Eken's Android-powered MID looks mighty nice for $100

Okay, so the last time we told you about an inexpensive Android tablet/MID things didn't turn out so well. So, this time we bring you one to appreciate from afar -- no credit card needed nor, as you'll see, wanted. It's seven-inch, 800 x 480 device from Eken that is selling for $680 RMB in China. That translates to $99.53 currently that, at first glimpse, looks to be quite a bargain. Sure, it has only 2GB of storage, but you can expand that to 32GB with SD. The VIA 8505 processor certainly won't be confused for a Snapdragon but despite that the device pledges only two hours of battery life on a charge. To top it off it's stuck with good 'ol Android 1.5 installed, leaving us to conclude that this is hardly a bargain after all. Shucks.

[Jordo1234 Posted Apr 25th 2010 6:07AM]

Get our hopes up, then shoot us down.
Classy.

[uHorndog Posted Apr 25th 2010 1:57PM]

Why the hell is there... a "Like" button...

On Engadget...??

I hate the like button :(

[meenalokovich Posted Apr 25th 2010 3:50PM]

@Jordo1234 This is the part when I'll say, if only dell mini 5 was a MID and priced like this, then I'll surely get one already. Reactions-- http://j.mp/mini-5-tablet-by-dell

[Fanta Posted Apr 25th 2010 6:42AM]

Interesting device, but what happend with the zenpad? Did the sample arrive Engadget?

[TimStevens Posted Apr 25th 2010 6:43AM]

@Fanta Nothing yet...

[JimJam707 Posted Apr 25th 2010 6:19AM]

Android 1.5?
:(
No market?
:(

[tino Posted Apr 25th 2010 7:25AM]

@JimJam707
You can buy it on taobao, it's real.

http://item.taobao.com/item.htm?id=5119710720

[JimJam707 Posted Apr 25th 2010 7:40AM]

@tino Never said it didn't exist.
Was just sad at android 1.5 and no android market.

[Schmich Posted Apr 25th 2010 9:04AM]

@JimJam707 2 hour battery life as well, that should translate to no movie watching =/ but then again the 300mhz processor is maybe not enough play one either.

[JimJam707 Posted Apr 25th 2010 9:06AM]

@Schmich
Yeah, I'm having trouble seeing what it's for.

[dtptampa Posted Apr 25th 2010 11:59AM]

@Schmich hell, my G1 does more than that

[revolve82 Posted Apr 26th 2010 12:44PM]

@JimJam707
This site stated that it is running Android 1.6. Do you think its been upgarded?
http://www.shenit.com/eken-m001-7-google-android-1-6-ipad-tablet-slate-pc-umpc-mid-netbook.html

[JimJam707 Posted Apr 26th 2010 12:50PM]

@revolve82 I'm not trusting a website that calls it.
'Eken M001 7” Google Android 1.6 iPad Tablet Slate PC UMPC MID Netbook'

[cadmium Posted Apr 25th 2010 6:19AM]

Sorry, no hands-on review, no trust in the product. Even hands-on reviews don't prove the product is for sale, it could just be a sample (like the zenPad) with the company having no stock.

[tino Posted Apr 25th 2010 7:27AM]

@cadmium
You can buy it on taobao, it's real.

http://item.taobao.com/item.htm?id=5119710720

(This reply to the correct post.)

[cadmium Posted Apr 25th 2010 9:31AM]

@tino

Thanks for pointing that out. It looks a whole lot more legitimate now! The proof though will be when we hear from people who've bought it and actually received it.

[androidboi Posted Apr 26th 2010 3:51PM]

@cadmium
Here's a video review don't know if it helps.

http://www.slashgear.com/eken-m001-100-android-mid-gets-reviewed-2683177/

[gerrrg Posted Apr 25th 2010 6:21AM]

An aside:

Don't blame Wal Mart; blame the consumer who buys the cheap wares made in China, sold at Wal Mart. You can find just as many goods at Ikea, that are made in China.

Back to the story:

But dude, it's designed and made in China. At least buy stuff made in Taiwan instead, to support the thorn in China's foot.

[BigD145 Posted Apr 25th 2010 2:45PM]

@gerrrg Or you can just buy the Hong Kong rebranded knockoffs.

[JD01JD Posted Apr 25th 2010 6:31AM]

I never was any good at detecting internet sarcasm...

[juanvaldez Posted Apr 25th 2010 7:41AM]

@JD01JD Well I, personally, call "foul" we don't do sarcasm in title's unless it's blatant. I'd much prefer to think of this as a case of "judging a book by the cover" or "looks can be deceiving", either that or Engadget deceived me. Ah, hell, even if it is either of those clichés Engadget still deceived me/us.

[EgonSpengler Posted Apr 25th 2010 6:41AM]

Inexpensive surfing on the couch...I'd buy it

[EgonSpengler Posted Apr 25th 2010 6:45AM]

@EgonSpengler I can't wait for the market to be flooded with cheapo slates. Then I can pick up a no-name brand with decent fcn to throw around the house....and er, use in rooms in the house that you wouldn't normally bring your A grade tech into for fear of soiling them...

[EgonSpengler Posted Apr 25th 2010 6:45AM]

@EgonSpengler I can't wait for the market to be flooded with cheapo slates. Then I can pick up a no-name brand with decent fcn to throw around the house....and er, use in rooms in the house that you wouldn't normally bring your A grade tech into for fear of soiling them...

