Design and functional elements

Tablets with Intel processors inside will surprise absolutely no one now. Both famous brands, for example, Asus or Lenovo, and second-tier “players”, for example, Prestigio, produce their devices on the platform from a well-known manufacturer. The tablet from this B-brand will become the hero of today’s review.

Meet, Prestigio MultiPad Thunder 8.0i 3G with processor Intel Atom Z2580, 1 GB random access memory and IPS screen with HD resolution. In general, nothing special, but given the low price, this device definitely deserves attention.

Specifications:

Screen: 8 inches, TFT IPS, 1280x800 pixels (density 189 ppi), touch, capacitive;
Processor: Intel Atom Z2580, 2 cores, 2 GHz;
Graphics core: PowerVR SGX544MP2;
RAM: 1 GB DDR3;
Built-in memory capacity: 8 GB/16 GB;
Memory card support: yes, microSD up to 32 GB;
operating system: Android 4.2;
SIM slot: yes, miniSIM;
Wired Interfaces: microUSB, mini-jack 3.5 mm;
Wireless interfaces: Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.0, 2G/3G;
Camera: 5 MP (main), 2 MP (front);
Sensors: accelerometer, gyroscope, electronic compass;
Battery: Li-Pol, 4000 mAh;
Dimensions: 125x213x8 mm;
Weight: 375 grams;
Price: 7490 rubles (CDN stores in Nizhny Novgorod).

Packaging and equipment

The tablet comes in a small cardboard box, decorated in the traditional style of the manufacturer. On the front side there is an image of the device, specifications on the other side.

Contents of delivery:

Tablet Prestigio MultiPad Thunder 8.0i 3G;
Branded envelope case;
microUSB-USB cable;
Charger with replaceable adapters (for European socket included);
Documentation (user manual, warranty card).

The charger consists of two parts, this will be especially convenient for travelers, because if you go to countries with a different type of socket, you can simply use required adapter, rather than looking for a suitable charger. The characteristics of the power supply are as follows: standard 100-240V and 0.5A at the input, 5V and 2.1A at the output.

It should be noted that the case is included. It is quite high quality and comfortable, made of artificial leather, with a suede-like material inside. Stitched with red thread, manufacturer's logo on the front side. The tablet in the case “sits” quite firmly, which is what you need for travel.

Appearance and features

Prestigio MultiPad Thunder 8.0i looks very unusual. The body is dominated by sharp corners and has a strict appearance. The frames around the screen are of medium thickness, the orientation is vertical, this can be seen from the location of the logos and cameras. The entire front panel is made of protective glass, which is scratch-resistant, but not very resistant to dirt; fingerprints collect quickly and are very difficult to remove.
The dimensions of the device are typical for an 8-inch tablet. They are 125x213 mm, with a thickness of 8 mm. You can’t call it particularly compact, but it fits in a small bag. The weight of the tablet is 375 grams, which is also quite standard for modern device with a screen of this diagonal.

Along the perimeter of the front panel there is a edging made of chrome material. It feels very similar to metal, but I can’t say 100% sure. It looks good and gives the design some completeness.

There are few interesting elements on the front side. At the bottom is the manufacturer's logo and a strip of thin mesh under which the speaker is hidden. On top is a camera peephole for video calls, sensors and another similar speaker. As you can see, the sound is stereo, but in practice it turned out to be of very good quality for a tablet. Plays loudly, wheezing even on maximum volume No.

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The back cover is made of plastic with a leather-like texture. It looks good, practically does not get dirty, and does not slip out of your hands. The edges are slightly rounded for a more comfortable grip.

The main camera is located in the upper left corner; there is no flash. The photo quality is mediocre, examples are below in the text. Slightly lower in the center is the manufacturer's logo. At the very bottom is the model name, IMEI and serial number devices.

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Now let's look at the ends of the body. On the left there are no elements, on the right there is a power button, a volume rocker and a flap under which the slots are hidden. At the bottom there is information about certification, a mention that the device is made in the Middle Kingdom and a small microphone hole. On top is an audio output and a microUSB port for charging and connecting to a computer.

Under the flap are two slots - for a SIM card and for a microSD memory card.

In general, the design is very good for a relatively budget device. It looks strict and stylish. The case materials are of high quality, the assembly is also at a high level. During operation, no play was detected; the case does not creak when squeezed.

