The HP TouchPad featured a 9.7-inch display, which was similar in size to Apple’s iPad, making it easy to compare the two devices. The display had a resolution of 1024×768, which was decent at the time but quickly became outdated as tablets with higher-resolution displays began to hit the market. The device had a clean, simple design, with a black bezel surrounding the screen and a smooth, rounded body. At the time of its release, the TouchPad’s design was considered sleek and modern, with soft-touch plastic on the back that made it comfortable to hold.
In terms of hardware, the TouchPad was powered by a 1.2 GHz dual-core processor, which provided decent performance for tasks like web browsing and multimedia consumption. The tablet also had 16GB or 32GB of internal storage, offering enough space for apps, media, and documents. The front-facing camera allowed for video calls, while the rear-facing camera was basic but functional for casual photography.
Despite the solid hardware, the TouchPad didn’t have the same wow factor as the iPad. It lacked the Retina display and the high-end finish that Apple’s tablet offered, and the overall performance of webOS couldn’t compete with the polish of iOS. This gap in hardware and software quality was one of the reasons why many consumers chose to stick with the iPad, despite the TouchPad’s competitive pricing.
The TouchPad also had standard features for the time, including Bluetooth support, Wi-Fi connectivity, and the ability to sync with other HP devices. The device was designed to integrate seamlessly with other HP products, such as printers and PCs, which appealed to HP’s existing customer base. However, these features weren’t enough to make the TouchPad stand out in a crowded market.
Ultimately, the TouchPad’s hardware was solid but unremarkable. It didn’t offer the premium feel or features that many consumers were looking for in a tablet, and its performance wasn’t enough to overcome the more polished offerings from Apple and other companies. While it was a decent product for the price, the HP TouchPad’s hardware couldn’t compete with the more established competitors in the tablet market.
