As the Linux laptops market heats up, there is still one missing piece of the puzzle: Linux tablets. JingPad is aiming to fill that void with the JingPad A1 2-in-1 convertible, which is aiming to become the "world's first consumer-level Linux tablet."
JingPad A1: Linux Tablet for the Masses?
Let's start with the specs. The JingPad A1 is a 2-in-1 convertible device, allowing you to switch between tablet mode and a standard laptop configuration. As it is a 2-in-1, you're not bound to either option, and you can remove the keyboard while using tablet mode for a true portable tablet experience.
Powering the JingPad A1 is a Unisoc Tiger SoC featuring four ARM Cortex-A75 cores with clock speed up to 2GHz, and four ARM Cortex-A55 cores with a clock speed up to 1.8GHz. The chip itself is believed to be the Unisoc Tiger T710, which, if correct, is a very competent SoC that competes with the Snapdragon 800 series chips and Huawei's 800 series chips in certain areas.
Particularly of note is the 11-inch AMOLED display, which has a 2K, 2,368x1,728 resolution screen, using a 4:3 aspect ratio. The 2K will appear sharp and crisp, making working, design, and gaming on the JingPad A1 easy and perhaps even enjoyable.
Also included is 128GB storage, which is decent enough, and 6GB RAM, which should be plenty enough to run multiple applications without encountering performance issues. There's also a 16MP single-lens rear camera and an 8MP front-facing camera.
One big question for tablets and laptops is battery life, which the JIngPad A1 appears to have in spades. The 8,000mAh battery should last a considerable period without requiring a charge, depending on your working habits, of course. The tablet itself will weigh less than 500g (the iPad Pro weighs just under 700g for reference), and it is only 6.9mm thick.
JingPad A1 Will Run JingOS
Adding to the mix is JingOS, a Linux distro developed specifically for tablet hardware. JingOS features native support for Linux and Android apps and works with touch inputs and stylus inputs. It's a Linux distro based upon Ubuntu, which means you'll be able to run all of your regular Linux apps, while the JingOS visual style is similar to iOS.
The big question is, does the world need a Linux-based tablet? Can a product like the JingPad A1 carve out a specific niche in the crowded marketplace of Chromebooks and iPads to find an audience of its own?
With Chrome OS now offering extensive support for Linux apps, and Apple catering to the top-end of the market, the JingPad A1 could struggle to reach enough people outside of those that will buy this tablet as an interesting piece of hardware, rather than something entirely functional.
Still, time will tell, and as the company has yet to reveal the JingPad A1's price, it is difficult to say whether or not it will sink or swim.