to $90, but unless you can read Chinese, you should probably not buy it, as Windows 8.1 have different versions depending on supported languages. It could also be possible Chinese sellers install the version supporting your language, but I’m not sure how (legally) feasible that is, and it would certainly slightly increase the price, if they need to install a specific version depending on your language of choice.
Via Mike Canex and Liliputing
Jean-Luc started CNX Software in 2010 as a part-time endeavor, before quitting his job as a software engineering manager, and starting to write daily news, and reviews full time later in 2011.
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Great to know about both of these tablets.
Re Cube iWork7 could it run Linux???
@onebir
Yes, based on comments on other posts, it should be possible to run Linux on Intel Bay Trail tablets, but this does not seem that easy.
I just want Linux on the Cube tablet so I couldn’t care less about the Windows installed.
By Linux I mean Sailfish, WebOS or Android as these are the only tablet friendly Linux based OS that I know of.
> it should be possible to run Linux on Intel Bay Trail tablets, but this does not seem that easy.
Yeah, get that – installing Linux on contemporary Intel tablet is unlikely much easier than installling it on ARM tablet. There’s no BIOS and all that legacy crap that makes us feel at home with Intel. Got some experience cracking locked UEFI bootloaders on modern Wintels? Good for you. Actually, it should be harder to install Linux on Wintel tablet than on an ARM one – because the latter already runs Linux in the form of Android, while Wintel surpisingly runs completely foreign OS, and a lot of things would not work if a typical distro were booted (audio, touchscreen, backlight, whatever – try and updated the list).
If Windows 8 is fast and smooth enough, why not stay with it?
For $65 I really would like to have one!
(I appreciate if someone can test this tablet)
@JotaMG
Because I don’t like Windows ? :)) I have to put up with it as a dual boot solution for the desktop but I sure as hell don’t need it on mobile where Android is much, much better ( it has apps, uses less resources ) and Sailfish is also interesting.
@Paul
Well I see tablets running Android on Baytrail are already out: http://www.pcper.com/reviews/Mobile/ASUS-MeMO-Pad-7-ME176C-7-Atom-Z3745-Tablet-Review-Bay-Trail-Meets-Android
Shouldn’t be that hard to get the basic stuff working and the rest can be worked on as long as it boots and has some way of connecting to it and debugging stuff.
It should be a nice challenge and a rewarding one too. The basic stuff has nice open source Linux drivers, especially the GPU, the rest may pose a slight challenge but are much easier to get working.
Ok, I’ve just found one tablet running Android on an Intel Z3735, it’s $94 so not that expensive:
http://www.aliexpress.com/item/Original-8-inch-Chuwi-VX8-3G-Tablet-Intel-Z3735G-Quad-Core-64Bit-IPS-OGS-1280×800-Intel/2020219448.html
@Marius
On further analysis it might be that only the $140 3G version is running on the Intel SOC while the other one uses an MTK chiset … damn Chinese descriptions
Just a hint but found this shop a while ago: http://www.ahappymango.com Best prices I ever saw for tablets. I think they sell overstock. You can grab a good enough dual tab for under 40$ including shipping. Also for instance just compare Cube talk 9x price. Did not see any better price elsewhere. Also you can find Ugoos rk3066 stick for 24$ including shipping. But did not yet bought from them. At least I know they answer their mails and offer paypal with its protection…
@Slowstream
Thanks for that, it seems to be a legit store and has some interesting products. It does indeed look like they’re some sort of an outlet.
@Marius Cirsta
Well at least for tablets. Other stufs are like many others chinese stores.
@Marius Cirsta
I retract my previous statement. I’ve read several online reviews saying that they’re running a scam, they send false tracking numbers and so on.
I’m guessing paypal would suspend their account if enough people report is as scam though so I’m not sure. I might just order something cheap to test them out.
@Marius
If you think its fake don’t waste your time. I thought paypal would be like a warrant? Maybe not after all…
BuyinCoins seems to be out of stock of the mentioned tablet. And they only tell me by mail hours after I finished ordering process…
@Manuel Oh 🙁 They’re usually pretty good…
@Manuel
Hours after order is not that bad, DX often tells me if they are having troubles sourcing an item after one week or so…
@Slowstream
It’s OK because I actually want to test Paypal protection too so it’s a good chance to test both 🙂
A slightly pricier ($66) RK3188 contender:
http://www.tinydeal.com/v-p-129292.html
@onebir
Got the item today, delivered to Germany. Charging right now, can’t wait to power it up 🙂
@manuel, would you please write a short review after a while with usage?
you can reach me on fossxplorer@gmail.com, Thx!
@fossxplorer
can do, will try 🙂
@cnxsoft, where did you see Cube iWork 7 for $65?