Screen

Prestigio MultiPad Thunder 8.0i is equipped with an 8-inch screen made using TFT IPS technology. Resolution 1280 by 800 pixels, density 189 ppi. The resolution is modest, but quite sufficient for an 8-inch tablet. When manufacturing the screen, OGS technology was used, that is, there is no air gap between the glass and the matrix. The brightness reserve is sufficient for use in dim daylight or artificial light; in direct sunlight, the screen noticeably “blinds”. In general, the colors are quite bright and rich. Viewing angles are wide, like most IPS screens. The uniformity of illumination is good, there are no overexposed areas. Protective glass of an unknown brand protects the screen well from scratches. There is an oleophobic coating, but it is not best quality, fingerprints collect very quickly and are difficult to erase. But this is quite typical for a budget tablet.

From the photo below you can see the graininess of the image. Of course, upon closer examination with short distance individual dots are visible, but in everyday use they are not noticeable. Labels and fonts look smooth without sharp edges.

Operating system and software

The tablet is controlled by the operating room Android systems version 4.2.2 without any changes standard interface from Google. The version of the system is far from new, and this can be considered a minus. The unlock screen and desktops look painfully familiar. Below are the same 3 touch buttons, above them is a line with frequently used applications.

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The menu is divided into two parts - applications and widgets. Icons scroll horizontally. If third party applications practically none, then there are enough widgets. Here you can find both the original clock and the memory clearing panel.

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Retractable curtains are quite functional. They allow you to quickly enable or disable wireless communication, set up sound profiles and so on.

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From branded applications Just a few are worth noting. The library from Prestigio turned out to be quite pleasant in appearance and convenient in functionality. Shelves with books are displayed here, as well as folders divided by category.

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A third-party MultiStore store is also installed on the tablet. You can find many different applications in it, but if there is an official application store Google Play A third party is unlikely to be needed. It is worth noting that the firmware can be updated over the air; there is a special section for this called “OTA update”.

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The tablet has the ability to work in cell phone, which means there are applications for calls and SMS. They are absolutely standard, without any changes.

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Performance and tests

The tablet is based on the Intel Atom Z2580 SoC, which belongs to the Medfield family. It is equipped dual core processor Atom (Saltwell architecture), operating at frequencies from 1.2 to 2 GHz. Thanks to Hyper-Threading technology, two cores are capable of simultaneously processing up to 4 data streams, which allows more efficient use of processor resources. Processor performance is on par with previous generation Atom processors operating at frequencies from 1.2 to 1.8 GHz - for example, Atom N550 (1.5 GHz). The built-in video adapter is based on PowerVR SGX 544MP2 and operates at a frequency of 400 MHz. The video decoder (MPEG4.2, H.264, VC1, WMV) and encoder (MPEG4.2, H.264) take their roots from Imagination Technologies' VDX385 and VDE285 and enable 1080p/30fps video decoding.

The chip is very outdated, it was introduced back in 2012. Accordingly, its performance is limited to running games of average difficulty; new demanding games are unlikely to run at a comfortable level.
RAM 1 GB, built-in either 8 GB or 16 GB, depending on the version.

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Processor tests showed the expected results. In AnTuTu, the tablet scored a little more than 26,000 points, which is typical for mid-priced solutions. In other tests the result is similar.

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In graphics tests the result is good, but this is due to the low resolution.

The Antutu Video Test showed average results; most formats, of course, are playable, but there are also quite a few problematic formats with no sound or picture.

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In everyday tasks everything is fine. There are no delays in the interface, everything scrolls through and opens quickly. The browser works without problems with multiple open tabs. The video plays, maps are shown. In general, the device is very good for everyday use.

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Wireless interfaces

The tablet supports all the necessary wireless interfaces except 4G, but it is not available everywhere now, so it’s not critical. 2G and 3G networks work without problems; there were no problems with coverage within the city. The tablet is quite convenient to use as a cell phone; the speaker is loud and without wheezing. Wi-Fi signal stable, 3 meters from the router it shows almost maximum power. GPS with A-GPS support is used for navigation. Indoors, searching for satellites from a cold start took about 3 minutes, and 7 satellites were detected. The location accuracy is quite high.

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Camera

The main camera has a resolution of 5 megapixels, there is no flash, there is autofocus. The photo quality is modest, but I didn’t expect anything else. The camera interface is standard, there are few settings, the only thing worth noting is the presence of an HDR mode. The camera for video calls has a resolution of 2 megapixels, its quality is only sufficient for communicating on Skype.

