Why you can trust TechRadar We spend hours testing every product or service we review, so you can be sure you’re buying the best. Find out more about how we test.
Although some manufacturers choose to add custom skins and functions to the open-source Android operating system, Fujitsu has left it largely untouched on the Fujitsu Stylistic M532.
In our opinion this is a sensible idea - by ignoring a custom skin and various bells and whistles in favour of "going native", Fujitsu has left less for the processor to crunch through, and the result is an extremely swift, satisfying experience.
All that has been added, besides the red Fujitsu wallpaper, are a few business-focused apps that reaffirm the target audience for this tablet. The most important of these is a full copy of Norton Tablet Security, complete with a year's subscription.
The app includes an anti-malware scanner, which will make sure any apps you download aren't harbouring embedded viruses - something that is unfortunately now a factor in the Google Play market. The app also offers you web protection for safe browsing and Norton Anti-Theft - which you can access from any web point in order to track your device if it is lost or stolen.
Although you can get this app on any Android tablet, the free year's subscription is a definite sweetener that Fujitsu has thrown in.
Given the tendency (especially from budget manufacturers) to cram hardware full of unnecessary software, the blank canvas of the Fujitsu Stylistic M532 is refreshing. You can press and hold any app you've downloaded to place it on one of the five home screens, and the usual ICS widgets are available for you to customise the tablet any which way you want.
If you plan to use this tablet for a lot of typing, then you'll be glad to hear the on-screen ICS keyboard is as intuitive and comfortable as ever and the reassuring buzz of haptic feedback is nicely balanced for each touch.
During day-to-day usage, the operating system was snappy and responsive. Apps loaded up quickly and we didn't have any trouble with unexpected crashes or force closes.
Another good point of usability was the prompt response from the accelerometer when we swapped from using the Fujitsu Stylistic M532 in landscape to portrait mode. Where we did notice a delay was when loading up HD video from the native YouTube app.
Browser
The Fujitsu Stylistic M532 packs the standard Android browser with Flash compatibility that will benefit anyone who routinely cruises the web or social networks looking for video. However, if you fancy a change from the standard Google offering, you can head to the Google Play store and download any number of alternatives.
The Android browser features tabbed browsing so you can easily swap between several different pages and at any time use the Fujitsu Stylistic M532's multi-touch support to pinch and zoom in on text or pictures.
The Fujitsu Stylistic M532 uses 802.11n Wi-Fi but, as we already mentioned, it also boasts 3G support if you fancy browsing on the move. You'll have to kit the tablet out with a SIM card and data plan to use the 3G, but especially for business users this is an invaluable addition that means you're not at the mercy of coffee shops or hotel lobbies when out and about with this tablet.
Bluetooth connectivity is also present and accounted for, meaning you can attach wireless peripherals to the Fujitsu Stylistic M532 such as headsets for VOIP use.
