The best tablets for under £100

If you’re after a budget tablet you have plenty of decent options that cost less than £100.

Tablets are now outpacing PC sales, but the top models can be pretty expensive.

The iPad Air, for example, will set you back anything from £399 for the most basic 16GB Wi-Fi model all the way up to £739 for a 128GB Wi-Fi + Cellular version.

But there are plenty of other tablets you could try for less, but that can do the same job.

Here are a few of the best budget tablets around for under £100.

Datawind UbiSlate 7Ci

Price: £29.99

The cheapest tablet in the world is the Datawind UbiSlate 7Ci, which is available for under £30.

As you might expect for the price, you only get the basics.

The seven-inch device comes with a reasonable 800x480 resolution display and runs on Android 4.0.3 (Ice Cream Sandwich), which isn’t the latest version of Google's operating system, but does give you access to the Google Play store.

On board there is 4GB of memory which can be expanded up to 32GB via a Micro SD card, Wi-Fi connectivity, a Micro-USB slot for sharing files, a 0.3MP camera and running the show is a 1GHz Cortex A8 processor .

The tablet was originally launched in India under the name Aakash 2, to bridge the digital divide and give students affordable access to the internet. Now available in the UK and the rest of the world, Datawind hopes this affordable tech will get everyone connected.

Binatone HomeSurf 742

Price: £47

Next up is the Binatone HomeSurf 742, which is now available for £47 from Asda.

It’s another seven-inch slate that has an 800x480 display but this time runs on the newer Android 4.2.2 (Jelly Bean) operating system.

Inside you get 8GB of memory, which is expandable up to 32GB via its Micro SD slot, a Micro USB for file sharing, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity, 512MB RAM and a 1.2GHz dual processor.

However, despite the 1.2GHz dual core processor reviewers report that the device is slow for internet browsing and on top of that has a poor battery life. The HomeSurf 742 also only has a front-facing camera which limits you to selfies or video calls.

Tesco Hudl

Price: £119 (£60 with Tesco Clubcard Boost)

Tesco caused a bit of a stir in September last year when it launched its own seven-inch tablet called the Hudl.

The smart looking slate comes in four colours and is available for £119, but Tesco Clubcard holders will be able to get hold of one for just £60 using Clubcard Boost vouchers - which considering the specifications is a bargain.

Unlike other budget models you get a lot more for your money, with features that rival other more premium seven-inch tablets like the Google Nexus 7 and iPad Mini.

The Hudl runs on Android 4.2.2 (Jelly Bean), comes loaded with 16GB of memory, which can be expanded to 48GB with a Micro SD card, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity, HDMI port for video output, Micro USB for file sharing, lasts up to nine hours and offers a high-definition 1440x900 display.  

The combination of 1GB RAM and a 1.5GHz processor means it’s quick at multitasking and it also comes with decent cameras; a front facing 2MP camera and a rear 3MP camera.

Nook HD 7"

Price: £79.99/89.99

Barnes and Noble - the largest booksellers in the US - also has an affordable seven-inch tablet in the shape of the Nook HD, available now for just £80 for the 8GB version or £90 for the 16GB version.

The Nook has a curved shape, making it stand out from the crowd aesthetically and is available in smoke (grey) or snow (white).

The Nook has its own operating system called Nook OS, though Google Play and Google Chrome can be used on the platform.

For your money you get an impressive 1440x900 HD display as well as 8GB/16GB of memory that you can expand using the Micro SD slot, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity, HDMI output for watching videos, 10.5 hours battery life and a 1.3GHz dual core processor.

However, the device doesn’t have a camera and there is no Micro USB for file sharing.

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Amazon Kindle Fire

Price: £89

The Kindle Fire is another budget seven-inch tablet, available for £89.

The device comes with a decent 1024x600 display and runs on Amazon’s own operating system Fire OS 3.0 (Mojito), which some might find a bit restrictive.

There’s 8GB of storage, Wi-Fi connectivity, Micro USB, 10 hours of battery life and powering everything is a 1.2GHz processor supported by 1GB of RAM.

