TESCO HUDL 2

Two years have passed since Tesco introduced their original Hudl tablet. But unlike certain industry giants (we won't name names), the company clearly took the time to ensure they deliver a better, updated tablet version as promised. And while the original Hudl device has been a great success, the new Hudl 2 is even more impressive yet still low-cost, and thus bound to be an even bigger hit.

Beginning with its design, the Hudl 2 is the same height as its predecessor, but much wider when held in landscape format. Though the device is relatively heavy at 400grams, it still does feel well-balanced and is satisfyingly slim at just 9mm thick. The Hudl 2 also looks a bit more stylish and is now available in twice as many color options, including: blue, turquoise, red, pink, purple, orange and white.

Compared to the original's 7"" size, the new Hudl 2 offers a more impressive 8.3"" display. Furthermore, its full HD screen resolution has been significantly boosted to 1920 x 1200 pixels. So the new Hudl's touchscreen is not only larger but sharper too! And alongside its Dolby optimized sound, the Hudl 2 becomes a terrific little tablet particularly for game-playing and movie-watching.

The original Hudl included a 1.5GHz quad-core Rockchip processor with 1GB of RAM. But the Hudl 2 is equipped with a more powerful Intel Atom quad-core processor that offers twice as much RAM. However, battery life remains about the same in providing up to 8 hours, which is still quite standard on tablets of this size. The Hudl 2 runs on Android KitKat 4.4 (out of the box) and has built-in WiFi and Bluetooth. Additionally, the Hudl 2 now includes a Child Safety feature, which many parents will surely welcome as a fine and useful addition.

Unfortunately, the storage capacity remains the same at 16GB, while the MicroSD slot still only accepts up to 32GB. Though it may lag at times, the Tesco Hudl 2 does run smoother and significantly better than the original. The rear-camera has been upgraded to 5MP, yet strangely the front camera has dropped to 1.2MP (from 2MP on the original Hudl). It's possible to camera takes some nice snap-shot photographs with the Hudl 2, albeit with a steady hand. However when it comes to shooting videos, the quality is relatively poor. Like the original, the Hudl 2 also features a Micro HDMI port so you can connect the tablet to your TV. The Hudl is one of the few tablets on the market to include this special feature.

The new Hudl 2 tablet has seen a significant improvement in just about all areas. And priced at just 129 GBP, it earns top marks for overall value. Plus, those with Tesco ClubBoostCard can save even more money, as every 5GBP of vouchers is worth 10GBP towards the purchase of the Hudl 2 tablet. Additionally, the company provides even more extra value incentive by throwing in 60GBP worth of vouchers inside the Hudl 2 box. "