Huawei's Android 3.2 MediaPad hands-on

Chinese telecoms hardware company Huawei has shown off its MediaPad, a 7-inch tablet that will run the as-yet-unannounced 3.2 version of Google's Android operating system.

The device measures 10.5mm thick, weighs in at 390g and will provide up to six hours of usage off one charge, according to the manufacturer.

The MediaPad model on display at the CommunicAsia show was running Android 3.1, an iteration of the Honeycomb build of the OS.

Pricing and release specifics were not revealed, but a Huawei spokesman told ZDNet UK that the MediaPad will go on sale in the UK before the end of 2011.

The MediaPad tablet on show included a 1.2GHz dual-core Snapdragon CPU, micro-USB, support for microSD storage up to 32GB and an HDMI-out port.

The MediaPad also comes with a forward-facing 1.3-megapixel camera for video calling and a 5-megapixel camera on the rear, capable of capturing HD video.

According to ZDNet UK's sister site CNET Asia — which managed to get a little hands-on time with the device — it will come in two varieties: one that is Wi-Fi-only and one that includes Wi-Fi and HSPA connectivity.

During the hands-on time, Crave said the device felt like it was solidly built, from what appears to be a single piece of metal, similar to the unibody design of handsets such as the HTC Desire HD.

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