Tesco has entered the tablet market with the launch of its own low-cost option, the Hudl. With a 7-inch screen and running on Android JellyBean 4.2, the £119 device marks Tesco's attempt to carve a share of the budget end of the tablet market.
The device will see Tesco competing with the likes of Apple and Amazon in the tablet space.
Further reading Tesco gears up for an all-out assault on Amazon Nolan Bushnell: Tablet software can cut high school learning from 4 years to 6 months 'Secure' Android tablets launched for government and MoD
Hudl comes loaded with access to Tesco applications, allowing users to shop in addition to streaming videos and music. The company also plans to launch an e-book service before the end of the year, which will stock almost 600,000 books. The Android operating system will also allow users full access to the Google Play store.
Tesco Hudl's battery can reportedly last for up to nine hours while the device is powered by a Quad-core 1.5GHz processor and comes with 16GB of storage. The storage capacity can be increased to up to 48GB with the use of Micro-SD cards. Hudl doesn't offer 3G or 4G connectivity, but can connect to the internet using Wi-Fi.
"This is first stage in our tablet offering, it's convenient, integrated and easy to use with no compromise on spec," Tesco CEO Phillip Clarke said of Hudl. "Customers are quite rightly very discerning about the technology they buy so we knew we had to be competitive on all fronts.
"Being online is an increasingly essential part of family life and whilst tablets are on the rise, usage is still quite limited," he continued.
"We feel the time is right for Tesco to help widen tablet ownership and bring the fun, convenience and excitement of tablets to even more customers across the UK.
"The digital revolution should be for the many, not for the few," Clarke added.
Tesco is offering Hudl for under £100 if purchased using through the retailer's Clubcard programme.
The firm noted that over three-quarters of UK households don't have a tablet as potential buyers feel the technology is too expensive or intimidating. "Tesco has entered the market to change that," it said.
The device will go on sale in 1,000 Tesco stores - and via the company website - from 30 September.
