AT&T unveils the Trek HD 4G LTE, its first self-branded Android tablet

AT&T today announced that it will soon begin selling the budget AT&T Trek HD 4G LTE (let’s just call it the Trek HD), the nationwide carrier’s first company-branded tablet. In its press release, the company says the tablet will be available to purchase on their website starting May 12th and in AT&T stores starting May 15th, and notes right in the first sentence, and on multiple other occasions, that it will run Android Lollipop…

AT&T says this tablet is designed as something “to enjoy with others, whether you’re watching a movie with your friends on a road trip, or discussing a document with coworkers.” They go on to highlight the tablet’s eight-inch High Definition display (further details on type of display or PPI are not listed), as well as the ability to create separate user accounts for family and friends, although that feature was built into Android Lollipop and is not exclusive to the Trek HD. From the preview video below it seems that the tablet isn’t running vanilla Android Lollipop, but the skin looks very minimal.

The known specs of the Trek HD are as outlined:

• Camera: 5 megapixel auto focus rear facing camera and 2 megapixel front facing camera
• Operating System: Android 5.0 Lollipop (whether this an early version, like 5.0.2, or a less-buggy one like 5.1.1, we’re not sure)
• Processor: 1.6 GHz Quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 400
• Battery: 4060 mAh Lithium Ion battery for up to 8 hours of power
• Storage: 16 GB (microSD up to 32 GB sold separately)
• Weight: 12 ounces

As you may notice, the Trek HD doesn’t exactly have high-end specs, especially with it packing the lower-end Snapdragon 400 announced back in 2013, but what it does have is a price to match its power. AT&T is selling the device for $49.99 with a two-year tablet service agreement or $10 per month for 20 months with an AT&T Tablet Installment plan (so it’s a $200 tablet with subsidy, really). The company’s senior vice president of Device Marketing and Developer Services was quoted for the release as saying:

“The Trek HD is a big step forward for AT&T in terms of developing affordable products with premium features. Not only is this our first AT&T branded tablet, it’s the first tablet in our entire portfolio with Lollipop already installed, so when you buy the Trek HD you’re getting the most advanced Android operating system at a great value – on the network with the nation’s strongest 4G LTE signal.”

We’ll keep this post updated as we learn more about the device.