Cheap alternative to iPod Touch
January 2, 2020 7:27 AM Subscribe
I need a cheap alternative to the iPod Touch. Requirements: must be cheap and run Android or iOS apps, and work on WiFi. It doesn't actually need to have any music-playing ability, so no headphone jack or bluetooth required.
I feel like the answer is some obscure small Chinese tablet, but which one? It would be a real bonus if it were easily available in the UK.
I feel like the answer is some obscure small Chinese tablet, but which one? It would be a real bonus if it were easily available in the UK.
Any of the Moto E series phones are super-cheap and can run on wifi only, or if size not a priority, you can convert the $49 kindle fire tablet into a google play/generic android tablet easily with a few downloaded apps.
posted by exparrot at 8:07 AM on January 2, 2020
posted by exparrot at 8:07 AM on January 2, 2020
Apologies if this is a duh response, but I just replaced my 4th Gen iPod Touch with a used iPhone 5, haven't had any issues so far.
posted by Alvy Ampersand at 8:48 AM on January 2, 2020
posted by Alvy Ampersand at 8:48 AM on January 2, 2020
Two questions:
First, what is the size of the device you want to get?
Second, what are the uses you want for this device?
It sounds like you want something smaller than the typical tablet, and for something other than playing music.
Here's a AskMe thread from almost a year ago, asking about cheaper Chinese tablets. People shared their experiences, which might help you understand if you want to delve into those options.
Otherwise, Kindle fires are the cheapest US-marketed devices that I know of, and we have a few. The smallest, The one problem is that you can't get easy access to all the apps and games you might want, because Amazon's shop is more restrictive than the broader Google Play shop. But there are many ways around that limitation, and I can describe them if you'd like to know more.
Here's a site that compares the Kindle sizes and specifications, which notes that the $49 model has mono speaker, and a slower processor. To drop the price more, you can also find sales and officially refurbished models from time to time, or you could get a used one.
posted by filthy light thief at 10:36 AM on January 2, 2020
First, what is the size of the device you want to get?
Second, what are the uses you want for this device?
It sounds like you want something smaller than the typical tablet, and for something other than playing music.
Here's a AskMe thread from almost a year ago, asking about cheaper Chinese tablets. People shared their experiences, which might help you understand if you want to delve into those options.
Otherwise, Kindle fires are the cheapest US-marketed devices that I know of, and we have a few. The smallest, The one problem is that you can't get easy access to all the apps and games you might want, because Amazon's shop is more restrictive than the broader Google Play shop. But there are many ways around that limitation, and I can describe them if you'd like to know more.
Here's a site that compares the Kindle sizes and specifications, which notes that the $49 model has mono speaker, and a slower processor. To drop the price more, you can also find sales and officially refurbished models from time to time, or you could get a used one.
posted by filthy light thief at 10:36 AM on January 2, 2020
Response by poster: I want them to use as pseudo-clickers in the classroom. Ideally they'd be phone-sized, but tablet-size would be fine.
posted by alby at 10:39 AM on January 2, 2020
posted by alby at 10:39 AM on January 2, 2020
Ah, very specific use, which probably doesn't need much processing power, and smaller size is definitely a plus, I'd imagine. Do you have a specific app or apps in mind?
How many do you want to acquire? You might be able to get bulk pricing.
posted by filthy light thief at 12:21 PM on January 2, 2020
How many do you want to acquire? You might be able to get bulk pricing.
posted by filthy light thief at 12:21 PM on January 2, 2020
There are a bunch of wireless clickers on UK Amazon, is there a reason you can't use one of those £10 ones?
posted by a halcyon day at 12:48 PM on January 2, 2020
posted by a halcyon day at 12:48 PM on January 2, 2020
Response by poster: The use case is for Quizizz, Quizlet, Kahoot and other web interfaces like Brainscape. So £10 clickers are definitely not going to work. If they were free I'd get 25, realistically more like 5-10.
posted by alby at 2:38 PM on January 2, 2020
posted by alby at 2:38 PM on January 2, 2020
I have a couple of LG Optimus Zone3 phones that I picked up for $20 each at Walmart. They are permanently on airplane mode. Once I click through a couple of alerts about mobile data being off, they work like an iPod Touch. I use them to stream music.
posted by donpardo at 4:32 PM on January 2, 2020
posted by donpardo at 4:32 PM on January 2, 2020
Yeah, I would think some of the cheap Androids like LG would work well. Just buy the cheapest pay as you go phones and never buy any wireless time. When my LG Tracfone runs out of service, it still works to run apps.
posted by hydropsyche at 4:43 PM on January 2, 2020
posted by hydropsyche at 4:43 PM on January 2, 2020
The link is broken but why wouldn't £10 clickers work? Presumably all these quiz sites have keyboard shortcuts?
I'm not sure im understanding the relevance of an ipod toi h here either. How do you use that precisely? And what does a normal £20 android phone not do that an ipod touch can do?
posted by turkeyphant at 7:59 PM on January 2, 2020
I'm not sure im understanding the relevance of an ipod toi h here either. How do you use that precisely? And what does a normal £20 android phone not do that an ipod touch can do?
posted by turkeyphant at 7:59 PM on January 2, 2020
Why not a few $15-$20 prepaid Android smartphones from the drug store?
posted by xedrik at 8:30 PM on January 3, 2020 [1 favorite]
posted by xedrik at 8:30 PM on January 3, 2020 [1 favorite]
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by tmdonahue at 7:37 AM on January 2, 2020 [1 favorite]