Flipkart Digiflip Pro XT712 first impressions: A solid debut in budget segment

Flipkart, whose tagline is ‘The Online Megastore" is now hoping to be more than just another e-commerce website. In a move, similar to what Amazon began with Kindle tablets, Flipkart announced the launch of its own tablet series under their new Digiflip Pro brand. The tablet is called Digiflip Pro XT712; and while the name might not be sleek and short, Flipkart is hoping to fill the gap when it comes it comes to low-end devices.   Add to that, the Digiflip Pro XT712 is priced Rs 9,999– a fairly reasonable sum– and comes with 1 year warranty, along with 24-hour-call centre support.   As far as specs go, it’s all pretty standard here: 7-inch, 1280x800 HD screen with IPS panel, MediaTek MT6582 quad-core chipset running at 1.3GHz and 1GB of RAM, 16 GB storage space and microSD slot with 32 GB limit. The Digiflip Pro XT712 also features dual-SIM functionality with 3G and voice calling support. It comes with a 5 megapixel rear camera and a 2 megapixel front camera.   The Digiflip Pro series will also feature added shopping benefits worth over Rs 5,000 and free eBooks worth over Rs 2,000. The tab comes with the Flipkart app which comes pre-installed on the tablet.   [caption id=“attachment_226474” align=“alignnone” width=“640”] The back cover on the Flipkart Digiflip Pro X712 tab. Image: Tech2[/caption]   We got a chance to play around with the new tablet by Flipkart. Here’s our quick first impression.   Design and Screen For Flipkart, this is where it is hoping that the Digiflip Pro XT712 will standout from the crowd of low-budget tablets, which are often made of plastic and are bulky. Flipkart’s tablet has a full metal body and from the looks of it doesn’t give a cheap, plasticky feel.   Moreover when you look at the design with its ‘rounded edges’, the thin bezel, you can help but think of two big tablet names in the industry: the iPad mini and the Nexus 7. It’s safe to say that Flipkart’s Digiflip Pro doesn’t look like an unholy matrimony between the two, but rather gives the impression of being a more premium looking tab, similar to the two mentioned above. Plus the fact that this is a fairly thin tablet at 9.2 mm (the iPad mini with Retina Display is 9.4 mm) works to its advantage.   [caption id=“attachment_226475” align=“alignnone” width=“640”] Flipkart has kept the UI as simple and this looks great on a tab that is priced so low. Image: Tech2[/caption]   The HD screen might appear to be a disappointment to some but within the budget range available in India, this is one of the better screens available in the sub-Rs 10,000 category. Micromax Funbook Mini P410i Tablet which has WiFi and 3G and is priced at Rs 9999 has a lower screen resolution of 1024 x 600 pixels with TFT panel. Even the Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 Neo tablet has a TFT-LCD screen with 1024 x 600 pixels resolution.   By giving its tablet a premium look and a sharper screen resolution, Flipkart has made sure it beats the herd for now.   Operating System, Other specs The tablet is running Android Jelly Bean 4.2.2 and from the looks of it, this appeared to be stock Android. We were thankful not to spot any other skin or bloatware running on this. The tablet though does come with the Flipkart app pre-installed, but it wasn’t the first thing you’re likely to notice. By going for subtle on the software front, Flipkart might just woo users who are looking for a better Android experience without dealing with other OEM customisations. What Flipkart couldn’t confirm was there would an update to Android KitKat and given that **Android L was just showcased** , Jelly Bean looks a lifetime old.   [caption id=“attachment_226476” align=“alignnone” width=“640”] The settings tab on the Digiflip Pro tablet. Image: Tech2[/caption]   The tablet also has a MediaTek 1.3GHz quad-core chipset onboard, 1GB of RAM, 16GB total storage space and a microSD slot with 32 GB as the limit. A lot of budget users who are looking for tablets will find this extra memory option appealing. Do note that both the Micromax Funbook Mini P410i and the Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 Neo tablet are offering a dual-core processor and less memory space.   It also supports Dual-SIM functionality with 3G and voice calling support. While users who have a higher-budget and are willing to shell more than Rs 30,000 for a tab might find the idea of using a tab to make calls silly, others who on a tight-budget will find this feature most appealing. Flipkart’s Digiflip Pro XT712 for them means smartphone with a bigger brighter screen and decent memory spaces.   Camera Flipkart’s Digiflip Pro XT712 comes with a 5 megapixel camera with auto-focus and an LED flash. There’s also a 2 megapixel front camera. (The iPad mini also a 5-megapixel camera). In the budget category this camera is the same as the Micromax Funbook Mini P410i Tablet and more than the Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 Neo (2 megapixel and no front camera). The Funbook Mini doesn’t have an LED flash. For Flipkart to offer a camera with an auto-focus and flash in this budget is a smart move. And from the looks of what we saw, the pictures don’t look too shabby either.   [caption id=“attachment_226477” align=“alignnone” width=“640”] More settings on the Flipkart tab. Image: Tech2[/caption]   Battery and Manufacturer Digiflip Pro XT712 comes with 3000mAh battery and Flipkart didn’t specify how long the battery would last. We can only discuss more on this once we have our hands on the tablet.   On the question of manufacturer, Flipkart said it was confidential information and added that they were working with one of the biggest OEMs in China to deliver the tablet and that the quality would be excellent. Given that nearly every Indian manufacturer is relying on Chinese manufacturers for tabs, Flipkart’s decision is not suprising at all and you can’t really hold this against them.   In conclusion, there’s no denying that the Digiflip Pro tablet comes with a superior build which is complemented by its budget price. More importantly as and when Flipkart launches new services, it is expected that they will be a part of this product.   The other thing that Flipkart has done by launching the Digiflip Pro XT712 is to offer the users an alternative in this field and is trying to target a lot of first time users who might be looking to buy a tablet without spending too much. In addition, the trust that users have put in Flipkart as a brand could well be the reason why some would go for the Digiflip Pro. On the flip side, it would be foolish to expect that other OEMs in India won’t catch up and launch new tabs with better specs. All-in-all, its only going to mean more choices for the Indian consumers.