Update with hands-on:
Alongside the Tegra 4i-powered Wiko Wax, we also got to see the new Tegra Note 7 LTE model. We were expecting something that looked indistinguishable from the EVGA Tegra Note 7 that we reviewed last year, but we were surprised to see the LTE model have a flat back made of soft touch material. It’s not unlike the Nexus 7 and definitely classes up the look.
We asked Nvidia why the change, and we were told it was simply down to having a different manufacturer. Rear differences aside, from the front the Tegra Note 7 looks the same, including the front firing stereo speakers that we loved from the original model.
The LTE model also has a little slot cover that hides the micro SIM and microSD card slot.
Original story
Just days before the start of Mobile World Congress, Nvidia has announced an upgrade to its Tegra Note 7 by adding LTE and HSPA+ connectivity. Everything under the hood is the same as with the Wi-Fi model, but this new model integrates Nvidia's i500 LTE modem.
Nvidia says that its i500 chip is special in that it leverages a unique software-defined radio technology – meaning it can deliver new capabilities via software without requiring an entirely new chipset.
The jump to mobile data connectivity won't be cheap for the Tegra Note 7 at a suggested $299, representing a $100 premium over the Wi-Fi model. While additional hardware and licenses don't make this an insignificant cost to Nvidia, buyers considering the Tegra 4-based tablet will likely stop and think whether or not it's worth paying 50 percent more over the $199 base model. That said, even at $299, the Tegra Note 7 is still priced competitively with other 7-inch 4G tablets. It's really the attractive entry-level price of the Wi-Fi model that changes the perspective on things.
Tegra Note 7 will ship with Android 4.4.2 KitKat, which is now rolling out at an OTA for all the existing Tegra Note models.
For our in-depth look Nvidia's tablet, read our EVGA Tegra Note 7 review.
| Country | Partner |
|---|---|
| North America | EVGA |
| UK | Dixons |
| Western Europe | EVGA, Gigabyte |
| Ukraine | Gazer |
| Japan | Zotac |
| Korea | Gigabyte, Zotac |
| India | XOLO |
| Brazil | Gradiente |
| China | Gigabyte, Homecare |
Check out all our Mobile World Congress 2014 coverage here!
Follow Marcus Yam @MarcusYam. Follow us @tomshardware, on Facebook and on Google+.
