HP Slate7 Android tablet arrives at MWC

 

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By Stewart Mitchell

Posted on 25 Feb 2013 at 10:40

HP has confirmed rumours of an Android tablet by announcing the Slate7 at MWC 2013.

As expected, the Slate7 is a budget 7in device in a similar vein to the Google's own Nexus 7, with the tablet running Android 4.1 Jelly Bean and powered by an ARM dual-core Cortex-A9 1.6GHz processor.

There's no news on UK pricing or availability, but the tablet is to sell for $169 when it's released in April.

The launch marks an opportunity for the company to make up some lost ground in the tablet market after previous failures when its webOS-based TouchPad was withdrawn, leaving a hole in the company's mobile product range.

Analysts recently told PC Pro that HP needed to use Android in order to roll out products quickly enough to catch up with rivals.

However, the company also gave a nod to its Windows 8 devices. "To address the growing interest in tablets among consumers and businesses alike, HP will offer a range of form factors and leverage an array of operating systems," said Alberto Torres, senior vice president of HP's Mobility Global Business Unit. "Our new HP Slate7 on Android represents a compelling entry point for consumer tablets."

The tablet includes a steel-frame and the company is touting the Beats Audio embedded in the system as providing "the best-sounding, richest audio experience available on a tablet", and it features front and rear facing cameras and integration with Google's online services.