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Autonomous operation

A lithium-polymer battery with a capacity of 4000 mAh is responsible for autonomy. In the Antutu battery test, the tablet scored a modest 4351 points. At the same time, it was discharged from 100% to 20% in just 2 hours 40 minutes. The result is modest, and this is confirmed in practice. In video playback mode at maximum brightness, the battery will last for 6.5 hours, games will drain the tablet in just over 3 hours. In mixed use mode, you will have to charge the tablet once a day.

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Eventually

Prestigio MultiPad Thunder 8.0i turned out to be very ambiguous. On the one hand, a non-standard design and good body materials, and on the other, modest performance and autonomy. But several other factors are also captivating: 3G support, a good IPS screen and a low price. A couple of days ago the tablet cost less than 7,000 rubles, now it’s already 7,490 rubles, but even for this amount the purchase is completely justified.
This tablet should be recommended primarily to people who want to get maximum functionality for little money, but are willing to turn a blind eye to certain shortcomings.

Pros:

Case design and materials;
Good screen;
Support for 3G communication networks;
Case included.

Minuses:

Low productivity;
Low autonomy;
Old version operating system.

Our Prestigio review MultiPad Thunder 8.0i is not quite ordinary. The new Prestigio was tested in an unexpected role - a traveler's assistant. Minsk - Moscow - Los Angeles - San Diego - Tijuana - Santa Cruz - San Jose - San Francisco - Los Angeles - Moscow - Minsk. This is approximately the route the device has covered over the past three weeks. All this time, the tablet was actively used for a variety of purposes.

More about this later, but at the beginning, traditionally, about the technical characteristics.

• Screen: 8-inch, IPS matrix, 1280 x 800 pixels;
• Processor: Dual-core Intel Atom Z2580 clock frequency 2 GHz;
• Graphics: PowerVR SGX 544MP2
• RAM: 1 GB;
• Built-in memory: 16 GB expandable by another 32 GB;
• Cameras: front – 2 MP, main – 5 MP;
• Battery: 4000 mAh;
• Dimensions: 213 x 125 x 7.9 mm;
• Weight: 375 grams;
• OS: Android 4.2 Jelly Bean.

Dimensions, appearance

1. The tablet is comfortable to hold with one hand. Several times the device came to my rescue as a voice recorder;
2. comfortable to hold with two hands (basic use);
3. does not obscure the view when used as a navigator in a car. This was an important moment for me, since I was traveling around Silicon Valley by car.

Appearance didn't really matter to me. However, I note that the rather thin frames around the display, the pseudo-metallic edging and the rear panel made of leather make the Prestigio MultiPad Thunder 8.0i very attractive.

It comes with a thick case, which I used to hide the tablet on numerous trips around the valley. It allowed us to avoid scratches on the glass during the trip.

The weight of the Prestigio MultiPad Thunder 8.0i is quite comfortable – 375 grams. This is not a record, but, for example, a “reference” Apple iPad mini 3rd generation with a 4G module weighs 341 grams.

Screen

But in some cases the brightness under the hot Californian sun was not enough. However, most often the tablet was used as a navigator and entertainment center on an airplane and in a hotel room, so brightness was not particularly important here.

Performance and battery life

I had no problems with compatibility; the performance also covered all my needs. Now is the time battery life The tablet could have been bigger. For example, the device lasts about 4 hours of watching movies in HD resolution at maximum brightness.

Fortunately, there was a USB charger on the plane, otherwise I would have had to spend most of the transatlantic flight – which is 12.5 hours – without my favorite films and TV series (pre-downloaded onto the tablet). By the way, out of 16 GB of internal memory, only 10 are available to the user. The rest is provided by the memory card.

Prestigio MultiPad Thunder 8.0i in Silicon Valley

Even before the trip, after reading the reviews, I prudently installed the offline navigators HERE and MAPS ME with maps of California. However, in practice, the most convenient option has become google maps.

It was they, the tablet and the T-Mobile microSIM card, that saved me on the terrible highways and freeways of Silicon Valley. In 11 days I drove more than 1800 km by car. It’s hard to imagine how you can drive around the valley with regular maps and not with a navigator.

The tablet has never had any problems with GPS. Satellites were picked up quickly and communication was not lost. Prestigio MultiPad Thunder 8.0i was used in tandem with a glass mount purchased at a local Best Buy for $15.

