Security concerns demand that we update personal technology. On the other hand, upgrading to a better device isn’t always wallet-friendly.
When user Electryon emailed us about access problems, we found out that his old PC and browser need an upgrade. We also figured that other users might be having the same problem.
So here’s what we did:
We researched and tested under-$200 tablets. All of which passed Chessable’s minimum system requirements: a 1.3 GHz processor and Android Oreo.
This post is the result of that research.
If you need to upgrade or get a dedicated device for chess study…without breaking the bank, start with the tablets on this list.
Huawei Mediapad T5 $180
Want to see Simon Williams or Christof Sielecki break down your favorite openings, in full HD glory? Then check out the Huawei Mediapad T5, a full-sized 10.1″ tablet with 1920 x 1200 resolution.
The tablet’s Kirin 659 processor packs a GPU clocked at 900 MHz. So playing games and watching videos is a smooth experience.
Our Mediapad T5 came with 2 GB of RAM with 16 GB of storage. But you can get one with up to 4 GB of RAM and 64 GB of storage. And with a 5,100 mAh battery, you can review openings, train tactics, and watch chess videos for hours.
Chessable ran as smooth as silk on this tablet. The colors pop, and dark mode looks stunning. Out of the box, the Huawei Mediapad T5 runs on Android 8.1 Oreo, with the EMUI 8.0 skin on top.
Dragon Touch K10 $110
This tablet comes with 16 GB of storage and supports micro SD cards up to 128 GB, handy if you’re a PRO member. The mobile apps and offline features are on their way. So extra space is always welcome.
Chessable training with the Dragon Touch K10 was a pleasant experience. Not surprising since it runs on Android 8.1 and a powerful 64-bit quad-core processor, up to 1.3 GHz with 2 GB of RAM.
This tablet has a lower resolution (800 x 1280) than the previous model. But the pictures and colors looked bright on the 10.1″ IPS display.
You can also use the tablet to watch Chessable videos on your TV with its micro HDMI interface. Just know that connecting to a large screen might give a terrible resolution.
The Dragon Touch K10 also includes passable stereo speakers, dual-band WiFi, Bluetooth 4.1 connectivity, GPS, and up to 6 hours of battery life.
Dragon Touch Y88Y $90
This tablet is the most affordable of the bunch.
The Dragon Touch Y88Y offers “good enough” performance and features for its price. It runs on Android 9.0 Pie and a 1.5 GHz quad-core CPU; comes with 2 GB of RAM and 16 GB of internal storage; and uses a 7″ IPS screen with sub-HD resolution (1024 × 600).
You can browse the web, watch YouTube videos, and play lightweight game apps on this tablet – but not more.
And with support only for 2.5 GHz wifi connectivity, Chessable training felt bumpy.
The manufacturer didn’t specify the battery’s capacity. However, they claim the Dragon Touch Y88Y has enough juice for 3 to 4 hours of continuous use.
And that wraps our list.
You can find plenty more affordable tablets with a simple Google search. But we’ve tested these devices, and we recommend them for chess study. Give one of them a spin, and let us know what you think.
Keep the training going with our Daily Chess Training: Chess Tactics – Volume 1 course.
