Thanks to the entry of large-screen phones with the compact form factor, people have started keeping a distance from tablets in favour of more powerful and portable smartphones.

However, the tablets or as we like to call them in short, tabs, still cater to a large swath of Indian population who prefer a large screen, especially kids, for gaming and media consumption.

This is where cheap tablets find a foothold. In this article, we list the five best Android tablets under Rs.5,000 available in the Indian market.

Note: The price shown are the once when we reviewed the products. However, as the promotional offers changes on the given E-commerce sites, the price may vary. Bettershark is supported by it’s readers and when you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.

1. iBall Slide Dazzle

Overall Best Pick

• Android 8.1 Go edition OS
• Decent display quality
• One day battery life

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iBall Slide series tablets are very popular among entry-level tablet buyers looking for a beginner device with decent hardware and performance.

The Slide Dazzle tablet runs on Android 8.1 Go edition OS optimized for devices with less powerful hardware.

Design and Build Quality

Made from polycarbonate plastic materials, the build quality of the Slide dazzle tablet is average to say the best.

As with any other tablet in its price range, the fit and finish are lacklustre and the overall in-hand feel isn’t that premium, to be honest.

Display

The display on this tablet is a 7-inch HD panel with a resolution of 1024 x 600 pixels.

We feel that the touch-responsive is much better on this tablet when compared to others.

The brightness levels are decent and the colour accuracy is sufficient for the price. Although, due to the low resolution there is a lack of details in the visuals.

Performance

Under the hood, the iBall Slide dazzle is powered by a 1.3GHz ARM Cortex A7 processor along with 1 GB of RAM.
The limited amount of RAM does pose some threat to the multitasking and you will face some lags and stutters in between.

For casual browsing and media consumption, there isn’t much of a problem with the device.

The Slide dazzle comes with 8GB memory and is expandable up to 32GB via micro SD card slot.

Camera

Cameras on budget tablets are there for just the namesake. The iBall Slide dazzle comes with a 2MP rear camera for taking occasional pictures.

In the front, there is a 0.3MP camera for video calls. Remember that this camera is useful if any, only in brightly lit environments.

Battery Life

The iBall Slide dazzle has a 3500 mAh Li-ion battery inside. This will last for a day of moderate usage comfortably.
If you are using the dual SIM telephony extensively, expect these numbers to drop significantly.

Verdict

This tablet does provide all the features that you expect from an entry-level tablet and then some with the help of the latest Android 8.1 Go edition OS running the show inside.

2. Alcatel 1T7

Runner-up Pick

• Android 8.1 Go edition OS
• Decent battery life
• Built-in Google Play protection

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The Alcatel 1T7 is one of the first Android Go edition tablets launched in the Indian market.

This budget Android tablet, seemingly underpowered for its price, in reality, is capable of delivering a surprisingly smooth and snappy performance within its limitations, thanks to Android Go OS.

Design and Build Quality

The Alcatel 1T7 Android tablet has a plastic construction that isn’t anything worth mentioning.

This budget Android tablet has a 3D-textured back that enhances the grip in hand. 

Being a comparatively lightweight and compact tablet, the Alcatel 1T7 can be easily carried with you during your daily commute.

The camera on the back is placed towards the sides and it lacks a flash to spice up low light photography.

Display

The Alcatel 1T7 has a 7.0-inch TFT display with a resolution of 1024 x 600 pixels. Certainly not the greatest, this display offers decent brightness and colour accuracy for its asking price.

Alcatel has added features such as an eye-care mode to this display which will filter blue light to reduce eye fatigue.

With support for watching videos up to full HD resolution, this tablet is ideal for media consumption under an enticing budget.

Processor and Performance

The Alcatel 1T7 is powered by a MediaTek quad-core processor clocked at 1.3GHz.

Capable of handling daily causal tasks with relative ease, this tablet will make sure your productivity never dips even when you are on the move.

This tablet has 1GB of RAM coupled with 8GB of internal storage. This might seem a bit uninspiring but what makes this tablet perform better than most of the competitors in the market is the presence of Android Go OS.

Camera

The camera is never a strong selling point of budget tablets. Same is the case with this tablet as well.

The Alcatel 1T7 has a 5MP rear camera that can record videos with a maximum resolution of 720p at 30fps. At the front, there is a 2MP camera for video calls as well.

