India’s First 3G Tablet, Designed for Real Impact
Our Solution
How we designed and developed the first 7” Android tablet out of India
The Result
A carefully balanced blend of industrial design and mechanical engineering to realise an entry level Android tablet out of India
The Story
Back in the early 2010s, the Android tablet market was flooded with budget 7″ devices that underwhelmed consumers. Recognizing a clear gap, the Ari brand emerged through a strategic partnership between Bang Design and Innominds—then a Qualcomm licensee—to deliver a truly user-friendly, India-made tablet. Innominds engineered Ari as India’s first 3G-powered tablet, built around Qualcomm chipsets, aimed at both consumer and enterprise users.
THE CHALLENGE
Real Constraints, Real Opportunities
The Ari brand was nascent and constrained by the use of stock Commercial-Off-the-Shelf (COTS) components rather than bespoke modules. Still, the goal was bold: to create a compact, elegantly designed tablet with market-leading ergonomics and functional latency—not just comply with limitations, but transform them into differentiators.
THE SOLUTION
Design That Speaks to the Grip and the Gaze
Sculpted for Comfort
Bang Design reimagined the 7″ tablet form. The double-bell profile—an exposed chassis morphing into the back cover—creates a device that nestles naturally in both portrait and landscape grip positions.
Surface That Reflects Sophistication
The exposed chassis received multiple paint layers engineered to reflect light subtly—making even slight tilts reflect design intent. The rear surface was finished with bright, rubberized paint, ideal for the Indian market where slipping devices are a common frustration.
Engineering That Supports Form and Function
Using PTC Creo, the design-to-engineering workflow remained seamless. That precision let the Ari hold a high-capacity battery supporting more than a day of use, and a loud, front-facing speaker for immersive sound in a slim shell.
Added Layer of Capability: Enterprise-Grade Features
Innominds didn’t just stop at the consumer experience—they elevated Ari with enterprise-grade capabilities:
- Biometric Security: Models of the Ari tablet incorporated iris scanners for fast, secure access.
- Remote Device Management: Built-in MDM (Mobile Device Management) platforms helped enterprises manage apps, data, and security remotely.
IMPACT
A Tablet That Was Made in India, and Made for the World
Ari stood out not only for its design elegance but also for its India-first engineering pedigree. As Innominds declared: “Ari is a young and dynamic brand… credited to be the first ‘Made in India’ 3G tablet of the world,” available in multiple screen sizes, vibrant colors, and tailored for both education and enterprise use.
It demonstrated that local innovation, thoughtful ergonomics, and robust engineering can create global-grade products—even from a start-up brand.
Why Ari Matters
| Element | Why It Stands Out |
|---|---|
| Design with Empathy | Double-bell profile + tactile finishes make it comfortable and unique |
| Engineering for Use | Powered by Creo: long battery life, quality sound in a slim form factor |
| Enhanced Security | Iris scanner adds trust and enterprise readiness |
| Made in India, Aimed at the World | Designed locally, stands globally—reflects rise in domestic capabilities |