First impressions
The Alcatel Onetouch Pop 7 is a solid 7-inch Android tablet which is small, lightweight and has a simple, uncluttered design. What’s most impressive about this tablet is the price. It’s very easy to use, has a bright screen and is packed with everything that makes a tablet worth having.
Design and build
At first glance you’d be forgiven for mistaking the white Alcatel Pop 7 for the Samsung Galaxy Tab 7. The Pop 7 has an uncomplicated design with power and volume buttons clearly located on the rear. You won’t find physical home buttons on the device, rather these will be found on the touch screen. The Pop 7 weighs just 288 grams and is a slim 8.9mm – making it very portable. The device is comfortable to hold, and even though it is quite small, it doesn’t feel flimsy.
Display
The 7-inch touch screen has a 1024x600 display. This may not be the most advanced display technology available, but text is legible and colours are rich when browsing the web, viewing photos or watching videos. One downside is that it can be a bit difficult to view in bright, direct light or at certain angles.
Interface
The interface will be familiar to Android users, as Alcatel has only made minor changes to the look and feel. The best part about the Pop 7 is the integration with the world of Google. It’s quick to sign in with your Gmail account to access your emails and download all the apps you could ever need from the Google Play Store – such as Twitter, Instagram and Facebook. You’ll also benefit from free apps such as Google Maps and Google Docs.
Performance
This feisty little tablet runs Android 4.2 (Jelly Bean) and has 1GB RAM and 4GB onboard storage – which can be expanded to 32GB using the MicroSD slot. An unexpected perk of the Pop 7 is the large 3 240mAh battery. Alcatel claims this will last up to 360hrs with your Wi-Fi and 3G turned off – our review model has been running for a good couple of days on a single charge – or up to 70 hours if you leave Wi-Fi and 3G switched on. The Pop 7 is adept at handling normal tablet use such as browsing social networks, emailing and watching videos – but it won’t cope well with very processor intense apps or graphics-heavy games. But this isn’t what it’s designed for, and it shouldn’t be an issue for most users.
Camera
The cameras on the Pop 7 are not great, but will get the job done. There’s a 2MP main camera and 0.3 front camera. You can also record HD video at 720p. It will probably be a good idea to get yourself additional storage space with a MicroSD card, otherwise your device is going to get full very fast.
Verdict
The Alcatel Pop 7 has been a pleasant surprise to review and is sure to be a hit when it launches this week in South Africa. Its solid performance and robust design, combined with its fantastic price tag, make it a great choice for first-time tablet owners, or those who are only looking for the basics from their tablet.
| Specifications | |
| Display | 7-inch, TFT WSVGA,1024 x 600p resolution |
| Processor | Dual Core 1.3 GHz CPU, Chipset MT8312 |
| RAM | 1GB |
| Storage | 4GB and up to 32GB with MicroSD |
| OS | Android Jelly Bean 4.2 |
| Camera | 2MP main, 0.3MP front |
| Video | 1280x720p |
| Battery | 3 240mAh |
| Dimensions | 192mm x 113mm x 8.9mm |
| Weight | 288 grams |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi, 3G, Bluetooth 4.0, USB 2 |
