REVIEWS
Mecer Xpress 800P31C SmartlifE
Small 8” Android tablets are a dime
a dozen these days. In the Mecer
Smartlife Tablet’s favour is solid
build quality and a wallet friendly
price tag.
F
or any newcomer to the small tablet
scene looking for an entry-level
device, the options are boundless.
Throwing its hat into a rather crowded ring is
Mecer, with their wallet friendly 8” 800P31C
Smartlife Tablet, retailing for R1 800. At that
price point, the Smartlife Tablet combines
a solid array of specifications and relatively
robust construction to win over those users
leaning towards one of Samsung’s or Asus’
offerings.
Sturdily built
In spite of Mecer opting for a plastic heavy
design, the Smartlife Tablet is well put
together and remains sturdy even under
rugged use. Measuring 12.3 cm wide, it
sits well in hand and remains relatively easy
to wield throughout the day. If there is one
downside, the 800P31C is on the slightly
heavy side, weighing in at 345 g. The 8”
display (1280x800), offers 188 ppi pixel
density aind features Gorilla Glass protective
technology. Compared to the more expensive
8” tablets, the Xpress Smartlife’s screen
struggles with highly detailed applications
and games, but performs adequately when
viewing movies and browsing the web.
Internally, the Smartlife Tablet incorporates
THE MECER SMARTLIFE IS A
GREAT OPTION FOR USERS IN
NEED OF A WELL CONSTRUCTED
8” TABLET THAT WON’T BREAK
THE BANK AT R1 800.
a number of mid-range performing
components, such as a quad-core Mediatek
MTK8389 processor, clocked at 1.2 GHz.
Added to this is 1 GB of RAM and 8 GB worth
of flash memory. As a result, the 800P31C
can handle most multitasking demands, and
switches between apps fluidly. Fitted with a
5 MP camera on the rear and 2 MP one
upfront, the 800P31C is not a first choice
imaging tool, as pictures look grainy in low
light conditions, which serves as the only
major drawback we found on the Smartlife
Tablet.
Cost savvy
All things considered, the 3G-touting
800P31C is a great option for users in need of
a well constructed 8” tablet that won’t break
the bank at R1 800. Along with a microSD slot
for up to 32 GB and 4200 mAh battery for a
full day’s use, the Smartlife Tablet is indeed a
good choice for the cost savvy. [RLC]
Samsung Galaxy Tab 8.4
It may be a few months since its
release, but Samsung’s latest
Galaxy Tab 8.4 is an impressive
piece of kit and still holds its own.
T
here has been no shortage of
8” tablets this year, with users,
particularly those looking for a
budget-friendly offering, being spoilt for
choice on both Windows and Android fronts.
However, amongst these there is still the
crème of the crop, and it is here that the
Galaxy Tab 8.4 stands out, in more ways than
one.
That little bit extra
For starters, the tablet feels considerably
more solid than the Galaxy Note 8, thanks to
metal accent and a nicely rubberized back,
which make it comfortable to hold. In case
you’re wondering, that extra 0.4” does make
a difference, as it gives the tablet a 16:10
aspect ratio, which is ideal when watching
movies. It does though, make it a little too tall
in portrait orientation, and we found ourselves
more inclined to use it with both hands rather
than one handed as we would a smaller 7”,
7.9” or even 8.1” tablet. That being said, it is
still