this post was submitted on 02 Oct 2025
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What do you consider cheap?
Linux tablets
The Juno Tab 3 from last year was $699 (no more stock, Juno Tab 4 has been announced) and the Librem 11 from Purism is $999 (temporarily out of stock).
Tablets/Laptops hybrids
A refurbished Microsoft Surface Pro 5 or 6 are well supported by using the kernel from here:
https://github.com/linux-surface/linux-surface/wiki/Supported-Devices-and-Features#feature-matrix
There are newer Surface Pro tablets that works too unless you need LTE/Camera.
In a similar vein you can look at refurbished Lenovo 13'' 2-in-1 devices but they will be bulky compared to a normal tablet.
Wall installation alternative using a touchscreen monitor and a mini computer
Putting a minicomputer like Radxa X4 in the backside of a touchscreen monitor like the Lenovo ThinkCentre Tiny-in-One is cheaper than both but requires constant power from the wall and wouldn't be classic tablet format. (Works if you want a static wall installation though, just buy the wall bracket with VEGA 100x100 that's right for your plans)
edit:
On the other hand if all you wanna do is display photos then maybe a digital photo display that supports USB or SD Cards would be the easiest solution?
It would require moving the storage back and forth to add new photos but you wouldn't even have to give it WiFi so if you keep it isolated it is nice from a privacy standpoint.
Not really for the purpose of this thread, since pretty much anything can do what OP is asking, but any idea how the Juno Tab compares to the Starlabs Starlite in regards to build quality, cooling, and what not? I noticed the other day that the Starlite has been updated with an N350 CPU. Though it is up to a $765 starting price...
Once or twice a year I start thinking it would be nice to have a tablet. Then within a month I wonder wtf I want a tablet for.
No idea, sorry. Last time I looked into tablets was for a friend and it ended with a refurbished Surface Pro running Debian Gnome with the surface kernel.