Review: Innovatek InnoSoul Android Tablet

Posted on 27 May, 2012 by Nate Hoffelder in Reviews // 20 Comments

The InnoSoul is the latest Android tablet to go for the budget label at the $99 price point and like the last several I have tried it is a decent device. I got this tablet a little over a month ago, so this review is rather late. But the delay is also a comment on the quality of the tablet; I have been it for the past month as my main reading device and general distraction.On a sidenote, you might want to read my first impressions post. It covers different details.

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So what did I think? Well, it's an okay tablet, but I'm sitting here having trouble differentiating it from the other $99 tablets I've seen. It has more ports than others in this price range (HDMI, USB Host) as well as a speaker/mike combo (skype should be possible) and it even has a VGA webcam.

Apps

It comes with a decent set of apps, including Android Market, media players, web browser and pretty much all the basics. They run adequately well, considering the CPU. Angry Birds was reasonably fast to load and play.

But I have noticed a number of issues with it. For example, while it ships with Android Market and you can install most of the listed apps, but some don't work. For example, Google Reader installed but it wouldn't run. It crashes right after loading. I've also noticed that the browser believes that it's not running on an Android tablet. The user agent says that it's running Mozilla, and that could be a problem if you prefer to view mobile sites on the small screen.

Hardware

The full specs are below, so I'll just comment on the general feel here. This tablet is light but it feels reasonably solid. The components are about what I'd expect for the price, and I have not seen any serious issues aside from the webcam, which outputs a marginal quality picture. It's a pity that the camera is poor; the included camera app offers quite a few options for exposure, light adjustment, and so on.

Battery Life

I was only able to use this tablet at my desk, so I wasn't able to get the most accurate measure of battery life. But I did notice that I routinely got 3 or so days of battery life from this tablet; that's not bad.

Opnion

For some reason I'm not getting a feeling for this tablet other than that it's very adequate. That's not really a bad thing and this tablet does live up to my expectations, but for some reason I'm just not as thrilled with it as I could be. But never mind me. It's still an acceptable tablet in the $99 price range.

Specs

Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich
CPU: A10 1.0GHz
RAM Memory: 512MB
7" screen, Resolution: 800x480
5 points capacitive touchscreen
8GB Flash storage
microSD Card
Wifi
speaker, mike
Mini USB and USB port
HDMI out
g-sensor
Wifi
1.3MP webcam
Dimensions: 195mm x 120mm x 14mm
Weight: 0.7lbs

Amazon

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About Nate Hoffelder (10886 Articles)

Nate Hoffelder is the founder and editor of The Digital Reader:"I've been into reading ebooks since forever, but I only got my first ereader in July 2007. Everything quickly spiraled out of control from there. Before I started this blog in January 2010 I covered ebooks, ebook readers, and digital publishing for about 2 years as a part of MobileRead Forums. It's a great community, and being a member is a joy. But I thought I could make something out of how I covered the news for MobileRead, so I started this blog."

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20 Comments on Review: Innovatek InnoSoul Android Tablet

Jon Jermey // 27 May, 2012 at 5:44 pm // Reply
There are several Android-compatible browsers available, and I would assume that at least one of them could be tweaked to broadcast that it was running off a tablet — but that’s just a guess for now.
Budget Tablets FTW // 30 May, 2012 at 2:35 pm // Reply
Thanks for the review Nate. Does this tablet have Bluetooth at all? I didn’t see it in the spec sheet, but it would seem odd for even a budget tablet to be missing it in this day and age, and many of the auctions/sales are hyping an “Included wireless keyboard” which seems to speak to BT capability.
- Nate Hoffelder // 30 May, 2012 at 2:43 pm // Reply
  I believe it does have Bluetooth, yes.
  - ciprian // 4 June, 2012 at 12:48 pm // Reply
    I wasn’t able to find a Bluetooth capability. The wireless keyboard comes with its own receiver that you plug in the USB port of the tablet.
    - innosoul owner // 28 June, 2012 at 9:52 am // Reply
      It does not have Bluetooth. I tested mine
joe // 1 June, 2012 at 7:32 pm // Reply
Did the tablet com with android market or google play store app. I noticedthat you have the 8gb version, I was looking at the4gb version on amazon ands was wondering.
- Nate Hoffelder // 1 June, 2012 at 7:40 pm // Reply
  Yep. It came with Android Market.
  - joe // 1 June, 2012 at 8:17 pm // Reply
    are the picturs of your personel tablet. if so how did you get the play store app on it
    - Nate Hoffelder // 1 June, 2012 at 8:35 pm // Reply
      I set up the Android Market (it came with the tablet). It then upgraded itself to Google Play.
      - innosoul owner // 28 June, 2012 at 9:53 am //
        As soon as I clicked on the Android Market, it updated itself to Google Play
joe // 1 June, 2012 at 9:38 pm // Reply
Thank you Nate, it was really helpful information. My elocity tablet had neither. I had a friend root it for me. Its a great tablet, itsreally similar to the innosoul, except its a 2.2 android system. And at 120$, it was a really good price and also includes hdmi port. But thanks again. Joe
Richard Veihdeffer // 14 June, 2012 at 1:44 am // Reply
Thank you Nate for the great review and info on the sub $100 dollar tablets. I was wondering which tablet you prefer “IdolPad” vs. The InnoSoul” and which of the two had better battery life
joe // 22 June, 2012 at 4:57 pm // Reply
How do you turn on the bluetooth capabilities. Or are the no such options
- innosoul owner // 28 June, 2012 at 9:53 am // Reply
  There is no Bluetooth.
Allister // 30 July, 2012 at 2:34 pm // Reply
Have you had a chance to try Skype on it?
Rey // 11 September, 2012 at 5:56 pm // Reply
necesito urgente el firmware
ROSE // 7 December, 2012 at 7:36 pm // Reply
I NEED A USER MANUAL, DOES ANYONE HAVE ONE TO SEND ME.
- Chris in Canada // 13 December, 2012 at 9:01 pm // Reply
  User manual is supposed to be on the device as a text file BUT I can’t find it anywhere. Can anyone help both of us locate this??? TIA
daniel ouellet // 20 May, 2013 at 3:22 pm // Reply
jai boucoup de misere a me connecter sur wifi il se connect et 1 minute il se deconecte
il y as que chose affaire
Merci
Daniel // 7 November, 2013 at 2:43 pm // Reply
my USB port is not working can I replace with a new one or any idea please