HP has taken the wraps off its first ever device to use Google’s Android operating system, the Slate 7. Rather than coming out all guns blazing with an all singing all dancing device, HP has started its Android campaign with a budget 7-inch tablet that it hopes will rival the Nexus 7.
Revealed early on at this year’s Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, the Slate 7 is a no frills tablet with decidedly mid-range specs to suit a $169. For your money you’ll get stock Android Jelly Bean 4.1, a la Nexus 7, with some HP tweaks including Beats Audio and HP e-Print thrown in for good measure.
The display is a 7-inch 1024 x 600 LCD display, which is decent but not impressive. Inside HP has jammed a 1.6GHz Cortex A9 processor, 1GB of RAM and 8GB of storage, which can be expanded upon by slotting in a micro SD card.
Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 2.1 provide ample wireless connectivity whilst a micro USB and 3.5mm audio jack provide physical connections, but the Slate 7 isn’t overflowing with options when it comes to wireless and wired connections.
HP’s partnership with Beats Audio means that you’ll get some slightly more powerful Beats Audio speakers inside the Slate 7, with the usual Beats software tweaks to enhance the bass.
Silver and red versions will be available – we reckon the red version looks best, in case you were wondering – with an April launch slated.