From working to conducting business to learning, COVID-19 has forced a majority our daily activities indoors. Two years into the pandemic, we have now established a routine of virtual and digital activities to enable us to continue to function as a society. Central to this infrastructure are mobile devices such as smartphones, laptops, and tablets.
Looking at the Android tablets released in the last 6 months proves our point: If you are looking for something with a 10 to 11-inch screen, your top choices would be the realme Pad, Xiaomi Pad 5, and the Galaxy Tab A8.
Specs comparison: Galaxy Tab A8 vs Xiaomi Pad 5 vs realme Pad
| Xiaomi Pad 5 | Realme Pad | Galaxy Tab A8 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dimensions | 254.7 x 166.3 x 6.9 mm (10.03 x 6.55 x 0.27 in) | 246.1 x 155.9 x 6.9 mm (9.69 x 6.14 x 0.27 in) | 246.8 x 161.9 x 6.9 mm (9.72 x 6.37 x 0.27 in) |
| Weight | 511 g (1.13 lb) | 440 g (15.52 oz) | 508 g (1.12 lb) |
| SIM | No | Nano-SIM | Nano-SIM |
| Type | IPS LCD, 1B colors, 120Hz, HDR10, Dolby Vision | IPS LCD, 360 nits (typ) | TFT |
| Size | 11.0 inches, 350.9 cm2 (~82.8% screen-to-body ratio) | 10.4 inches, 307.9 cm2 (~80.2% screen-to-body ratio) | 10.5 inches, 319.7 cm2 (~80.0% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Resolution | 1600 x 2560 pixels, 16:10 ratio (~274 ppi density) | 1200 x 2000 pixels, 5:3 ratio (~224 ppi density) | 1200 x 1920 pixels, 16:10 ratio (~216 ppi density) |
| OS | Android 11, MIUI 12.5 | Android 11 | Android 11, One UI 3 |
| Chipset | Qualcomm Snapdragon 860 (7 nm) | Mediatek MT6769V/CU Helio G80 (12 nm) | Unisoc Tiger T618 (12 nm) |
| CPU | Octa-core (2.96GHz max) | Octa-core (2.0GHz max) | Octa-core (2.0 GHz max) |
| GPU | Adreno 640 | Mali-G52 MC2 | Mali G52 MP2 |
| Card slot | No | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) | microSDXC (dedicated slot) |
| Internal | 128GB 6GB RAM, 256GB 6GB RAM | 32GB 3GB RAM, 64GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM | 32GB 3GB RAM, 64GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 4GB RAM |
| Modules | 13 MP, f/2.0 | 8 MP | 8 MP, AF |
| Modules | 8 MP, f/2.0 | 8 MP, 105˚ (ultrawide) | 5 MP |
| Loudspeaker | Yes, with stereo speakers (4 speakers) | Yes, with stereo speakers (4 speakers) | Yes, with stereo speakers (4 speakers) |
| 3.5mm jack | No | Yes | Yes |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac |
| Mobile | None | None | Yes (LTE version) |
| Bluetooth | 5.0, A2DP, LE | 5.0, A2DP, LE | 5.0, A2DP, LE |
| GPS | No | Yes, with A-GPS, GLONASS, BDS | Yes, with A-GPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO |
| NFC | No | No | No |
| USB | USB Type-C | USB Type-C 2.0, USB On-The-Go | USB Type-C 2.0 |
| Type | Li-Po 8720 mAh, non-removable | Li-Po 7100 mAh, non-removable | Li-Po 7040 mAh, non-removable |
| Charging | Fast charging 33W | Fast charging 18W | Fast charging 15W |
| Price | P17,990 (6GB+128GB), P19,990 (6GB+256GB) | P8,990 (3GB+32GB), P12,990 (4GB+64GB), P14,990 (6GB+128GB), P14,990 (4GB+64GB LTE), P16,990 (6GB+128GB LTE) | P13,990 (4GB+64GB WiFi) P18,990 (4GB+128GB LTE) |
Xiaomi Pad 5
Xiaomi Pad 5 takes the performance throne with its 120Hz screen and Snapdragon 860 chipset, but it doesn’t come with LTE and it is the most expensive of the bunch at P17,990 (6GB+128GB).
realme Pad
realme Pad is the most affordable option at only P12,990 (4GB+64GB) for the WiFi version, while the LTE version will set you back at least P14,990 (4GB+64GB LTE). However, it uses a hybrid slot for the SIM and expansion card, and if you are getting the LTE version, chances are you will be using that slot for your SIM card because why else would you get the LTE version, right?
At that point, you might as well spend P16,990 for the 128GB version with LTE.
SAMSUNG Galaxy Tab A8
This takes us to the Galaxy Tab A8: at P13,990 (4GB+64GB) for the WiFi version and P18,990 (4GB+128GB LTE) for the LTE version, it is at a weird spot in terms of pricing. There is only a P1,000 difference between the WiFi variants of the realme Pad and Galaxy Tab A8 with similar specs, but if you go LTE, the gap goes up to P2,000.
So for WiFi only it’s a toss-up between the realme Pad and the Galaxy Tab A8, but if you need LTE, the choice is between the P16,990 realme Pad with 6GB of memory and 128GB of fixed internal storage or the P18,990 Galaxy Tab A8 with 4GB of memory and 128GB of internal storage with expansion option, should the need arise.
Others: Lenovo, HUAWEI, and Apple
Outside of these three, you will have to look at older releases such as the aging Lenovo Smart Tab M10 and the HUAWEI MatePad which unfortunately does not come with Google services. Alternatively, you can go the iOS way with the Apple iPad and AirPad.