Linx Commtiva N700 review

If you’ve got a sneaky suspicion that you’ve seen the Linx Commtiva N700 7in Android tablet before, you’re be right: it’s identical to the Viewsonic ViewPad 7 we reviewed recently. In fairness, the ViewPad is actually the copy, as Viewsonic decided to OEM the Linx product.

Although the two may be physically identical, the pricing couldn’t be further apart, with Linx selling the Commtiva N700 for just over £300 – around £90 cheaper than Viewsonic’s model. That doesn’t quite make Linx’s product the cheapest Android tablet we’ve seen – that’s the Advent Vega – but it is currently the cheapest model with 3G, GPS, Bluetooth and 802.11b/g wireless networking.

That’s quite a feat to get all of these features at this price. Corners have had to be cut along the way, but we’re pleased to say that build quality isn’t one of them. Although the plastic construction can’t compete with the build quality of the Apple iPad, the glossy plastic back and brushed-metal-style surround look great, and the N700 feels tough.

The edges are a little sharp and we prefer the curved corners of the Samsung Galaxy Tab, but the N700 is still comfortable enough to hold in one hand, leaving the other hand free to operate the touchscreen.

A leatherette case ships as standard, so you can carry your tablet around with you without worrying about scratching the screen. It even folds in half and props the tablet up so that you can use it hands-free as a media player.