Itel is a well-known brand in the feature phone and low-cost smartphone markets, and it has also ventured into smart TVs, feature phones, and accessories. It's aiming for a larger slice of the consumer mindshare pie, and as part of that effort, the brand recently released the Pad 1 — its first tablet. This is a low-cost device, in keeping with the rest of itel's portfolio. During the pandemic, the tablet segment regained prominence, and since then, we've seen a number of brands make a play in this category. Let's see how the itel Pad 1 stacks up against some worthy competitors.
Highlights:
- itel is a well-known brand in the feature phone and low-cost smartphone markets, and it has also ventured into smart TVs, feature phones, and accessories.
- Recently, itel released the Pad 1, its first tablet, which is a low-cost device.
- The tablet has a solid metal design and includes a transparent silicon case and a screen protector in the box.
- The device has a 10.1-inch display, 128GB storage, 4G connectivity, and runs Android Go edition with no bloatware.
- The tablet is powered by a 1.6GHz UNISOC SC9863A octa-core SoC with 4GB of RAM.
- The itel Pad 1 is priced at Rs 12,999, which is good value for money considering the features it offers.
| Product | Price | Store |
|---|---|---|
| Productitel PAD ONE | PriceAround RS 13000 | StoreBuy on Amazon |
| Productitel PAD ONE | PriceAround RS 16000 | StoreBuy on Flipkart |
Itel Pad 1: A Sturdy Tablet with Sleek Metal Design and Impressive Camera Module
The Pad 1 comes with a solid metal design, indicating that itel is serious about its intentions in the tablet space. It feels sturdy and appears more expensive than its price would suggest. I also like how itel includes a transparent silicon case and a screen protector in the box. A large, black-colored camera module protrudes from the back of the tablet, giving the impression of a dual-camera setup.
If you look closely, you'll notice that there's only one
camera lens (with a 5MP sensor), while the other circle houses the flash. A
thin silver strip runs across the width of the slate, with itel branding in the
middle.
The itel Pad 1: A Closer Look at its Ports and Audio Capabilities
When held in portrait mode, the volume rocker and power button
are on the top left of the tablet, with the SIM tray on the right. The USB
Type-C port and a 3.5mm audio port are located on the right spine. The tablet
has four holes on both sides, giving the impression of a quad-speaker setup,
but only two (one on each side) actually produce audio. The sound is loud but
not overpowering.
The itel Pad 1's Display Falls Short: Low Resolution and Other Drawbacks
The 10.1-inch display is up front, and this is where some
corners have been cut. It has an IPS LCD display, which is standard at this
price point, but the HD+ (1,280 x 800) resolution has an effect on the user
experience. The low resolution makes colors appear dull and the text appears
coarse, especially given the large display size. Video consumption suffers as
well, which is unfortunate given the device's generous 128 gigabytes of
storage. The noticeable wide bezels around the display, as well as the shaky
touch response, don't help its cause. An 8MP camera is located in the center of
the screen's long edge.
Itel Pad 1 offers clean software and child-friendly
On the plus side, the software is entirely stock, with the
slate running the Android Go edition. There's also no bloatware, and you get
access to the Google Kids Space, which assists in creating a separate user
profile for use by children and provides age-appropriate content and apps.
Surprisingly, the tablet also includes an FM radio.
Itel Pad 1: Adequate Performance, Unusual Features, and Slow Charging Speeds
The show is powered by a 1.6GHz UNISOC SC9863A octa-core SoC
with 4GB of RAM. It's no powerhouse, but it's adequate for basic tablet use,
with no major performance issues or significant lag. It can't handle heavy
games, but it should be fine for casual ones. The inclusion of 4GB RAM and
128GB storage, as well as 4G data and voice capability, is unusual at this
price point. There is no fingerprint scanner, but there is face unlock, which
works well for the most part. The 6,000mAh battery lasts a long time, but the
10W charging speeds are extremely slow and leave one wanting.
Verdicts
To summarize, the itel Pad 1 is a mixed bag. The screen resolution appears to be the main niggle in my opinion, but the tablet does offer a few features that are difficult to find at this price point, particularly 128GB storage and the inclusion of 4G. The device is priced at Rs 12,999, which represents good value for money when considering the aforementioned features. If you're willing to spend a little more, you can get options from Realme, Motorola, Nokia, and others, most of which offer better screens and performance but can't compete with itel in terms of storage and 4G connectivity in this price range. So, if you're looking for a low-cost slate with plenty of storage and on-the-go connectivity, the itel Pad 1 could be the answer.
Pros and Cons
Pros:- Solid metal design that feels sturdy and appears more expensive than its price would suggest.
- Comes with a transparent silicon case and a screen protector in the box.
- Includes 128GB storage and 4G connectivity, which are unusual at this price point.
- Runs Android Go edition with no bloatware and access to Google Kids Space.
- Adequate performance for basic tablet use, with no major performance issues or significant lag.
- The 6,000mAh battery lasts a long time.
Cons:
- The 10.1-inch display has an HD+ resolution, which makes colors appear dull and text appear coarse.
- Wide bezels around the display and shaky touch response.
- Only one camera lens (with a 5MP sensor), while the other circle houses the flash.
- No fingerprint scanner and the 10W charging speeds are extremely slow.
Image Gallery
Full Specification
| Key | Specification |
|---|---|
| KeyBrand | SpecificationItel |
| KeyModel | SpecificationPad One |
| KeyPrice in India | SpecificationRS 12,999 |
| KeyRelease date | Specification2nd March 2023 |
| KeyLaunched in India | SpecificationYes |
| KeyForm factor | SpecificationTouchscreen |
| KeyDimensions (mm) | Specification241.37 x 160.16 x 8.20 |
| KeyBattery capacity (mAh) | Specification6000 |
| KeyColours | SpecificationLight Blue, Deep Grey |
| KeyDisplay | Specification |
| KeyScreen size (inches) | Specification10.1 |
| KeyTouchscreen | SpecificationYes |
| KeyResolution | Specification1280x800 pixels |
| KeyHardware | Specification |
| KeyProcessor | Specificationocta-core |
| KeyProcessor make | SpecificationSC9863A1 |
| KeyRAM | Specification4GB |
| KeyInternal storage | Specification128GB |
| KeyExpandable storage | SpecificationYes |
| KeyExpandable storage up to (GB) | Specification512 |
| KeyCamera | Specification |
| KeyRear camera | Specification8-megapixel |
| KeyFront camera | Specification5-megapixel |
| KeyFront Flash | SpecificationYes |
| KeySoftware | Specification |
| KeyOperating system | SpecificationAndroid 12 (Go Edition) |
| KeyConnectivity | Specification |
| KeyUSB Type-C | SpecificationYes |
| KeyWi-Fi | SpecificationYes |
| KeyGPS | SpecificationYes |
| KeyBluetooth | SpecificationYes |
| KeyNFC | SpecificationYes |
| KeyUSB OTG | SpecificationYes |
| KeyHeadphones | Specification3.5mm |
| KeySensors | Specification |
| KeyGyroscope | SpecificationYes |
| KeyBuy Now | Specification |
