Huawei MediaPad to acquire Android 4.0, new colors

Given my love for 7-inch tablets, I had to swing by Huawei’s booth at the Consumer Electronics Show. In addition to the high-end Ascend P1 S smartphone, the Chinese company is showing off its MediaPad tablet that comes pre-loaded with Android 4.0, also known as Ice Cream Sandwich.


Here’s a look at the small and light tablet, which will launch in selected markets within the next two or three months.


From a form-factor and feel standpoint, I like how this slate fits in the hand. It’s thin and — as Apple fans will quickly and correctly point out — is designed just like a small iPad. At 390 grams, it’s very light and would be easy to carry or put in a pants back pocket.


Although I only spent a little time with the MediaPad, it generally ran Android 4.0 very well with a Qualcomm dual-core 1.2 GHz processor inside. The IPS screen, with a 1280 x 800 resolution, is crisp and clear. And pictures taken with the tablet’s 5-megapixel rear camera looked decent as well. Battery life may be relatively low, however, due to the small size and thinness.


Released in June last year, the Huawei MediaPad is touted to be the first 7-inch tablet powered by the Android 3.2 OS. The colored versions of this slate will also be integrated with the Honeycomb platform. Both new mobile device versions boast of 7-inch 1280 x 800p IPS HD LCD WXGA touchscreen displays and operate on 1.2GHz processor dual core Qualcomm CPUs.


“In a tablet market defined by staid black and white tablets, the new colorful MediaPad offers a personalized look without the need for an external case. With a hardware package that includes a high-quality screen, a powerful dual-core processor, and long battery life, these colorful MediaPad embodies a rare combination of style and performance,” commented Richard Yu, Chairman, Huawei Device.


The slates come equipped with a 5MP autofocus HD primary camera and a secondary 1.3MP snapper, both of which feature CMOS sensors. Providing an expandable memory of up to 32GB, they lend support to Bluetooth 2.1 and Wi-Fi 802.11b /g/n connectivity options.


Current owners of the Huawei MediaPad will be receiving an over the air Ice Cream Sandwich upgrade in the first quarter of this year. The new MediaPad color series as well as the Android 4.0 device are also scheduled to be available in selected markets around that time. The exact price details are still under wraps.