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Utopia Apad iMX515 – A well-performing 8-Inch Android tablet for 230$ – aka HiApad iMX515
Utopia Apad iMX515 - A well-performing 8-Inch Android tablet for 230$ - aka HiApad iMX515
Utopia Tech from Shenzhen was one of the companies that manufactured the iRobot aka Apad 2808 aka Moonse E7001, I think the where the real manufacturers of that 7-Inch device with the Rockchip RK2808 processor I presented you in an other article. Only two weeks ago, Utopia announced a new device. It’s the successor of the Apad RK2808, the Apad iMX515. The name indicates that it was built on a Freescale iMX515 platform, we have already seen in the Lifepad 3G and on the prototype of Innoversal’s Lattice tablet.
Let’s have a look at the Apad iMX515:
Looks well known? Seems to be a very similar housing as the Apad RK2808 had… (in terms of shape but also quality 
)
…it runs Froyo 2.2 and supports Flash 10.1…
…and they say it is capable to run games (which the Apad RK2808 was not really made for)
…no USB, but a 30-pin connector…
Here are the specifications. Note, that they may not be complete. Some features could be optional, some could be missing:
| Specifications | Utopia Apad iMX515 |
|---|---|
| Processor | Freescale iMX515 Cortex A8 at 800 Mhz |
| RAM | 512MB DDR2 |
| Screen | 8-Inch / 800 x 600 / LCD / single touch / resistive |
| Storage | 4GB integrated microSDHC / up to 32GB expansion through microSDHC |
| A/V In | integrated microphone / maybe optional camera (they reserved a place for a cam) |
| A/V Out | 3.5mm headphone jack / integrated 0.5W stereo speakers |
| Network | Wifi (802.11 b/g) |
| Connectors | 30pin connector / 3.5 mm Audio jack / (USB seems to be missing/replaced with the 30-pin connector) |
| Sensors | G-Sensor |
| Battery | 3900mah (4hrs wifi according to Hiapad) |
| Extras | Froyo 2.2 (supports Flash 10.1) / |
| Dimensions & Weight | 209×161.5×14mm / 480g (others say 1.2 KG (!) with battery pack) |
| Price Range | Starting from 230$ |
| Manufacturer | Utopia Tech / Hiapad (english company blog) |
| aka | HiApad iMX515 / Apad iMX515 / Xpad X8 / Freescale imx515 mid |
After the 7-Inch Apad RK2808 was an obvious success, even if it was not very snappy, Utopia tries to upgrade their product line with the Apad iMX515. The Freescale plattform they have chosen seems to be pretty well performing (see videos at bottom of this post). RAM should be just enough. Regarding a possible price of 230$ there is not much to carp.
Of course, they could integrate a capacitive multitouch screen with a better resolution, they could have more sensors, they could have a SIM slot for 3G connections, they could have a high-res webcam and many more features, but that would make the device much more expensive. The Apad iMX515 is cheap, but it’s processing power should be OK. It could be used as a home device.
I am still looking for more information about these missing features. Maybe there will be optional features in future, like a webcam (there is reserved space for that), 3G and a capacitive touchscreen. I’ll keep you updated…
Let’s see some videos of the Apad iMX515. How Flash 10.1 performs:
Showing specs and Froyo 2.2:
3D Gaming:
Playing Angry Birds (one of my favorite games on the phone):
ATTENTION: Be careful, if you like to buy such a device. There are and there will be a lot of very similar looking devices with different hardware, all coming more or less directly from China. Know what you want and what is sold. If you order one of these devices somewhere, check if you really got what you have paid for. Check processor, RAM and ROM capacity right after opening the box. And the most important: Only order from good sources, if possible through an escrow payment.
Some more pictures of the Apad iMX515:
Great info regarding this product. We are ordering this device into our inventory and will start shipping this month. Stay tuned!
Hello,
If it is really the Utopia tablet, then you might find it in on hiapad.com, that seems to be their site…
But I wonder why you want to upgrade the software. Is it not working properly?
Hi we bought two of these and are looking at importing them to South Africa, but the ones we have need to be reloaded, where can I download the Firmware for this unit in order for us to complete our evaluation. We have the 8″ unit with 512 mb ram and 800 MHZ processor
Regards
Eugene
I don’t think that this is a bug. It’s most probably just a lousy and cheap touch screen. What you pay, is what you get. Anyway, thanks for sharing your experience with us!
Rgds, Admin
Do not buy this tablet. Touch screen is really bad, can’t drag icons, can’t type well on it. Screen shakes when you try to drag icons or touch the link in the browser, or play games. I emailed utopia support and they never responded, neither seller on ebay will admit that there is a problem with it.
I have the same problem with the screen – really bad – and also with the version of Android it does not carry all the Android 2.2 functionally so beware if you buy one. Some standard Android market apps dont work – like face book – poor calendar and contacts do not sync – no support from manufacturer.
It’s no too bad, the screen in not good but usable. But it’s fast and everythink I dowload from market works. I had other tablet and this is the best for ram and CPU. Hope next genartion with capacitive screen.
hi all remember ………what you pay is what you ……….get
i get one utopia tab 2 days before
the touch is really bad my zt180 is much better 10 times or more.wifi sometimes work some other not .its not a good choice.if you try to play gem games its not good if you want to read books its ok.if you want to see movies i choose zt-180 10” same price better touch better quality better sound
michael from preveza greece
and the 3d preinstalled game is not respond correct when you move the pad .the calibration need to try 5 times to be ok at the corners its ok in the midle is not ok………im so unhappy for this
Hi, I just got my Utopia pad running Android 2.2 Froyo. The screen works very well but many apps like office installed don’t. Open office does run, and themes etc work ok. There is No GPS even though the pad believes there is!
It works great but be aware many settings do not stay as this is a SDK developement kit installed! it does have full root which is useful, but due to settings not being kept or the lack of the GPS means its only useful running on Wifi.
I don’t believe any of the pads currently on sale in the UK would be better but maybe the GPS would work.
I hope Utopia release a full complete image for the device as it is fast.
Hi Mark,
Could you tell me please where you’ve found and buy yours..? Are specifications the same as here: http://www.utopiacn.com/eng/product.html ?
Thanks!
Hi Julien,
I did not buy one of these, but the one described in the artice is exactly the one on your website. That seems to be the official Utopia website. They are also running the hiapad.com – blog. rgds, Admin
i’d really like to try this pad. I’m afraid about the battery…4h is not so much..what do u think about?
hello ,
My apad 8″ digitizer has been broken , need help , please let me know where can i get it ….?
My IMX515 8″ Utopia pad works great. Much faster than than the two 7″ 256k pads my co-workers have. I don’t use it with a phone, just the wifi and it finds hotspots and configures itself quickly. I have no problems typing on the screen or scrolling. The scrolling is not perfect but works well with the right pressure. Would like to have had at least one USB 2.0 i/o but I can easily live with the 30 pin to USB adapters that it came with. I’m not sure why others are having screen problems, possibly a different version, but I do know they have a built in tool to recalibrate the screen. I haven’t had to recalibrate mine but I did someone else’s and it resolved their problems. I may want to load some movies on a micro sd but not sure what format will work best.