Today was a great day for avid tablet users. Google announced their revamped Nexus 7 and stated that their devices would be the first to have the latest version of the Android OS. It'll be available for purchase at the end of the month starting at $229 for the 16GB version.
That got us thinking about the ever-expanding tablet market, so we did some research and found a number of deals that may be appealing. We've posted our best recommendations below.
Asus 32GB Google Nexus 7 (2012)
Despite the updated specs of the new Nexus 7, you can't go wrong with this 2012 model on sale at B&H Photo for $199 with free shipping. It still has some of the best color performance on the market and comes packed with features such as Bluetooth connectivity, a 802.11n wireless card, and near field communication (NFC) to enable the use of NFC tags. It got a "Best of the Year" badge for a reason. Now that the new model has been announced, expect the prices on the first generation to go down.
Samsung Galaxy Tab 3
The Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 is the latest 7-inch tablet from the manufacturer. We haven't reviewed this version yet, but we liked both of its predecessors, such as the Galaxy Tab 2, which we found to be a solid option with decent performance. The third generation features a redesign, front and back facing cameras, and a dual core 1.2GHz processor. It's currently priced at $199 through P.C. Richard & Son through their Samsung Week promotion and it comes with a $10 Google Play credit so you can start building your app library.
ASUS MeMO Pad Tablet
If you're a bit weary of entering the tablet market, the Asus MeMO Pad 10-inch tablet is a safe bet. While it's outdated in terms of hardware, first-time users will find it very easy to transfer files from a Windows PC. Plus, it's light and easy to hold—making it a good casual option. This TigerDirect deal makes it one of the most inexpensive tablet deals on this list: cutting it down to $99.
Amazon Kindle Fire HD
Fans of ebooks and other media could benefit from a Kindle Fire HD—an 8.9-inch tablet that makes it easy to connect to Amazon services for streaming video, reading books, and playing games. It's a solid choice if you don't need the inflated Google or Apple app marketplaces and mostly want a tablet to watch media on the go, especially since it's on sale at Best Buy for $219 with free shipping.
Acer ICONIA Tab A700-10k32u
This is an average tablet compared to others in its price point, but it's decent if you want a 10-inch screen, a 32GB hard drive, and an Android 4.0 operating system. We reviewed its predecessor and while we found it okay at best, Acer seems to have made some changes to the A700 including upgrades to the processor. Considering its size, this deal that cuts the price down to $285 with free shipping is a steal.
Apple iPad with Retina Display (Fourth Generation)
What is there to say about the iPad that hasn't already been said? It's one of the most popular tablets on the market and the fourth generation won a "Best of the Year" badge in 2012 after our review. However, the company doesn't make it the easiest to upgrade every year, so luckily there's this promotion through Best Buy that allows you to trade in your iPad or iPad 2 for a minimum $200 credit that you can use towards a future purchase.
Meet the tester
Carli writes for the Deals blog at Reviewed.com, and has become a professional at researching the web for the best deals on electronics. She graduated in 2012 from Northeastern University with a degree in English. She enjoys writing about technology, and is a video game freelance writer on the side with too many games in her backlog.
Checking our work.
Our team is here for one purpose: to help you buy the best stuff and love what you own. Our writers, editors, and lab technicians obsess over the products we cover to make sure you're confident and satisfied. Have a different opinion about something we recommend? Email us and we'll compare notes.
Shoot us an email