Chinese smartphone maker Xiaomi showcased its first tablet Thursday, challenging established rivals Apple and Samsung.

The MiPad comes in six colors and has a 7.9 inch screen, the same size as an iPad mini. It is equipped with wireless internet, cameras on the front and back, and a built-in memory capacity of either 16 gigabytes or 64 gigabytes.

Still, the device, priced at 1,499 yuan (176 euros, $240), is cheaper than a comparable iPad Mini or Samsung Galaxy Tab.

Launch date not yet set

An initial version of the tablet would be available for testing by the public in mid-June, said Xiaomi's founder Lei Jun at a launch event in Beijing. A release date and sales targets have not yet been set.

The privately held Xiaomi sold about 20 million smartphones in China in 2013, a number it expects to double in 2014.

Its cheap yet sleek phones have garnered popularity in China, the world's largest smartphone market.

rs/hg (Reuters, dpa)