Best 7 inch tablet: current 7 inch tablets you should look for

After so many tablet announcements in past months we got a pretty clear picture of upcoming models, which consumers will be able to purchase in a few months time, once production sets off and those slates will start showing up in online stores. We know that now there aren’t plenty tablets to choose from, but we do know what’s coming around the corner.

That’s why we made a list of the best 7 inch tablets you should look for (and save money for). It’s a list with the tablets showing the most potential to become iPad challengers due to size, price and features included. This doesn’t mean they’ll be able to overtake the iPad in sales, but getting closer is good enough, as competition will always bring down prices and increase the number of features we’re getting for the same amount of dollars.

If you’re not decided what to buy yet, you can wait, of course, for new models to be announced, but if you know how the gadget world works, you already understand that waiting only makes things worse, as better and better devices are announced every day (plus they’re cheaper). So let’s see what the market has for us right now in the 7 inch tablet sector, one of the most important segments of the tablet market, because of the excellent price per size ratio.

Recommended read – Cheap Android Tablets favourite list

Amazon Kindle Fire – $199

It was bound to happen sooner or later: someone was going to take on the iPad, and surprisingly that someone is Amazon. Their first tablet is called Kindle Fire and it’s a gorgeous 7 inch slate that resembles the Blackberry Playbook in terms of looks, but it couldn’t be more different on the software side: it features a heavily modified Android interface that focuses on media consumption of Amazon’s own services: Amazon Prime (free 30 days trial included), eBook store and Music store.

All the content you’ve purchases is automatically backed-up to the cloud so you don’t lose anything and can download/delete items from your device with ease and without losing them. Whispersyn allows you to resume reading/watching on any device you have where you’re logged in with your Amazon credentials. Amazon Silk is another impressive technology: it’s the web browser that uses the cloud resources to pre-render page elements that are CPU and bandwidth intensive. Browsing won’t ever be the same again.

There are some drawbacks of the Kindle Fire: it’s only available in US right now (due to copyright issues for international distribution of Amazon’s services) and it’s a cheap tablet, which means some things didn’t make it to production including the microphone and camera, so no chats on the Amazon Kindle Fire, but at under $200 this is an amazing media consumption device with access to more than 18.000.000 library items (eBooks, Magazines, Movies, TV Shows and  Music). [full preview]

• 1GHz dual core CPU by TI
• 1 GB RAM
• 7 inch IPS screen (1024 x 600 px resolution)
• 8 GB internal storage
• Size: 7.5″ x 4.7″ x 0.45″
• Weight: 14.6 ounces
• Battery life: 8 hours continuous reading or 7.5 hours video playback

Amazon Kindle Fire tablet

Toshiba Thrive 7 - 16 GB $380, 16 GB $418

If you want a robust 7 inch tablet then you have to consider the Thrive 7, which features the same rugged case of the Thrive 10, but in a much slimmer and lighter body. Because of that we no longer have full size USB, HDMI and SD ports, so we’re switching to micro versions, but that shouldn’t be too big of a deal. Also worth noting is that there won’t be a 3G version of the tablet, or at least not now, so if ultimate mobility is your thing then you have to look elsewhere.

• OS – Android 3.2 Honeycomb
• Display - 7-inch LED capacitivedisplay (1280 x 800 pixels)
• Processor & Graphics – dual core 1 GHz NVIDIA Tegra 2
• Storage - 16 GB/32GB
• RAM - 1 GB
• Wireless - Wireless-N , Bluetooth 2.1
• Audio - Built-in stereo speakers (with SRS Premium Voice Suite and Toshiba Sound Enhancements)
• Weight and Dimensions - 13.25 ounces; 7.44 x 0.48 x 5.04 inches (WxDxH)
• Sensors & Location - GPS, gyroscope, accelerometer, ambient light sensor, digital compass
• Ports & Expansion - Micro HDMI, Mini USB, Dock connector, 3.5mm audio jack, MicroSD card slot

