I put two cheap Android tablets head-to-head. This is the one to buy

You’ve probably heard of the Amazon Fire Max 11, but the Poco Pad might be new to you. Poco, part of the Xiaomi family, is known for its budget-friendly smartphones and has now entered the tablet market with the Poco Pad. Let’s compare these two Android tablets with keyboard cases and see how they stack up.

Introducing the Poco Pad

The Poco Pad is Poco’s first tablet, featuring a 12.1-inch LCD screen, Qualcomm Snapdragon 7s Gen 2 chip, 8GB of RAM, 256GB of storage, and a 10,000mAh battery. Running on Xiaomi’s HyperOS, the Poco Pad offers a solid performance and design.

What about the Fire Max 11?

The Amazon Fire Max 11, released in mid-2023, offers a good value with its 11-inch LCD screen, MediaTek MT8188 processor, 4GB of RAM, and up to 128GB of storage. It comes with a keyboard case and stylus, making it a versatile option for everyday use.

Screen and battery life

While the Poco Pad boasts a higher resolution screen, the Fire Max 11 impresses with its efficient battery performance. Both tablets offer a good viewing experience, but the Fire Max 11 excels in battery efficiency, making it a reliable choice for extended use.

Working on the Poco Pad

The Poco Pad’s keyboard case offers a decent typing experience, although it lacks the premium feel of some other keyboards. The tablet’s performance and design make it a reliable work partner, especially with its Google Play support.

Working on the Fire Max 11

The Fire Max 11’s keyboard offers a more pleasant typing experience and includes a touchpad for added convenience. While the tablet may lack some premium features, it remains a solid option for everyday tasks and multimedia consumption.

What about living with the tablets?

While both tablets offer solid performance, the Poco Pad’s software and battery life give it an edge over the Fire Max 11. With Google Play support and faster charging, the Poco Pad proves to be a more modern and efficient choice for daily use.

Price and availability

Available at a similar price point, the Fire Max 11 and Poco Pad offer competitive value for their features. While the Fire Max 11 is more readily available, the Poco Pad stands out for its modern software and improved charging capabilities.

Which one should you buy?

Ultimately, the decision between the Fire Max 11 and Poco Pad comes down to personal preference. While the Fire Max 11 offers good value and performance, the Poco Pad excels in software and battery life. Both tablets have their strengths, making them suitable choices for different user needs.