This Android tablet deal is a great alternative to the Echo Show

The Echo Show puts a screen on Alexa, Amazon’s smart virtual assistant. That’s useful, because it means you can get pictures and videos to accompany the verbal responses.
 
You might think it’s a tablet, but it’s not quite that versatile. The screen is locked down and plugged in, so you can’t just wander around with it. Amazon did later make this an option for the Fire HD 8 with the Show Mode Charging Dock, but what if you’re not sold on Fire tablets? Well, this Lenovo tablet deal is worth a look.
 
For £150 you get the 10in Lenovo Tab 4 Plus, as well as a speaker that boosts the tablet’s audio output and turns it into a smart screen when docked. This tablet on its own usually costs £250, so you’re looking at a not-insubstantial saving – although it’s still a bit more than buying the Fire 8 HD and Show dock bundle.
 
To my mind, though, it’s still a better deal. Not only does it boost the sound quality of the tablet when docked, but the Lenovo tablet runs Android rather than Amazon’s own heavily modified Fire OS. That means you get the Google Play Store out of the box and a more familiar, less curated experience.
 
We actually reviewed the 8in version of the tablet when it was first released at £200, and Chris gave it a solid three-star verdict. “With an integrated fingerprint reader, two front-facing Dolby Atmos speakers and splendid design, I had high hopes for it,” he wrote. “But with a rather finicky fingerprint reader, sluggish performance in games and middling battery life, it’s not the best way to spend your £200.”
 
Maybe not, but with two extra inches of screen space, a smart screen speaker dock and £50 cheaper? Well, at that point it becomes a no-brainer.
 
Buy now from Currys