Toshiba Thrive 7

Samsung Galaxy TAB 7 Plus – 16GB WiFi $350, 32 GB WiFi $450

If you want the best 7 inch tablet at this moment, with no compromise on performance and features there’s only one choice: Samsung Galaxy TAB 7 Plus. And I’m not talking only about specs, but also looks, as the brushed metal body of the Galaxy TAB 7 plus matches the bigger 7.7, 8.9 and 10.1 Galaxy TABs. There will also be a white version, to match the Apple lovers. As of features Samsung used only the best features: 1.2 GHz dual core CPU, 1 GB RAM, 16/32 GB storage, dual cameras, a huge 4000 mAh battery and the latest version of Android available, 3.2 Honeycomb. [read our full preview]

• 1.2 GHz dual core CPU
• 7″ PLS screen (1024 x 600 px)
• 1 GB RAM
• 16/32 GB storage + microSD card slot
• 93.65 x 122.37 x 9.96 mm
• 345 grams (0.76 pounds)
• dual cameras
• WiFi n, Bluetooth 3.0, GPS
• USB 2.0 and USB Host
• 4000mAh battery
• Android 3.2 Honeycomb with TouchWiz

Samsung Galaxy TAB 7 Plus

Acer Iconia A100: 8GB $320, 16GB $349

This is by far one of the most interesting 7 inch Android tablets on market today, as it offers the best performance in its class: dual core Tegra 2 CPU, 1 GB RAM, 8/16 GB storage options, Android 3.2 Honeycomb, 1024 x 800 pixels screen with Gorilla Glass, WiFi, Bluetooth 2.1, micros USB and micro HDMI out ports, dual cameras. It’s got everything you need and starts only at $330.  Just beware that battery life is rated at only 5 hours. [read full preview]

Acer Iconia Tab A100

HTC Flyer – WiFi $381, 3G $484

HTC was always good at one thing: making their devices look good through smart design and custom user interfaces that change the look of the operating system to a point where users say it’s gorgeous. The same stands for the HTC Flyer, the first tablet from the Taiwanese manufacturer, one that’s ‘quietly brilliant’ with a distinctive rounded look, powerful configuration and the HTC Magic Stylus supported by the HTC Scribe technology that allows for handwriting notes, annotations and drawings to be performed accurately on the active digitizer fitted screen with high resolution, 1024 x 600 pixels.

HTC has promised to bring handwriting support soon, so the HTC Flyer could be the perfect device for a business meeting or in the educational sector. The stylus also supports up to 99 levels of pressure, so you can even draw accurately. HTC decided to get to the tablet market with a distinctive product and the Flyer is just that. [read full review]

• 1.5 GHz single core Qualcomm CPU
• 1GB RAM
• 32 GB internal storage, micro SD card slot
• all-aluminum body for durability and style
• 7 inch display, 1024 x 600 pixels resolution
• Dimensions: 195,4 x 122 x 13,2 mm
• Weight: 415 grams including battery
• HSPA, quad band GSM
• GPS, Light sensor, G-sensor, Digital compass
• 4000 mAh battery
• WiFi, Bluetooth
• microUSB port, 3.5 mm audio jack
• 1.3 megapixel front facing camera, 5 megapixel back camera with autofocus
• Android 2.4 OS with HTC Sense custom user interface

HTC Flyer

Nook Tablet - 8 GB $199, 16 GB $249

This is one of the cheap 7 inch tablets launched at the end of 2011, but it’s no slouch, featuring pretty much the same specs as the Blackberry Playbook, but offers a microSD storage extension slot, a heavily skinned Android 2.3 that doesn’t offer access to the Android Marketplace, but to Barnes and Noble ecosystem of books, magazines and comics. Usually you get this tablet because you want something cheap, fast and you plan to root it (already possible), so you can install pretty much everything you want on it.

