With its very rounded corners, front-facing camera position, screen size, and usage of waterproof materials, the Pantech Element is most certainly not your average Android tablet. So what exactly can you expect should you decide to get this LTE-enabled 8-inch Android tablet from AT&T in the US?
For starters, the Pantech Element features an 8-inch multi-touch color display with a native resolution of 1024x768 pixels. To the right of which, you’ll find a front facing camera with a 2-megapixel sensor. The main one, with a 5-megapixel sensor, is located at the back. Inside the Element’s 11mm thick case, there’s a 1.5GHz dual-core Qualcomm Snapdragon CPU and 1GB of RAM to handle all mobile computing tasks within its default operating system, Android 3.2 Honeycomb.
If you were surprised to learn that Pantech decided to go with an older version of Android for the Element, you’ll be even more surprised—and perhaps pleasantly—to learn that it has a fully waterproof design. Now, when was the last time you needed to whip out a tablet or smartphone in the middle of pouring rain? Never? Well, just in case you ever do in the future, this tablet will be able to handle it.
There’s a 6,400mAh battery, which gives up to 12 hours of use on a charge according to Pantech itself. That kind of runtime should be more than long enough for daily use, especially if you plan to hang out in the great outdoors to enjoy fast 4G LTE speeds where there is 4G network coverage.
Speaking of which, the absolute best, if not the only, way to enjoy using this Pantech tablet is if you purchase it with an accompanying data plan or service contract. Because otherwise, you will have to pay $450 for it outright, and you’ll miss out on some of the deals that AT&T is bundling it with.
Need To Know: Pantech Element
1. Waterproof design and 10+ hour battery life should ensure non-stop daily use no matter what the weather—just don’t forget to charge at night. (The Good)
2. 4G LTE network support means faster than 3G and 3.5G connection speeds. (The Good)
3. Default operating system is outdated and users may have to upgrade on their own if updates to later versions of Android ever become available. (The Bad)
4. 8-inch form factor may make it difficult to find compatible cases at reasonable prices. (The Bad)
What the Critics Are Saying...
- Nadia Oxford, 148AppsTwisty Hollow gets pretty frantic in later levels, but most of the time it manages to show players some good fun. The action certainly gets chaotic at points, and to be honest all the spinning around might make sensitive players a bit dizzy, but the game’s sense of humor is worth sticking arou...
- Joseph Volpe, EngadgetSo, what's the verdict? Should you clasp this slate to your breast and dance about in a torrential downpour, belting out showtunes and banging out tweets in full gale force, or do we order Pantech's tab to walk the plank, and sink below its one-foot threshold? Well, we'll let price be the deciding f...
- David Pierce , The VergeThere’s not a lot to dislike about the Element, but I don’t have a lot of things to love about it either. It’s just an average Honeycomb tablet that won’t die immediately upon being dripped on. Its hardware isn’t on par with a device like the Asus Transformer Prime or t...
- Eugene Kim, PC MagazineWith an army of faster, less expensive Android tablets for 2012 announced at CES, many of which will run Android 4.0 right out of the box, the Element could easily get lost in the fray. It does, however, stand out with its affordable price, fast 4G LTE, and solid, waterproof design. Performance-wise...
- John V., PhoneArenaConsidering that this is Pantech’s first foray into the tablet scene, we’re astounded to see that they’ve been able to present us with an admirable effort with the Pantech Element. Yeah, it might not boast the same brand recognition as some of its rivals, but nevertheless, you can&...
Prices (Where to Buy)
Resources
Manuals / User Guides
- Pantech Element Manual (PDF)
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