HCL ME U2

The budget smartphone wars in India were what made the headlines in 2012, and it looks like 2013 is going to be the year of the budget-friendly Android tablet. With local manufacturers like Micromax, Karbonn, and Zync taking the lead in this arena, HCL raised the bar by offering something more to consumers with the MyEdu series of low-cost tablets, targeting the ever-increasing Indian student population. The company has decided to start 2013 with a bang, by releasing not one, not two, but three new ICS tablets with various features and capabilities, starting for as low as Rs 5,999 (~$120). Let's take a look!

HCL ME U2

• 7-inch capacitive display with 800 x 480 resolution
• 1GHz ARM Cortex-A9 processor
• Mali 400 GPU
• 1GB RAM
• 0.3MP front-facing camera
• 4GB internal storage, expandable via microSD up to 32GB
• 3,000mAh battery
• 3G-support (via USB dongle)

HCL ME V1

• 7-inch capacitive display with 800 x 480 resolution
• 1GHz ARM Cortex-A8 processor
• GC 430 3D GPU
• 1GB RAM
• 2MP rear camera, 0.3MP font camera
• 4GB internal storage, expandable via microSD up to 32GB
• 3,200mAh battery
• 3G-support (via USB dongle)
• 2G voice calling support with in-built SIM card slot

HCL ME Y3

• 7-inch capacitive display with 1024 x 600 resolution
• 1GHz ARM Cortex-A9 processor
• 1GB RAM
• 3.2MP rear camera, 0.3MP front camera
• 4GB internal storage, expandable via microSD up to 32GB
• 3,100mAh battery
• Dual-SIM slots for 2G (voice calling) and 3G (video calling) support

As can be seen from the specifications, the HCL ME U2 is the entry-level model and is priced at just Rs 5,999 (~$120). The HCL ME V1, which features a rear camera and voice-calling support costs Rs 7,999 (~$160). The HCL ME Y3, boasts a price tag to reflect the fact that it is the best of the lot, setting you back Rs 12,000 (~$240).

The good news is that these HCL tablets will, for the first time, provide access to the Google Play Store, apart from the availability of the standard HCL ME Store, opening up a whole new world of apps and utilities for users. All devices will also come pre-loaded with Indian staples such as BigFlix, ClearTrip, Nimbuzz, and more.

That's not all! In a bid to stay ahead of the competition, HCL has a host of introductory offers as well, including a special subscription to MyEduWorld (buy a one-year subscription, get one more year free), a ClearTrip travel voucher worth Rs 2,500, and a one-month free subscription to Magzter – Digital Magazine Store.

While the specifications and pricing are standard fare, I'm particularly impressed with the various introductory offers the company has available to consumers. If you are considering picking up any of these tablets, now would be the time to do so. The new HCL ME series of tablets are available in-store in selected cities, and will be more widely available by the end of this month.

What are your thoughts? Would you consider buying any one of the new budget tablets on offer from HCL? What do you think of the special offers? Share your thoughts in the comments section below.