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MagyarHP Slate 6 6000en VoiceTab Smartphone Review
For the original German review, see here.
HP joins the race of entry-level tablets with its Slate 6 6000en VoiceTab and Slate 7 6100en VoiceTab tablets, and equips them with 3G modems and phone features. They have been available since late February in India, and now both devices come to us.
Even if many current smartphones have a screen size of 5-inches, the VoiceTabs look gigantic in comparison. Our review sample of HP's Slate 6 6000en VoiceTab features a 6-inch IPS touchscreen with 1280x720 pixels. Other key specs: A quad-core SoC from Marvell clocked with 1066 GHz, 1 GB of RAM, 16 GB of expandable internal flash memory, Android 4.2.2, and a 3G module. The device is presently only available in "Modern Silver" for a low 199 Euros (~$271).
Potential rivals for HP's Slate 6 6000en VoiceTab are the Asus Fonepad Note FHD 6, Huawei Ascend G730, Acer Liquid S1, and Samsung Galaxy Note 3 Neo SM-N7505.
Case
The casing of HP's Slate 6 6000en VoiceTab is comprised of silver polycarbonate. Like HTC's One M8 that apparently was involuntarily used as a design model, HP installs stereo speakers on the phablet's front. The design is pleasing, and the build is immaculate. It is also very rigid. We would only have wished for a somewhat less slippery back cover. Both SIM card slots and the microSD card slot are found under that.
HP's Slate 6 6000en VoiceTab is fairly compact for a 6-inch phablet and weighs an agreeably low 160 grams. All - admittedly some bigger - contenders weigh more.
Connectivity
HP incorporates the PXA 1088 quad-core SoC from Marvell alongside a Vivante 1000 graphics card in the Slate 6 6000en VoiceTab. The SoC in the review sample clocks with 1066 MHz and has 1 GB of working memory available. The internal eMMc storage capacity is 16 GB, of which approximately 12 GB is free to use. The review sample accepts microSD cards with up to 64 GB for fast and easy expansion.
There are no surprises in connectivity. A micro USB 2.0 and 3.5 mm jack are the only ports. The physical power button and volume rocker function impeccably, and they are located on the opposite sides, which noticeably boosts their ease of use.
Software
HP's Slate 6 6000en VoiceTab uses the Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean operating system. It is the unmodified stock Android version without any manufacturer-specific interventions. HP has not yet announced a rollout of a more up-to-date version.
Communication & GPS
HP's Slate 6 6000en VoiceTab features Wi-Fi 801.11 b/g/n and UMTS dual-band (900, 2100 MHz). The latter is, however, only available for SIM slot 1. In return, both slots support quad-band GSM (850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz). Bluetooth 3.0 + EDR is also available. The Wi-Fi range was good; half the signal strength was still displayed even through several walls and a distance of 10 meters to the router.
The GPS module functioned impeccably and even allowed localization indoors. It had an accuracy of up to four meters outdoors. Compared with the Garmin Edge 500, it did a good job on our bike test route, and it only shortened difficult, serpentine sectors slightly. Thus, it is overall well suitable for occasional navigating.
Telephony and Speech Quality
The Android stock phone app is installed and incorporates the dual-SIM feature instinctively. Unfortunately, only the first SIM slot supports 3G, and the slots are not equally sized (1x SIM, 1x micro-SIM). The in-call speech and audio quality is generally satisfactory but sounds a bit unnatural. The hands-free feature functions well owing to the front-facing speakers, although it sounds a bit tinny.
Cameras & Multimedia
The review sample's webcam has a sufficiently high resolution of 2 megapixels. However, it displays intense image noise, especially with poorly illuminated objects. Nevertheless, it is suitable for taking the odd snapshot.
The primary camera has a resolution of 5 megapixels, an auto-focus, and an LED flash. The primary camera's image quality fluctuates strongly. Fairly sharp pictures are possible in good ambient light, but they usually look a bit overexposed and colors are slightly distorted. Especially when compared with good smartphone cameras, such as in the iPhone 5, it becomes clear what would actually be possible. The darker the surroundings, the higher the image noise and the fewer details are reproduced.
Accessories
Besides the phablet itself and its battery, HP includes a modular USB power supply with 5.3 V/2.0 A and a quick-start guide in the box. Optional accessories are not available to date. However, HP offers a screen protector and a desktop charger for the larger Slate 7 6100en VoiceTab. The latter should be compatible with the review sample.
Warranty
HP includes a 12-month warranty for the Slate 6 6000en VoiceTab. A two-year upgrade is available for approximately 29 Euros (~$39).
Input Devices & Controls
The 6-inch touchscreen functions sufficiently fast and accurately, and it implements inputs almost immediately. However, sometimes more than one tap is needed to hit the targeted item. The gliding traits are acceptable but could be a bit better. The device needs a moment before it rotates content automatically, but the feature is reliable.
