wiredtiger2 said:Hey there. I'm looking to pick up a tablet strictly for watching movies while I'm at the gym. My main priorities are a decent battery that can handle about 6 hours of continuous playback and a solid display—by which I mean enough brightness so I'm not straining my eyes. Since this is just a dedicated movie machine for me, I need it to be budget-friendly, and it absolutely must have an SD card slot so I can expand the storage.
I used to have a 7-inch iPad Air, and honestly, it had two major headaches. Half the video formats wouldn't play on any software I tried, whether it was the built-in player, VLC Media Player, or anything else. Plus, the screen was just too small.
Do these newer laptops handle all those different file formats better?
For your specific (and pretty limited) needs, you really should look for a 10" tablet with a 4:3 aspect ratio, often called a PAL display. These models usually come equipped with much higher capacity batteries (around 7.4 volts and 8400mAh). Because of their physical design, they're actually one of the few types that can fit those larger batteries. They typically charge with 12V/2A chargers, which are basically twice as powerful as what you see on standard tablets.
Binge-watching movies for 6 hours straight with the brightness cranked up is a huge ask for almost any modern "tablet"—it's virtually impossible for widescreen models—so a 7.4V tablet is really the only way to meet your "modest" requirements.🙂
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I actually have a tablet just like that sitting here. It’s perfect if you just want to snap photos or watch videos; it won't handle heavy multi-layered games or complex apps, but it gets the job done. I could let you have it for 93 miles including the charger. It's got a crisp 4K resolution. It feels very similar to an iPad in terms of build, with a large screen and a white finish. It's practically new since it was recently returned to service, and I ended up buying it for myself because it looks so sharp, but I've barely used it lately and it's mostly just been sitting idle.
With it, you can:
- Use the full setup as-is.
- Take photos, record video, capture audio, and watch/listen to everything you record.
- Browse exclusively through Google Chrome.
- Check your emails through Google Chrome.
- Play some light, casual games.
- Everything works great, including Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, USB, HDMI, and the SD card slot.
The tablet performs beautifully, except...
you won't be able to:
- Run high-end, 3D, or complex applications and games. (To be totally honest, one tiny pin on the graphics chip wasn't soldered perfectly during manufacturing, but in testing and actual use, it works perfectly fine. The apps show up and function, they might just feel a little jittery.)
Basically, it's a machine
like this one, just mine happens to be white. Usually, these types of branded devices are hard to find for under 249 miles plus the charger.
Regarding your question about video formats: there isn't really a tablet out there that plays every single "PC-grade" format. A tablet isn't meant to be a total replacement for a traditional laptop or desktop when it comes to raw processing power. Your best bet is to just keep your video files in .mp4 format.
That Galaxy Tab you mentioned actually sounded pretty decent for its time if it was struggling with formats back then. Just remember, Android isn't Windows; it has its own set of limitations.
Anyway, no pressure, but if you truly only need it for the things you listed... my tablet is more than just a great choice, it's probably the only one that fits your "budget-friendly" criteria. If you aren't willing to go with something like this instead of a massive, expensive tablet, you might not find what you're looking for.
