The Top 5 Cheapest Android Tablet PCs in India

If you are looking for a cheap Android tablet PC in India, then you might have very few choices available currently. I agree that tablets like Aakash and Wespro are some of the most favored cheap tablet PCs, but performance-wise Reliance is far better than these tablets combined.

However, with the emergence of high-quality entry-level Android tablet PCs like the Magnum Pepper and HCL Me X1, the Indian tablet war is getting more intense than ever before. New entrants are targeting the less-than-10000 price bracket and offering exciting features like 3G support, latest Android OS versions, Wi-Fi, and fast processor. Here are some of the top 5 affordable tablet PCs in India.

The LACS Magnum Pepper is one of the newest entrants in the Android tablet space. With an 800 MHz processor and 256 MB RAM, this lightweight tablet PC offers everything a low-end computer provides. You can play movies, games and music, surf the Internet, plug-in a 3G dongle, pen drive and even connect an Internet broadband cable, thanks to its 10/100 Base-T Ethernet LAN port. It supports a maximum of 32 GB of storage space and has a front-facing camera for video calling.

The best part of the Magnum Pepper the price tag it carries. Costing under Rs. 7000, the tablet PC is the best bet for users looking for a budget Android tablet. You can’t get anything cheaper than this. However, it runs on Android 2.2 (Froyo), which means you cannot upgrade to a Honeycomb or Gingerbread. Another downside is its battery life. The tablet lasts for less than 5 hours, so don’t expect an on-the-go tablet PCing for a much longer time.

Nevertheless, the Wi-Fi enabled Pepper can be a nice spicy addition to your gadget collection. I would recommend it to those who prefer a basic Android tablet for their office or home.

The Reliance 3G Android tablet PC is the priciest of the lot, but packs in loads of excellent features. Priced at Rs.12999, this Android Gingerbread device has a 7-inch capacitive touch screen display, and this well means that multi-tasking is possible. Users can open up multiple apps because of the multi-touch input.

One of the highlights of the Reliance 3G Tab is the battery. The device can last for up to 9 hours, and has a battery life closest to the Apple iPad. The device runs on an 800 MHz processor, which is lower than an HCL or Beetel is offers a satisfying multitasking and browsing experience.

The device also sports a dual camera; though the front-facing one is a VGA (the rear camera supports 2 megapixels). The Reliance 3G tab is feature-rich and supports Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, which is why I would definitely recommend this device for users who prefer a good tablet PC with high battery life and plenty of features suitable for home and office.

Tablet Hub Update: According to the latest tech rumors, Reliance InfoTel is planning to launch low-cost LTE tablets with price as low as Rs.3500. These tablets will come bundled with low-cost data plans. These cheap tablet PCs are scheduled for release at the end of December 2012.¹

The HCL Me X1 is touted to be a tough competitor against the Reliance 3G Tablet PC. Armed with a 1 GHz processor, this Android gem sports a 7-inch display and runs on Android 2.3 (Gingerbread). While the memory and storage space is pretty okay (512 MB RAM and 32 GB maximum storage space), the device is best for playing full HD movies (1080p).

The HCL Me X1 comes with a price tag of Rs. 10,490. I would say cheap because it runs on Gingerbread and currently no tablet PC under Rs.10,000 runs any of the latest Android operating system versions. (I would definitely like to be proved wrong, if there’s a less than 10K price tag for an Android tablet PC that runs on Gingerbread or Honeycomb).

In spite of these good features, the HCL tab might be a turn-off because of its decision of putting up its own proprietary HCL ME App Store instead of the Android Market. However, this device is great for playing good old Android 3D games, though the visuals aren’t sharper than the ones on Reliance. Office-goers, however, can rejoice because the device comes with a Quick Office app, which can be use to create and edit documents. All in all, the ME X1 is a great Android device and since it runs one of the latest mobile processors, it’s suitable for students and office-goers alike.

Another new entrant in the Indian Android tab market is the Mercury mTab. It is one of the cheapest Android tablets in India and is heavy on features, including processors and 3D acceleration. The Android Gingerbread tab features 3 core processors (GPU, CPU, and VPU) and is armed with the ARM 11 1.2 GHz processor. It can play 3D games and HD movies, thanks to its Open GL support, 3D accelerator and 1080P support.

The sleek and stylish Android tab is available at Rs. 9499 and has capabilities, which are at par with the Reliance 3G tablet. It has a 7-inch capacitive touch screen and supports screen rotation. However, it relies on external 3G. Surfers can also make the most of the in-built Wi-Fi for easy browsing.

One of the prime highlights of this Android tablet PC is the tripe-core processer, which makes processing much faster. This means smooth and fast multitasking, movie-watching web surfing experience. I find this tablet quite impressive feature-wise, and is great for users looking for a tablet PC for gaming.

From landline telephone instruments to tablet PCs and other ultra-sophisticated gadgets, Beetel has come a long way. Its latest Android Froyo powered tablet PC boasts a 2 MP rear and front-facing camera and a 1 GHz Qualcomm processor. Priced around Rs.9000, the 7-inch Android device has a resistive touch screen technology, which does not have a smooth touch response if compared with other tablet PCS.

The Beetel Magiq tablet PC has 512 MB memory, but the storage capacity is not that big if you compare it with Magnum Pepper or the HCL ME X1. The maximum storage space can be extended up to 16 GB via a memory SD card. However, it’s one of the cheapest Android tablet PCs in India with a 3G connectivity and so most users will find it a good alternative to Reliance 3G tablet. Besides 3G, users can enjoy Internet via Wi-Fi. The tablet also features GPS navigation and supports Bluetooth.

Magiq is an entry-level tablet and so expect a few shortcomings. The battery life is average and the screen is okay, if not good. But the rear camera, support for free Android apps (yes it does feature the official Android marketplace) and 3G connectivity makes it a device worth a look.

So which Android tablet PC would you love to buy? Do you find this list interesting? Do you have any suggestions or have your own list of cheapest Indian tablet PCs? Share with us by posting your comments.

¹ "Reliance Infotel to Offer Rs.3500 Tablet PC." Mobile Indian, http://www.themobileindian.com/news/4133_Reliance-Infotel-to-offer-tablet-for-Rs-3500