Toys R Us launching $150 kid-friendly Android tablet next month

Toys R Us is hoping their newly-announced kid-friendly tablet will make it onto your child’s holiday wish list this year. The company says the proprietary 7-inch Tabeo slate will run a stripped-down version of Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich and include 50 pre-installed apps like books, games and educational-themed programs.

The hardware consists of an unnamed 1GHz processor, 4GB of internal storage expandable via micro SDHC, a front-facing camera, Wi-Fi connectivity and HDMI-out. The tablet also ships with a drop-safe bumper to protect the unit from the inevitable.

The interface is designed with kids in mind although we hear it won’t be as “kiddified” as their previous tablet, the Nabi. Parental controls will allow parents to keep inappropriate content off the device. Toys R Us says it will also offer access to over 6,000 free downloadable apps through their Tabeo Store.

If you’re feeling a bit of déjà vu, that’s to be expected as the Tabeo looks to be a rebranded Archos Arnova Child Pad with a new color scheme and $20 tacked on to the price tag. For reference, the Archos tablet launched in May for just $129.99 with a 1GHz ARM Cortex A8 processor, 1GB of RAM and the same 7-inch display running at 800 x 480 resolution.

Aside from color scheme, the only difference between the two units appears to be the bundled apps and access to the Tabeo Store for additional software.

Toys R Us is accepting pre-orders now through their website with plans to launch the slate on October 1.