However, this one has a nicer matte finish plastic all-round, a rear-facing camera and the all-important full size SIM card slot (which enables voice calls and 3G data). And yes, the device does have a phone earpiece — so that you can hold it up to your ear to take calls. In essence, it's an oversized Android phone with a 7-inch (800 x 480 pixel) display.
For the price, you get a 1.5Ghz processor, Mali 400 graphics chip, 512MB RAM, 8GB flash memory (expandable by 32GB via micro SD), VGA front camera, 2 MP rear camera, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi and HDMI. You won't find the device lacking in performance when it comes to day-to-day use and even gaming and video playback performance is good. A slight issue is the 512MB RAM which can create a problem if too many apps are running simultaneously.
Call quality was acceptable - you can make receive calls using the earpiece, loudspeaker or with a wired/wireless headset. If you use the device as a phone, you can expect about a day of battery life — or roughly 4 to 5 hours of continuous use with internet/video playback.
Note that the tablet doesn't have GPS or automatic screen brightness and the rear camera quality leaves a lot to be desired. Instead of a rear camera, we would have preferred if it had a brighter and higher resolution screen.
Having said that, the Z-999 Plus offers a unique proposition thanks to the features and the attractive price. The only other budget tablet with comparable hardware and voice calling support is the new Reliance 3G Tab - but you can only use it on the Reliance network.
If you can spend up to Rs 19,000, Samsung's Galaxy Tab 2 (also with a 7-inch screen) is a great option. It also does voice calling, has better build quality, a much better screen and overall better features.
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