If only Google would make a tablet like the Onn 8.1 I would be an extremely happy camper. But we are here and Google hasn't so we have this budget tablet from Walmart. While I won't give it away this early, however, the Onn 8.1 tablet is an interesting option in the budget space.
What I like about the Onn 8.1 tablet
The stand out feature of the tablet for me is the size and the aspect ratio of the display. I must admit that the size is ideal for travel, reading and consuming media. The aspect ratio is not wide and I prefer that as apps tend to look better while filling the space on the screen really well. The software is what I would consider stock Android and it's my favorite of what's available. I also like how light weight the tablet is making it easy to hold in just about any orientation. Battery life is relatively good especially when in standby mode. The body of the tablet seems to be durable. I'm rocking this thing case-less and there are no scratches on the front or the back.
What I don't like about the Onn 8.1 tablet
My biggest gripe has to be with the lack of smoothness. At times things tend to lag and frames do drop here and there. It happens more than I would like but it's not a deal breaker at all. Another weak point for the tablet is the display or the lack of optimization of the ambient light sensor. For some reason the tablet believes the environment I am in is darker than it actually is leading to the screen being dimmer than it should be. This issue should be able to be resolved in an update it just hasn't happened yet.
Ideal use cases
For me this tablet is made for casual users consuming media, reading and web browsing. One could game on the Onn 8.1 tablet but light gaming only. I'm thinking Crossy Road and maybe a little more intensive games such as Geometry Dash. Other games would work with the settings being lowered to more suitable frame rates for game play. It's not an issue for me as I am not a gamer and the few games I do play on it run just fine. I'm a crossword puzzle kind of a guy.
What I use it for
Since the tablet is so easy to hold, I tend to use it in bed or on the couch to read books. Its fast enough to browse the web and works well when streaming media. I watch Youtube and Netflix on it a ton and it never buffers. I also use it to edit documents and spreadsheets in Google Drive. The screen provides ample real estate to take care of things in a pinch. It's not my primary tablet but it's there when I need it and works seamlessly across the Android ecosystem.
Things to know
The tablet is currently available at Walmart for $138. It comes with 64gb (expandable) of storage and a USB to Type C cable. There is no charging brick or headphone jack but the type c port doubles for audio. It also comes with Google Gemini and Circle to Search built in. The Onn 8.1 tablet is set to receive one major update (Android 16 to 17) with three years of security patches.
Final thoughts
I like the Onn 8.1 tablet a lot especially as a couch device or for traveling. It's so thin and light that I can put this tablet just about anywhere. I like that it runs a recent version of Android and will be supported for the next 3 years. The screen gets plenty bright and is perfect for consuming media. This is not a must have device but for the right person it fills gaps in your tech life that you may not have considered. I only bought this device because I was on vacation and left my Pixel Tablet at home. I'm glad that I have it as part of my tech ecosystem.
Specs
Hardware & Performance Specs Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 685 (2.4 GHz Octa-core CPU)Graphics: Adreno 610 GPU Memory: 6 GB RAM Storage: 64 GB internal (expandable via microSD slot up to 512 GB/1 TB)Connectivity: Built-in Wi-Fi 6
Display & Design Screen Size: 8.1-inch IPS LCD panel Resolution: 1524 x 1000 with a 3:2 aspect ratio Refresh Rate: Smooth 90 Hz display Brightness: 350 nits peak brightness Audio: Dual side speakers; no headphone jack - Colors Available: Silver, Blue, Pink, and Mocha - Battery & Cameras Battery Capacity: ~5,000 mAh (advertised up to 15 hours, ~7.5 hours continuous drain test) Charging Speed: 15W wired charging via color-matched USB-C cable Rear - Camera: 5 MP lens (supports up to 1080p video recording) Front Camera: 2 MP lens
Battery & Cameras Battery Capacity: ~5,000 mAh (advertised up to 15 hours, ~7.5 hours continuous drain test)Charging Speed: 15W wired charging via color-matched USB-C cable Rear Camera: 5 MP lens (supports up to 1080p video recording) Front Camera: 2 MP lens for video calls
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