You don’t get a camera with the Kindle Fire and unlike many other budget devices you can’t expand the storage, but you do get unlimited cloud storage for any Amazon content.

You also can’t connect to other devices like speakers or create a personal hotspot as the Kindle Fire doesn't come with Bluetooth.

Acer Iconia B1-710

Price £89.99/£99

Another budget tablet you could try is the seven-inch Acer Iconia B1, which is available for £89.99 for an 8GB device or £99 for a 16GB model.

The B1-710 runs on the Andorid 4.1 (Jelly Bean) operating system, comes with 8GB/16GB of memory which you can expand via the Micro SD slot, features a 1024x600 display, Micro USB port, front facing camera, Wi-Fi as well as Bluetooth connectivity and a 1.2GHz dual Cortex A9 processor backed up by 1GB of RAM.

However, the battery life is terrible (clocking just 3.5 hours) making it hard to use it as a portable device away from home.

Avoca 7”

Price: £99.99

The Avoca 7” is another affordable seven-inch tablet you could try. However, for the £99 price tag you get lower quality specifications than other cheaper models.

The screen resolution for example is jus 800x480 (the same as the £30 UbiSlate 7Ci). Also missing is a rear facing camera (although you do get a front facing 0.3MP one) and Bluetooth connectivity. Plus the 1GHz processor and 512MB of RAM means you might struggle with multitasking.

But other than that the device ticks the standard boxes. It runs on Google’s Android 4.2.2 (Jelly Bean), comes with 8GB memory expandable up to 32GB with a SD card, Wi-Fi connectivity and lasts up to eight hours.

Argos Bush MyTablet2

Price: £99.99

Argos launched the seven-inch MyTablet in October last year via its Bush electronics brand and quickly sold out in the run up to Christmas.

Now there is the second generation MyTablet2 which is a bigger eight-inch device with some improved features.

Running the show is a better 1GHz Cortex A9 processor helped out by 1GB of RAM. There is also a better screen display of 1024x768 and an improved battery life giving six hours instead of five.  

Apart from those changes you’ll get the same specifications as the previous generation including Android 4.2.2 (Jelly Bean) operating system, 8GB of memory that can be boosted to 32GB via a Micro SD card, Wi-Fi as well as Bluetooth connectivity, 2MP rear camera, 0.3MP front camera, HDMI port for video output and Micro USB for sharing files.

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Asus MeMo Pad HD 7

Price: £99.99

Asus is the company that produces the Google Nexus 7 so has some pretty good credentials when it comes to producing top quality tablets.

The company’s own venture in the MeMo Pad HD7 has some very similar specifications.

The screen resolution of 1280x800 is the same as the original Nexus 7 and it has the same long lasting 10-hour battery power.

The MeMo runs on Android 4.2.2 (Jelly Bean), comes with Wi-Fi as well as Bluetooth connectivity, Micro USB, rear facing 5MP camera, front facing 1.2MP camera as well as 1.2GHz quad core processor and 1GB of RAM.

One key difference that makes the Memo Pad HD7 7 slightly better is that you can expand the 8GB memory up to 32GB using a SD card. You aren’t able to do this with the Nexus or even the iPad.

Archos 101 Cobalt 10.1”

Price: £99.99

Archos has a wide variety of affordable tablets knocking around, but if you are after a bigger tablet than the seven- and eight-inch tablets discussed above the 101 Cobalt is worth a mention.

The 10.1-inch tablet boasts a 1024x600 LCD screen and runs on Android 4.2.2 (Jelly Bean). Powering the device is a 1.2GHz dual code ARM Cortex A9 processor with 1GB of RAM for quick multitasking.

You also get 8GB of memory expandable to 32GB by the Micro SD slot, HDMI output for videos and two USB 2.0 ports. However, you only get a front facing 0.3MP camera.

So for those that want a bigger tablet the 101Cobalt performs just as well as smaller alternatives.

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