7 Solid 7-Inch Tablets That Rival the iPad Mini (and Cost Less)

Apple this week unveiled its latest product lineup, and among the shiny new tech toys is a smaller, 7.9-inch iPad tablet, called the iPad mini. But Apple is late to the 7-inch tablet party, and while the iPad mini is sure to set sales records just like its older, bigger brother, it’s hardly the only solid 7-inch slate available today. iPad mini is also one of most expensive 7-inch slates, with a starting price of $329 for the 16GB, Wi-Fi only model. The following 7-inch tablets are all legitimate iPad mini alternatives—and they’ll all take a lesser toll on your wallet.

The iPad Mini Puts Apple in a Pickle

First Look: Apple iPad Mini

Description: Google’s 7-inch Nexus 7 tablet, made by ASUS, is the only tablet that runs the latest Android OS, v4.1 “Jelly Bean.” That means the Nexus 7 is the only tablet with Google Now functionality, which “learns” your usage patterns and provides driving direction to frequently visited destinations, local weather reports, sports scores for your favorite teams and more—all before you search for them.

Notable Specs: 1280 x 800 display; NFC; 10 hours of battery life during Web browsing; quad-core processor; no cellular networks support.

Price: The 8GB, Wi-Fi only Nexus 7 cost $199.99, and the 16GB version costs $249.99 via Google. (Rumors suggest a 32GB cellular Nexus 7 is in the works.)

Description: Amazon’s 7-inch Kindle Fire HD tablet runs Google’s Android 4.0 software, and it’s particularly well suited for Amazon.com customers, thanks to its deep integration with Amazon’s various cloud and media services.

Notable Specs: 1280 x 800 HD display; Dolby audio; 11 hours of battery life during Web surfing; dual-band, dual-antennae Wi-Fi; dual-core processor; no cellular version; no access to the Google Play Store for Android.

Price: The 16GB, Wi-Fi only Kindle Fire HD cost $214, and the 32GB version costs $264 via Amazon. (You can also save $15 on each model by purchasing “special offers” versions, with ads.)

8 Amazon Kindle Fire Apps for Newbies

Description: RIM’s BlackBerry PlayBook doesn’t get much love nowadays, but it’s still a very solid 7-inch tablet with a great browser and some valuable features, including a clean and functional messaging interface and unique multitasking capabilities. A mini HDMI port lets users connect their PlayBook tablets to other HDMI devices, including TVs and computer monitors.

Notable Specs: 1024 x 600 display; 1GHz dual-core processor; mini HDMI-out port; unique BlackBerry security features, for individuals and enterprises; LTE.

Price: The 16GB, Wi-Fi BlackBerry PlayBook costs $199.99, the 32GB version costs $249.99, and the 64GB Wi-Fi PlayBook sells for $299.99. The LTE PlayBook is not currently available in the United States, but RIM says it’s “coming soon.”

BlackBerry PlayBook Apps: 7 Must-Have Downloads