Polaroid M7 hands-on

Polaroid, that’s not a name you’d associate with Android tablets – but hey, isn’t everyone one getting into the arena? Well, the longtime camera maker is getting its feet wet in the competitive Android market, as they intend to get their name out there. Wondering how they’re going to do just that? Well folks, it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure that out. In fact, their 7-inch model can definitely raise an eye or two with its deliciously low price tag.

Knowing that this is a $129 priced tablet, we really can’t expect a whole lot from its design. Rightfully so, that’s exactly what we find with the Polaroid M7, as its design is predictable in every facet. Although it lacks any defining characteristics to make it stand out from the usual crop of slates, we do appreciate the soft touch back casing with its clean looks, grippy feel, and pleasant pattern. With the plastic construction, there’s some noticeable flex here and there, but it’s not too surprising considering the price point. At the same time, however, it translates over to a lightweight feeling tablet in the hand – so at least it’s comfy to grasp long term.

For a device of its caliber, it amazes us that it’s featuring a very decent looking 7-inch 1280 x 800 IPS display that’s pleasant enough to use with most things. Under the hood, it’s packing a dual-core 1.6GHz Cortex A9 processor with 1GB of RAM that moves along for most basic things, but from our cursory look, we’re seeing some slowdown with its operation. Presented with the Android 4.1 Jelly Bean experience, with its own specific widget right on the homescreen, it looks as though it’s more like an Ice Cream Sandwich device because of the UI’s look.

Above all, some might be hesitant to pick this one up – even at $129. Why’s that? Well, it’s not a “with Google” device, which means it’s missing certain crucial apps that liven the overall experience, such as the Google Play Store. However, it seems as though it has some sort of NOOK integration, so if you’re content with that, it might be enough to appease your needs. Expect to see this one launch soon.