bq launches first Windows 8 tablet - meet the stylish and affordable Tesla W8

By Rich Edmonds
last updated

It's no secret that Windows 8 runs beautifully on a tablet and we've got our fair share of products available. European manufacturer bq has now jumped on-board. The company is behind numerous Android smartphones, tablets and other products, but this marks as the first Windows based device released. Say hello to the Tesla W8, bq's first Windows tablet.

The Tesla W8 is a pretty neat tablet going for €329,90. Feature wise, the product has a 10.1-inch IPS display (1280x800 with 150 DPI), 32GB internal storage, 2GB worth of RAM, Intel Atom Z2760 that powers up to 1.8GHz, 6200mAh battery, full Windows 8, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, SD card expansion and even a 2MP front-facing shooter. If that wasn't enough, bq has thrown in compass support.

bq Tesla W8

If you're wondering just how long you'll be able to hold the tablet for, it comes in at only 650g (Dell Venue 8 Pro is 395g), making it possible to perform medium to heavy usage while on the move. Not only that, but the Telsa W8 is only 10.5mm thick.

Unfortunately, there doesn't appear to be any keyboard docking attachment, so we're looking at a basic tablet for those who simply require the touchscreen input - perfect for taking full advantage of the range of apps and games available through the Windows Store itself. For the price, it's not a bad deal at all.

Here's a quick video for the tablet (it's in Spanish, but you're still able to check out exactly what's included):

​You can alter the location on the bq website by using the menu at the bottom of the website (some European markets supported only). The Tesla W8 looks stylish, isn't too heavy on features and accessories, but is accompanied by a fairly attractive price tag. Are you thinking about picking one up?

Who knows, maybe bq will next launch a Windows Phone?

​Source: bq; thanks, Filipe, for the tip!

Rich Edmonds
Rich Edmonds
Senior Editor, PC Build

Rich Edmonds was formerly a Senior Editor of PC hardware at Windows Central, covering everything related to PC components and NAS. He's been involved in technology for more than a decade and knows a thing or two about the magic inside a PC chassis. You can follow him on Twitter at @RichEdmonds.

