Camera and Internal Storage
Not that it matters to many, but the device comes with just one camera at the front. We find this a very logical decision; simply because of the fact that better internals are a better option than a hefty rear camera. It is the processing power that people want in tablets, most tablet users anyway have smartphones with much superior cameras which make tablet cameras redundant. Coming back to the Play Tab 7.0, the device comes with a 2MP front facing unit and no rear camera, as mentioned previously. You will probably be able to carry out decent video chats using this unit on the front, however, it might be a bit of a problem if you are a nocturnal. On the internal storage, the device features a good 8GB of ROM, along with a usual microSD slot for further expansion. We really seem to like this idea of cutting costs on unwanted specifications (or ones like storage which can be improved upon by the user depending on need) to offer a much better internal set.
Processor and Battery
The tablet features NVIDIA’s Tegra 3 processor, which was among the most powerful processors that came out last year. Of course, with NVIDIA working on their next great offering, costs of the Tegra 3 have gone down which has enabled manufacturers like XOLO to go for chipsets like the Tegra 3. The Tegra 3 packs a quad core processor, clocked at 1.2GHz, with the cores being built on the Cortex A9 platform. You can expect the device to be better than any other domestic branded tablet, and the tablet should blaze through most tasks, especially gaming. The Tegra 3 was appreciated for the powerful GPU which made it possible to enjoy hardware intensive games without hassles. The XOLO Play Tab 7.0 comes with a 4000mAh battery which again, is impressive. You can expect between 5 and 6 hours of screen on time with one charge, which should translate to 2 days for most users.
Display and Features
The device features 7 inch display with a resolution of 1200×800 pixels. This resolution should make gaming and multimedia enjoyable, and tasks that involve reading, for eg. browsing, chat, etc. would be fairly easy on the eyes too, with not a lot of pixelation. Other features include a pre-loaded TegraZone app which will keep you in the loop meant for Tegra based devices. The tablet will come pre-loaded with Android v4.1 which is a bit of a disappointment, considering that most other tablets are shipping with v4.2.
Looks and Connectivity
The device is average on looks. However, XOLO have gone for a dual tone (silver+black) back which takes the looks factor up by a notch. The tablet will come with Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.0 and GPS on the connectivity front. There will be no 3G support or support for SIM cards.
Comparison
Devices like the Nexus 7 (2012), Samsung Galaxy Tab 3, Dell’s Venue 7, etc might give the XOLO Play Tab 7.0 some competition in the overpopulated market.
Key Specs
Conclusion
As we made it pretty clear in the writeup, we’re highly impressed by this offering from XOLO. Serious tablet buyers (i.e., those looking for real productivity and not just a bigger device to hold) will definitely consider the Play Tab 7.0 before any other low cost tablet. As a matter of fact, the Nexus 7 that came last year features the same processor, which should give you insights on the prowess of this chipset from NVIDIA. All in all, the device would make for a great buy.
