AT&T will sell the latest AT&T Trek 2 HD tablet for 99 cents with a 20-month wireless agreement and a monthly data plan. The tablet features an 8-inch HD display, a Qualcomm Snapdragon 1.5GHz octa-core processor, and integrated 4G LTE, WiFi and Bluetooth connectivity.
The new tablet, which is made for AT&T by ZTE, will be available starting Aug. 5, according to an announcement by AT&T. The device, which is also available for a one-time payment of $150 without a contract, can be purchased under an AT&T Installment Plan for $7.50 per month for 20 months with an eligible mobile plan, according to the company.
The ZTE Trek 2 HD runs on Android 6.0 Marshmallow and features 2GB of memory, 16GB of built-in storage for music, photos, documents and more, a microSD card slot that accepts cards with up to 128GB of additional storage and dual front-facing speakers with Dolby audio.
The tablet also features a five-megapixel rear camera and a front-facing camera, as well as a 4,600mAh rechargeable battery, quick charging capabilities and a USB-C connector. The machine is 8.46 inches wide, 4.92 inches tall, 0.35 inches thick and weighs 12.8 ounces. The battery will provide up to 10.5 hours of use on a charge, according to AT&T and ZTE.
The machine also includes an app that allows users to watch videos from their favorite channels on DirecTV with a subscription. AT&T acquired DirecTV in July 2015 for $48.5 billion, according to an earlier eWEEK story.
“The Trek 2 HD is designed specifically with entertainment in mind, so you can enjoy your favorite video content when you’re on-the-go,” Jeff Bradley, senior vice president of device and network services marketing for AT&T, said in a statement. “Whether you’re a regular traveler with extra time on your hands for a TV show, or you want to see the latest sports highlights from the comfort of your couch, the Trek 2 HD provides a high quality video experience for less than a dollar with a two-year agreement.”
The latest Trek 2 HD tablet follows the original ZTE Trek HD tablet which was launched by AT&T in May of 2015 as a more affordable alternative to pricier major-brand tablets.
The original Trek HD ran an unmodified version of Google Android 5.0 and had a basic black design that was built to be reliable and affordable.
Both the new Trek 2 HD and the original Trek HD can run all of Google’s standard services, from Chrome to Gmail, Google Apps and much more.
The new model has longer expected battery life than the original version, which only had battery life of about 5.5 hours.
The original Trek HD was priced at $200 for users who wanted to purchase it without a two-year contract.