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Ask MoDaCo: The Vodafone Smart Tab 4G


Guest PaulOBrien

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Guest PaulOBrien

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Hot on the heels of the insanely good value Tesco Hudl 2, we have the Vodafone Smart Tab 4G in the office. Don't let the name put you off, it's an intriguing device! Two things really stand out about this 8", Snapdragon 410 tablet.

First, the price - £125. This is very competitive for a tablet with a screen of this size and in fact it undercuts its Tesco competition by a fiver. But it's particularly barginous when you consider...

It has LTE-A on board. Yes, that's right, you get a super-fast LTE tablet for your £125. Now, being a Vodafone branded device it is, sadly, locked to Vodafone. Being an Alcatel device under the skin (an Alcatel Pop 8S to be specific) it's likely a SIM unlock option will become available in the future, but there isn't one today.

So... are you interested? Do you have questions? Fire away! :) Full specs are included below.
  • Android 4.4.4 KitKat
  • Qualcomm Snapdragon 410 1.2Ghz Quad Core processor
  • 8" 1280x800 screen
  • 1GB RAM
  • 8GB ROM
  • 5 Megapixel rear camera, 2 Megapixel front camera
  • IR remote control
  • microSD expansion
  • nano SIM
  • 4060mAh battery
  • 327g
  • 109 x 123 x 7.99mm


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Guest andybarker

How much crap have Vodafone added, and can it be removed without rooting?

Does it have voice capabilities (using a headset rather than holding to your head)?

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Guest PaulOBrien

How much crap have Vodafone added, and can it be removed without rooting?

Does it have voice capabilities (using a headset rather than holding to your head)?

Almost no Vodafone bloat and all of it can be removed / disabled.

No voice calling at all!

P

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Guest andybarker

Almost no Vodafone bloat and all of it can be removed / disabled.

No voice calling at all!

P

Great news on the apps.  Shame about the voice, but critical on this kind of device.

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Guest hecatae

Is it getting Lollipop?

 

will the kernel source be available?

 

What 3g frequencies does it support?

 

Does it support 800mhz LTE?

 

What Vodafone tariffs are available?

 

Will it be offered in a package with a handset?

 

How long have you got it for?

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Guest Simon O

I'm sure Paul won't mind me answering some of the questions for him :)

 

Is it getting Lollipop?

Nothing has been announced from either Alcatel or Vodafone regarding Lollipop. Far too early to say since the code hasn't been finalised. Since it's standard Qualcomm hardware then I assume code will be available and just depends on Alcatel bothering to provide an update. The Pop 8S (the device that the Vodafone Smart Tab 4G is rebranded from) isn't on sale yet so it may even be sold with Kit kat and a promise of an update to Lollipop. 
 

will the kernel source be available?

Full GPL source already available for the Smart Tab 4G. Alcatel are usually very good at honoring GPL obligations. Link
 

What 3g frequencies does it support?

2G Network GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G Network HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100
4G Network LTE 800 / 900 / 1800 / 2100 / 2600
 

Does it support 800mhz LTE?

It supports 800Mhz since thats what Vodafone use for 4G.
 

What Vodafone tariffs are available?

£125 pay as you go with 1GB data valid for 30 days.

Additional data packs for PAYG (all valid for 30 days):
£3 - 200MB
£5 - 250MB
£10 - 1GB
£15 - 2GB (4G)
£20 - 3GB
£25 - 6GB (4G)

 

According to Vodafone, only the £15 and £25 bundles will provide 4G data. 

No contract plans for the Smart Tab 4G have been announced but since it's a replacement for the existing Smart Tab 4 the prices could be similar to http://www.vodafone.co.uk/shop/ipad-and-tablets/vodafone-smart-tab-4/DF_VODAFONE_SMART_TAB_4_HEADER_CES/index.htm
 

Will it be offered in a package with a handset?

Haven't seen or heard of any plans to bundle with a handset. 
 

How long have you got it for?

 
Paul bought it. he's crazy like that!
 


 

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Guest Daniel Meah

They didn't say that it doesn't support LTE-A though, only that it will support standard LTE. Vodafone don't have LTE-A rolled out in many places anyway.

 

True but the Post on here says it does :(

 

"

It has LTE-A on board. Yes, that's right, you get a super-fast LTE tablet for your £125"

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Guest glossywhite

Alcatel? ewww.

For a mere £4 more, the stellar Hudl 2 seems a **way** better option - Hudl has 8.3" (vs 8.0" on this thing) 1920x1200 IPS with **2GB** ram, vs 1GB on this.

I know what I'd choose, and it ain't the Alactel.

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Guest The Soup Thief

I guess the 4g is the big selling point here. If that ain't your thang (wouldn't be mine, particularly) then it's hudls all the way, though if it's a must have feature then this seems a steal.

Alcatel don't seem that bad, so far as I can tell - after all, it's not like any of these brands actually build the hardware themselves (all seem to come from the same few Chinese producers)

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Guest Simon O

The Alcatel has a newer version of Android, has the relevant open source bits available and is more likely to get an upgrade to Android 5.0 over the Hudl2 which will be lucky to get a major update since it's Intel and they take ages to update code :/

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Guest PaulOBrien

Alcatel? ewww.

For a mere £4 more, the stellar Hudl 2 seems a **way** better option - Hudl has 8.3" (vs 8.0" on this thing) 1920x1200 IPS with **2GB** ram, vs 1GB on this.

I know what I'd choose, and it ain't the Alactel.

Sure, but it's horses for courses. Some people will want LTE and the Hudl2 is pretty big, the ST4G is quite a bit smaller.

The Smart Tab is also more hackable...

P

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