The 7-inch Lenovo IdeaPad we first caught a glimpse of after it moved through the FCC back in July has been officially announced at IFA. Perhaps the most surprising element of the new tablet is its price, which starts at a very affordable $199 for the 8GB model. Keeping in the tradition of sub-$200 tablets, you won’t get the latest version of Android (or at least not the latest version meant for tablets). The Lenovo IdeaPad A1 comes with Android 2.3 out of the box and sports a single-core Cortex A8 chipset and dual cameras.
But life isn’t all rainbows, and the 8GB version won’t be shipping in the US. Instead, American citizens will have to settle for the 16GB or 32GB model priced at the slightly more expensive $249 and $299 respectively. What the IdeaPad A1 does boast over other slate’s of its class is the backing of a respectable brand and higher quality construction.
Too bad that $199 price point isn’t coming stateside… That would have been an amazing device for those looking for an E-Reader.
Yeah, too bad we don’t get the cheaper price, but it’ll still be the cheapest non-contract device with market access. And if you get an android device without market access, you’re not really getting an android device.
Of course it is an Android. Have you never been to XDA? You can easily get a market “.apk”. I have many versions sitting on my PC right now including the latest 3.1.3
Finally someone prices their tablet in the right area. I don’t get why everyone thinks theirs are so valuable.
Is it really that hard to put the free Honeycomb OS on it?
Perfect for the kids
8gb model looks good assuming capacitive screen, some kind of SD slot, and halfway decent specs. Glad to see that Android tablets are starting to come down to a price point where they will sell.
Other versions seem like a ripoff though. $50 more for 8gb more storage? Really? I don’t understand why everyone seems to be moving toward onboard storage when SD seems so much cheaper and more flexible…
Imagine that, IBM (usually known for offering products at a more “premium” price) actually coming out with lower-end affordable products. Virginia earthquake, Irene and now this??!!…It’s time to stuck up the bunker!
Lenovo has nothing to do with IBM
Then why does my Father in Law get his corporate discount on Lenovo devices when he works for IBM?
IBM sold its hardware and computer business many years ago to lenovo.
Shoot, make a 2GB model and put an SD or micro SD card slot in it and sell it for $150 and these things would FLY out the door!
I’m pretty sure that Amazon is going to hit this price point too with their Android tab. It is nice to see these low priced units finally hitting the streets. Sell your Apple stock soon, this is 1990 all over again.
Finally. I already want one.