Flipkart Digiflip Pro XT 712: Quick-read review

The Digiflip Pro XT 712 is the best tablet currently under Rs 10,000.

It has been over four years since the first iPad made its appearance. We are past the “I must have a tablet!” phase and into the “Do I really need a tablet?” phase. If you have limited uses for a slate, then you should spend as little as possible for a good enough experience. And that’s what Flipkart is offering with the Digiflip Pro XT 712.

Specs: 7-inch IPS screen (1280×800 pixels, 216 ppi) | 1.3GHz quad-core Cortex A7 CPU | 1GB RAM | 16GB internal memory, microSD slot (up to 32GB) | 5MP rear camera, 2MP front camera | 3G, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.0, microUSB | 3000mAh battery | Android 4.2 Jelly Bean

Price: Rs. 9,999

Specifications only tell one part of the story though, and tablets are extensively used only in a few scenarios. So with that in mind, let’s see how the XT 712 does in common tablet uses:

Reading Articles, Books and Comics

The XT 712 is heavier than other 7-inch tablets I have used. Although it’s still not uncomfortable to hold for a long period, you’ll be happier if you rest it somewhere. The screen is dull, so reading comics or colourful articles lacks the punch you would want. Still, it’s good enough for e-books.

Watching Movies and Photos

Like comics, videos and photos also suffer from the dull screen. Add to this, the speaker volume is too low to drown out noises around you. You’ll need to wear a good pair of earphones. The bigger problem is 1080p MKV videos. If you are skipping forward or rewinding, or if there is a fast-paced high-action scene, the XT 712 can’t handle it. This is not how we wanted to watch The Avengers. Still, it’s not a 1080p screen, so if you are running 720p videos (like you should be), then it’s perfectly fine.

Browsing Internet

Most websites work fine in portrait mode, and the XT 712 is a solid experience. You can also add two SIM cards to browse the Internet on-the-go, although this guzzles the battery too.

Writing Emails and Documents

A 7-inch tablet almost forces you to use it in portrait mode rather than landscape, because in landscape mode, the keyboard takes up most of the screen. So it’s essentially a slightly larger version of the keyboard you find on your phone. I don’t know about you, but that has never been a big enough difference for me to recommend writing 500 words or more