46 Comments
  • The more the merrier!
  • Last-gen Atom? What a waste...
  • My initial reaction, too!
  • It's a budget tablet with a full Windows 8 license. What did you expect? iPad Air specs?
  • How about specs at least equal to the dell venue 11 pro?
    The price difference is not all too big, and the Dell Venue 11 Pro is still a lot more updated when it comes to spec.
  • More tablets, more options, better choice.
  • Im all for more choices, but I don't see a point to this one. It has a last gen atom but costs more than current atom tablets. Not all CPU refreshes are important, but the clovertrail to baytrail refresh brought a massive performance boost. The other specs are basically the same. So what does this bring to the table?
  • A cheaper tablet with pretty much the best support (right there with Apple). Baytrail tablets sell for $500~550 here.
  • Does a $50 difference really that worth it for lag when watching full HD videos, multitasking, multiple browser tabs, or general desktop application use?
  • Not for me, I'd go for an iPad Mini-r or Surface Pro if I were to buy a tablet. But for the market this tablet is aimed at €50 (~20% of the total cost) really matter. That and the almost flawless support is the reason why it will sell like hotcakes, just the rest of the stuff they're releasing.
  • Looks like Surface...
  • Mistake going with Clover Trail when Bay Trail tablets are here and provide 2x the performance. And that 1280 x 800 screen is low for a 10.1" tablet. This is the kind of device that has given Windows tablets a bad name, less said about it the better.
  • This^. Specs are garbage and price is ridiculous for what it offers. Might as well get the t100 if you want a 10.1 inch...it's like they're not even trying
  • But but but, more choices?
  • True but most won't choose it.
  • Why not?
  • Where I live at, BQ is pretty big. Them launching a Windows 8 device is pretty big, if they would sell a WP that would really push the market share upwards.
  • Are they always this smooth when they announce new technologies?  In America, we get dancers, people jumping from airplanes and a table top chorus line.  You guys BQ is just smooth.
  • Nice.! :D
  • 1280x800 for 10"... nah, my Dell Venue 8 Pro has the same res for 8" Plus specs - not impressed for the price. 
  • Looks really nice, a shame about the screen resolution though. At least make it 1366x768... -_- As for Clovertrail, I've used an Acer W510 this year (and it was my only device for the better part of a month) and it performed admirably, I wouldn't hesitate to give my parents a similar device. Still, the price is all wrong, this is a £220 device, not a £300 one. When the new 8" devices are coming in at £250 and the ASUS T100 (with keyboard) is only £350 you need to bring something that can compete to the table. Still, great to see new Windows OEMs appear, just a shame they're not pushing the boundaries. At a lower price though, this would be a great buy. As an aside, if you're going to compare the weight and size of a tablet it's probably better to go with a similar device. Of course a 10" tablet is going to seem heavy compared to an 8" one...
  • Very sub par. Too bad though MS can't get the ball rolling like this on the phone side.
  • Am I missing something here?  This is a tablet based on yester-year's Atom CPU and a price tag of $450 -- the HP Omni is $400, runs the new Bay Trail Atom and has a 1920x1200 screen.   This bq tablet looks like a piece of crap in comparison...
  • The Omni is $450 here. And the best support is not free.
  • Correction: It's $550. http://www8.hp.com/es/es/products/tablets/product-detail.html?oid=646446...
  • So, you can spend another 70 euro and get a screen with more than twice the fidelity, twice as many CPU cores (each core is significantly faster and more efficient as well), a significantly improved GPU, a rear camera, GPS, HDMI, the list goes on.   That said, really, this thing by bq is a piece of crap.  I understand the need for a budget market, but it really needs to be a budget device with a budget price tag.  Compare the Lumia 521 and the Lumia 1520 -- I consistently see the 520/1 for $60-$80 without a contract.  The 520/1 has significantly fewer features than the 1520, but you also pay significantly less for it.  The bq tab has significantly fewer features and is approaching the price of tablets in the same form factor class that have cutting edge hardware.   Seriously, tablets like this make Windows look bad.  It's 2013 -- using a CPU from 2012 is unacceptable considering we're almost into 2014.  
  • I wouldn't buy an HP tablet even if were 100€ cheaper, most people buy products, not specs. And those 70€ extra means 20% higher price tag, that's a pretty big difference for someone looking for a budget device.
  • Here's another example -- an Asus Transformer Book.  Asus makes quality products and has good support for them.  There's one on the front page of slickdeals right now for $263.  Nearly identical display specs, 64GB SSD and a Bay Trail z3740 Atom. Once again, this "product" is crap -- the Transformer Book blows it away in specs and price and has better accessories.  You could buy the Transformer Book with the keyboard / battery dock and still have $100 left over.  Not sure why you're continually defending this product, but it's garbage.
  • The Transformer Book is €400 here, that's ~20% more expensive. Keep trying.
  • links?  Nothing stopping one from buyin on ebay for a fraction of 400 euro -- from reputable sellers.  Keep trying to defend a company selling an inferior product. 
  • That bezel.
  • It would be good config year ago.
  • It looks nice. I'm still not sold on W8 though.
  • "10.1-inch IPS display (1280x800" No. Just no... NOT 1280x800 on a 10" device as it's simply silly.  
     
  • If it has no keyboard attachment, make it RT. Doesn't make sense going with x86 if you can't get extensive work done with it.
  • Love my T100.
  • Love mine too! AWESOME!
  • Where are the tablets with the 2K-displays?
  • 150 ppi is too low. my DV8P has 188 ppi and that's barely enough. they should've gone with 1920x1200 res. otherwise, not worth a buy.
  • You know 768 vert is good enough on a 10.1"
  • Iconia w510
  • This is the kind if thing that really bugs me with these tech companies. They release a dismally specced product, make it way over priced, then blame Windows when it fails. Its almost like they want this to fail, just so they can go back to Android and tell the world " hey we tried Windows and it sucked, totally wasn't our terribly designed or marketed product that had zero competitive edge whatsoever"
  • How is it overpriced?
  • So, you can spend another 70 euro and get a screen with more than twice the fidelity, twice as many CPU cores (each core is significantly faster and more efficient as well), a significantly improved GPU, a rear camera, GPS, HDMI, the list goes on.   Read my response to your post above -- that's how it's overpriced. $450 for hardware running two years old is way overpriced That said, really, this thing by bq is a piece of crap.  I understand the need for a budget market, but it really needs to be a budget device with a budget price tag.  Compare the Lumia 521 and the Lumia 1520 -- I consistently see the 520/1 for $60-$80 without a contract.  The 520/1 has significantly fewer features than the 1520, but you also pay significantly less for it.  The bq tab has significantly fewer features and is approaching the price of tablets in the same form factor class that have cutting edge hardware.   Seriously, tablets like this make Windows look bad.  It's 2013 -- using a CPU from 2012 is unacceptable considering we're almost into 2014.  
  • Thanks for write the article :D
  • dollar sign please.