The success of the Google Nexus 7 just proves that consumers are interested in affordable tablets, even if they may be somewhat lacking when it comes to hardware. It’s not that the Nexus 7 is surely lacking hardware, as it does pack quite a punch for the $200 price tag, but there are certainly omissions. The Nexus 7, for example, has no front or rear camera both of which were excluded to keep the cost relatively little.

Of course, most consumers could care less about a camera on a tablet and validation of that fact can be attributed to the success of devices like the Kindle Fire and Nook Tablet.

When news of a new, and affordable, Android offering reaches our ears we’re always excited to go digging for more. Cue the Matrix One, a low-cost 7″ Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich) tablet that offers quite a bit for the $99 price.

Introducing The Matrix One

Under the hood, the Matrix One is powered by a 1.5GHz Cortex A8 Processor combined with either 512MB or 1GB of installed RAM (depending on the model chosen). Consumers also have the option to purchase a cheaper 4GB version or upgrade to a more expensive model with 16GB of internal storage. The Matrix One also includes a microSD card slot for storage expansion in excess of 32GB total.

Of course, the One also includes a front facing 2MP camera, which is a lovely feature to have, one that some more expensive tablets are lacking. Considering the Matrix One is much cheaper than a lot of offerings on the market, it’s not a feature one would expect in a low-cost tablet like this.

Other Matrix One features include a mini HDMI output (1080p), a full size USB port, a 3.5mm headphone jack, a microphone, a gyroscope and an accelerometer. Oh, and shame on us for forgetting to mention the integrated Wi-Fi 802.11 functionality, which is obviously necessary.

Where Has The Biggest Sacrifice Been Made?

Manufacturers offering affordable electronics often make sacrifices in order to keep the cost low. This can lead to sub-par performance for low-cost devices.

In the case of the Matrix One, the biggest sacrifice is the display. When compared to the Nexus 7, the Matrix One has an inferior screen.

The Nexus 7 includes an incredibly rich 7″ display with a maximum resolution of 1280 x 800. In addition, the Nexus is backed by a Nvidia Tegra 3 quad-core processor.

The Matrix One, on the other hand, includes a 7′ display with a maximum resolution of 800 x 480 that has terrible viewing angles. In fact, the viewing angles are so poor that the only way the device can be used is while looking directly at the screen (side and horizontal angle viewing is not possible, meaning you can’t share the tablet). The Matrix One is powered by a lesser 1.5GHz single core processor with no mention of advanced graphics support.

That means most games that require graphics acceleration will probably have trouble running on the Matrix One. That being said, the affordable tablet has more than enough power to run Angry Birds natively; so your little ones can rejoice.

The Matrix One is Available to Purchase Now

The Matrix One is available in four different colors to accommodate various tastes; black, white, pink and blue. It’s also available in two varying models, a 4GB/512MB RAM model for $99 or a 16GB/1GB RAM model for $129.99. Consumers worried about the safety of their device can also purchase a one or two year extended warranty through the official distributor.

Currently there are two accessories available for purchase with the device, one of which is a leather folio case.