HP gives an extra inch to its phablet for the Slate 7 VoiceTab (hands-on)
HP decides you might as well leave the phone features in your 7-inch phablet as it launches the Slate 7 VoiceTab in Europe.
BARCELONA, Spain -- HP may have introduced its new VoiceTab line with a focused release earlier this month in India, but here at Mobile World Congress the old dog is sending its new tricks into wider release.
HP continues to rebuild its credentials beyond the desktop and server room with the arrival of more options in the smartphone and tablet domain. The Slate VoiceTab devices are both full-featured smartphone devices at the phablet/small tablet size range.
Both run 1.2 GHz Quad Core processors with 1GB RAM running Android 4.2.2, both offer HSDPA with dual SIM support, and both include the HP DataPass service (where available), which gives users 250MB per month of free 3G data service for two years as a backup when Wi-Fi or other services aren't easily available.
Both devices feature an HD front camera plus a 5-megapixel rear camera. There's also 16GB of storage on board with a micro SD slot supporting cards up to 32GB.
The Slate 7 goes for a 1,280x800 resolution on an IPS screen and that IPS technology makes the screens really pop as nicely as you'd expect. Along with front-firing speakers these screens look great in the flesh and give impressive multimedia performance.
The styling is slick, with a nice textured plastic back in a range of coloured swappable back covers — both models come in silver, with optional accessories in Snow White, Neon Purple, Marine Blue, Neon Pink and Grass Green.
No one spec sings louder than the competition, but the pricing is very aggressive at at €249 (US$343) for the Slate 6 VoiceTab and €229 (US$315) for the Slate 7 VoiceTab. The overall fit and finish is excellent given the price range and with dual SIM support it would be easy to see this new line building a fan base.
The HP Slate 7 VoiceTab will be available at retail in select EMEA countries from May, as well as the HP Store in France, Germany, Switzerland, Sweden and the UK in May.
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