Tesco will today launch its own brand tablet Hudl as the retailer looks to take on market giants Amazon, Apple and Samsung with the device.

The grocer unveiled the device at a launch event in London this morning.

Hudl has a seven inch HD screen, a 16 gigabyte storage capacity, super-fast 1.5GHz quad-core processor and dual-band Wi-Fi.

It will cost £119 and go on sale next Monday.

The tablet includes access to Tesco’s Blinkbox movies, TV and music as well as Clubcard TV, which offers free films and TV programmes exclusively for Clubcard holders, banking and online shopping.

Hudl comes in four colours and will be available to buy in store and online.

Tesco chief executive Philip Clarke said: “Hudl is a colourful, accessible tablet for the whole family to enjoy. The first stage in our tablet offering, it’s convenient, integrated and easy to use with no compromise on spec. Customers are quite rightly very discerning about the technology they buy so we knew we had to be competitive on all fronts.

“Being online is an increasingly essential part of family life and whilst tablets are on the rise, usage is still quite limited. We feel the time is right for Tesco to help widen tablet ownership and bring the fun, convenience and excitement of tablets to even more customers across the UK. The digital revolution should be for the many, not for the few.”

Tesco is expected to use the Hudl brand to encompass further technology products and accessories.

In a Buy note, Shore Capital analyst Clive Black said: “Quite how the Hudl tablet stands up to the products of the established technology players remains to be seen but we sense it will be important, nay critical, that reviews from those in the know are favourable.

“In a business the size of Tesco, Hudl is not expected to single-handedly move the revenue or profit dial anytime soon or ever. However, if it is well received then it may contribute to what is clearly a hard earned but only very steady self-improvement programme.”

The launch comes as Tesco boss Philip Clarke attempts to turnaround the business amid falling profits at home and abroad. It will report its interim results on October 2.

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