Intel has predicted that tablets with a sub-$100 price tag powered by Intel Atom chips will launch before Christmas.
During the Intel Developer Forum (IDF) keynote, Intel CEO Brian Krzanich announced that the new Intel Bay Trail Atom processors will enable tablets to launch bearing a price tag under $100.
“We intend to drive leadership into the tablet market, we have access and technologies which nobody else can bring to this marketplace,” said Krzanich during the IDF keynote. “We can provide the same form factor to an OEM and they can choose between Windows [and] Android, Core [and] Atom.
The budget tablets will launch in the US before the end of the year, powered by the 22nm Intel Bay Trail Atom SoC that has been specifically designed for Windows and Android tablets and hybrids.
Intel didn’t give any information as to what specs the sub-$100 tablets would pack, but we doubt they’d be able to compete with devices like the iPad 4 or Samsung Galaxy Tab range.
The $100 US price tag equates to around £65 in the UK, but we expect that after tax and other conversions, the budget tablets would launch for £100 here.
The closest we’ve got to that price range at the moment is something like the new Nexus 7, which retails for £199 if you opt for the 16GB model.
If the budget slates pack specs anywhere near that of the Nexus 7 2, we’d be very impressed. The new Nexus 7 comes with a 7-inch 1920 x 1200 HD display and 323ppi image density, powered by a 1.5GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 Pro processor.
Next, read our pick of the best Android tablets of 2013.
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Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.