JXD’s handheld Android gaming pad start at $160

Nvidia’s Shield is obviously not alone in the rapidly growing portable Android console market. Indeed, manufacturers like the China-based JXD have been selling Android-powered gaming tablets for a number of years, with the latest gaming device from the company slated to hit the streets over the next few months.

According toLiliputing’s Brad Linder, there are two versions of the JXD S7800 tablet. Both are equipped with 7-inch, 1280 x 800 pixel IPS displays, quad-core processors and bear a strong resemblance to a PSP portable.

“[However], neither is quite as powerful as the Nvidia Shield, which packs a Tegra 4 ARM Cortex-A15 quad-core processor, but with prices running around $160 to $170, that’s not a huge surprise,” Linder explained.

The first version of the JXD S7800(B) tablet is powered by Rockchip’s RK3188 ARM Cortex-A9 quad-core processor paired with 2GB of RAM, 8GB of storage and a 5000mAh battery. Additional specs? Android 4.2.2 (Jelly Bean), support for multiple gaming emulators, stereo speakers, front and rear cameras, HDMI output and numerous buttons on the sides and edges of the tablet.

Up next is the JXD S7800A, which is powered by a 1 GHz Allwinner A31 ARM Cortex-A7 quad-core processor and 1GB of RAM.

“The rest of the specs are pretty much the same as those for the Rockchip model. I’m not really sure why you’d bother buying this model, considering it’s only $10 less,” Linder added.

Both JXD S7800 gaming tablets are expected to ship in late August or early September. The JXD S7800B is available for $170 here, while the JXD S7800A can be purchased here for $160.