A review of Huawei Media Pad 7 Lite tablet computer, which was launched in the Caribbean during the week of 12 November 2012.
On Wednesday, 7 November, the Digicel Group announced that, in partnership with Huawei Technologies, it would soon be rolling out the Huawei Media Pad 7 Lite tablet computer across the Caribbean, starting this week (Source: FirstLook). This tablet would be marketed as a budget friendly device, and would be available in Aruba, Barbados, Bonaire, Cayman Islands, Curacao, Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, and the Turks and Caicos Islands. This post is a review of that tablet, and includes a comparison with similarly sized devices that the average consumer might consider in the same category.
Who is Huawei?
Huawei Technologies Company Limited is a global manufacturer and provider of telecoms and networking equipment and services. Established in China, it is a private company, which in 2011 generated revenues of approximately USD 32.7 billion, and a profit of USD 1.9 billion.
Huawei is the world’s leading telecoms equipment maker, and as such, it is well known and regarded by voice, Internet and data service providers. However, in addition to providing network- and infrastructure-related equipment and devices to product and service providers, in recent years, the company has entered the mass consumer market and is offering a range of smartphones and tablet computers.
According to Gartner, Huawei was the world’s 6th best selling mobile/cellular device vendor in the second quarter of 2012. However a considerable portion of those sales may be attributed to the company’s strong presence in China. Interestingly, none of its phones are featured on any recognised list of top selling devices worldwide, which does suggest that the company could benefit from some strategic partnerships in order to increase visibility and take up of their products.
Key specs: Huawei Media Pad 7 Lite
The Digicel press release provided the following specifications for the Huawei Media Pad 7 Lite:
The Huawei Media Pad 7 Lite is the latest addition to the Huawei tablet family. Ultra-portable and housed in a 380g sleek metal shell, the Media Pad 7 Lite is powered by Google Android 4.0 and a Cortex A8 processor. It boasts a super-clear 7-inch 1024 x 600 IPS multi-touch 1080p high-definition display.
It is compatible with nearly all multimedia formats and also features a 3.2 megapixel rear camera and a 0.3 megapixel front-facing camera.
In Table 1 below the Media Pad 7 Lite is compared with other 7-inch tablet computers, with which it might be competing directly.
Table 1: Comparison of key specifications of select tablet computers (Sources: manufacturer websites; GSM Arena)
What do the critics say?
Generally, the Huawei Media 7 Lite has received favourable-to-average reviews from industry experts. Although the lower price point has been welcomed, it is a bit heavier and thicker than other tablets at the same price point, such as the Google Nexus (Source: PhoneArena.com).
However, as a 7-inch device, the Media 7 Lite potentially allows for easier use while actually moving, which is not necessarily the case with the standard 9.5-inch, 1.44 pounds (652g) Apple iPad. On the other hand, the iPad Mini beats the Media 7 Lite on most of the key specifications, granted that it is almost twice as expensive than the Media 7 Lite. The video clip below, from Engadget, offers a brief review of the Media 7 Lite:
Our take
In summary, the Huawei Media 7 Lite could be a welcomed option for the budget conscious buyer in the Caribbean, especially students and novice users, who might not need the latest or best device on the market, but are eager to enjoy the benefits that tablet computers can offer. The partnership with Digicel offers considerable access to consumers and promotional opportunities, hence the device could do well in the region.
Finally, it is important to emphasise that there are better performing and sleeker-looking devices on the market, but they would be considerably more expensive than the Media 7 Lite. The Huawei Media 7 Lite is no Apple iPad. The key selling point for the Media 7 Lite is price; hence it is important that expectations are managed.
Image credits: UnwiredView.com
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