New Delhi, Jul 29: While the entry level tablet segment has been buzzing with activity from Indian brands, it's now time for MNCs to shake the market.
The entry level Android tablet market has been buzzing with activity mainly driven by Indian brands with several low cost 7 inch tablets.
However, MNC brands like Asus, Acer and Samsung have been silent about their launches in India.
That is now set to change as five new tablets are going to be launched in India in the next three months. On paper the specifications of these tablets look great. Here is a look at them.
Google Nexus 7
Google's first tablet offering is priced as an entry level device, but has high end specifications like a quad core processor.
Although the Google Nexus 7 tablet is scheduled for a post September launch for the Indian market, early birds can buy it online for Rs 17,690.
The Google Nexus 7 comes with a 1.3 GHz quad core Tegra 3 processor with GeForce 12 core graphics chip, 1 GB of RAM, a 1280 x 800 pixel 7 inch IPS display, Near Field Communication (NFC) capabilities and nine hours battery backup for continuous video playback.
Google Nexus 7 is the first Android device to feature Android Jelly Bean (Android 4.1) operating system along with features such as an intelligent keyboard that predicts words as you type them.
Asus Transformer Pad TF300
The Transformer Pad TF300 is in some way an upgraded version of Transformer Prime with better hardware and looks and also the ability to use 3G and 4G LTE networks. The tablet is expected to be launched by late August to mid September at a price point currently occupied by Transformer Prime (Rs 50,000), which will move to a lower price point.
Another bit of good news is that the tablet is going to be upgraded to Android Jelly Bean 4.1 in the coming month.
It features a docking keyboard with chiclet style keys and has a 10.1 inch touchscreen display with WXGA (1280 x 800 pixel) resolution. The wide angle IPS panel can also support ten point finger touch at the same time.
Transformer Pad TF 300 houses a quad core 1.2 GHz Nvidia Tegra 3 T30L mobile processor with a low power GeForce graphics chip capable of stereoscopic 3D output. Asus has added 1 GB of RAM and 16 GB on board storage. This tablet has an 8 megapixel camera with auto focus at the back. There's a 1.2 megapixel camera in the front.
Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1
If you loved the S Pen on Galaxy Note, you will love it even more on the 10.1 inch screen of Note 10.1, which Samsung is reportedly going to launch during August-September this year.
The tablet will come with an 800 x 1280 pixel 10.1 inch screen and an S Pen for writing on the screen. It will have a quad core 1.4 GHz ARM Cortex-A9 processor and 2 GB RAM.
There is still a lot of confusion about its specifications and pricing. However, its launch is certainly imminent since there are ads and pictures leaking online.
Acer Iconia A200
Acer Iconia A200 is a long overdue Wifi tablet, though there are expectations that this tablet will finally make its appearance in India in the next couple of months.
The device is a low cost one and is expected to be in the proximity of Rs 15,000.
Housing a dual core Nvidia Tegra 2 processor, the new Iconia Tab A200 will run Android 4.0 ICS when it comes to India.
Its 10.1 inch touchscreen display supports 1280 x 800 pixel resolution natively. Under the hood, the tablet has a dual core Nvidia Tegra 2 SoC mobile chipset and an integrated low-power GeForce graphic chip capable of 1080p HD playback. Acer has packed 1 GB of memory to run applications, multimedia and the OS smoothly.
In the front, there is a 2 megapixel camera that is said to be for HD video chats. Of course the storage on board is not enough and hence the tablet has a memory card slot. For physical connectivity the tablet includes a full USB 2.0 port, which pushes its thickness to 12.4 mm.
Acer has packed a 3260 mAh lithium polymer battery that promises 10 hours of talk time.
Karbonn Smart Tab 4
Karbonn Mobiles, an Indian handset player, is all set to launch an Android Jelly Bean tablet in August.
Karbonn Smart Tab 4 will have a Gorilla Glass screen and it will be powered by a 1.5 GHz processor. It will support WiFi, 3G through a USB dongle and Bluetooth for connectivity.
Jain also said, "Another version of Smart Tab 4 with SIM functionality will be launched in September and it might come bundled with a leading telco's SIM and free data."
