Beyond the Alphabet is a weekly column that focuses on the world of technology both inside and outside the confines of Mountain View.
Over the past 10 to 15 years, we’ve seen a slow decline of smaller devices in favor of those with larger screens. “Bigger is better” is the motto many companies follow today, and the same sentiment applies to tablets.
Best Android-compatible iPad Mini
There are some exceptions, like Apple‘s iPad mini, but in most cases, if you want the best experience with a tablet, especially on Android, it’s the big screen or nothing.
One might assume that the desire to use tablets as replacements for laptops has led to larger, unsightly screen sizes. Unfortunately, there are still compromises to be made even with the best tablets. I mean, to me it’s absurd that Samsung doesn’t offer the Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra with cellular connectivity. That’s reserved for the Tab S9 Plus, which is fine, but the Ultra is easily more of a laptop replacement than the Plus.
For the most part, if a tablet smaller than ten inches is released, it will probably have mediocre or ridiculous specs. This wasn’t always the case, as the 2013 Nexus 7 and 2017 Galaxy Tab S3 were flagship tablets with screens smaller than 10 inches.
Nowadays, a tablet larger than 10 inches usually means that it is a flagship tablet with more power and better screens. There are obvious exceptions to this rule, such as Samsung’s Galaxy Tab S9 FE and FE Plus, which are above my made-up size threshold when using Exynos chips.
I’ve often wondered why this is, especially as flagship processors continue to become more efficient while still providing plenty of power. Take the Lenovo Y700 as an example. It was launched in China last year and offers an 8.8-inch display and a resolution of 2560 x 1600. The Y700 is powered by the Snapdragon 8 Plus Gen 1, paired with 12GB or 16GB of RAM.
Lenovo recently announced an updated model (Legion Tab) that keeps the same internal parts but swaps the glossy screen for “micro-nano-etched” glass. From everything I’ve seen, it looks pretty similar to the etched glass found on higher-end Steam Deck builds. For what it’s worth, this is intended to minimize brightness without compromising screen quality.
Yes, I’m also aware that the Snapdragon 8 Plus Gen 1 is an outdated chip, as the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 now powers many of the best Android phones. But I’d say there’s still room in the market for tablets that bridge the gap between budget and flagship.
For reference, the Legion Tab is priced at €599, which translates to almost $640. Without taking into account trade-in deals or promotions, the Tab S9 FE Plus sells for $600, but it’s not exactly the ideal tablet for couch surfing. For an extra $40, I’d rather go with the Legion Tab, even if it lacks the extra software and features found in the One UI.
You might be wondering why I’m complaining about this as a true believer in foldable phones. But the recent launch of the Razer Kishi Ultra and its marketed compatibility with the 8.3-inch iPad Mini made me realize that there isn’t an equivalent on the Android side.
I also understand that the iPad Mini is not technically a flagship tablet and has not been updated in over two years. However, it still sets the standard for tablets in this form factor, even offering 5G connectivity to complement the reliability of iPadOS, and I think we need a similar device in the Android space.
I don’t understand why Samsung keeps releasing the Tab S6 Lite with minor spec improvements.
One thing that surprises me is that Samsung hasn’t tried to do this. The company seems content with updating its flagship line every year or two and then adding a few random mid-range and budget devices in between. And for some reason, the Galaxy Tab S6 Lite continues to receive spec upgrades every two years.
I’ve realized that while foldable phones are awesome, there are situations where a dedicated device simply works better. This is partly why Samsung DeX hasn’t replaced all of my computing needs, despite being quite convenient when the situation arises. Another example is when I’m looking for a dedicated gaming handheld instead of just turning on Steam Link or Moonlight on OnePlus Open and streaming games from my PC.
A small tablet that can come close to, if not match, the performance of my phone is something I hope more companies explore. I mean, let’s be honest here. The tablet market is already highly fragmented, so what’s the harm in throwing in another spanner?
Unfortunately, I don’t think Samsung or any other company will end up venturing down this path. Lenovo’s Y700 was only available in China and the Legion Tab is expected to launch only in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. We haven’t heard anything about a possible North American release, but I’ll keep my fingers crossed.
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