Android Tablets Pre-Launch Roundup

Android Tablets (or Pads) are sure to be the next big thing on the Android News horizon, and reports of planned device releases keep coming thick and fast. Manufacturers are racing to own a slice of the soon to be lucrative Android Tablet market in field driven by technical wizardry (and maybe price).  We recently reported on the ViewSonic View Pad 7 which is just one of a few contenders in the space.

So, what device to lust after? Which Android Tablet gives us a warm ‘credit card at the ready’ feeling and which leaves us cold? It’s time for a This Android Life round up of the best Android Tablets that don’t exist in the wild yet, but hopefully soon will.

Toshiba Tablet Folio 100

First up is Toshiba’s offering in the form of the Tablet Folio 100. Toshiba is a name you’d typically associate with laptops but maybe not the mobile space, but that hasn’t stopped them packing a big, 10-inch glossy punch with their planned tablet. The Folio 100 is reported to come with a docking station to enable convenient office based showing off, or maybe use as a second display.

Inside the Folio 100 lurks a healthy 16GB of internal storage for over-zealous app installation, 3G, Bluetooth and 802.11n WiFi. Screen size is 10.2-inch with a resolution of 1024×600 and 10:6 aspect ratio (vs the iPad’s 4:3 1024×768). What really grabs our attention is the dual-core Nvidia Tegra 250 chip, which paves the way for better, more immersive Android gaming and video.

The device also comes with a 1.3MP front webcam for video calls, full-size and mini USB ports and a full-size SD card slot. The rumour mill has it that the Folio 100 could ship as soon as October 2010. Pricing is not yet known.

We Like: Lots .. Graphics capability, Android 2.2, Desk Stand, Large Internal Memory

We Don’t Like: Not so amazing battery life.

(Image Credit: Notebookitalia)

Samsung Galaxy Tab

If buzz generated is anything to go by, the main pre-launch competitor to the Folio 100 is the Samsung Galaxy Tab. This dinkier 7-inch offering is Samsung’s take on the Android Tablet and has been dubbed by sites more prone to exaggeration that this one, as an iPad killer. We think the Toshiba is more deserving of this dubious title, but the Galaxy Tab is still a device that makes us interested.

The Galaxy Tab sports a 7-inch 1024×600 screen, which makes creates an interesting portability vs readability dilema compared to a 10-inch tablet. Under the bonnet sits a ARM Cortex A8 1.2 GHz processor and PowerVR SGX540 graphics.

Memory wise you get a generous 16GB of internal storage. Like the Toshiba Folio 100, the Galaxy Tab comes with a front webcam for video calls (although only QVGA), full-size and mini USB ports and a full-size SD card slot. There is also a seemingly pointless 1.3MP camera on the back, if taking low quality photos with a big glass slab sounds like fun to you. Samsung have a pre-launch teaser vid for you enjoyment if you want a sneak peak.

We Like: Samsung Reliability and Design, Android 2.2, Large Internal Memory

We Don’t Like: Jury’s out on the 7-inch high density screen.

ViewSonic ViewPad 7

We gave the low down on this device from ViewSonic in a previous post. What we have is a nice looking 7-inch Android Tablet running Android 2.2. You get a 3MP rear camera and a VGA font-facing webcam. For your data needs it packs an integrated GSM/3G modem and can be used as a standard Android phone.  It comes with Bluetooth, WiFi and GPS.

Whereas we hoped that ViewSonic had produced a worthy contender to the Galaxy Tab, in reality the reported lacklustre 600MHz ARM processor and 800×480 let the device down. It might sit at the mid-low end of the Android Tablet spectrum, but it just doesn’t make us want to get a pre-order in like the Samsung and Toshiba devices.

We Like: Well engineered style

We Don’t Like: Yesterday’s tech screen and processor for a 7-inch device.

Dell 7 & 10-inch Streak

The 5-inch Dell Streak is an intersting, if confusing, device; sitting somewhere between a very large phone or an under-sized tablet. More interesting to us here at This Android Life is the promised forthcoming 7 and 10-inch models which sit squarely in the Android Tablet side of the fence.

Technical specs are little thin on the ground at the moment, but bearing in mind the healthy spec of the 5-inch Streak we might expect to see a 1024×600 screen and 1GHz+ processor in the 10-inch model.

The seven-inch model is expected “late in 2010″ and the 10-inch model in “early 2011.” If Dell get the 10-inch to market at or around the same time as the Toshiba Folio 100, they could be on to a winner. Dell’s sheer size means they are ideally poised to hammer down prices and make boxes appear on shelves in every out-of-town PC store from here to Australia. The Streak could be a big contender. It’s just a shame the name sucks.

We Like: Dell’s size will ensure prices are low

We Don’t Like: Too early to say, the name?

(Image Credit: Engaget)

Hanspree Unnamed 10-inch Android Tablet

The most recent announcement of this motely bunch of unreleased devices is Hanspree’s as yet unnamed Android Tablet. The tablet is a 10.1-inch affair with a 1024×600 display, 1GHz NVidia Tegra 2 processor and 16GB of built in storage. All good so far and a worthy contender to the Toshiba and Samsung devices. A nice touch is that it looks like the device will be capable of outputting full HD 1080p video via a build in mini-HDMI slot.

The 3,500mAh battery that should be good for up to 8 hours usage. Expected price is around $507 or £399 and shipping could be as soon as Novemeber (we hope so).

Expect more about this one in the coming days.

We Like: Spec ticks all the boxes

We Don’t Like: Too early to say

Asus Eee Pad EP101TC

The inspiringly named EP101TC from Asus isn’t really an Android Tablet, it’s a Windows Embedded tablet that had a change of heart, decided to switch sides and will now ship with Android. Interestingly, when this does land in stores in early 2011 it’s believed that it will come with Android 3.0

Specs are little sketchy at this point, and most relate to the device its Windows Embedded former life. A 10-inch screen and a Nvidia Tegra 2 processor seem sure bets, with rumours of 3G capability. Screen resolution seems unconfirmed, we would imagine 1024×600.

One to watch out for.

We Like: Asus build quality

We Don’t Like: Too early to say