Huawei MediaPad X1 7.0

Electronics specialists Huawei has produced a number of tablets, phablets and like devices through the years, but the MediaPad X1 7.0 released in 2014 appears to represent an evolution in the company’s philosophy vis-à-vis the tablet. The MediaPad may yet be considered viable competition for the Google Nexus 7 after all.

Billed by the company as “the most slender tablet in its class,” this MediaPad’s 7.2-mm thickness must put it in the top two or three. Most of the formerly ubiquitous plastic has been replaced by aluminum for a bit more durability while keeping things light enough. Indeed, the X1 7.0 tablet seems designed to be carried and specifically for phone calls – more on this below.

The processor is a 1.6GHz quad-core backed with 2GB of RAM; the MediaPad starts with 16 GB of storage, but a 32 GB version is also available, plus the standard micro SD card slot can expand that memory by 32 GB more. Additionally, photo fans and videophiles will love the 13 MP sensor (!) on the rear camera and 5 MP front webcam.

Those cameras, particularly the latter, are no mere showy perks. Combined with the Phone Manager application which handles all matters connected with phone calls (no, really, everything), the identity that the Media Pad X1 puts forth is that of a phablet on steroids. Clearly the top choice for heavy online conversationalists.