There are plenty of excellent Black Friday deals this year, but cheap Android tablets aren’t one of them. We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again. Avoid all those inevitable $50 “Google Android OS” tablet deals and discounts.
Here’s what you need to know before queuing for an inexpensive tablet that will disappoint you when you get home. We’ll go over a few things to look for, what to avoid, and offer some good tablet recommendations.
Any Android tablet listed for $50 but initially $199 isn’t worth the money. It never cost $199 and no one paid for it. Whether you see deals at Target, Walmart, Walgreens, or online, here’s how to spot a deal you don’t like.
We’ve all been there, messing around with the ads or checking out all the door burglars. For $79 you see an “Android multi-touch tablet”. Seems like a good deal, but it’s not. If it sounds too good to be true, it is. A few Android manufacturers make some pretty great tablets for under $200. As a result, cheap Chinese tablets are priced even lower around Black Friday as an incentive. Don’t fall for it.
Things to avoid
Again, if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. For $50, you won’t find a tablet that will deliver an enjoyable experience. Well, unless the Amazon Kindle Fire 7-inch Target is $29. This is about the only cheap Android tablet Black Friday deal I’m comfortable recommending.
You have what you want and . If it says on the box, it’s a tablet you probably don’t want to buy. Search for “Google Tablet OS”, “Android 5.0”, “Google Tablet” or “Quad Core Multi-touch tablet” and avoid. There are a few exceptions to this rule, but for the most part, none of these tablets are worth your hard-earned money.
Please do not buy this. You’re welcome!
Another thing you’ll see on Black Friday are bundle deals. To sell you a cheap Android tablet, companies or retailers will assemble the accessories. If it comes with a folio case and Bluetooth keyboard, headphones, or a bunch of other accessories, skip it. They’re probably trying to make up for the fact that the tablet isn’t worth more than $30 at most.
Yes, some of these ultra-cheap tablets can finish off your kids. At the same time, Amazon’s tablets offer a much better experience across the board. Get an Amazon Fire tablet instead.
No tablet running Android 5.0 (or Google OS) is worth your money. For the record, Google released Android 8.0 Oreo in August. Anything you buy running Android 5.0 is extremely old, not very secure and not worth your money. Android 5.0 was released in 2014, keep that in mind.
Search for Brand Names You Know
This next part is tricky because you will probably see some “RCA Quad Core Android OS Tablets” that look pretty good. It will have a case, keyboard and an affordable price. However, they’re probably pretty slow and outdated. RCA is a brand you probably know, use or trust. These Walmart specials aren’t as good as they seem.
Popular brands like Amazon, ASUS, Samsung, Lenovo, LG, and others all make pretty great tablets. If you find a tablet from a company you’ve never heard before, it’s not that big of a deal. Some don’t even have names and just list features and screen sizes. Skip these and get something else.
Make Sure You Have Google Play Store
Another extremely important thing to look for is the Google Play Store or Google apps. Some cheap tablets don’t follow Google’s rules and don’t have Play Store. This means you can’t access millions of apps, games, movies, music and more.
Instead, the tablet will likely have a 3rd party app store or some other shady method that we wouldn’t recommend. The only exception is Amazon because they have their own app store.
Look for the Google Play Store logo or something similar to the badge above. If you find a decent Android tablet on Black Friday, make sure you have access to the things that matter.
A Few Android Tablet Suggestions
If you’re looking for a good cheap tablet on Black Friday, here are a few we can comfortably recommend. The 7-inch Amazon Fire tablet is just $29 at Target. It is a capable little device with tons of content for you or your family. Or the Samsung Galaxy Tab E 16GB for just $139 at Walmart. Other options include Lenovo Yoga Tab 3, Lenovo tablets, NVIDIA Shield and even ASUS ZenPad 8.
Here are the best Android tablets under $200 in 2017. Browse this list, find something you like and look for a good deal.
One potential issue is with all the old Samsung Galaxy tablets floating around. While still offering a pretty great experience, we always see older models being sold on Black Friday. Still, a Galaxy tablet is better than pretty much anything you can find for under $100.
In closing, remember that Black Friday isn’t the only time you’ll find good deals. Expect more throughout the entire holiday shopping season and into early 2018 on Cyber Monday and countless others. Take your time and find something worth buying.
