Haier may not be a name casually dropped in the tablet scene as other companies, but the company arrives to CES 2016 with plenty of ammunition by announcing an Android tablet and two Windows tablets.
First up is the HaierPad 971, the Android tablet of the trio. Taking a peek under the hood reveals an unnamed 1.8GHz quad-core processor, along with 2GB of RAM, which should be more than enough for casual day-to-day tasks. 16GB of internal storage is the memory standard when it comes to smartphones and tablets, and that trend continues with the HaierPad 971, though the MicroSD card slot allows up to 32GB of additional storage. You’ll find your standard array of wireless connectivity options, such as dual-band Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 4.0, while Haier promises the 7,800mAh battery should be good for eight hours of usage.
Elsewhere, the 9.7-inch, 2,048 x 1,536 resolution IPS screen should make plenty of retinas happy, though the aging Android 4.4 KitKat is disappointing to see in a tablet released in 2016. Haier did not say whether the tablet would be updated to something more recent, such as Lollipop or Marshmallow, though we wouldn’t hold our collective breath.
Finally, you’ll find a 2-megapixel camera on the front and an 8-megapixel shooter on the back.
Moving on to the two Windows tablets, we have the HaierPad W800 and the W203. Starting with the W800, the beating heart that is a quad-core Intel processor should be plenty to power Windows 8.1, with no indication of an update to Windows 10. Around front lies an 8-inch, HD-resolution IPS screen, which should be just big enough to type up documents with the free year of Microsoft Office 365 included. Haier also plans to sell accessories compatible with the W800, such as a keyboard and a cover that doubles as a stand.
Meanwhile, the W203 seems better suited for productivity with its larger 10.1-inch, HD resolution IPS screen. Housed in an all-aluminum build, the W203 is powered by an Intel Z3735F quad-core processor and 2GB of RAM, while the 8,000mAh battery should provide several hours of usage. Strangely enough, Haier didn’t reveal how much internal storage the W203 would come with, though the MicroSD card slot provides up to an additional 64GB of memory.
To double down on the productivity prowess of the W203, Haier threw in a full-size USB 2.0 port, along with a Micro HDMI port. The company even threw in an integrated stylus, though it’s unknown whether the W203 includes specialized hardware and software to take advantage of it.
Finally, much as with the W800, Haier will also sell a keyboard for the W203, though this one in particular doubles as a cover for the tablet.
As for availability and pricing for the 971, the W800, and the W203, Haier has remained coy regarding such details, though that may change once CES 2016 kicks off in earnest on Wednesday.