The keyboard is Android stock and can be used as usual. Swype is also a feature and allows entering a word without lifting the finger by wiping over the keyboard. The keys feature a pleasant size, particularly in landscape mode, and precise and fast inputting is possible.
Display
HP installs a 6-inch IPS screen in the Slate 6 6000en VoiceTab. Despite the low price of 199 Euros (~$271), it scores with a good color reproduction and stable viewing angles. The resolution is a high 1280x720 pixels. It is thus on par with its rivals - only the considerably more expensive Asus Fonepad Note FHD 6 offers a Full HD resolution. Content subjectively looks razor-sharp.
The screen achieves an average brightness of a whole 461.8 cd/m², and the illumination of 85% is middling. Of the contenders, only Huawei's Ascend G730 shines even brighter.
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Brightness Distribution: 85 %
Center on Battery: 479 cd/m²
Contrast: 715:1 (Black: 0.67 cd/m²)
ΔE Color 5.66 | 0.5-29.43 Ø5
ΔE Greyscale 6.78 | 0.57-98 Ø5.3
Gamma: 2.27
Although the review sample's black level of 0.67 cd/m² and contrast of 715:1 are not exactly a feat, it does not have to fear a category comparison. However, it is remote from the fantastic rates of Samsung's Galaxy Note 3 Neo SM-N7505 or Asus' Fonepad Note FHD 6. Nevertheless, it reproduces content focused and with a decent black level.
The CalMAN software and the X-Rite i1pro2 colorimeter confirm that the screen in HP's Slate 6 6000en VoiceTab has an average color temperature of 6513 K, which is close to the ideal. The average DeltaE of 5.66 in mixed colors is also within a good range. Nevertheless, a color shift in green/yellow is visible. Especially the grayscale exhibits a slight greenish cast in lighter areas. Red clearly deviates in the primary colors. However, these measured deficits are not noticed subjectively. Considering the price range, the review sample does a very good job here.
HP's Slate 6 6000en VoiceTab is well suitable for outdoor use owing to its high maximum brightness of 493 cd/m². Reflections first have to be accepted when an external light source shines directly on the screen. However, content is again readable without restrictions as soon as the screen is tilted toward shade.
The available viewing-angle stability of HP's Slate 6 6000en VoiceTab is very good, as is typical for IPS. As expected, the technology-related glowing effect is seen in dark content, particularly in solid black images, in conjunction with steep angles. The screen's brightness first slightly decreases in extreme viewing angles untypical for practical use and exhibits a light-yellowish cast.
Performance
HP's Slate 6 6000en VoiceTab is powered by a combination of Marvell's PXA 1088 quad-core SoC with a low base clock of 1066 GHz and an integrated Vivante GC1000+ dual-core graphics card. This duo does not score very well in the SoC comparison, as our benchmark tests prove.
Our review sample is defeated in almost all tests and has to place itself at the end of the line of contenders. With exception of the considerably stronger Samsung Galaxy Note 3 Neo SM-N7505 and the powerful Asus Fonepad Note FHD 6, the performance difference varies between 18% in the best case to Huawei's Ascend G730 in Geekbench 3 and a maximum of 65% to Acer's Liquid S1 in PassMark Performance Test Mobile V1. The review sample can only surpass Huawei's Ascend G730 by a hair's breadth in the 3DMark Ice Storm Standard graphics benchmark.
The internal storage reaps in a slightly better result in AndroBench 3. HP's Slate 6 6000en VoiceTab can at least occasionally outpace both Huawei's Ascend G730 and Acer's Liquid S1 marginally. Samsung's Galaxy Note 3 Neo SM-N7505, however, remains out of reach here as well.
| AnTuTu v4 - Total Score (sort by value) | |
| HP Slate 6 6000en VoiceTab | |
| Huawei Ascend G730 | |
| Samsung Galaxy Note 3 Neo N7505 | |
| Acer Liquid S1 | |
| Acer Liquid S1 | |
| Asus Fonepad Note FHD 6 ME560CG (K00G) | |
| PassMark PerformanceTest Mobile V1 - System (sort by value) | |
| HP Slate 6 6000en VoiceTab | |
| Huawei Ascend G730 | |
| Samsung Galaxy Note 3 Neo N7505 | |
| Acer Liquid S1 | |
| Asus Fonepad Note FHD 6 ME560CG (K00G) | |
We used the Android stock browser for performing the browser-based benchmarks. HP's Slate 6 6000en VoiceTab is not top fit in this exercise either. It can at least take a bit of fight out of Huawei's Ascend G730 in the Mozilla Kraken 1.1 and Octane V2 benchmarks. All other benchmarks are clearly in favor of the rivals.
