A ZTE-made Android tablet bearing the model number ZTE K81 has been certified by the United States Federal Communications Commission earlier this week, as evidenced by a set of testing documentation published by the agency on Thursday. The device in question is clearly labeled by the FCC as a tablet, with the federal agency revealing that ZTE’s upcoming product is LTE-enabled and supports Bluetooth 4.2.
No other relevant information on the hardware and capabilities of the device have been provided by the FCC, though a short investigation of its model number yields a range of other details about the upcoming tablet; the ZTE K81 was certified by the Wi-Fi Alliance (WFA) earlier this month, with the standards agency revealing that the tablet was running Android 7.1.1 Nougat at the time of its testing, likely enhanced with ZTE’s proprietary software suite. The model number of the device and the timing of its certifications implies that the product may be a successor to the Trek 2 HD, an AT&T exclusive that was introduced in July 2017 bearing the model number K88. While the K81 may be a slightly downgraded variant of that device given the difference between the two model numbers, it’s likely the opposite given how the 2016 tablet was already a lower mid-range offering.
Since the Trek 2 HD was released as an exclusive for AT&T subscribers, it’s possible that the upcoming device will also be carried by the second largest mobile service provider in the country and no one else. The Chinese consumer electronics manufacturer applied for a regular six-month filing confidentiality period with the FCC, indicating that the ZTE K81 will be introduced no later than November when the FCC will be free to publish real-life images and other specifications of the product. Since the K88 was launched in late July last year, its possible successor may be introduced much sooner than this November. Given ZTE’s product release history in the United States, the newly certified device will likely be an entry-level or a lower mid-range model intended for casual users. More details on the ZTE K81 should be available in the coming months.