Monster launches budget-priced Android tablets

(Monster)

Monster—a company not especially known for lower-priced goods—has taken a different approach with its first tablet, the 7-inch Monster M7. It's available exclusively at Walmart.com at a price of $149.

If color coordination is your thing, the M7—which will be joined later this fall by a 10.1-inch model called, yes, the M10—will be offered in eight "candy" colors (apple red, blueberry, frost white, grape purple, lime green, midnight black, pink, and tangerine orange). The tablets have a non-skid exterior to help keep them from slipping when placed on a smooth, flat surface.

Both are Android-based tablets that include Monster's Time Correct Bluetooth technology, which the company claims can help keep the audio and video in sync when you're watching movies on the tablet. Not surprising given its Android heritage, the M7 has Google Mobile Services (including Google Play Music and Video and YouTube), plus some additional entertainment and social media apps, including Facebook, Twitter, and streaming TV shows and movies from Vudu (which is owned by Walmart).

Find the best model for your needs and budget with the help of our tablet buying guide and Ratings.

In addition to its 7-inch screen, which sports a 1280x800 resolution, the M7 has a 1.5GHz dual-core processor, Bluetooth 4.0 with Time Correct, and both front-facing (2 megapixel) and rear-facing (5 megapixel) cameras, and GPS. The tablet comes with 16GB of storage and 1GB of memory, plus a MicroSD expansion slot for additional storage.

Connections include a Micro USB input, 3.5mm headset jack, and a Mini HDM slot. Monster says the M7 has its Monster Central PowerControl technology that allows energy and power monitoring over the Internet when used with optional plug-in Monster Power modules.

As for the 10.1-inch model, Monster says it will announce pricing and features closer to the tablet's launch later this fall.

—James K. Willcox