| Mozilla Kraken 1.1 - Total (sort by value) | |
| HP Slate 6 6000en VoiceTab | |
| Huawei Ascend G730 | |
| Samsung Galaxy Note 3 Neo N7505 | |
| Acer Liquid S1 | |
| Asus Fonepad Note FHD 6 ME560CG (K00G) | |
| Octane V2 - Total Score (sort by value) | |
| HP Slate 6 6000en VoiceTab | |
| Huawei Ascend G730 | |
| Samsung Galaxy Note 3 Neo N7505 | |
| Peacekeeper - --- (sort by value) | |
| HP Slate 6 6000en VoiceTab | |
| Huawei Ascend G730 | |
| Samsung Galaxy Note 3 Neo N7505 | |
| Acer Liquid S1 | |
| Asus Fonepad Note FHD 6 ME560CG (K00G) | |
| Sunspider - 1.0 Total Score (sort by value) | |
| HP Slate 6 6000en VoiceTab | |
| Huawei Ascend G730 | |
| Samsung Galaxy Note 3 Neo N7505 | |
| Acer Liquid S1 | |
| Asus Fonepad Note FHD 6 ME560CG (K00G) | |
* ... smaller is better
Games
The Vivante GC1000+ graphics card is not exactly a synonym for high-performance. Thus, it is not surprising that demanding games don't always run smoothly. For example, the 3D race spectacle Angry Birds Go! struggled with minor jerks and even audio dropouts in the test. Then again, the first-person shooter Dead Trigger 2 ran without problems - at least using low graphic details. Although it could be played in high details, it was not really smooth.
Controlling via the touchscreen, position sensor and accelerometer always functioned well.
Emissions
Temperature
The surface temperatures are always within an acceptable range. The device only gets lukewarm when idling. The average load temperature on the front is approximately 35 °C and 34 °C on the back.
(+) The maximum temperature on the upper side is 39.2 °C / 103 F, compared to the average of 35 °C / 95 F, ranging from 21.9 to 56 °C for the class Smartphone.
(±) The bottom heats up to a maximum of 40 °C / 104 F, compared to the average of 33.8 °C / 93 F
(+) In idle usage, the average temperature for the upper side is 30.3 °C / 87 F, compared to the device average of 32.7 °C / 91 F.
Speakers
HP follows HTC's example and places a total of two speakers on the phablet's front. Although the sound is successfully radiated toward the user, it lacks bass and trebles are very overemphasized. Nevertheless, the sound is reproduced well when compared in the category. It is, however, still remote from the standard of HTC's One M8. A high maximum volume with a noise-free, clear sound is possible via the 3.5 mm jack.
Energy Management
Power Consumption
HP's Slate 6 6000en VoiceTab proves to have a quite moderate power consumption in the category comparison. It undercuts its contenders with a minimum of 0.4 watts and maximum of 3.2 watts quite clearly in some cases. That gives hope for long battery runtimes.
| Off / Standby |   0 / 0.1 Watt |
| Idle |  0.4 / 1.5 / 2 Watt |
| Load |
2.4 / 3.2 Watt |
    
| |
Battery Runtime
This hope is also fulfilled - at least to a part. Only 3.5 hours was possible during full load operation. Surfing fun using a screen brightness set to 150 cd/m² was possible for almost 8 hours on HP's Slate 6 6000en VoiceTab. Those are good rates, but are put back into perspective in view of the 11.4 Wh battery (3000 mAh). Although it does a better job than Acer's Liquid S1 (9.12 Wh), it is subordinate to Huawei's Ascend G730. Even Samsung's Galaxy Note 3 Neo SM-N7505 (11.78 Wh) and Asus' Fonepad Note FHD 6 (3200 mAh) surf much longer.
Verdict
A smartphone in tablet size will not appeal to everyone. However, when frequently on the go, and perhaps even two SIM cards for work and private are wanted in one device that does not cost a fortune, then HP's Slate 6 6000en VoiceTab could very well be an option.
The bright IPS screen in HD resolution, a whole 6-inches with a high viewing-angle stability and good color reproduction, speaks for the device. The dual-SIM feature has also been implemented sensibly. The array of SoC and graphics chip is not the strongest combination but will nevertheless completely satisfy most users. A day away from the outlet is possible owing to the phablet's energy efficient operation. The easy-to-expand storage via the microSD slot and the removable battery are just as appealing.
We do not like the somewhat cheap-looking casing quite as much. However, it at least features a solid and good build. The camera modules are only suitable for occasional snapshots, and although the speakers are on the front their sound is quite weak.
Our verdict: A decent device that currently goes over the counter for a low 199 Euros (~$271). Buyers who value flexible use and a good screen and do not use demanding apps could be happy with HP's Slate 6 6000en VoiceTab.
