Australian-based retailer Kogan Technologies today announced two new 10in tablets running on Android 4.0 (aka Ice Cream Sandwich) -- the Agora 10" 8GB Tablet and Agora 10" 16GB Tablet. The introductory price for the new models starts at just $179; around $360 less than the cheapest new iPad.
"While the new iPad is no doubt resolutionary, it does come with a comparatively hefty price tag,“ Kogan Technologies' founder Ruslan Kogan said in a statement. "...We’ve been working hard to bring the latest technology to everyone, not just those who can afford $800 for a gadget."
So what does the new Kogan Agora tablet give you for $179? On paper at least, the specifications are surprisingly robust. In addition to the aforementioned Android 4.0, both models come with a 1.2 GHz Cortex A8 processor, front and rear (2MP) cameras, inbuilt WiFi (802.11b/g/n) and 1GB of RAM.
Connectivity is also impressive, with USB 2.0, HDMI, MicroSD and a 3.2mm stereo headphone jack present. Battery life is rated at eight hours, though we'd naturally take that with a grain of salt.
Interestingly, Kogan claims that the new Agora tablet range was designed in Melbourne, Australia. We spoke to a Kogan public relations rep who confirmed the actual hardware was designed locally (rather than just the UI or pre-installed apps).
Naturally, the success of these new Agora tablets will come down to the responsiveness of their capacitive touchscreens -- this is the chief stumbling block faced by entry-level tablets. We'll endeavour to get our hands on a review model and return with a full verdict.
The Agora 10" 8GB Tablet and Agora 10" 16GB Tablet will be available from mid-June for an introductory price of $179 and $199, respectively.
See also:
Kogan Agora 7in Tablet PC review
Tech deals: Get an 8in Kogan tablet for $150
