Recommend tablet that connects with bluetooth keyboard

marek_python · 19 Jul 2021, 10:41

Hi community,
I'd like to ask whose of you who own UT tablet. Have you tried
to connect your tablet to bluetooth keyboard ? Were you successful ? What tablet are you using ?

I'm asking 'coz I'm looking around for UT tablet but I'm aware not all UT devices connect to bluetooth keyboards.
For example Meizu 5 Pro connects just fine but Xperia X pairs with keyboard OK but won't maintain connection.

Thank you in advance for responses.

kugiigi · 19 Jul 2021, 13:44

All UT devices should be able to connect to BT keyboards however it may depend on the combination of the BT device and UT device. Some BT device works well on one UT device but not on another.
As for the tablet, I'm using a Lenovo Tab M10 Plus FHD. My BT keyboards work well on it but the UT port is very young and doesn't even have a stable channel nor OTA support. There's also a major BT issue when trying to reconnect where BT just stops working and crazily logs into syslog until the device becomes full if not rebooted immediately. I can still use the keyboard for a long period of time but I avoid disconnecting and reconnecting and sometimes monitor the device with top I was still able to develop and app in this setup

Lastly, there's a video of this tablet on youtube if you're interested

marek_python · 19 Jul 2021, 15:04

@kugiigi Thanks for commenting. You're using a young port. Under heavy development I presume. I'm after something more mature. Something I can rely on.

kugiigi · 19 Jul 2021, 15:14

@marek_python There's not much tablets so your only option for mature ones I guess is the bq M10 HD/FHD which may be a bit hard to find.

TotalSonic · 19 Jul 2021, 15:17

@marek_python - unfortunately tablet support with UT is currently poor right now - either being old devices that are hard to get (like the BQ MHD 10) and are underpowered (e.g. Nexus 7), or that are newer and buggy (and even the PineTab is underpowered in my opinion). What is really needed is some community developers willing to take on porting for some more tablets that are more readily available and that have decent specs.

Until then I recommend using an x86 Intel tablet that is sold with Windows 8 or 10 and flashing the standard amd64 Linux distro of your choice on it - I use a Dell 7140 (everything works but has big bezels) and a Dell 7275 (issue on this is cameras do not work) for this with Ubuntu Budgie 21.04 with Touchegg 2.0 multi-touch gesture enabler and the Onboard onscreen keyboard - overall performance is great, and they both can work with bluetooth keyboards or can work with an integrated snap on keyboard similar to the Surface line.

Best regards,
Steve Berson

marek_python · 19 Jul 2021, 15:27

@totalsonic Thanks for pointing out good devices to pick from. Yeah speaking of availability of newer devices it is rather a manpower issue more than anything else. Not a lot of programmers want to dedicate time to port a newer device if only few people in the world would be using it. Plus they probably wouldn't get paid for all the research, testing and work.

There are enthusiasts who enjoy porting devices but only few and those few have hands full porting phones. Tablets aren't a priority.

marek_python · 19 Jul 2021, 16:07

@totalsonic
PineTab 10 was the nicest Linux tablet + keyboard for some time. Apparently the keyboard was backlit too. You could run UT on it or PineOS.

Too bad it got sold out quickly and new stock hasn't arrived for a long time.

https://pine64.com/product/pinetab-10-1-linux-tablet-with-detached-backlit-keyboard/

TotalSonic · 19 Jul 2021, 22:14

Found the link for the Lenovo Tab M10 FHD Plus (2nd Gen) video - https://youtu.be/k5Lfj51h_0M

Also apparently someone started a port on the Samsung Galaxy Tab A 10.1 2019 (SM-T510 or SM-T515) - video on this here - https://youtu.be/p6JNZGKcTjU

Best regards,
Steve Berson

marek_python · 20 Jul 2021, 08:02

@totalsonic
Yeah I know about those devices. I've search the YouTube as well. I almost went for the Samsung Galaxy Tab A 10 but then when I checkout linked XDA thread I noticed bluetooth isn't working at all. I almost bought a port without working bluetooth.

Speaking of Lenovo tablet it looks by far the snappiest UT tablet
on the market. The presenter used the same bluetooth keyboard I have to connect so I could see it works. I'm buying

Thank you @TotalSonic !