Juno Computers have announced their latest Linux tablet, the Juno Tab 3, and it’s available to buy preloaded with Ubuntu 24.04 LTS (or a choice of other Linux distributions).
Which is great.
Juno Tab 3 Specs
| Display: | 12.1-inch IPS touch display (2160×1440, 3:2, 60 Hz) |
|---|---|
| CPU: | Intel N100 (4 core, 4 thread @ 1.10 GHz) |
| Graphics: | Intel UHD |
| RAM: | 12 GB LPDDR5 |
| Storage: | 512 GB SSD |
| Network: |
Wi-Fi 6 Bluetooth 5.0 |
| Ports: |
MicroSD Micro HDMI 2x USB C 3.1 3.5mm audio jack |
| Other: |
2 MP front camera 3.7 MP rear camera |
| Battery: | 5000 mAh |
| Price: | From $699 |
The Juno Tab 3 is powered by an Intel N100 processor, 12 GB RAM (soldered), internal 512 GB storage, and fronted by a 300nit 12.1-inch 2K 10-point touch display.
Which is all decent.
The Juno Tab 3 also has a detachable keyboard so you can turn the tablet into a portable productivity hub for “proper work” on-the-go (or on-the-sofa).
Which sounds perfect — so what’s the catch?
The price tag.
See, the Juno Tab 3 costs from $699.
That seems awfully pricey for a device powered by the same chipset used in sub-$160 mini PCs and the Radxa X4 single-board computer (the 12GB DDR5 version of which costs just $79).
Obviously, those devices aren’t tablets, so you don’t get the couch-potato convenience of an all-in-one form factor; no sharp 2K screen or a built-in battery, etc.
I appreciate that small Linux hardware vendors do not have the kind of purchasing or inventory power that big players in tech hardware do, and launching a Linux tablet is novel — we’re not exactly snowed under by them.
Add the ongoing support and software integration costs and, even a nerd who flunked maths twice1 can figure out why Linux laptops/tablets usually cost more than Windows ones (despite the latter including the cost of a Windows license).
The notion of dropping $700 on a Linux tablet isn’t a goer for me. That’s the price of a decent mid-range laptop. As someone who blogs off old tech most days, if I’m spending that kind of money, I expect a lot more bang for my buck than an Intel N1002 can provide.
Especially given you buy a similarly-spec’d tablet for half that price, like the Chuwi Hi10 Max tablet – also powered by an Intel N100 processor, 12 GB RAM, 512GB storage, a 12.9″ 2K screen, plus better cameras, and larger battery than the Juno Tab III — it costs $3193 or $339 with keyboard.
Edit: As pointed out to me on Mastodon, the Linux-powered Starlite is a similar 12.1-inch, 2K tablet, but with the newer Intel N200, 16 GB RAM, and a backlit keyboard accessory, and is cheaper at $659.
Going the “buy an Intel/AMD Windows tablet and install Linux yourself” route is cheaper but it doesn’t have the assurance of Linux compatibility (touchscreens often require an out-of-tree driver), nor do you get the warm fuzzy feeling of supporting people who care about Linux.
But even so, a $400 premium for a Linux tablet powered by a low-cost CPU feels over the odds. It’s not like Ubuntu on a tablet offers a premium experience. It’s usable, getting better, but a long way from rivalling anything like Android or iOS.
All of that said, I’m sure plenty of people reading this article will disagree with me — that’s fine — and consider the $699 price tag attached to the Juno Tab 3 to be worth every dime, dollar, and cent. If that includes you, crack on and buy one.
Thanks Scott
- That’s me, btw ↩︎
- Not knocking the N100 – it’s a pretty capable low-power chip ↩︎
- Almost always less; Chuwi usually have discount codes and sales on their website, and finding something that doesn’t have a $20 off coupon on their Amazon store is a fun game. ↩︎