Android Go

The Android Go operating system was developed by Google for improving performance on devices with less powerful internal hardware.

The Go operating system comes with its own set of optimized apps that have a smaller memory footprint and performance benefits.

This tablet runs on the latest Android 8.1 Go edition operating system and performs greatly even with its limited RAM and storage options.

Connectivity

The Alcatel 1T7 is a Wi-Fi only tablet and has no cellular connectivity to use it with a SIM card.

This device features the Bluetooth v4.2 for low power wireless connectivity with external accessories such as wireless headphones and Bluetooth speakers.

Battery

This budget Android tablet has a 2850mAh Li-Po battery inside that powers its internals.

Given the underpowered processor and the display with low resolution, this tablet will easily last for a day worth of moderate usage.

Verdict

If you are the one who doesn’t bother about the specs and need a budget tablet that performs well, the Alcatel 1T7 is a great choice.

The Android Go operating system ensures security and system stability without compromising on the overall performance.

3. iBall Slide Skye

 Feature-rich Tablet

• Best for casual use
• Comparatively newer Android version
• Perfect for casual browsing and reading

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iBall is a popular low budget computer peripheral manufacturer in the Indian market famous for its low-cost speakers and headphones.

The iBall Slide Skye is an entry-level tablet that runs on the comparatively latest Android 8.1 Oreo OS and features cellular connectivity option.

Design and Build Quality

What more to expect from a sub Rs. 5000 tablet than a plastic construction body is still a mystery for us. 

However, the design doesn’t look too dull or unpleasant for normal eyes.

The volume rockers and the power button is clicky and responsive. The textured backplate offers a nice in-hand feel while holding this tablet in hand.

Display

The iBall Slide Skye features a 7-inch IPS LCD with a resolution of 10024 x 600 pixels.

This display is a huge improvement from previous displays we have seen on iBall products in the price ballpark.

The colours look vivid and punchier and the brightness levels are on part with the competitor models.

Processor and Performance

Powering this budget Android tablet is an ARM Quad-core A53 processor clocked at 1.1GHz. 

With the 1GB RAM assisting the processor, normal use case scenarios such as web browsing and watching media can be carried out with ease.

With 8GB of internal storage as standard, the issue of memory scarcity while installing apps from the Google Play Store won’t be an issue, at least for the short term.

This tablet comes with Android 8.1 Oreo OS which is much more optimized and efficient than its predecessor Android 7.0 Nougat.

Camera and Connectivity

The rear camera of the iBall Slide Skye is 2MP and the front shooter is a respectable 2MP sensor. 

These cameras serve fine in the occasional image capturing and video conferencing under good lighting conditions.

This tablet features dual sim support and can make voice calls as well as support 3G internet connectivity from both the SIM cards.

The 2800mAh Li-ion battery inside will keep this budget Android tablet charged for a day in moderate to heavy usage. 

If you’re a heavy user, expect to have to charge this device, every 4-5 hours or so.

Verdict

The iBall Slide Skye comes with double the amount of internal storage found on the conventional sub. Rs.5,000 tablets and a comparatively modern Android OS out of the box.

Barring its average build quality, we think that it is a capable performer that perfectly fits the bill for average users.

4. Lenovo Tab M7

Best Wi-Fi Only Tablet

• Good display quality
• Decent battery life
• Android 7.0 Nougat OS

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Lenovo is a Chinese brand that has been popular in the Indian market as well as globally with products that impressed many. 

After the acquisition of Motorola, the clout further increased.

Lenovo Tab M7 is an Android-powered Wi-Fi only tablet that the company has released in India.

Design and Build Quality

In the sea of outdated tablets, the Tab M7 breathes a fresh life with a comparatively new OS version and design aesthetics.

The Tab7 comes with a 7-inch HD IPS display with a resolution of 1024 x 600 pixels.

This tablet is very compact and lightweight featuring a very slim profile of just 8.8mm.

Processor

What’s running the show inside is a MediaTek 1.3GHz quad-core processor coupled with 1GB of RAM.

This device comes with 8GB of internal storage that can be further expanded up to 128GB via SD card.

Operating System

As a welcome change, this android tablet from Lenovo runs on Android 7.0 Nougat and comes with a slew of new features.

There’s a multi-user mode that can be personalised and accessed individually.

The battery on this device is a 3590 mAh Li-ion pack that lasts over a day quite comfortably.