[gFiz Posted Apr 25th 2010 6:43AM]

This has got to be the best article I've ever read. Sure, the writing is a bit sloppy. And yea, it doesn't contain any hands-on information. It certainly won't be confused with a Topolsky write up. Actually a pretty terrible article after all. Shucks. :P

[exsonic Posted Apr 25th 2010 7:04AM]

why does Chinese handset industry always give us surprise.........

[ZSX Posted Apr 25th 2010 7:20AM]

These Android tablets have been all over eBay for a while now, and sadly go for well in excess of £100, let alone $100. The WinMo ones go for twice as much.

[chilliwilly1000 Posted Apr 25th 2010 7:34AM]

Where can I buy this? In china only?

Btw is this real or fake?

[shizzledmg Posted Apr 25th 2010 7:35AM]

such cheap devices paired with our greediness is one day the nemesis of our jobs and wealth.

as for me , i buy a bit dearer, but the quality and the service is much better.

[juanvaldez Posted Apr 25th 2010 7:44AM]

@shizzledmg As opposed to the more expensive devices paired with our greediness that has already costs us our jobs and wealth? Just saying.

[Excalibur Posted Apr 25th 2010 8:16AM]

Odd. These typr of devices have been available from ebay for ages, years in fact. Still mad to think that 'suddenly' everyone wants one

??

[substance90 Posted Apr 25th 2010 9:07AM]

What was the point of this post?!

[iWannaBeAdored Posted Apr 25th 2010 9:11AM]

Eww. Disgusting. Android looks like crap on a tablet. You need a nice looking OS and an easy one to use.

[iWannaBeAdored Posted Apr 25th 2010 9:13AM]

eBay link for this without branding:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/7-Tablet-PC-Google-Android-Netbook-UMPC-MID-notebook_W0QQitemZ300420375902QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLaptops_Nov05?hash=item45f273255e#ht_10138wt_939

[crapNstuff Posted Apr 25th 2010 9:15AM]

If the working conditions while assembling Apple products are bad, I can't comprehend the backwards lack of humanity that went into making this thing.

[ounkeo Posted Apr 25th 2010 9:35AM]

$99 dollars is a steal even for a crappy gadget. I know in America ppl think $99 is a lot, but in Asia, where, ironically, per capita income is much less, $99 is peanuts.

Consider in Singapore, a movie for 2 sets you back roughly $20 for tickets, $35 for transportation, $10 for snacks and if you're going for dinner, another $15.

2 hours.

I'd buy that to keep around as a cheap email machine. And if it breaks? Who cares, it's $99. Buy another one. My wife just bought a cheapskate calculator for her work that costs $35 and a plastic compass for $40. Really, $99 is nothing.

[markolic Posted Apr 25th 2010 11:14AM]

@ounkeo Sarcasm is not flattering

[dandbj13 Posted Apr 25th 2010 9:40AM]

Let me think... 1 iPad, or 5 of these... Hmmm... I'll go with the 1 iPad.

[Abe Posted Apr 25th 2010 3:23PM]

@dandbj13

Not if you only had $100 to spend you wouldn't.

[cadmium Posted Apr 25th 2010 9:49AM]

I believe this is the company's product webpage for it:
http://www.ekengroup.com/en/product/show.asp?id=780
I says the name of the product is the M001 (TP701). It can also support Win CE 6.0 r3.

[EggoEspada Posted Apr 25th 2010 10:28AM]

I'm sure plenty would jump on it if it was at least 2.0. I'd play an extra $100 for 2.1 though. :)

[molumen Posted Apr 25th 2010 11:09AM]

Looks like this EKEN tablet is exaclty the same product as the Haleron iLet Mini HAL (http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/26/halerons-7-inch-ilet-mini-hal-costs-199-ships-march-1/), so since Haleron's version has android 1.6, so must have EKEN's version since they are coming from the very same production line...

[r3dsx Posted Apr 25th 2010 11:28AM]

seems like a good deal for 100 bux. not that I'm gonna buy one but it looks like the best 100 dollar tablet available.

[yomachaser Posted Apr 25th 2010 12:19PM]

EKENS used Glare...
PIKACHU is paralyzed! It may be unable to move!

On topic: This tablet looks pretty poor compared to so many low end asian mids that it probably shouldn't exist.

[awaizy Posted Apr 25th 2010 1:16PM]

In other words, it's not looking "mighty nice."

[misterhearn Posted Apr 25th 2010 2:02PM]

Perhaps once someone roots the device it will prove to be a worthy purchase

[Abe Posted Apr 25th 2010 3:27PM]

@misterhearn

That was my thought. When was the last time a device was "stuck with" a certain version of Android? If it's popular enough, someone will root it and give it 2.0 or 2.1. (Whether or not it is powerful enough to run anything worthwhile is another question.)

[koppit Posted Apr 25th 2010 2:45PM]

Full Specs:

VIA MW8505 600MHz, 128mb DDR2, 7" TFT LCD touch Screen /Resolution: 800*480, Wireless B/G, up to 32gb SD

Purchase (some good pictures too):

http://www.aliexpress.com/product-fm/301568568-EKEN-M001-TP701-7-touch-screen-Goolgle-android-1-5-CPU-VIA-MW8505-600MHz-Memory-128MB-wholesalers.html

[koppit Posted Apr 25th 2010 2:55PM]

@koppit

Ooh ooh cheaper: http://www.aliexpress.com/product-gs/301657112-Android-Tablet-pc-wholesalers.html

[AstroSeven Posted Apr 25th 2010 7:35PM]

@koppit

awesome. Haven't we all wanted to make purchases from Ali Baba

*rubs magic bottle hoping for Barbara Eden*

A7