The iPad isn’t the only tablet on the market with a 9.7 inch, 2048 x 1536 pixel display anymore. It’s just the most expensive.

Last month Chinese tablet maker Cube announced plans to launch the Cube U9GT5 Android tablet with a Retina-style display. Now it’s available for pre-order from the Cube website for $266. Or if you’re looking for something in-stock now, Pandawill is offering the Chuwi V99 Retina tablet for $290.

Chuwi V99

In fact, a quick scan of AliExpress shows plenty of tablets with 9.7 inch, 2048 x 1536 pixel displays — although most of them seem to be labeled Cube U9GT or Chuwi V99. Most are already shipping and cost less than $300 — although not all sellers offer free shipping from China.

On paper there’s no much difference between the Cube and Chuwi tablets. In fact, they may be based on the same design, because that’s the way these things tend to get built in China.

Here’s a run-down of the specs that are common to both models:

  • Android 4.1 Jelly Bean
  • 9.7 inch, 2408 x 1536 pixel display
  • 1.6 GHz Rockchip RK3066 ARM Cortex-A9 dual core CPU
  • Mali 400 quad-core graphics
  • 1GB RAM
  • 16GB flash storage
  • microSD card slot
  • 2MP front camera
  • 2MP rear camera
  • 802.11n WiFi
  • Bluetooth 2.0
  • 10,000mAh battery (up to 10 hours)
  • Google Play Store

Cube says its tablet also has an HDMI port, and at least one of the listings I’ve seen for the Chuwi tablet says there’s one on that model as well.

Most Android apps are designed for phones and tablets with widescreen displays, while these two tablets have iPad-like 4:3 aspect ratio screens. But as I saw when I reviewed the Lenovo IdeaPad S2109 this summer, that’s not much of a problem these days, since most Android apps can scale to fit multiple screen sizes.

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15 replies on “Chinese tablets with 2048 x 1536 pixel displays now shipping for under $300”

  1. author talking about ‘host’…
    any one, who already bought and tried this tablet?
    if so, what is you experience…
    Thanks

  2. llo to all you can help me I am achete a tablet quibbles chuwi v99 quadcore All winner . works almost very just a bug to be indicated with Wi-Fi lights(switches on) when the tablet passes in sleep mode she puts out(switches off) completely Wi-Fi put out(switched off,faded) more problems. About a he(it) would have a solution? Put apartment this bug the tablet worked well the screen is very beautiful the fluidity(flow) and the speed are there thank you for your answers

  3. I hate tablets, but I have to say that this is a cool device.
    Suck it, Apple.

    1. Looks can be deceiving. Quality control can be a big problem with these cheap Chinese knockoffs. I’ve looked into buying a cheap 7-inch tablet, but have been put off by all the stories of shoddy workmanship and bugs.

      1. I own a 10.1 inch Yuandao n101, and the build quality and workmanship is top notch (I actaully prefer it to the Samsung models). I like it so much I’m actually thinking of getting a Chinese tablet with a retina display. Cube has made quite a name for itself by building high quality devices and selling them in large quantities. Yuandao has also done the same, perhaps Cube’s biggest competitor. It looks like Yuandao is releasing the n90 FHD model with a retina display, similar to these, only it costs loss and has twice the storage (32GB instead of the 16GB). These are already being sold on lightake.com for $249.99 (shipping included). Quality control is not as big an issue as you think. They’ve got this process down pretty well (considering 99% of tablets of all brands are made in China anyway), and most models include a 1 year warranty.

      1. I have bought Chinese tablets, but I do not yet own one of these new retina display models. I defenitely plan on acquiring one very soon though! I’ll probably go with the Cube because I like the other products they have put out thus far. But I’m also considering the Yuandao n90 FHD because it has twice the storage as the two models mentioned in this article. The only thing is the n90 FHD only comes in white, and I prefer a black bezel, so may go with the Cube U9GT afterall.

  4. I wonder, how are they performance like against, an HP touchpad, an iPad and a Samsung tablet?

    1. I have a Yuandao n101, and it outperforms the Samsung. I have not seen any comparisons on these new retina tablets vs. the new iPad however.

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