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Tesco tablet 2.0: Hudl to receive 'enhanced' update in 2014 as sales clear 300,000

The 7-inch device has been praised as a budget device

James Vincent
Thursday 05 December 2013 19:22 GMT
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It looks like Tesco might be winning the battle to supply low-priced 7-inch tablets to the masses. The retailing giant’s £119 Hudl device has sold more than 300,000 units and has proved so popular that Tesco are planning a second-generation version for 2014.

The Hudl is one of the many 7-inch tablets released this Christmas that cost less than £150, with rivals including a £49 deivce from Carphone Warehouse, a £99 offering from Argos, and even a recent entry from Aldi that will sell for £79.

Despite the heavy competition it seems that Tesco’s tech business is thriving, probably due to the healthy foot traffic that passes through its stores  (and thus by its advertised tablets), as well as the technology itself, which reviewers have praised for offering a good balance of price and capability.

The Hudl comes with 1GB of RAM, a 1.5GHz quad-core processor, 16GB of internal storage (expandable up to 32GB) and a 1440x900 resolution screen, although Tesco’s chief executive Philip Clarke has told The Guardian that a new “enhanced” version will be released in 2014.

The device comes in a range of colours and is aimed at a younger market, with a tough rubberised shell.

The current Hudl has reportedly sold more than 300,000 units, with the retailer’s chief digital officer Michael Comish telling the MailOnline that the device was “flying off the shelves” and that Tesco has run out of stock twice.

Whether or not the Hudl will encourage Tesco to pursue other consumer electronic goods is unknown, though the tablet has been seen by analysts as a move by thee retailer into digital media.

The tablet comes with a dedicated “[T]” button that directs customers to Tesco’s online stores, where the retailer offers video on demand services and music downloads as well as traditional groceries.

Read this: Argos and Tesco have released own-brand tablets but are they simply gathering customer data?

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