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Need tablet computers? Best deals to look into.

Need a tablet computer this week? Writer Louis Ramirez breaks down the best deals this week for tablet computers. 

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Kristin Zachary/The High Point Enterprise/AP/File
Kevin Mash, math teacher at Johnson Street Global Studies, works with Amplify tablet to identify ways to use it in his classroom. Need a tablet computer this week? Writer Louis Ramirez breaks down the best deals this week for tablet computers.

Can't wait for the latest tablet rumors to come to fruition in the fall? This week's best tablet dealsinclude price lows on refurbished Apple and Microsoft tablets with prices starting at $160. We've also found deals on Asus's latest budget tablet and an Editors' Choice Samsung Galaxy Lite Tab 3.

ASUS MeMO Pad 7" Android Tablet bundled with $51.49 in SYWR Points
Store: Sears
Price: $149 with free shipping
Lowest By: $32

Is It Worth It?: Asus created the budget tablet category with its original Nexus 7 and now its redefining the market with the MeMO Pad 7", a name-brand tablet in the sub-$150 range. Despite some flaws (namely a mediocre camera), Engadget says "the HD 7's battery life, display, software and storage are all above-average in the budget realm." Laptop echoes those sentiments, calling this tablet an "excellent value." Want the tablet in Black and don't care for the Sears points? Newegg offers it for $134.

The 0.6-lb. tablet packs an Intel Bay Trail Z3745 Quad Core 1.3GHz processor, 7" 1280x800 LCD, 16GB internal memory, 802.11ac dual band wireless, rear- and front-facing cameras, microSD card slot, Bluetooth, and Google Android 4.4 OS (KitKat).

RCA 8GB 9" WiFi Android Tablet
Store: Walmart
Price: $79 with free shipping
Lowest By: $11

Is It Worth It?: At $79, the RCA RCT6691W3 wasn't designed to wow you with its performance. However, for casual entertainment this budget tablet is sure to please. Currently at an all-time price low, it's the cheapest tablet in our roundup this week.

The 1-lb. tablet features a 9" 800x480 touchscreen LCD, ARM Cortex A9 1GHz dual-core processor, 1GB RAM, 8GB internal memory, 0.3-megapixel front-facing camera, 802.11n wireless, and Google Android 4.2 OS (Jelly Bean).

Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 8GB 7" Lite Android Tablet bundled with $51.40 SYWR Points
Store: Kmart
Price: $139.99 with free shipping
Lowest By: $50

Is It Worth It?: As its namesake implies, the Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 Lite is a lighter version of the company's full Galaxy Tab 3. Released back in January, the tablet keeps things simple, portable, and friendly. It scales back on some of the Galaxy Tab 3's main features (such as screen resolution and built-in storage) to maintain its low price. At $140 and bundled with a $51 credit, this Editors' Choice deal is $11 under our May mention of a refurb unit.

The 0.7-lb. tablet packs a 1.2GHz dual-core processor, 7" 1024x600 touchscreen LCD, 8GB internal memory, 802.11n wireless, Bluetooth 4.0, 2-megapixel rear camera, microSD card slot, and Android 4.2 OS (Jelly Bean).

Refurbished Microsoft Surface 10.6" 32GB Windows RT Tablet
Store: A4C
Price: $159.95 with free shipping
Lowest By: $30
Expires: August 1

Is It Worth It?: "If you're looking for a superb all-round Windows tablet which can double as a work machine ... then Surface should be high on your list," says TechRadar. Though it's now showing its age (it was introduced in October of 2012), it's among the cheapest prices we've seen for a refurb model of this tablet.

The 1.5-lb. Windows RT tablet includes an NVIDIA Tegra 3 T30 1.4GHz quad-core processor, 10.6" 1366x768 multitouch LCD, 2GB RAM, 32GB storage, 802.11n wireless, Bluetooth 4.0, front- and rear-facing 720p HD cameras, microSDXC card slot, up to 8-hour battery life, and Windows RT OS. A 90-day A4C warranty applies.

Refurbished Apple iPad Tablets
Store: Apple Store
Price: $249 with free shipping
Lowest By: $310

Is It Worth It?: Finding iPad deals is easy if you know where to look, but if you don't mind owning last year's tech, the Apple Store offers some of the best prices on iPads via its refurb center. As part of this week's sale, it has discounted various refurbished iPads with prices $40 under last week's sale. Each iPad is backed by Apple's rock-solid 1-year warranty.

A best bet is the Apple iPad 2 16GB WiFi Tablet for $249, which offers a savings of $150. Originally released in March 2011, the iPad 2 16GB WiFi features a 9.7" 1024x768 display, an Apple A5 dual-core processor, 16GB of internal storage, a VGA-quality camera, 720p video capture, 802.11a/n wireless, and Bluetooth 2.1. Click here to see Apple's full selection of refurbished iPads.

Louis Ramirez is a senior features writer for DealNews, where this article first appeared: http://dealnews.com/features/Best-Tablet-Deals-Budget-Refurb-Devices-from-Microsoft-Asus-and-Apple/1114399.html

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