UPDATE: The Swipe Velocity Tab can be purchased on eBay.

Looks like the iPad mini has a domestic competitor. At least that's what Swipe is trying to convince us with its new Velocity Tab, which has been launched with the latest Android 4.1 (Jelly Bean). The slate sports an 8" IPS screen with 5-point capacitive multi-touch; it has pixel dimensions of 1024x768. Powered by a dual-core 1.6 GHz CPU and 1 GB of RAM, its 8 GB of internal storage can be augmented by up to 32 GB via the microSD card slot. It comes with a rear 2 mp and front 1.3 mp camera for imaging. HDMI-Out allows Full HD (1080p) content playback on a big screen. In addition to Wi-Fi, you can use 3G dongles for internet connectivity. Swipe claims that the tab can work for up to 12 hours without recharging, courtesy its 4500 mAh battery. Here are the specifications of the device:

• Android 4.1.1 (Jelly Bean), Google Play, Adobe Flash 11.1, Olive Office Premium.
• 8", 5-point multi-touch capacitive IPS screen with pixel dimensions of 1024x768.
• ARM Cortex-A9 dual-core 1.6 GHz CPU, 1 GB of DDR3 RAM.
• 8 GB internal storage, Up to 32 GB supported via microSD.
• 2 megapixel rear and 1.3 megapixel front camera.
• HDMI-Out (Full HD), USB with OTG support, 3.5 mm stereo connector, Stereo speakers.
• Wi-Fi 802.11 b\g\n, External 3G dongle supported.
• Face Unlock secure login.
• 8.2" (l) x 6.4" (w) x 0.4" (10.5 mm) (d), 330 grams.
• 4500 mAh battery that provides up to 12 hours backup.
• Package Contents: Tablet, OTG cable, USB cable, AC power adapter, Warranty card, Service centre list, User manual.

The comparison that Swipe makes of its tablet with the new iPad mini seems favourable, at least on paper. The screen sizes and pixel dimensions are similar, and so is the 5-point capacitive multi-touch functionality. The dimensions and weight are also very much the same. Ecosystem-wise, the iPad mini has the iTunes App store with the largest number of apps, while the Velocity Tab boasts of Google Play, which is fast catching up. However, the Velocity Tab, to its advantage, has a faster CPU and twice as much RAM — in addition to support for 3G dongles and USB peripherals, not to forget mass storage convenience when connected to a PC, for easy data transfer. The claimed battery life of the Swipe tablet is also 2 hours longer than that of Apple's tablet.

That said, the iOS 6 experience still has an edge over Android, which is probably one of the major factors that the iPad mini has in its favour. However, the deal-breaker for the iPad mini is that it (unofficially) costs over twice as much as the Swipe Velocity Tab.

With a price tag of Rs 11,500, the Swipe Velocity Tab currently doesn't seem to have a worthy Android competitor in its price range, but we can expect Droid clones to pop up, as they usually do. Do you think the price for this tablet is justified? If not, what do you think the price should be?

TAGS: Tablets, Android, Jayesh