I use this cheap Android tablet more than my iPad Pro – and it costs a fraction of the price

It’s that time of year when I get a lot of questions about tablets. They seem to be a popular gift around the holidays. While those in the Apple ecosystem are limited to the iPad line, Android users have many more options, especially at the cheap end of the spectrum.

Although I’m hip-deep in the iOS and iPadOS ecosystem and own an iPad Pro, I have to admit that I’m not much of a tablet user. Sure, I use it as a second screen for YouTube or to play the odd game, and sometimes, I even get around to doing some real work with it. On the whole, though, I don’t use it a lot because I find that whatever I can’t do on my iPhone is better done on my MacBook Pro.

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I think this is true for a lot of people. Tablets are a big screen for things like social media and content consumption, not a platform for work. This means that for the majority of users, a tablet is an indulgence, a guilty pleasure. As such, there is a substantial market for budget tablets in the sub-$200 price range.

Blackview, better known for its ruggedized smartphones, also makes quality tablets perfect for content consumption. For the past few weeks, I’ve been using the Tab 90 Wi-Fi, and I’ve been thrilled by how good it is. It’s so good that it’s been seeing a lot more use than my iPad Pro.

Blackview Tab 90 WiFi tech specs

• OS: Android 14
• Display: 10.92-inch 800 x 1280 HD IPS
• CPU: Unisoc Tiger T606 octa-core
• GPU: Mali-G57 MP1
• RAM: 4GB DDR4X RAM and 8GB memory expansion
• Storage: 128GB UFS2.1
• Expansion slot: 1x TF Card (up to 1TB)
• Cameras: Rear 13-megapixel Samsung ISOCELL 4H7, front 8MP
• Battery capacity: 8,200mAh
• Dimension: 256.9 x 168.5 x 9.5mm
• Weight: 540g
• Colors: Ink Grey, Frost Blue, or Blush Pink

There are three key components to a tablet; there’s the display, the processor that drives everything, and the battery that powers it all.

So, starting with the screen. Compared to the 2752-by-2064 pixel display on my 13-inch iPad Pro, the 800 x 1280 feels like a real downgrade, but after using it for a while it starts to feel more than enough for YouTube and Netflix. 

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Speaking of Netflix, the Tab 90 WiFi is Widevine L1 certified, which means that it supports streaming high-definition (HD) content from Netflix, HBO, Amazon Prime, and other distributors that have DRM on their streamed content.

The colors are vivid and rich, the whites clear and bright, and the blacks deep and dark. Yes, there are better displays out there, but this one is more than adequate.

The tablet is powered by an octa-core Unisoc Tiger T606 processor, which has two Cortex-A75 power cores running at 1,600MHz and six Cortex-A55 efficiency cores running at 1,600MHz. It’s more built for extended battery life than performance, but combined with the 4GB of RAM (with an additional 8GB of extended memory), it drives the system along smoothly enough.

That said, I increased the extended memory usage to the full 8GB, which removed some of the speed bumps I was feeling when the system was under heavier load.

On the power side, the 8,200mAh battery is good for about 10 hours of general use, but I suggest not letting the battery get too low. With only 10W fast charging, it’ll take around an hour to get it from flat to 30% and closer to four hours to bring the battery to full.

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The tablet also feels nice in the hand. My iPad Pro lives in a case that feels rather cumbersome and bulky, so the naked Tab 90 Wi-Fi at 9.5mm thin feels really svelte.

This is an illusion, of course. If I remove my iPad Pro from the case, it’s almost half as thin, at an unbelievable 5.1mm. 

Style doesn’t mean fragile, however, and the tablet is durable enough to withstand being dropped off the couch or sat on while on the couch. It’s a perfect portable screen for social media, content consumption, or for someone who wants a tablet in the kitchen, garage, or workshop.

ZDNET’s buying advice

If you’re looking for a cheap tablet, the Blackview Tab 90 Wi-Fi is hard to go wrong with. For the $150 (with clip-on coupon) it currently sells for, it’s an absolute steal.

People are always on the lookout for a cheap tablet for the holidays, and this is a good choice. I mean, you can go cheaper — the Blackview Tab 70 Wi-Fi is only $70, but you don’t get Netflix compatibility for that price. With the Tab 90 WiFi, you’re getting a lot of tablet for your money.