Inexpensive and small tablet recommendations

[CynJ]

I have my iPhone 5s which I love and my full size iPad Air 2.

My phone is definitely coming with me, but it's really too small to read MDE/maps/tour plans/etc on it and my iPad is just to big and heavy (it's in an Otterbox) to carry around all day.

Can anyone recommend a cheap, smaller size tablet that I can run my Disney apps on? It doesn't have to be connected to my cell phone provider so long as it's wifi enabled (I can use my phone as a hotspot if needed).

Thanks!

 

[Dan Murphy]

https://www.amazon.com/Amazon-Fire-7-Inch-Tablet-8GB/dp/B00TSUGXKE

 

[wilkeliza]

I second the PP. The Amazon Fire Tablet 7 inch is a small tablet and is only 50. It works pretty well too so you aren't giving up too much for the size and price.

Sometimes on Amazon you can even get it with a bundle of case and other stuff.

 

[smiths02]

I got a Fire 7 on Prime Day for $33....didn't really even need it but thought it would be nice to have one that is a backup that wouldn't kill me if I lost it.

 

[dreiwhit]

Another recommendation for the 7 inch Fire tablet. My wife has one now and we're planning on carrying it to the park.

Amazon has locked the Fire down to where you can't get to the Google Play store, but you can download most APKs and install them that way if you can't get them on the Amazon app store.

 

[CynJ]

Man do I feel dumb. I am a huge Amazon shopper and didn't even think about their tablets (lol and I even bought my brother one for Xmas).

Problem solved.

 

[pnuticus]

You may not be able to run Disney apps on Amazon's Fire OS, but if you're technically inclined, there are ways to install the Play Store or even a normal Android OS.

 

[kayemgi]

Man do I feel dumb. I am a huge Amazon shopper and didn't even think about their tablets (lol and I even bought my brother one for Xmas).

Problem solved.

Depending on when your trip is, wait for Black Friday. They typically go on sale for less than the already cheap $50.

 

[osopecoso]

Do they have wifi in all the parks now?

 

[Dan Murphy]

Man do I feel dumb. I am a huge Amazon shopper and didn't even think about their tablets (lol and I even bought my brother one for Xmas).

Problem solved.

Do they have wifi in all the parks now?

Yes there is.

 

[jsbowl16]

I was going to suggest the 7" amazon fire as well but as people have said you cannot download the My Magic Experience app without sideloading it so it really comes down to your technical know how. I have four or five of these tablets and we use them as additional tv's with our Dish Sling box in the kitchen, work out room, etc. They are a steal for $50 each.

 

[Lmans77]

yep, I got my kids the Fire 7 for $35 on Black Friday (if you're able to wait)

 

[dreiwhit]

I was going to suggest the 7" amazon fire as well but as people have said you cannot download the My Magic Experience app without sideloading it

Most of the time, sideloading works fine for my Amazon Fire. If anyone is interested, i'll try it tonight with the MDE app and let you know.

 

[GaryDis]

I realize it's not cheap, but I really like my iPad mini. It fits into the pocket of most of my cargo shorts, and it's light enough to carry around and use.

 

[CynJ]

Hmmm... the inability to install MDE on the Fire sorta takes it out of the running. I just dug out my old first generation Nook Tablet. I'm going to try installing Android on it and see if I can get the MDE app to run. Just need to order a new micro SD card (lol whopping $8 there). It'll be cool if this works. It's the perfect size for my park bag and has a beautiful, bright screen. Bonus will be that it will also be hacked so I can put the Kindle app on there as well as the Nook app so I don't lose any books I've paid for.

 

[CynJ]

I realize it's not cheap, but I really like my iPad mini. It fits into the pocket of most of my cargo shorts, and it's light enough to carry around and use.

I was looking at them on the Verizon store site - they have a small 8gb version for $150 but I'd need to do a new line and 2-yr contract. I told myself I wasn't getting anything new until the iPad air is paid off lol (I do LOVE my electronics)

 

[tcufrog]

We got my son a kids Fire bundle for Christmas during the last Black Friday sale. I don't know if there's something wrong with the one we bought but the battery life is really bad compared to our Ipad. Most of the time my son uses it he has to keep it plugged which sort of defeats the purpose of buying a tablet.

 

[GaryDis]

I was looking at them on the Verizon store site - they have a small 8gb version for $150 but I'd need to do a new line and 2-yr contract. I told myself I wasn't getting anything new until the iPad air is paid off lol (I do LOVE my electronics)

I was going to say that 8GB is too small and sounds like an obsolete model, but I see the iPad mini 2 with 16GB at $150/2year on their website, so that would be ok. But I think that's one with cellular.

I always look at lifetime cost. You might do better getting a model with wifi only, no cellular, even though it would have a higher up front cost but no contract and thus no monthly fees. Or maybe get a used one.

Personally, mine does have cellular, but I bought it at a no-contract price and I use a pay-as-you-go Verizon plan that I only turn on when I need it. To be honest, I haven't compared my actual cost, to what I would have paid if I had gotten a contract, but I've been embarrassingly sloppy at turning the plan off between travel.

 

[mrzrich]

If you already have apple products, it makes sense to stick with Apple, any music, movies or apps that you have purchased for your iPad and phone can be put on your Mini without paying for them again. I have had great luck buying directly from Apple's Refurbished store. My my Mac and my son's iPad have lasted us for several years with no issues


http://www.apple.com/shop/browse/home/specialdeals/ipad

 

[osopecoso]

If you already have apple products, it makes sense to stick with Apple, any music, movies or apps that you have purchased for your iPad and phone can be put on your Mini without paying for them again. I have had great luck buying directly from Apple's Refurbished store. My my Mac and my son's iPad have lasted us for several years with no issues


http://www.apple.com/shop/browse/home/specialdeals/ipad

I agree. If you enjoy the Apple products stick to them. You get what you pay for with those Fire Tablets. The refurbished are like new and come with a nice discount.