Today we have the second of two Alcatel devices from Telus. This one is the Onetouch Pop 8 which is a 8″ tablet running Android. Here’s the specs it comes with:
- 8″ 1280 x 800 IPS screen
- 1.3GHz quad core processor
- 1GB of RAM
- 4GB of storage upgradeable to 64GB with a MicroSD card
- HSPA+
- 802.11 A/B/G/N WiFi
- Bluetooth 4.0
- Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean
- 2 MP rear camera
- 0.3 MP front camera
Now 8″ for a tablet is an interesting size for me as I find it a nice size that is not too big and not too small. It’s easy to hold in my hand. The 8″ 1280 x 800 IPS screen is bright and sharp. While it does attract fingerprints, they don’t interfere with ability to view the screen. The back does not appear to be removable. So the SIM card and the MicroSD card have to go into the sides of the tablet. The protective flaps that cover those two card slots on both sides come with an unorthodox design. They are completely flush with the metal rim around the phone, with only a small “pimple” protruding at their upper parts. The tablet comes with a tool that allows you to flip the flaps open which is the same as the Onetouch Idol X+. My suggestion would be to never lose that tool. It felt solid in my hand and well built.
The OneTouch Pop 8 runs on Android 4.2 Jelly Bean with a light and minimalist custom skin on top. It’s flat like iOS 7 and Alcatel’s changes are cosmetic and enhance the look of the user interface. There are also little touches like the e-mail setup wizard which is easier to use than most. In daily use, just navigating around the interface and running basic apps like browser and email, it runs fairly smoothly, almost without a stutter. However, since this tablet has HSPA+, don’t expect to set the world on fire when it comes to mobile Internet connectivity. I managed to get 5.12 Mbps downstream and 1.78 upstream on the Telus network which isn’t bad.
Now, let’s make it clear. The Alcatel OneTouch Pop 8 is not a camera-centric device. It does feature a barebones 2-megapixel main camera, and a 0.3-megapixel front camera. With that in mind, I headed out to Pearson Airport to see what they could do. First, let’s look at the still pictures. Click the picture to see it a full resolution:
It is on the blurry side, but it’s not bad. Now let’s look at the video which maxes out at 1080p. Set the video at full screen and 1080p:
As you can see, the video is kind of blurry. Thus it makes this camera better suited for video chats rather than being a camera replacement.
The OneTouch Pop 8 battery that is not user removable. I managed to get six hours out of a charge which is not bad. But it’s at least a couple of hours off the iPad Mini with Retina display. Having said that, I don’t think the target audience who are budget minded users will care. Speaking of budgets, expect to budget $0 on a two year term or $240 outright to get one from Telus. If you’re in the market for an affordable tablet that gives you the ability to use WiFi and HSPA+, the Alcatel OneTouch Pop 8 is certainly worth a look.