14 DAY TRIAL // The holiday season is approaching fast and you’re probably wondering what gifts to buy for the important people in your life.
And if you think some members of your family might benefit from a tablet, this period seems ideal for picking up a slate on the cheap.
Are you looking to buy one for your kid or maybe for your grandma? If this is the case, you probably won’t go spending a huge chunk on money on a product such as the iPad or Samsung Galaxy Tab S, but you’ll look towards something more affordable.
A Windows 8.1 tablet might be a good choice for either scenario, because they offer the basics: users will be able to open Word documents, browse the Web, watch movies or play Xbox games.
These slates also come with one year of free access 365 and 1TB of Microsoft OneDrive online storage, but we don’t honestly expect them to last more.
Sure, there are a lot of drawbacks with these products, like limited storage, low resolution and smaller form factors, but all-in-all you should be thinking of these devices as temporary companions.
Anyway, this holiday season you can have a choice between several Windows 8.1 tablets marketed with a sub $100 / €78 price tag.
In Asia, prices for some devices have slid even lower, although it’s not exactly clear whether they are up for purchase or not. Still, here’s a list of the cheapest Windows 8.1 you can buy.
HP Stream 7
HP has unveiled its Stream lineup of products which boast budget price tags. From this category comes the Stream 7 which arrives with a 7-inch display with 1280 x 800 pixel resolution.
It draws life from an Intel Atom Z3735G processor fitted with 1GB of RAM and 16GB of internal storage. It also has two cameras (2MP on the back and 0.3MP up in front), 802.11 b/g/b/n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.0 and microSD slot for storage expansion.
The tablet is said to be able to sustain up to eight hours of battery life. Particular to the tablet is the HP Connected Music app, which lets users share music across multiple devices.
Toshiba Encore Mini
When it launched the slate, Toshiba wanted to market it for $120 / €96, but soon the company realized it couldn’t compete with the likes of the HP Stream 7 so it lowered the price to $100 / €78.
However, you’ll still get less than if you choose to go with the HP tablet. Most of the specifications are similar between the two slates, but the Encore Mini has only 1024 x 600 pixel resolution.
E-Fun Nextbook
Microsoft and Walmart announced they would be offering the slate for $100 / €78 for Black Friday, but even if the big event has passed, the slate is still up for grabs with the same price tag.
Its specifications are similar to those of the HP Stream 7, but the E-FUN Nextbook has a bit larger 8-inch screen (with 1280 x 800 pixel res). Yet, one of product’s major selling points is the micro-HDMI slot that allows users to connect the tablet to an HD TV set.
Insignia Flex
This tablet is an 8-incher boasting 1280 x 800 pixel resolution but drawing power from an Intel Atom Z3735F quad-core processor instead. It also has an HDMI slot and both cameras are of the 2MP variety.
The Insignia Flex sells for the same $100 / €78 and is one of the first Windows 8.1 slates with such a price to be made available for purchase in brick-and-mortar locations.
Chinese super-cheap Windows 8.1 tablets
In China things have been taken beyond this threshold. For example, the Pipo Work W4 is an 8-inch Windows 8.1 device that will sell for just $81 / €63.
The device has an IPS display with 1280 x 800 pixel resolution, an Intel Atom Z3735F quad-core Bay Trail processor on the inside, fitted with 1GB of RAM and 16GB of internal storage.
The product also supports Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and two cameras (2MP on the back, 0.3MP in front) plus a 4500mAh battery.
The Emdoor EM-l8170 slashes prices even more, because it will reportedly go on sale for just $65 / €51. This model is more similar to the Toshiba Encore Mini boasting a 7-inch display with 1024 x 600 pixel resolution.
Last but not least, Ployer, another Chinese obscure brand, will also start selling a cheap 8-inch tablet arriving with a $65 / €51 price tag. But these device won’t probably make it in the US any time soon (except for the Pipo one, maybe).
