Low-cost tablet maker Ematic already offers a dizzying number of Android and Windows tablets. But the upcoming EGQ178 will be one of the first to ship with Android 5.0 Lollipop software.

It’s the latest in a long line of evidence that cheap tablets aren’t quite as lousy as they used to be.

ematic 5_06

The Ematic EGQ178 isn’t listed on the company’s website yet and pricing hasn’t been announced. But it showed up this week at the FCC website, so we know what to expect from the tablet when it does launch:

  • Android 5.0
  • 7.9 inch, 1024 x 768 pixel display
  • 1.2 GHz Allwinner A33 ARM Cortex-A7 quad-core processor
  • 512MB of RAM
  • 8GB of storage
  • microSD card slot with support for up to 32GB
  • 2MP rear and 0.3MP front camera
  • 802.11b/g/n WiFi
  • Bluetooth
  • 3000 mAh battery

The tablet is described as having a soft touch body and photos show that it has a micro USB port for charging, a headset jack, front and rear cameras, and a speaker on the back.

While the tablet is notable for its relatively recent build of Google Android and its 4:3 aspect ratio display, the rest of the specs are rather uninspiring. But if the EGQ178 is priced like the company’s other tablets, you can probably expect it to sell for around $100 or less.

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12 replies on “Ematic EGQ178: A budget 7.9 inch Android 5.0 tablet”

  1. Ematic is such a reliable brand and is bound to hold 1GB RAM, not 512 MB. Their tablets usually price around $79.99 as well. I’m super excited for this launch!

  2. For that $100 price, the rest of the hardware specifications just too weak with a paltry 512MB RAM, 8GB storage, 1024×768 resolution, 0.3Mpix (VGA quality) front camera, etc. Compared to this example, Winbook TW801: https://www.microcenter.com/product/437499/tw801_tablet_-_black (just $99 at the time of this posting) and have even better specifications including 2GB RAM, 32GB storage, 1280×800 resolution, 2Mpix front camera, etc.

  3. 512 RAM? C’mon man. It’s like $10 extra to make it 1 GB RAM for a manufacturer.

  4. You lost me with Allwinner.
    I’ve never had anything with their stuff under the hood that wasn’t trouble somehow.
    The rest of the specs don’t inspire confidence either.
    I’d almost say buy a second hand more legit brand model to get an overall better user experience for the buck.

    1. Allwinner is perfect for a budget tablet under $100.

      Atom is probably too expensive and maybe not good for any budget device.

      1. Nowadays 8-inch Intel Atom powered tablets can go for around $100 or less easily, for example, Winbook TW801: https://www.microcenter.com/product/437499/tw801_tablet_-_black (just $99 at the time of this posting) and have even better specifications including 2GB RAM, 32GB storage, 1280×800 resolution, etc. Furthermore that Allwinner A33 SoC is slower than most Intel Atom SoCs used in tablets, for example: https://browser.primatelabs.com/geekbench3/compare/1962393?baseline=1328143 compared to a Intel Atom Z3735D as used on a Winbook TW800…

  5. It might be “budget” but 512 megs of RAM is laughable these days. Good luck using lollipop,properly on that thing!

    1. Actually 512 MB works well with Android these days, since KiKat Android now it’s very slim and also very lightweight.

      Hey Cirrell in case you were hiding under a rock for the last year you probably never knew about how Android now fits perfectly well in less than 512 MB of Ram today. You need to update soon.

      1. 512 MB of RAM might be good for basic operation and a few productivity apps but toss in some premium games and you will be wishing for 1 GB of RAM.

        1. Nah, 512 MB it’s good enough for Android today, trust me.

          But whatever floats ur boat Cirrell, see ya. 🙂

          1. i agree with Droidz4eva, its gud enuf……
            good for regular surfing, email, casual games, media consumptions, etc….

            Cirrell argument is a Logical fallacy IMO.
            the very argument of buying a budget device to play heavy graphic games is akin to a hardcore gamer buying a budget(atom/celeron) PC to play games.
            the very idea of doing that is preposterous.

    2. You’re right. 512MB with 5.0’s propensity for memory leakage. UUURGH!

Comments are closed.