Last time we talked about new smartphones that were announced during Mobile World Congress; now we’re talking about tablets, namely those running Android OS.
Surprisingly, or not, there were not that many of them. Perhaps it’s the shrinking margins to blame for this, or perhaps the big boys focused their efforts on launching new phones.
In any case, here’s our list and as usual, you are free to add your thoughts in the comments form below. Let’s roll…
1-3. Alcatel PIXI 3
Alcatel unveiled no less than three PIXI 3 tablets at MWC (in addition to two same-named phones). All of these are entry-level devices, catered towards users on a budget. One model has only Wi-Fi connectivity, one includes a 3G radio, and one has 4G LTE support.
PIXI3 (7) Wi-Fi
- Chipset: Quad-core1.3 GHz, MT8127
- Wireless: 802.11 B/G/N, Bluetooth 4.0
- OS: Android 4.4 KitKat
- Memory: 512MB RAM
- Size: 189 x 111 x 9.1 mm, 260 grams
PIXI3 (7) 3G
- Chipset: DUAL CORE 1.3 GHz, MT8312
- Wireless: 802.11 B/G/N, Bluetooth 4.0
- OS: Android 4.4 KitKat
- Memory: 512MB RAM
- Size: 189 x 111 x 9.1 mm, 260 grams
PIXI3 (7) 4G LTE
- Chipset: Quad-core1.1 GHz, Qualcomm Snapdragon 210
- Wireless: 802.11 B/G/N, Bluetooth 4.1
- OS: Android 5.0 Lollipop
- Memory: 1 GB RAM
- Size: 191 x 109 x 9.2 mm, 260 grams
All three models sport a 7-inch 1024×600 pixels display, 2,820 mAh battery, 2MP rear and VGA front cameras, and 4GB of expandable storage (with microSD cards).
4-6. ARCHOS Magnus tablets
France-based ARCHOS unveiled a new line of tablets called Magnus. A total of three models have been announced during the big show in Barcelona – the 101 Magnus, 94 Magnus and 101 Magnus +.
The first device has a 10.1″ screen, 1GB RAM, 64GB of storage and a 4000mAh battery; second – a 9.4″ screen, 1.5GB RAM, full 256GB of storage and a 6400mAh battery; and third – a 10.1″ screen, 2GB RAM, 128GB of storage and a 7000mAh battery.
The 101 Magnus Plus and 94 Magnus will be sold $349, while the 101 Magnus will go for just $179. All three tablets will be available in April.
7. Huawei MediaPad X2
Huawei had a single tablet to show the world in Barcelona. The MediaPad X2 has thin bezels for an 80% screen-to-body ratio. Said screen can handle up to 1920×1200 pixels, making sure everything looks pretty sharp.
Inside, we have Huawei’s own Kirin 930 ultra-octa chipset clocked at 2.0 GHz with support for Cat 6 LTE. There’s also a 13MP main camera, 5MP front-facing one, while Android 5.0 Lollipop is running the show with EMUI custom software singing on top.
The Chinese firm will offer the X2 in two different variants, one with 2GB of RAM and 16GB of internal storage, and the other with 3GB of RAM and 32GB of storage. Both versions will be available in dual-SIM variants in select markets. The 16GB/2GB option will be available in titanium silver, while the better model will be available in rose gold.
8. Sony Xperia Z4 Tablet
Sony’s latest tablet is a bad-ass. It has top-notch specs wrapped in a super-slim (6.1mm) body that also happens to be water- and dust-resistant (thanks to an IP 65/68 certification). Said specs include a 10.1-inch 2560×1600 pixels screen, Qualcomm’s 64-bit Snapdragon 810 chip, 3GB of RAM, 32GB of expandable storage, and a massive 6,000 mAh battery which, according to Sony, should deliver up to 17 hours of video playback.
The Xperia Z4 Tablet is also pretty light with its Wi-Fi variant weighing just 389 grams, whereas an LTE model has a weight of 393 grams.
The device will launch globally in June though we’re still wondering about the price. Chances are, this won’t be a tablet everyone will be able to afford.