Asustek and HP enter China tablet market with entry-level models

Asustek Computer and Hewlett-Packard (HP) are both set to enter the China tablet market with new cheap tablet models: the Asustek 7-inch 8GB MeMO Pad HD 7, priced below CNY999 (US$163) and HP Slate 7, priced at CNY999, according to sources from channel retailers.

Asustek's 8GB MeMO Pad HD 7 will be supplied to the China market exclusively and is expected to appear later in July.

Prior to Asustek and HP, Acer already offered its 7-inch Iconia B1-A71 tablet at CNY699, while Lenovo is pushing its A1000 for a price of CNY999.

Compared to first-tier vendors, most China-based white-box tablet players are offering their products at prices between CNY299-500, giving them advantages in pricing, but first-tier vendors still outmatch white-box players in product quality, specifications and after-sales service, the sources said.

Article translated by Joseph Tsai