GADGET GIZMO GUIDE - Tablet shopping on a budget

GADGET GIZMO GUIDE  - Tablet shopping on a     budget   Here are five great budget tablets that you can gift a loved one this  festive season The tablet segment is heating up with each passing month thanks to competitive offerings launched by major manufacturers. With Diwali  inching closer, we have decided to compile a list of tablets that would be ideally suited for you festive shopping list without breaking the bank. Here are five that deliver great experiences at compelling prices. iBall Stellar A2 3G Calling Tablet THIS is yet another 7-inch tablet that's worth your consideration based on the hardware alone. It comes with a true octa-core processor made by Mediatek, 1 GB of RAM and 8 GB of storage. Android 4.4 KitKat is running by default, which shouldn't be a concern considering the price tag and the hardware underneath. HP Stream 8 IF you're looking for something  that's Not Android, then that's thing HPStream 8,a viable budget option Windows to consider. Xiaomi Mi Pad XIAOMI'S popular Mi Pad is one of the best tablets in this price range considering the hardware on offer. The tablet has the same display size and resolution as the first and second gen Apple iPad Mini (7.9-inch 2048x1536), which was a deliberate addition by the Chinese manufacturer. Other notable hardware specs of the tablet include the Tegra K1 processor clocked at K1 processor clocked 2.2 GHz. This one is frequently on sale so be on the lookout online. XOLO Play Tegra Note NVIDIA released the Tegra Note reference design last year, while giving manufacturers the opportunity to produce their own branded tablets using the hardware offered by the graphics technology maker. The XOLO Play tablet is one such device and comes with a 7-inch display, Tegra 4 processor and Android 5.0 Lollipop operating system. The tablet is currently exclusive to Flipkart, so that's your only buying option. Samsung Galaxy Tab 4 (T231) THIS Samsung tablet from 2014 comes with all that you require from a budget tablet and then some. It features voice calling support along with 3G HSPA connectivity, so it can function even without a proper Wi-Fi network at your disposal. The Galaxy Tab 4 comes with a 7-inch display, which makes it easy to carry around. With a price tag of Rs 11,999, the tablet won't be heavy on your wallet either. Chethan Rao MM9NOV15