Thanks to the Wi-Fi-only connectivity it offers, it takes a lighter toll on the battery than the SIM card does.

Camera

The Lenovo M7 has a 2MP front and rear camera which delivers decent daylight performance for occasional snaps and video calls.

Verdict

If you don’t mind the lack of a SIM card, the Lenovo Tab M7 is a decent pick for the price. The brand value and reliability of the brand Lenovo is certainly reassuring for the customers to consider it.

Android Nougat lets you enjoy many apps in the Play store that otherwise won’t work with the older version of Android OS.

5. I Kall N9

Honourable Mention

• Perfect for productivity tasks
• Optional accessories
• High-speed data transfer

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IKall is a leading consumer electronics brand in India offering affordable Android tablets to the masses.

The N9 Android tablet from I Kall offers a fine combination of productivity and entertainment at an affordable budget to Indian consumers.

Design and Build Quality

IKall N9 has a plastic body with a designer backplate on the black coloured variant and a plain coloured back on the white variant.

The camera and the dedicated flash is placed on the top centre part which is a clever design choice, if you may ask.

The tablet, when held in hand to click a picture, will often find the finger overlapping the flash if the camera is positioned towards the side.

This distorts your clicks if you’re not careful enough to keep the fingers away from the flash.

The buttons on this tablet are very responsive to the clicks and are conveniently raised from the body so that you can easily locate them even without looking at it.

The charging port and the 3.5mm headphone jack is placed on the top part. The single speaker is positioned on the back which is quite a bummer.

When the tablet is placed on a flat surface, the sound gets muffled due to the awkward placement of the speaker.

Display

The I Kall N9 tablet features a 7.0-inch TFT display with a resolution of 1024 x 600 pixels.

This display is not the best of the bunch, but acceptable considering the dirt-cheap price tag.

The pictures and videos look decent on this display with sufficient brightness and colour accuracy, to say the least.

There may be some pixelation when displaying fine text, but not to the level where it becomes a dealbreaker.

Processor and Performance

The I Kall N9 Android tablet is powered by a MediaTek Quad-core processor clocked at 1.3GHz.

This processor can run almost all casual apps available in the Google play store without breaking a sweat.

This device has 1GB RAM and 8GB internal storage which is almost double the amount that it’s competitors offer at the same price segment.

Heavy gaming is strictly a no-go with this budget tablet as the processor is way too underpowered to handle resource-intensive tasks.

This device can play videos up to a maximum resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels, making it an ideal media consumption device.

Connectivity

IKall N9 comes with dual-sim 3G support as well as Wi-Fi connectivity. Users can pop in two sims at a time and can switch between them seamlessly.

The main USP of this device is the dual-sim 3G connectivity. It enables this device to have high clarity voice calls and high-speed data transfer speeds.

Camera and Battery Life

The rear camera of this tablet is a 5MP one and the front shooter is a 2MP fixed focus camera.

This device runs on Android 6.0 Marshmallow and supports all Android apps and 

Google Services.

The battery on this tab is a 3000 mAh Li-ion cell that will let you use this device without requiring you to juice up during the middle of the day, in case of moderate use.

Verdict

If you are looking for a cheap tablet that can replace your laptop for emails and preparing notes for work, the I Kall N9 tablet will do the job perfectly.

Our list for the five best Android tablets under Rs.5,000 in India concludes here. 

These models even though can’t be called the best, are great if you’re interested in a tablet with a bigger screen for multimedia consumption or gifting to your kids for gaming. 

If you have any suggestions or inquiries regarding the article, let us know in the comment section below.

Thanks for your time and have a great day!

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. Are these cheap tablets enough for academic purposes?

A. By academic purposes you mean, casual internet browsing to retrieve information – yes, these tablets will do just fine. Since these tablets come with limited RAM and entry-level processors, don’t expect them to work any wonders, especially with newer apps and with multitasking. 

Q. Should I ignore tablets with outdated Android versions?

A. Ideally you should. But some of the tablets, if not the most, still ship with outdated OS versions. Certain modern apps won’t work on them because of the newer Android API requirements. Anything running with Android 8.1 and above will be fine. 

Q. Are these tablets ideal for watching YouTube?

A. Yes, they are. Your media consumption experience is limited by the screen resolution and the internet speed but for the most part, watching videos on YouTube at 720p resolution is quite okay for a sub. Rs.5,000 tablet.