Everyone likes a tablet. But not everyone can afford an iPad or a high-end hybrid laptop. And to be fair, not everyone would want to spend on one. Enter low-cost tablets, offering the slate experience while being soft on budget. Alcatel’s 2-in-1 POP4 10 takes this experience a step further by adding a physical keyboard to the tablet, allowing users to enjoy a near-laptop experience.
The device had good specs for the price. It has a 2 GB RAM and 16 GB ROM, which can be expanded up to 32 GB, an 8 MP rear camera and a 5 MP selfie shooter. The device runs on Android Marshmallow and has a decent 5,830 mAh Lithium Ion battery. It is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 430 Octa Core processor.
The POP4 10 has a fully-laminated full HD (1920x1200) IPS display, which looks premium and delivers colours neatly and without loss. The 10.1-inch display looks big enough and offers sufficient screen space. The metal back, blink-and-miss curves, 7.95-mm thickness and the 10-point touch are all alluring and the device responds fast enough to commands. The device supports 4G LTE and allows for a sim card. However, the tablet doesn’t support VoLTE. The POP4 10’s battery doesn’t drain out easily and the 450 hours of standby time is just superb.
The rear camera is nothing great; images come out nicely in bright daylight but the shooter struggles, expectedly under low-light conditions. Also, holding the device while clicking a photo is a tad cumbersome. The front camera is average but not bad, especially while video-calling. The camera has fixed focus and has digital zoom. The video playback is hassle-free and soothing on your eyes, but the audio department, in spite of the good stereo experience thanks to the Waves Maxx Audio, needs some improvement. The audio is just fine while playing regular audio files but it surprisingly struggles while playing HD content and delivers a stretched-beyond-limits experience.
Attaching the keyboard is easy and placing the tablet in it is a bit of a struggle initially, but users will get familiar with it pretty soon. The so-called magic flip Bluetooth keyboard is compact and the keys are well-spaced out, but you will take some time to get the hang of this too. You can attach a mousewith Bluetooth or using an OTG cable. The POP4 10 has WPS office pre-installed. Alcatel offers 12 months’ warranty on the tablet. There is even a six-month warranty on the accessories.
In sum, considering the price and features , the Alcatel 2-in-1 POP4 10 Keyboard tablet is a value for money device that delivers on most of the promises. What you see is what you get here; well almost.
Price: ₹11,999
Pros: Good and big display, compact keyboard, strong processor, seamless surfing experience, fast touch response
Cons: Average audio, breakable glass, poor cameras