Last Updated on February 26, 2018
Introduction
Tablets are the perfect way to surf the web, play games, and watch videos on the sofa or a train. The popularity of these small portable devices continues to gain momentum. The Hudl is Tesco’s first venture into what is now a very crowded tablet market. The Hudl is not a rebadge; it is manufactured by Keen High but has been developed according to Tesco’s own specific design. The tablet is designed to compete on features with popular, but far more expensive, tablets. The Tesco retails at a competitive £119 (which can be reduced heavily by redeeming Tesco Clubcard vouchers), and the price point compares very favourably with other similarly specified tablets.
The Hudl is a glossy tablet available in four colours (black, blue, red, purple) with a seven inch 1440 x 900 pixel screen, so the screen is a little way short of full HD. The Hudl has a good specification, especially considering the attractively low price. The tablet runs the Android Jelly Bean operating system (4.2), and has expandable storage via a microSD port.
The box contains the following items:
– Hudl tablet
– AC charger
– 1m Micro-USB cable
– Quick start guide and safety/legal leaflet
– Tesco vouchers
Specifications at a glance
| Display Size |
7 inches | Dimensions | 192.8 / 128.8 / 9.85 mm | |
| Display type |
IPS LCD | Weight | 370g | |
| Screen Resolution |
1440 x 900 pixels (242ppi) | Android | 4.2.2 | |
| CPU | 1.5Ghz quad core ARMv7 Cortex-A9 | Bluetooth | Yes, 4.0 | |
| GPU | Mali-400 MP (quad core) | WLAN | Dual-band Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n | |
| Chipset | Rockchip RK3188 | NFC | No | |
| Memory | 1GB | USB | Yes, microUSB v2.0 | |
| Internal Storage |
16GB | Display protection |
Scratch-resistant, anti-smudge glass | |
| External storage |
microSD (up to 32GB*) | Multitouch | 10-point | |
| Primary Camera |
3 MP | Battery | 9 hours of video life | |
| Secondary Camera |
2 MP | Other | GPS, Assisted GPS, Compass | |
| Audio | 2 x 1w stereo speakers | Kernel | Linux 3.0.36+ |
The price point of the Hudl pitches it at a level which is attractive to individuals who have not previously owned a tablet. Coming from a Microsoft world, using an Android tablet is an alien experience. To help the transition, Tesco has placed a helpful widget on the home screen, for a first timer, that helps users get started and get the most out of the Hudl. The widget teaches the basics of using the tablet, child safety, discovering Google Play and surfing the web, as well as exploring the world of entertainment, photos & videos, social networking, video chat, and email. The guide also offers some practical tips for looking after the Hudl, access to a full user guide, and telephone support contact details, which are freephone numbers, a welcome touch.
* We tried a couple of 64GB SDXC cards in the micro-SD port, even though the guide states that external storage only supports up to 32GB. I am pleased to report that both 64GB cards functioned perfectly in the Hudl. Having 80GB (actually 71GB) of total device space is pretty impressive.
Tesco has released a range of accessories to complement the Hudl including a selection of cases, protective bumpers, earphones, charger, protector kit, micro-HDMI cable, charger, and charging kit. Pictured below is the Hudl using the stand of Tesco’s rather snazzy black leather case. The case costs an additional 20 pounds and is worth the additional outlay.
