Highscreen Alpha Tab: 8.1-inch Android 4.2 tablet
Even in the past - 2013 - the year, representatives of Highscreen stated in an interview that they did not plan to release tablets. Like, nothing special and unusual in this class of devices can be done, but I do not want to offer about the same as everyone else. And at the beginning of 2014, the first Highscreen “tablet” nevertheless saw the light: we are talking about the Alpha Tab model, which I will discuss in this post.
The first and perhaps most unusual: unlike the mass of brands that today actively ship 7.85-inch clones of the iPad mini Android clone class from China, the Highscreen equipped the Alpha Tab with an 8.1-inch displaywith a ratio of 16:10. As a result, the screen area of this model and the typical “clone iPad” with a diagonal of 7.95 inches is the same - 192 square cm, but the Alpha Tab is noticeably narrower: 130 mm versus about 150-155 mm. So holding the Highscreen model with one hand is noticeably more convenient. Yes, it is longer (216 mm versus 20), but length affects usability less than width.
Another thing is that the Highscreen Alpha Tab turned out to be difficult: 474 g. It is 162 g heavier than the same first-generation iPad mini. Personally, in principle, a lot of weight never bothers me. But several people to whom I gave to hold this tablet wished him "speedy weight loss." So this point should be considered when buying - if weight plays a big role for you (let's say you are a lady and carry the tablet in a small handbag), then you should carefully "weigh" the device in the store.
Why does Highscreen Alpha Tab weigh so much? Probably due to the metal back panel. The developers really did not regret the metal: the non-removable condo lid is machined from a solid plate, the thickness of which barely reaches 1 mm. (The tablet itself, by the way, has a thickness of 9.6 mm.) By touch, it is noticeably different from the thin aluminum that is commonly used in iPad clones. Perhaps fans of brutal gadgets will love this device only for this. Although, in my opinion, it would be very possible to sacrifice the strength of metal and reduce weight by 70-100 g ...
Build quality- I'm not afraid of the word - excellent. I emphasize that the above-described metal panel, going to the side faces, has smooth edges. I have often seen gadgets of this design with uneven sections of metal. It looks messy and indicates a general negligence of manufacture.
The set of elements located on the case is not quite standard. So, on the right, in addition to the usual volume buttons, there was another one. She is responsible for activating silent mode. The trifle seems to be useful, but I would like to see here the ability to configure this additional key - as, say, in Highscreen Boost 2 and Boost 2 SE.
Also on the right side of the case is a plastic hatch, under which there are slots for a microSD card and a SIM card of a conventional format. MicroSIM is not worth inserting there, then you are tormented to get it. The hatch is plastic and rests on a silicone leg. It’s better to be more careful with it, because if you pull it a lot and often, it’s quite possible that it will remain in your hands.
On top there is a power button and a standard 3.5 mm headphone jack.
On the lower edge are a pair of speakers (you can’t call them vociferous, but a couple of spectators of some movie have enough volume margin), a MicroUSB port and a microphone.
There are most surprises on the back. First, the reset key- I don’t remember when I met her in gadgets. Usually they are rebooted by some combination of buttons, but here’s what ... Often, developers forget to write about this in the instructions. Everything is simple here, took a toothpick - and go.
The second unusual element is the flash . On tablets, they are extremely rare. The 5MP camera lens is also located at the back, next to the LED.
Above the screen there are light and proximity sensors, as well as a front camera.
As you might have guessed, Highscreen Alpha Tab is equipped with a 3G modem. Moreover, it is intended not only for the mobile Internet, but, following the latest fashion, for voice communications. Well, with a headset, the tablet can even be used as a smartphone. Without a headset, too, but do not forget about the weight in 474. How long you hold out depends on the inflated arms.
Applications for calls and SMS are completely standard.
I also note the support of profiles. It is made quite conveniently, everything is flexibly configured.
Vibration alert in Highscreen Alpha Tab is provided, it is average in intensity.
Highscreen Alpha Tab is built on the MediaTek MT8389 chipset , which integrates Bluetooth, Wi-Fi and GPS modules. There are no complaints about their work, everything is fast, stable and without failures.
MediaTek MT8389 also includes 4 ARM Cortex-A7 cores with a clock frequency of up to 1.2 GHz and PowerVR SGX544MP graphics. In fact, this is a tablet version of the MT6589 chipset, which has found application in a huge number of budget and middle class smartphones. RAM in the device 1 GB.
In the Highscreen Alpha Tab benchmarks, there are not enough stars from the sky, the results are quite expected.
For Asphalt 8 and others like it there is plenty of “power”. For the quick work of Android - even more so.
The chipset in the model is quite economical, 28-nanometer, so one battery charge with a capacity of 3,600 mAh is enough for a working day with "mixed" operation. That is, with periodic sitting on the Internet, games, videos, etc. If you watch the video continuously, then you can count on 5 hours (provided that the brightness of the display backlight is set to 70 percent).
