We all had a good laugh back in 2010 when Simon Pegg tweeted a photo of his head beside an iPad. But it looks like phone manufacturers are getting the last laugh now after the announcement of yet another massive, 7-inch phablet, the Acer Iconia 7. These big devices are more than just tablets; they’re full blown smartphones that the makers expect us to hold up right against our skulls to make calls. Acer’s phablet is the third massive 7-inch gadget to hit the market, leading us to wonder: which mega phablet reigns supreme? Let’s see what the specs reveal:
Huawei
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Asus
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Acer
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| Size | 183.5 x 103.9 x 7.2 (mm) | 120 x 196.8 x 10.5 (mm) | TBD |
| Weight | 239g | 340g | 298g |
| Resolution | 1,920 x 1,200 pixels | 1,280 x 800 pixels | 1,280 x 800 pixels |
| OS | Android 4.4 KitKat | Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean | Android 4.4 KitKat |
| Storage | 16GB | 8/16/32 GB | 8/16 GB |
| SD Card Slot | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Processor | HiSilicon 910 1.6Ghz Quad-core | Intel Z2560 1.6 Ghz Dual-core | Intel Z2560 1.6 Ghz Dual-core |
| RAM | 2GB | 1GB | 1GB |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi, BT 4.0, LTE, HSPA+ | Wi-Fi, BT 3.0, HSPA+ | Wi-Fi, BT 4.0, HSPA+, |
| Camera | Front 5MP, Rear 13MP | Front 1.2MP, Rear 5MP | Front 1.2MP, Rear 5MP |
| Battery | 5,000 mAh | 3,950 mAh | 3,700 mAh |
| Price | $550 | $250+ | $200+ |
| Links | Hands-on Video | Hands-on Video | Iconia Tab 7 News |
What the numbers reveal
When you look at the hardware, what you get are two phablets relatively close in power and features next to another that just blows them both away in almost every category. When it comes to what’s packed inside, the Huawei Mediapad X1 has a serious edge on the Asus Fonepad 7 and Acer Iconia Tab 7 in just about every category. Its 1.6GHz quad-core processor packs a bigger graphics punch for better video viewing and its higher resolution screen will make that viewing experience all the better. The 15-hour battery life beats out the Asus Fonepad’s 10-hour cut-off and its 13-megapixel camera will take some stellar shots. It’s thinner, lighter, and wins out in almost every category.
The Fonepad 7 and Iconia Tab 7, meanwhile, are a close match in hardware and functionality for the most part. Both offer the same Intel-powered dual-core processor, 1GB of RAM and 1280×800 resolution display. The Fonepad 7 is a tad heavier because of the bigger battery, but that also means a longer lasting phablet for your all-day usage.
Huawei’s Mediapad X1 is the king among giants
In the end, the Huawei Mediapad X1 is truly a phablet for those out there who want the very best they can get for a smartphone that will barely fit in your hands. The Mediapad X1 wins out in just about every category compared to other 7-inch phablets, but you’ll pay for that difference. At a starting price of about $550 in Europe, this gadget is more than double the price of the Acer Iconia Tab 7, a more modestly priced phablet with more modest hardware inside of it.
The Huawei Mediapad X1 is a clear winner in this comparison, though if you can’t pay the high price, one of the other two tablets should serve you just fine. More importantly make sure you have the long fingers and cargo shorts necessary to carry around any of these three bad boy phablets.
