[minamikaze]

What's the best alternative to the iPad Mini now - one that's about the same form factor/weight, and also supports active stylus?

Thanks!

[hkchew03]

minamikaze wrote:

What's the best alternative to the iPad Mini now - one that's about the same form factor/weight, and also supports active stylus?

Thanks!

Don't think any mainstream 8" tablet support active stylus.
Personally i find 8" too small for stylus usage as well.

[xonix]

Samsung has an alternative but performance is so-so due to midrange hardware

https://mynexttablet.com/best-tablets-stylus/

[minamikaze]

Yes, I saw that. It's surprising that nothing even comes close to the iPad mini in the last few years.

[JustBored]

Im looking towards samsung tab a 8.4" (2020). Not sure when available though.

[Teo Ming Ern]

minamikaze wrote:

Yes, I saw that. It's surprising that nothing even comes close to the iPad mini in the last few years.

Actually try the Huawei M5 8.4". Probably pretty close to the iPad Mini in performance but slightly larger and heavier. No stylus support though.

https://consumer.huawei.com/en/suppo...en-us00421640/

Alternatively try the Huawei M6 8.4". This is the latest, launched a year ago in 2019. Still waiting for the M7. Both the M5 & M6 support GMS. But the M7 will not. The latest MatePad also will not support GMS. But MatePad doesn't have an 8" size.

[Teo Ming Ern]

JustBored wrote:

Im looking towards samsung tab a 8.4" (2020). Not sure when available though.

The last 8.4" Galaxy Tab S2 was released in 2015... it's been 5 years... seems unlikely that Samsung will release another small premium tablet...

[gld998]

Teo Ming Ern wrote:

Actually try the Huawei M5 8.4". Probably pretty close to the iPad Mini in performance but slightly larger and heavier. No stylus support though.

https://consumer.huawei.com/en/suppo...en-us00421640/

Alternatively try the Huawei M6 8.4". This is the latest, launched a year ago in 2019. Still waiting for the M7. Both the M5 & M6 support GMS. But the M7 will not. The latest MatePad also will not support GMS. But MatePad doesn't have an 8" size.

M6 dont have gms. Need to sideload. I using m6 turbo edition as my main phone after my m5 screen crack and send for repair then convert to my main spare phone.

M7 next year or late this year only bah. Will upgrade once can sideload gms.

Sent from Sony SGP771 using GAGT

[Teo Ming Ern]

gld998 wrote:

M6 dont have gms. Need to sideload. I using m6 turbo edition as my main phone after my m5 screen crack and send for repair then convert to my main spare phone.

M7 next year or late this year only bah. Will upgrade once can sideload gms.

Sent from Sony SGP771 using GAGT

Oh thanks for the correction... so M6 onward no more GMS...

[RockingHorse]

M6 got no GMS. But can side load. I leave an instruction on how to do it. It work beautifully.

[Audiology93]

Teo Ming Ern wrote:

The last 8.4" Galaxy Tab S2 was released in 2015... it's been 5 years... seems unlikely that Samsung will release another small premium tablet...

Not sure what chipset it's using.


Sent from Samsung SM-N950F using GAGT

[iceman15]

how long do you plan to keep the device?

3-5 years? nothing beats the iPad.
2-3 years? you can look at options from Samsung

[xiaofan]

iceman15 wrote:

how long do you plan to keep the device?

3-5 years? nothing beats the iPad.
2-3 years? you can look at options from Samsung

I agree. iPad can last 6-7 years when it comes to HW, and probably 4-5 years when it comes to FW upgrades.

My iPad 2 worked from 2011 to 2018 (battery swollen, died)

My iPad Mini 1 has been working from 2013 to now, no FW updates, stuck with iOS 9, but still working.

So I bought iPad 2018 and iPad 2019 in 2018/2019, mainly for the two kids. They were very useful during the Home Based Learing this April and May. We only have one Windows laptop at home. But the iPad can do most of the things for kids in primary school.

I buy the cheapest WiFi models of iPad.

[Teo Ming Ern]

Audiology93 wrote:

Not sure what chipset it's using.


Sent from Samsung SM-N950F using GAGT

Bro... this one confirm not a premium tablet... it's quite old already I think... released in 2018 if I don't remember wrongly...

[Teo Ming Ern]

xiaofan wrote:

I agree. iPad can last 6-7 years when it comes to HW, and probably 4-5 years when it comes to FW upgrades.

My iPad 2 worked from 2011 to 2018 (battery swollen, died)

My iPad Mini 1 has been working from 2013 to now, no FW updates, stuck with iOS 9, but still working.

So I bought iPad 2018 and iPad 2019 in 2018/2019, mainly for the two kids. They were very useful during the Home Based Learing this April and May. We only have one Windows laptop at home. But the iPad can do most of the things for kids in primary school.

I buy the cheapest WiFi models of iPad.

My observation comes from my sister's use case... the iPad 2 can be upgraded to iOS 12 but it's painfully slow. So while you can get continuous firmware updates, it doesn't mean it will work well. On the other hand, there are many apps that won't work on iOS 12 now... she can't install Google Drive for example... cos I was trying to help her during HBL during CB... same for the iPhone 6 & 6 Plus.

So your mileage may vary...

My own experience with a Sony Tablet Z bought in 2014 and updated from Lollipop (Android 5.0) to Nougat (Android 7.0) is that it still works with most apps from the Play Store especially the important ones... there's no version restriction even though the latest is Android 10 now...