India-based mobile device manufacturer Karbonn has just announced the second tablet in the world to come running Android 4.1 (Jelly Bean) out of the box. Not swayed by the Neuxs 7 thanks to some of its shortcomings? This could make up for it…
The 7-inch Karbonn Smart Tab 1 is cheap. Google and Asus’ Nexus 7 has re-written the rulebook in terms of Android tablet cost, but even based on the new school of thinking, the Smart Tab 1’s $125 (£79) starting price tag is very admirable.
That’s probably due to its single core processor – a MIPS-based 1.2GHz number, which represents the only low point in an otherwise Nexus 7-beating spec sheet. That and the fact that it’s not quite as svelte.
Elsewhere, though, there’s a HDMI support, USB and SD card input, 3G support and storage up to 32GB. That’s quite a few boxes that Google’s flagship can’t tick.
Android-powered gaming tab gets real
And then there’s Jelly Bean. The Smart Tab 1 has ben around in one guise or another for a while, being among the first to offer Android Ice Cream Sandwich. Now Karbonn has announced that it’ll be out of the gates first with an OTA update, while any Smart Tab 1 orders now will dispatch with Jelly Bean installed out of the box.
Pretty swift work, helped by the fact that the flavour of Android you’ll get is plain vanilla, with no unnecessary skins laid over the top. An Android Jelly Bean tab with a decent smattering of inputs, 3G and a wallet-friendly price tag? We’re all over it.
