Telstra T-Touch Tab vs Optus MyTab: tablet showdown
- 20 January, 2011 15:50
The Telstra T-Touch Tab and the Optus MyTab are two of the first low cost tablet devices launched in Australia that attempt to provide an alternative to the Apple iPad. Both of these Android tablets are smaller than the iPad, sitting somewhere between a largish touchscreen phone like the popular HTC Desire and the iPad tablet.
Read our comprehensive Telstra T-Touch Tab review.
Read our comprehensive Optus MyTab review.
The Telstra T-Touch Tab and the Optus MyTab are targeted at budget-minded shoppers, with both retailing for under $300. In addition to much smaller footprints — both have a 7in display compared to the iPad's larger 9.7in screen — both of these budget Android tablets are also capable of making phone calls, even if this is not the primary function of either device.
With this in mind, how does the Telstra T-Touch Tab stack up against the Optus MyTab?
| Feature | Telstra T-Touch Tab | Optus MyTab |
|---|---|---|
| Operating system (OS) | Google Android 2.1 | Google Android 2.1 |
| Display technology | Resistive TFT | Resistive TFT |
| Display resolution | 480x800 pixels | 480x800 pixels |
| Multitouch | No | No |
| Camera | Rear: 2-megapixels, Front: VGA | Rear: 3-megapixels, Front: VGA |
| FM radio | No | No |
| GPS | Yes | Yes |
| Internal memory | 512MB | 512MB |
| Expandable memory | microSD card slot | microSD card slot |
| Dimensions | 209 x 108 x 15.5mm | 192 x 110 x 12.6mm |
| Weight | 500g | 403g |
| Application store | Google Android Market | Google Android Market |
| 3G networks | HSDPA 850/2100MHz | HSDPA 900/2100MHz |
| Wi-Fi | 802.11b/g | 802.11b/g |
| Bluetooth | 2.1 with A2DP | 2.1 with A2DP |
| Quoted talk time | Up to 150min | Up to 300min |
| Quoted standby time | Up to 140 hours | Up to 300 hours |
| Adobe Flash support | No | No |
The Telstra T-Touch Tab features a flip-out stand on its rear, making it ideal for watching video content.
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The Telstra T-Touch Tab and the Optus MyTab are very similar devices. Both have 7in resistive TFT touchscreens, run the 2.1 version of Google's Android platform and have dual cameras. Both devices also lack multitouch, so you can't pinch the screen with your fingers to zoom in and out of applications.
Neither the Telstra T-Touch Tab nor the Optus MyTab will win any design awards, but both feel sturdy enough and reasonably well constructed. The T-Touch Tab holds a slight advantage thanks to the flip-out stand on its rear, which is great for watching videos, but we feel the Optus MyTab's black fascia and grey rear is a little more attractive — apart from the overkill on branding. (Do we really need Android, Optus and ZTE logos plastered on the device?)
It is important to remember that while both the Telstra T-Touch Tab and the Optus MyTab are capable of completing most tasks that higher priced tablets can, they don't do many of these things quickly or smoothly. Both tablets are generally useable, but there is noticeable delay when opening and closing apps, games like Slice It and Angry Birds suffer from a lag during lengthy sessions, and both tablets lack Flash video support.
The Optus MyTab has very similar specifications to the Telstra T-Touch Tab, but we feel it has a slightly more attractive design.
The image quality of the cameras on both the tablets is mediocre, and found it awkward to take still photos with a tablet device. On the upside, both the Telstra T-Touch Tab and the Optus MyTab are far more flexible than the iPad thanks to Google's Android operating system. A great example of this is the fact that you can transfer files by dragging and dropping them from your PC (without the need for any software). The Android Market offers a wealth of applications that can enhance the overall user experience of each device, particularly when it comes to multimedia playback.
The trade-off of a more flexible software platform is that neither device is as slick or smooth as the iPad to operate. Both tablets also have to deal with app compatibility, meaning that many applications in the Android Market won't use the full extent of the screen real estate; the 2.1 version of Android has not been designed with tablets in mind.
What do you think about the Telstra T-Touch Tab and the Optus MyTab? Tell us in the comments below!
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