Review: Innovatek InnoSoul Android Tablet
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.
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 $99 price range.
Specs
- Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich
- CPU: A10 1.0GHz
- RAM Memory: 512MB
- 7" screen, Resolution: 800x480
- 5 points capacitive touchscreen
- 8GB Flash storage
- microSD Card
- Wifi
- speaker, mike
- Mini USB and USB port
- HDMI out
- g-sensor
- Wifi
- 1.3MP webcam
- Dimensions: 195mm x 120mm x 14mm
- Weight: 0.7lbs
There are several Android-compatible browsers available, and I would assume that at least one of them could be tweaked to broadcast that it was running off a tablet — but that’s just a guess for now.
Thanks for the review Nate. Does this tablet have Bluetooth at all? I didn’t see it in the spec sheet, but it would seem odd for even a budget tablet to be missing it in this day and age, and many of the auctions/sales are hyping an “Included wireless keyboard” which seems to speak to BT capability.
I believe it does have Bluetooth, yes.
I wasn’t able to find a Bluetooth capability. The wireless keyboard comes with its own receiver that you plug in the USB port of the tablet.
It does not have Bluetooth. I tested mine
Did the tablet com with android market or google play store app. I noticedthat you have the 8gb version, I was looking at the4gb version on amazon ands was wondering.
Yep. It came with Android Market.
are the picturs of your personel tablet. if so how did you get the play store app on it
I set up the Android Market (it came with the tablet). It then upgraded itself to Google Play.
As soon as I clicked on the Android Market, it updated itself to Google Play
Thank you Nate, it was really helpful information. My elocity tablet had neither. I had a friend root it for me. Its a great tablet, itsreally similar to the innosoul, except its a 2.2 android system. And at 120$, it was a really good price and also includes hdmi port. But thanks again. Joe
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
How do you turn on the bluetooth capabilities. Or are the no such options
There is no Bluetooth.
Have you had a chance to try Skype on it?
necesito urgente el firmware
I NEED A USER MANUAL, DOES ANYONE HAVE ONE TO SEND ME.
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
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
my USB port is not working can I replace with a new one or any idea please