Unfortunately, the tablet did not recognize the SanDisk memory card with a capacity of 64 GB - a message popped up stating that the flash drive was damaged. Is it a 32 GB card: no problems arose with it. The internal memory in the device is 8 GB, but about 6 and a half are available to the user.
Off screenI did not expect much of the Highscreen Alpha Tab - even before I received the tablet for the test, I knew that it uses a TFT-TN display. That is clearly not advanced. Indeed, the display is not the best. So, he has a slightly “acidic” color rendition, that is, it cannot be called natural. Resolution is 1280 x 800 pixels with a diagonal of 8.1 inches. Pixelization is not striking, although this screen is far from a retina, a fact. Viewing angles from above, from below and to the left (in vertical position) are acceptable, but if you look at the screen to the right, the colors are inverted. Something like this.
Yes, I almost forgot: a certain software optimizer was found in the screen settings, which allows us to save battery power. I did not take off the checkmark, although I did not feel the effect of it.
The display has a glass coating, but there is no oleophobic layer. That means fingerprints are collected quickly. The Highscreen Alpha Tab, by the way, comes with two protective films.
Multi-touch, of course, is supported - in a 5-point version.
There are two cameras in the Highscreen Alpha Tab - 0.3 megapixels for "self-arrows" and 5 megapixels for everything else. The quality of the latter is very average - it's not some Nokia Lumia 2520 (emoticon). I won’t spread much on the topic of photos; I’d better give a few examples:
About software . Highscreen Alpha Tab comes with the nearly bare Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean. Will there be updates to the next versions - God knows. But it’s worth periodically checking for updates, since OTA support is implemented in the model - the corresponding item is in the main menu.
I was pleased with the application "Flashlight". Such a good 8.1-inch flashlight ... On the other hand, most tablets do not have a flash, and therefore such an option.
The 4sync client provides 20 GB of cloud storage space for data.
A certain media player called Mobo Player. It looks scary and Asian.
You can’t say more about software - everything is quite standard, I won’t repeat it.
What has not yet been told? Yes, about the package . In addition to the two films that I already mentioned, a warranty card, a user manual, a USB-microUSB cable and a charger unit were found in the box. Plus a wired headset for talking. (Better to buy wireless.)
To summarize. Do you like the tablet? Rather yes than no. In the sea of “iPad mini clones” this “fish” really looks unusual. And even nice. But there are a few buts. I would reduce the weight, put a better screen, a camera ... Well, I've never seen normal cameras in inexpensive Android tablets, even on Samsung devices and others like that. So yes, the weight and screen remain. And with the screen I would be quite ready to put up if the Alpha Tab cost thousands of 7. But it is still worth 8, which, in my opinion, is a bit expensive. Here, a little cheaper, and then I can recommend it from the bottom of my heart for consideration.
The first and perhaps most unusual: unlike the mass of brands that today actively ship 7.85-inch clones of the iPad mini Android clone class from China, the Highscreen equipped the Alpha Tab with an 8.1-inch displaywith a ratio of 16:10. As a result, the screen area of this model and the typical “clone iPad” with a diagonal of 7.95 inches is the same - 192 square cm, but the Alpha Tab is noticeably narrower: 130 mm versus about 150-155 mm. So holding the Highscreen model with one hand is noticeably more convenient. Yes, it is longer (216 mm versus 20), but length affects usability less than width.
Another thing is that the Highscreen Alpha Tab turned out to be difficult: 474 g. It is 162 g heavier than the same first-generation iPad mini. Personally, in principle, a lot of weight never bothers me. But several people to whom I gave to hold this tablet wished him "speedy weight loss." So this point should be considered when buying - if weight plays a big role for you (let's say you are a lady and carry the tablet in a small handbag), then you should carefully "weigh" the device in the store.
Why does Highscreen Alpha Tab weigh so much? Probably due to the metal back panel. The developers really did not regret the metal: the non-removable condo lid is machined from a solid plate, the thickness of which barely reaches 1 mm. (The tablet itself, by the way, has a thickness of 9.6 mm.) By touch, it is noticeably different from the thin aluminum that is commonly used in iPad clones. Perhaps fans of brutal gadgets will love this device only for this. Although, in my opinion, it would be very possible to sacrifice the strength of metal and reduce weight by 70-100 g ...
Build quality- I'm not afraid of the word - excellent. I emphasize that the above-described metal panel, going to the side faces, has smooth edges. I have often seen gadgets of this design with uneven sections of metal. It looks messy and indicates a general negligence of manufacture.
The set of elements located on the case is not quite standard. So, on the right, in addition to the usual volume buttons, there was another one. She is responsible for activating silent mode. The trifle seems to be useful, but I would like to see here the ability to configure this additional key - as, say, in Highscreen Boost 2 and Boost 2 SE.
Also on the right side of the case is a plastic hatch, under which there are slots for a microSD card and a SIM card of a conventional format. MicroSIM is not worth inserting there, then you are tormented to get it. The hatch is plastic and rests on a silicone leg. It’s better to be more careful with it, because if you pull it a lot and often, it’s quite possible that it will remain in your hands.
