The Acer Iconia A1 tablet is no iPad/iPad Mini killer, but it does not set out to be one. From the laptop powerhouse Acer, A1 is a simple tablet, a budget tablet if you will (at Rs 27,000) with a clean design and an uncomplicated interface. Powered by a Quad Core 1.2 GHz processor and a 1GB RAM, the A1 is a tablet capable of breezing through graphics intensive games, HD videos and multiple web pages.
Running on the Android Jellybean Operating Software (4.2.2), Acer has chosen to go with a clean interface with no bloatware, although this is fully customisable in terms of apps and widgets available from the Google Play Store to suit your needs. While the screen resolution of 1024 pixels x 768 pixels is not the best, the display is still sharp and texts, pictures, games, and videos (especially HD) look good on the 7.9 inch LCD screen.
The A1 is available with on board storage of 16GB, although approximately 12GB is available to you in reality because of the space taken up by the operating system and pre-installed applications, which is the same for all tablets and computers. To account for your extra storage needs, a MicroSD Memory Slot is included, which supports memory cards up to 32GB. A1 is also equipped with a micro HDMI out option which lets you watch movies, look at photos, and browse web pages on your HDTVs.
The 0.3 MP front facing camera is fine for Skype, while the 5MP rear camera is decent for taking pictures and recording HD videos at 1080p. Battery life of around eight hours on full charge also works in the favour of the A1, while regular tablet features like Bluetooth 4.0, Wifi, GPS, accelerometer, GPS, etc are all included. However, the lonely speaker at the back of the tablet is a massive disappointment: even when the sound is increased to maximum, the volume is inadequate.
All in all, A1 is a capable tablet, which knows its limitations. It’s not the quickest, neither the best designed, nor does it boast the best screen resolution. But it works. It works because the A1 is a well balanced tablet with regards to price, performance, and features.
Yantrick’s Verdict: Certainly for those on a budget, but in search of a branded tablet.
Dimension 8.22 x 5.74 x 0.44 inches
Display screen: 7.9 inches
Weight: 410 grams
Resolution: 1024 x 768 pixels
Pixel density: 162 ppi
Operating system: Android OS, v4.2 (Jelly Bean)
Processor: Quad core, 1200 MHz, Cortex-A7
System memory: 1024MB RAM
Built-in storage: 8GB