Design and Build Quality

As you can see, the Onda V919 Air is an iPad clone, it features the same form factor and screen resolution.

Measuring 240 x 170 x 8mm (9.43 x 6.68 x 0.31 inches), the tablet is a hair thicker than the iPad Air, and tips the scales at 496g (1.1lbs).

Like the iPad, the Onda features an aluminium body, but there are a few differences. Obviously you don’t get the same level of precision craftsmanship, which is especially evident on the milled speaker grilles.

At the top you’ll find another item you won’t see on an iPad – a removable plastic flap which houses two antennas.

It offers easy access to the microSD and SIM slots. The Micro USB connector is at the bottom, while the 3.5mm audio plug is at the top.

The right side houses the volume rocker, reset button and power button. The rocker and power button are crafted from one piece of white plastic. There’s nothing wrong with using plastic for such components on a device like this, but the buttons feel cheap, in contrast to the thick aluminium body.

Speaking of the aluminium shell, the finish is quite good and the device feels very robust. There’s no flex, no squeaks or creaks. Our only complaint involves the milled speaker grilles, which are not exactly symmetrical. It’s not a huge deal, provided you don’t suffer from OCD, but it clearly shows the Onda was built to a budget.

The 9.7-inch screen comes with a preinstalled screen protector and we were unable to find out what sort of glass Onda used. The screen protector suggests we are not looking at a top notch solution like Gorilla Glass, but this is understandable in this price range. The capacitive home button houses a blue LED.

Overall, the Onda feels quite good compared to most cheap Android and Windows tablets we came across. The iPad-esque design might be a turnoff for some people, but the 9.7-inch 4:3 form factor has been around for years and we can’t blame Onda for using it. Even google switched to 4:3 in the 9-inch Nexus 9 tablet, and there is really not much one can do to differentiate tablets in this form factor.