On top there is a power button and a standard 3.5 mm headphone jack.
On the lower edge are a pair of speakers (you can’t call them vociferous, but a couple of spectators of some movie have enough volume margin), a MicroUSB port and a microphone.
There are most surprises on the back. First, the reset key- I don’t remember when I met her in gadgets. Usually they are rebooted by some combination of buttons, but here’s what ... Often, developers forget to write about this in the instructions. Everything is simple here, took a toothpick - and go.
The second unusual element is the flash . On tablets, they are extremely rare. The 5MP camera lens is also located at the back, next to the LED.
Above the screen there are light and proximity sensors, as well as a front camera.
As you might have guessed, Highscreen Alpha Tab is equipped with a 3G modem. Moreover, it is intended not only for the mobile Internet, but, following the latest fashion, for voice communications. Well, with a headset, the tablet can even be used as a smartphone. Without a headset, too, but do not forget about the weight in 474. How long you hold out depends on the inflated arms.
Applications for calls and SMS are completely standard.
I also note the support of profiles. It is made quite conveniently, everything is flexibly configured.
Vibration alert in Highscreen Alpha Tab is provided, it is average in intensity.
Highscreen Alpha Tab is built on the MediaTek MT8389 chipset , which integrates Bluetooth, Wi-Fi and GPS modules. There are no complaints about their work, everything is fast, stable and without failures.
MediaTek MT8389 also includes 4 ARM Cortex-A7 cores with a clock frequency of up to 1.2 GHz and PowerVR SGX544MP graphics. In fact, this is a tablet version of the MT6589 chipset, which has found application in a huge number of budget and middle class smartphones. RAM in the device 1 GB.
In the Highscreen Alpha Tab benchmarks, there are not enough stars from the sky, the results are quite expected.
For Asphalt 8 and others like it there is plenty of “power”. For the quick work of Android - even more so.
The chipset in the model is quite economical, 28-nanometer, so one battery charge with a capacity of 3,600 mAh is enough for a working day with "mixed" operation. That is, with periodic sitting on the Internet, games, videos, etc. If you watch the video continuously, then you can count on 5 hours (provided that the brightness of the display backlight is set to 70 percent).
Unfortunately, the tablet did not recognize the SanDisk memory card with a capacity of 64 GB - a message popped up stating that the flash drive was damaged. Is it a 32 GB card: no problems arose with it. The internal memory in the device is 8 GB, but about 6 and a half are available to the user.
Off screenI did not expect much of the Highscreen Alpha Tab - even before I received the tablet for the test, I knew that it uses a TFT-TN display. That is clearly not advanced. Indeed, the display is not the best. So, he has a slightly “acidic” color rendition, that is, it cannot be called natural. Resolution is 1280 x 800 pixels with a diagonal of 8.1 inches. Pixelization is not striking, although this screen is far from a retina, a fact. Viewing angles from above, from below and to the left (in vertical position) are acceptable, but if you look at the screen to the right, the colors are inverted. Something like this.
Yes, I almost forgot: a certain software optimizer was found in the screen settings, which allows us to save battery power. I did not take off the checkmark, although I did not feel the effect of it.
The display has a glass coating, but there is no oleophobic layer. That means fingerprints are collected quickly. The Highscreen Alpha Tab, by the way, comes with two protective films.
Multi-touch, of course, is supported - in a 5-point version.
There are two cameras in the Highscreen Alpha Tab - 0.3 megapixels for "self-arrows" and 5 megapixels for everything else. The quality of the latter is very average - it's not some Nokia Lumia 2520 (emoticon). I won’t spread much on the topic of photos; I’d better give a few examples:
About software . Highscreen Alpha Tab comes with the nearly bare Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean. Will there be updates to the next versions - God knows. But it’s worth periodically checking for updates, since OTA support is implemented in the model - the corresponding item is in the main menu.
I was pleased with the application "Flashlight". Such a good 8.1-inch flashlight ... On the other hand, most tablets do not have a flash, and therefore such an option.
The 4sync client provides 20 GB of cloud storage space for data.
A certain media player called Mobo Player. It looks scary and Asian.
You can’t say more about software - everything is quite standard, I won’t repeat it.
What has not yet been told? Yes, about the package . In addition to the two films that I already mentioned, a warranty card, a user manual, a USB-microUSB cable and a charger unit were found in the box. Plus a wired headset for talking. (Better to buy wireless.)
To summarize. Do you like the tablet? Rather yes than no. In the sea of “iPad mini clones” this “fish” really looks unusual. And even nice. But there are a few buts. I would reduce the weight, put a better screen, a camera ... Well, I've never seen normal cameras in inexpensive Android tablets, even on Samsung devices and others like that. So yes, the weight and screen remain. And with the screen I would be quite ready to put up if the Alpha Tab cost thousands of 7. But it is still worth 8, which, in my opinion, is a bit expensive. Here, a little cheaper, and then I can recommend it from the bottom of my heart for consideration.