@fossxplorer
399 CNY (=$65) in China -> http://mikecanex.wordpress.com/2014/09/01/cube-iwork-7-announced-us65/
So if you look on Aliexpress
it should be something like $80 to $90. hmm, they sell it for $110 and up. That’s a big difference.@Manuel
Better still, post a para or two here. Hope it’s good! 🙂
I bought the “7.0” Android 4.2 Quad Core 1GB RAM 8GB” from BuyinCoins and I thought I would put a few thoughts down.
Pros
Generally very Good. The unit out-performs my old Samsung PT-P7100 which cost me just under $1000 a few years ago.
Battery life is fair at about 4 hours.
It runs all the apps I have installed so far and I haven’t had a single crash yet.
Cons:
Lack of Windows Drivers.
In portrait mode the icons extend past the edge of the screen- no big deal
I have been unable to find any method of rooting the device. If anyone can help with this I will be forever grateful. I have found a French site (storex) but they don’t have much info and supprise supprise it is in French
well I said this would be a short review.
Cheers
Ockhams Barber
Well the $65 is bullshit I’m afraid. I just searched for the iWork 7 on Taobao and the cheapest I could find is at 499 which is about $80.
On Aliexpress the cheapest is about $109 which is a bit of a difference but not so much considering the fact that the shipment for this probably costs a bit too.
@ockhams barber Good info. What’s the processor – maybe a rooting method exists for that (if not the specific device)? It’s also possible BIC might be able to tell you.
Thanks for the shave 🙂
@ockhams barber
Maybe you could try to use VROOT, however some antivirus (22%) said its infected/spyware, but the rest give it a pass.
https://www.virustotal.com/en/file/35b96c40c5530d00ff87a37b096023f2bb3f782c0d4388de193ba5f8425f41a1/analysis/
If you want to try anyway: http://www.mgyun.com/en/getvroot
Just a quick update.
Kingo Root available from http://www.kingoapp.com/ works 100% with this device, it even rooted mu old Samsung PT-P7100 which I had all but given up on. There was a bit of chatter on XDA late last year about some security concerns with Kingo but the developers have answered the issues raised. A thread covering the issues can be seen at http://teamuscellular.com/Forum/topic/6055-kingo-root-method-warning/ . As always make up your own mind if you want to use this rooting method. I did run the software from within a virtual machine and as I don’t use the 2 tablets for any real work, they are just toys, I decided it was worth the risk.
Cheers
Ockhams
Exactly. Would indeed be nice to find something under $80-90 though.
@cnxsoft
Thx a lot. How much did you pay for it?
@Manuel
OMG, now buyincoins changed price to $72.59. These ppl really know how to adapt to demand!
Too bad!
@fossxplorer
Actually they *completely* changed the product – it was ATM7029B, now it’s some Spreadtrum processor (-ve: little known outside China, maybe unrootable? +ve: adds 3G.)
@onebir, ah i see 🙂 ~$50 for a table is an attractive price really 😉
I guess ~$70 for a 3g tablet phone isn’t bad either. (Even with a weird processor!)
Quick first review:
– Charging does not happen over the port that looks like micro usb (I suppose that is only OTG), but over a small barrel plug (delivered)
– Battery is small, doing intensive things can suck the battery empty within less than half an hour (tried a game)
– Battery has very little self-discharge. The tablet sits on my nighttable next to the bed for sleepless moments, and whenever I pick it up, it has enough battery to read some news etc.
– The screen is not beautiful. Rather low resolution for 7″ (I certainly am spoiled by my google Nexus 7)
– The touch screen does not work very well. I often need several attempts to succeed my unlock pattern. Going slower and trying to have a smaller finger contact surface usually helps. I do not know whether it is not sensitive enough, if it’s lacking spacial or temporal resolution.
– Due to that, playing “Clash of Clans” is hardly possible. Some of the games user interfaces are too small, cannot be hit.
– Normally square/perfectly round icons look squashed
– On a positive note, it allowes to be switched on as soon as it is connected to the cable, if it was run empty entirely.
AnTuTu Benchmark Device Info:
Brand: Android
Model: 86H
Android Version: 4.2.2
CPU Model: Quad-Core ARMv7 Processor (VFPv4, NEON)
Renderer: QC1000+MP core
Resolution: 1024×600
Have root access: Yes
CPU Frequency: 252 – 1200 MHz
GPU Vendor: Vivante Corp
Density 160 dpi
Test, with Memory Optimizations: 18450
Comparision Values:
Google Nexus 7 2013: 17932
Fairphone FP1: 16073
Samsung Galaxy S3:
I hereby define AnTuTu useless for me 🙂
@Manuel Good review!
@onebir
You could also use https://www.search4roots.com/ for virus free. And good rooting with easy to install method.
@Buster
I try that tools and is so good. No hazzle and it works fine on my devices.