I had practically no free time in California, but I managed to watch the 1st season of Silicon Valley and the released episodes of Better Call Saul. The tablet coped well with the role of a media player. However, to view some files, I had to additionally install VLC player (free on Google Play).

On the plane I watched movies with headphones, in the hotel - through the speakers. Their volume is more than sufficient. It is important that they are not covered with your hands when watching a video. Otherwise, the tablet worked as expected - without any problems.

The interface here is stock, typical for budget B-brand devices. For decorations, welcome to Google Play.

Cameras

However, I still managed to test the modules. I wasn’t able to do this in cloudy weather - during all this time there simply wasn’t any. Below are examples of photographs taken with the main camera:

Panoramic shot:

As you can see, you shouldn’t use a tablet as a camera (which, in general, is logical by definition). But for Skype or urgent photography when there is nothing better at hand, it will do just fine. On the pier in San Francisco, passers-by smiled as they watched me photograph the Golden Bridge with a “shovel.”

Total

The only disappointment was the lack of battery life. If you plan to watch videos for a long time (more than 4 hours) or use the tablet as a gaming device, make sure there is an outlet nearby. Yes, and it is also not suitable for the role of the main camera.

The official price of Prestigio MultiPad Thunder 8.0i is 3.5 million rubles. Whether it is expensive or not, given the above pros and cons, is up to you to decide.

For the provided tablet we thank the branded online store of the manufacturer Prestigio -

Last edited: Tue 3 Feb 2015

The tablet market has long been dominated by two platform manufacturers: MediaTek and Qualcomm. The first gave way to affordable solutions with an adequate level of performance, the second was more expensive and was chosen by famous brands. NVIDIA and Intel managed to board the departing train. It was stupid to ignore the huge market for compact electronics. Today we will look at a live example of an Intel tablet - Prestigio MultiPad Thunder 7.0i.

I am glad that such a giant has not forgotten about the budget segment. The competition here is fierce, and a new player will allow buyers to see interesting offers and not allow the price tag to go up. And the fact of its late entry into the mobile electronics market forces Intel to offer its SoC at cost price. It's worth taking advantage of this moment. But time will tell whether the giant will be able to gain a foothold; it will not be easy. Take the same NVIDIA, here the company went through the creation of original and highly specialized devices.

Video review of Prestigio MultiPad Thunder 7.0i

Equipment

Prestigio delivers its solutions, regardless of the price tag, in high-quality packaging made of thick cardboard with a carbon fiber design. On the back there are complete technical specifications.

The package includes a charger, a microUSB cable, an adapter with a Euro plug, a hefty instruction book and a warranty card.

Appearance

It is made of textured plastic with a cellular pattern. Excellent grip, the tablet does not slip out of your hands. And the material is pleasant to the touch.

At the top there is a stylized camera block. There is also an insert with the name of the model. The camera does not have an LED flash module.

Also eye-catching is the Intel logo on the back cover. The cover is not removable.

The thickness of the tablet is 9.5 mm. Unfortunately, this thickness did not have a positive effect on the battery capacity. Most likely this is due to the need for free space for passive cooling processor.

All connectors are located on the top edge: volume rocker, microUSB, audio jack and power button. Mechanical buttons stand out above the surface of the body and are tactilely felt.

On the front panel, almost the entire area is occupied by a display with protective glass. Here you can highlight only one element, this is the front camera shifted to the side.

The body is assembled perfectly, there are no creaks or play of parts.

Screen

Color rendition is shifted to cool tones. The picture lacks richness. There are also complaints about the level of maximum brightness; in direct sunlight, working with the Prestigio MultiPad Thunder 7.0i is problematic.

Filling

On board 1 GB of RAM and 8 GB internal memory. Data space can be expanded using a microSD card.

Antutu

Vellamo

3D Antutu

Connection

The tablet lacks 3G support, although this SoC has the ability to expand support to 4G LTE with an Intel XMM 7160 modem. Prestigio MultiPad Thunder 7.0i works in Wi-Fi networks and Bluetooth.

Battery

There is a 3000 mAh battery on board. Another one weak side tablet, it cannot boast of a long battery life. On one charge at maximum load it can work for about 4 hours.

Camera

It’s curious why tablet manufacturers continue to equip their devices with a weak camera; in such cases, wouldn’t it be better to reduce the cost and leave only the front one for video communication?

Software

Windows switch smoothly. It’s difficult to highlight anything in particular, but we can expect that this platform will receive an update to Android 5.0.

Results on Prestigio MultiPad Thunder 7.0i

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