Review: HP Slate 7

Many people associate tablets with well-known brands with a hefty price tag, and for most part this is true.

Yet the HP Slate 7 bucks the trend.

The device is one of the few brands which has decided to go against that grain by creating a smaller tablet at relatively affordable price.

When searching for negatives however, the only downside is that it is a WiFi only tablet – but that can be overlooked if you have a smartphone which can tether.

The HP Slate 7 runs on the latest Android OS (Jellybean) and has the stock UI as well – and depending on what you’re used to, it can be a bit of an adjustment with the placement of the back button and accidentally tapping the home button instead of the space bar when typing can also occur.

The best addition to the tablet is that it’s built in with Beats Audio sound enhancement which does make a difference when listening to the music (mostly noticeable when using headphones).

Available in 8GB and 16GB options, there is also a microSD slot for expanding the memory by up to 32GB. Battery life is decent and with the right amount of option tweaking can be extended (brightness, syncing etc.) lasting around 5-6 hours of usage.

Pros:

• ARM Dual Core Cortex-A9 1.6 GHz processor – makes it responsive and fast.
• 7” screen, acceptable size and minimal for multiple uses.
• Weighing in at 372g, it’s evenly distributed which allows you to use even if it’s upside down.
• Back surface has a rubber like feel which allows for easy grip and handling. Also less likely to scratch.
• Beats Audio sound enhancement does make a difference when wearing accessories
• Expandable memory is an extra bonus if you want to view photos or add music without taking up the internal memory space.
• Pre-installed HP e-Print which allows for wireless printing with HP capable printer.

Cons:

• Camera is an average quality, but allows for basic use.
• The screens ~170ppi pixel density is fairly low, which may affect use when watching videos or photos.
• WiFi only but not a big problem if you can tether using your smartphone.

Given the price point, this HP Slate 7 provides a decent device which provides all the basics you expect from a tablet.

With an easy-grip surface and weighing under 400g, it makes it easy to use and portable. As mentioned previously, the battery life is okat but not amazing, however acceptable even with heavy use.

Beats Audio sound enhancement is a nice extra feature, although only noticeable with accessory use.

The device is available in silver and red at a RRP of $229.

Score 3.5/5