AT&T unveiled its first own-brand tablet, called Trek HD, which it described as “a big step forward…in terms of developing affordable products with premium features”.

The company said the device is also the first in its line to ship with Android 5.0 Lollipop preinstalled. But otherwise, the device has a workmanlike set of specifications: it has 5MP rear and 2MP front-facing cameras, 1.6GHz quadcore Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 processor, and 16GB of onboard storage (with microSD expansion slot).

It has an 8-inch HD (1280×800 pixel) screen. LTE and 3G connectivity are onboard, in addition to WiFi.

And the operator also noted that it has “three out of five stars” on its Eco-Rating 2.0 system, which rates the environment and social factors of AT&T-branded handset devices and tablets.

AT&T has not named the manufacturer of the device, although a Chinese partner seems the likely candidate.

Pricing starts from “as low as $49.99 with a two-year agreement” or $10 per month for 20 months with an instalment plan. It can be added to AT&T Mobile Share Value bundled data plans for $10 per month.

Verizon, AT&T’s nearest rival in the US market, has offered an own brand tablet for some time, in the shape of its Ellipsis line. This is notable for being LTE-only, cutting costs related to 3G technology in both hardware and licensing costs.