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Best Chinese Android tablets: good and cheap

androidpit tablets 3
© nextpit

Chinese tablets are both well-equipped and very affordable. This is what makes them an attractive alternative to tablets from Samsung and other major manufacturers. What's also nice is that you can order them online with relatively little hassle. However, note that an import duty should be added to the purchase price. Now, read on for our list of the best Chinese Android tablets.

Nokia N1

Finnish manufacturer Nokia might not sell any more smartphones under its own brand name by the end of 2016. This is at least what the company's agreement with Microsoft suggests, after the Redmond-based tech giant acquired the mobile phone division of Nokia in April, 2014. But the Finns may still continue to manufacture and sell tablets.

In China early in 2015 the Nokia N1 appeared for the first time for around $200. The combination of price and powerful hardware ensured that the Nokia N1 sold out within a few minutes after its Chinese launch. In the US, the Nokia N1 is still not officially available, although it was supposed to appear at the end of 2015. Whether it comes this year remains unclear.

Nokia N1 review [hands-on]: the super-cheap Android iPad

Nokia tablet n1 hero 3
The Nokia N1 is one of the best Chinese tablets. / © ANDROIDPIT

Xiaomi Mi Pad

The Xiaomi Mi Pad first generation is a mix of iPad mini and iPhone 5c. The back is available in gaudy bright colors, making the Mi Pad a real eye-catcher among Chinese tablets. The specs ​​are impressive, especially the 7.9-inch display with a resolution of 2,048 x 1,536 pixels. The pixels are powered by the Nvidia Tegra K1, which is also used in the Nvidia Shield tablet. The Xiaomi Mi Pad is optionally available with 16 or 64 GB of internal memory, which can be expanded additionally via microSD card. Although the Xiaomi Mi Pad is now one year old, it's still a winner thanks to hardware from Nvidia. It remains one of the best Chinese tablets around.

xiaomi mi pad
The Mi Pad is a mix of iPad Mini and iPhone 5c. / © Xiaomi

 

Xiaomi Mi Pad 2

If you don't like the plastic back of the Mi Pad, then perhaps the recently launched Mi Pad 2 is for you. Just like the first generation, the Mi Pad 2 has a 7.9-inch display with a resolution of 2,048 x 1,536 pixels. Inside, Xiaomi has decided to change the processor. Rather than continuing to rely on the Nvidia Tegra K1, the Xiaomi Mi Pad 2 now relies on the computing power of Intel. The Intel Atom Z8500-X5, more specifically, with its maximum clock speed of 2.2 GHz.

According to early benchmarks, the new Intel chip propels this tablet into the power realm of a Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge+ or Galaxy Note 5. Whether this is actually true, we will discover in our review in the coming weeks. That's because a Xiaomi Mi Pad 2 is already on the way to AndroidPIT's editors.

XiaomiMiPad2
The Mi Pad 2 is available in gray or precious gold. / © Hugo Barra/Facebook  

Are you thinking of buying a Chinese tablet? What do you think of them as a value proposition?

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Omar Hamwi

Omar Hamwi
Head of Content

Omar has been a dedicated Android user since 2011. He began his career as a print journalist before a move into digital editing. He is passionate about technology and, since relocating from Sydney to Berlin, now shares his passion as part of the AndroidPIT team. His mission now is to help readers of AndroidPIT find the best hardware and software.

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8 comments
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  • Alex 17
    Alex May 3, 2016 Link to comment

    It should be posted as best Budget Android tablets rather than Chinese tablets because they worth the money!every penny of it!!

    andy


    • Emris Joseph 3
      Emris Joseph May 4, 2016 Link to comment

      Agreed


      • Alex 17
        Alex May 8, 2016 Link to comment

        then why didn't u like my comment


  • Judah Richardson 6
    Judah Richardson May 2, 2016 Link to comment

    Not sure why you'd get any of these when you can buy an Nvidia Shield K1 that runs Marshmallow, supports adoptable storage, and gets monthly security updates for $199.

    andyAlex W.Steph JamesJohn Martin


  • 5
    Todd Richardson May 2, 2016 Link to comment

    The issue is software updates, for features and security, which are unlikely. Sadly only the nexus line guarantees that.

    Paul Warner


    • Paul Warner 8
      Paul Warner May 3, 2016 Link to comment

      yep. I bought a Cube branded one last year. Runs on Android 4.4.2 and no software update available. Nice display, 3G capable etc. It was cheap all right but i guess you get what you pay for..


  • 46
    Deactivated Account May 2, 2016 Link to comment

    Chinese tablets are cheap. Good? That's a matter of opinion, and it is not mine.


  • Carmelo Rivera 20
    Carmelo Rivera May 1, 2016 Link to comment

    Or you can buy an iPad like for a million dollars.

    andy

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