• 1GHz dual core TI OMAP 4 CPU
• 512MB/1 GB RAM, 8GB/16 GB storage, expandable via microSD
• 7 ” IPS display (1024 x 600 px)
• Android 2.3 OS heavily skinned
• Dimensions (HxWxD) 8.1 inches x 5.0 inches x 0.48 inches
• Weight: 14.1 ounces
• Wi-Fi (802.11b/g/n)
• Battery: 11.5 hours reading or 9 hours of video (wireless off)
• Integration with: Netflix, Hulu Plus, Pandora® internet radio, Chess, Crossword, Sudoku, Media Gallery, NOOK Friends, Email
• Access to a library of over 2.5 million books, magazines, comics & kids’ books

Nook Tablet: the cheap seven inch alternative

Dell Streak 7 – 4G 279$, WiFi – $276

This is one tablet released very fast in 2011, after Dell just presented it briefly during a conference at CES 2011. Even if you might think the Dell Streak 7 is almost identical to the Dell Streak 5, released last year, there are major hardware differences, notable the Tegra 2 dual core CPU running at 1GHz and the bigger display (which retains the same 800 x 480 pixels resolution). As size is concerned, the Dell Streak 7 is roughly the same size as the Samsung Galaxy TAB. Battery life is the only point where Dell scores below its competitors, but it will get you through the day with moderate use.

Dell Streak 7 quick specs

• 1 GHz Dual COrtex A9 Nvidia Tegra2 processor and Nvidia ULP GeForce graphics
• 512 MB of RAM
• 16 GB storage space + SD card slot
• 7 inch 800 x 480 px display
• Wi-Fi N, Bluetooth and T-Mobile’s “4G” HSPA+
• 2 cameras – 5MPx on the back and 1.3 MPx on the front
• Android 2.2 OS
• measures 7.9 x 4.7 x .5 inches and weighs around 1 pound

Dell Streak 7

Read the full review here to get a complete impression on the Dell Streak 7.

Blackberry Playbook – $216 (16GB), $264 (32GB), $321 (64GB)

RIM is one of the late brand names to announce a tablet, and theirs was the Blackberry Playbook, a very strange name for a professional tablet, as RIM advertises it. As specs goes, it’s very close to the Samsung Galaxy TAB, but there are notable differences: no 3G (will need a Blackberry Smartphone to connect to Internet in areas with no WiFi Hotspots), double the RAM plus the QNX based OS (not too much details about this one tough). In summer we’ll see the 4G ready Playbook on market

What RIM means by ‘professional tablet’ is the fact that it connects to present Blackberry services, but offers a better experience via the bigger screen with higher resolution and faster overall performance of the tablet versus current RIM smartphones.  [read full review]

You can buy it also from BestBuy.com - $199 (16GB), $299 (32GB), $399 (64GB) if prices on Amazon.com go up somehow.

• 7” LCD, 1024 x 600, WSVGA, capacitive touch screen with full multitouch and gesture support
• BlackBerry Tablet OS with support for symmetric multiprocessing
• 1 GHz dual-core processor
• 1 GB RAM
• Dual HD cameras (3 MP front facing, 5 MP rear facing), supports 1080p HD video recording
• Video playback: 1080p HD Video, H.264, MPEG, DivX, WMV
• Audio playback: MP3, AAC, WMA
• HDMI video output
• Wi-Fi – 802.11 a/b/g/n
• Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR
• Connectors: microHDMI, microUSB, charging contacts
• Open, flexible application platform with support for WebKit/HTML-5, Adobe Flash Player 10.1, Adobe Mobile AIR, Adobe Reader, POSIX, OpenGL, Java
• Measures 5.1”x7.6”x0.4” (130mm x 193mm x 10mm)
• Weighs less than a pound (approximately 0.9 lb or 400g)

Blackberry Playbook

What’s next, for 2012?

If you ask me, I believe that 2012 is the year when Android tablets will really take off, so expect every big major name in the industry to launch their own series of tablets in a smaller form factor, including Apple (a format that starts to gain momentum thanks to the perfect size/mobility ratio). So expect competition to be as fierce as in other IT niches like netbooks, ultrabooks and PC components. Is this a good thing? For consumers sure there are nice times coming.