Skip to main content

Game on! 7-inch Wikipad tablet available this spring for $250

wikipad
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Gamers on the go, your day is almost upon us. After delaying the release of its planned 10-inch tablet, Wikipad is instead leading off with its smaller offering. The 7-inch Wikipad tablet/game controller hybrid will be the first of its family to hit the market. It will first be available later this spring.

The 7-inch version of the tablet made with gamers in mind will come priced at $250. Running Android 4.1 Jelly Bean, the device can be broken down to just its screen so it can operate as a standard Android tablet. Perhaps most exciting about the internals of the Wikipad is its processor, a Nvidia Tegra 3 quad-core that will give gamers plenty of power. Built with 16GB of internal memory and equipped with a microSD slot, the device will be able to hold a decent amount of data from your favorite games. Content from partners like PlayStation Mobile, Big Fish Games, Nvidia’s TegraZone, Google Play, OnLive, and more guarantee continuous action that will distract you from all the things you should really be doing. 

Recommended Videos

Though no official day has been picked for its launch, the 7-inch Wikipad will be available in the spring of the year, a significant delay from its planned launch in October of 2012. Manufacturing issues have delayed its appearance, but now that it’s almost here we might see just how big the mobile gaming market is. What should probably be noted is the most popular mobile games like Angry Birds or Cut the Rope have no use for a control pad. While some FPS or sports titles might feel more at home with a familiar joystick under the players thumb, this tablet will likely be underutilized by casual gamers. This is for the traditional players out there that start to twitch when their console controller is missing from the palms of their hands.

AJ Dellinger
AJ Dellinger is a freelance reporter from Madison, Wisconsin with an affinity for all things tech. He has been published by…
The best free-to-play mobile games
Marvel Snap running on the OnePlus Nord N30 5G.

The realm of mobile gaming has come a long way since the days when you were lucky if you could play a game of Snake on your brick of a phone. Today, we all have essentially a modern console in our pockets with games that look and play just as good as what is offered on current consoles. Unlike the console or PC space, mobile games have mostly stuck to either being extremely cheap or simply free-to-play. While that sounds great on the surface, it also means that the storefronts are filled with thousands of games looking for your attention, with only a select few worthy of your time. If you're looking for your next mobile go-to with no upfront cost, here are the best free-to-play mobile games you may never delete from your home screen.

Honkai: Star Rail

Read more
The best gaming tablets for 2023
New Apple Ipad Mini Gaming.

Tablets can be used for just about anything in 2023: web browsing, productivity, video creation, and more. Tablets are also great for gaming, and these days, they're pretty incredible at it.

What makes a good gaming tablet? You'll want a high-quality display, a fast processor, reliable battery life, and a design that's comfortable to hold during long gaming sessions. A good gaming tablet doesn't guarantee you'll be at the top of the leaderboards in Call of Duty: Mobile and easily defeat opponents in Marvel Snap, but it sure will make your games more enjoyable.

Read more
The best emulators for Android: consoles and arcade games
android games

The overwhelming popularity of smartphones may have led to a renaissance of sorts for a lot of classic games -- but ports don't always live up to the nostalgic glory of the original. If you're craving some gaming action from yesteryear, then consider installing an emulator. You can find plenty of Android emulators in the Google Play Store, just in case you want to bring your old consoles back to life. Thanks to assiduous accessory makers, you can also pair a lot of these emulators with Android gaming controllers rather than using the on-screen buttons. We've listed some of the best free and affordable emulators for Android below.
Are emulators legal?
Yes. Emulators are legal to download and use, but you should exercise caution with games. There's a lot of abandonware readily available, so you can often find public domain games to play without legal worry. However, ROMs pulled from game cartridges and discs are illegal to obtain if you don't own a physical copy. For instance, you can get in legal hot water if a copy of Super Mario 64 is discovered on your PC and you don't own a Nintendo 64 console or a copy of the game.

Downloading or offloading a game you currently own isn't a problem -- just don't distribute it. Collecting games you don't own is considered piracy. Some emulators will also require you to provide the BIOS, which can also be illegal unless you also own the console.
Added bonus for Chromebooks
Most modern Chromebooks support Google Play, so you can install Android-based emulators as you would on any other Android device. The downside is that you might not have a touchscreen, and emulators may not have the necessary tools to convert mouse and keyboard input. You will likely need a wired controller like the PS3 DualShock 3, Xbox 360, or Nintendo Switch Pro. The upside is that, in most cases, you can play in fullscreen mode.

Read more