Acer Iconia B1-A71 Tablet Review
Acer's Iconia B1 tablet is a 7-inch device with specs that screm budget-friendly. It comes with a 1.2 GHz dual-core processor, 512 MB of RAM and Android 4.1, making us suspect that it will be a sub-$200 device. We are expecting a CES or MWC announcement, so stay tuned.
Cameras & Multimedia
Entry-level tablets usually do not sport useful cameras and Acer is no exception. More than a VGA sensor with 0.3 megapixels is not possible. Its position on the front clearly shows that it is not to replace a digital camera, but that is simply to provide the possibility of making the odd video call.
Communication & GPS
Acer's entry-level tablet is innately well-equipped for wireless communication. Wi-Fi standard 802.11 b/g/n and Bluetooth 4.0 are the latest standards. It is no surprise that Acer does not install a dual-Wi-Fi antenna for 2.4 and 5 GHz networks in view of the price range. Many providers omit a GPS sensor, but fortunately Acer does not. While the Wi-Fi adapter works reliably and enables a sufficient range, the GPS sensor is not one of the strengths of Acer's Iconia B1. The initial sat-fix needs over a minute even outdoors.
Connectivity
In contrast to higher priced tablets from the mid and premium range, the configuration of Acer's Iconia B1 looks rather scanty at first. However, this looks different when the extremely low retail price of mere EUR 120 is considered. A Cortex A9 based dual-core processor is not seen often in this price range. 512 MB of memory and 8 GB of internal storage are also appropriate especially since the latter can inexpensively be expanded up to 32 GB via a microSD card.
Case
Acer's Iconia B1 does not belong to the smallest 7 inch tablets with a size of 197.4 and 128.5 millimeters in width and length. It is height of 11.3 millimeters also towers over some contenders. It is not least due to its weight of 320 grams that the B1 is very comfortable to hold. Consequently, it places itself in the midfield of 7 inch tablets.
Accessories
Trivial - everything else would be exaggerated when looking at the included accessories. Apart from the compulsory PSU and micro USB cord, which is also used for recharging, merely a quite comprehensive quick start guide and warranty conditions in paper form are found in the box.
Warranty
Acer includes a 12 month warranty on its entry-level tablet, which optionally covers "International Travelers". In Germany, a 24 month statutory warranty is also included.
Display
7 inches is the current trend for tablets. The leaders Apple and Google paved the way with their iPad Mini and Nexus 7 tablets for the current hype around this device category, which are both genuine premium tablets within different price ranges. Google's Nexus 7 excels with its HD resolution despite the low price. The iPad cannot compete with that and Acer's Iconia B1-A71 remains discreetly in the background with 1024 x 600 displayed pixels. This WSVGA resolution leads to a rather unusual aspect ratio of 17:10. The pixel density is merely 170 ppi. For comparison: Google's Nexus 7 achieves a rate of 216 ppi, which is good 27 percent more. Remarkably, the 162 ppi of Apple's iPad Mini does not come close to Acer's entry-level device although it is three times as expensive.
Performance
The buyer cannot expect a high-performance machine for EUR 120. However, when drawing parallels to the automotive sector, the buyer must get a sufficiently motorized vehicle that can deal with normal, everyday requirements in all situations even in the entry-level sector. That should not be different for tablets. Our experience however has taught us the opposite the odd time.
Energy Management Power Consumption
According to Acer, a 2720 mAh lithium ion battery is installed in the tablet. Thus, the battery belongs to the smaller ones in the 7 inch tablet sector. The power consumption in different load scenarios is crucial for the battery life though. The B1 sooner presented itself from its energy-efficient side in idle. A power consumption between 1.2 and 3.1 watts do not indicate big energy hunger. For comparison, Apple's iPad Mini consumes up to 5.6 watts here. However, it also features a much brighter screen.
Entry-level tablets usually do not sport useful cameras and Acer is no exception. More than a VGA sensor with 0.3 megapixels is not possible. Its position on the front clearly shows that it is not to replace a digital camera, but that is simply to provide the possibility of making the odd video call.
Communication & GPS
Acer's entry-level tablet is innately well-equipped for wireless communication. Wi-Fi standard 802.11 b/g/n and Bluetooth 4.0 are the latest standards. It is no surprise that Acer does not install a dual-Wi-Fi antenna for 2.4 and 5 GHz networks in view of the price range. Many providers omit a GPS sensor, but fortunately Acer does not. While the Wi-Fi adapter works reliably and enables a sufficient range, the GPS sensor is not one of the strengths of Acer's Iconia B1. The initial sat-fix needs over a minute even outdoors.
Connectivity
In contrast to higher priced tablets from the mid and premium range, the configuration of Acer's Iconia B1 looks rather scanty at first. However, this looks different when the extremely low retail price of mere EUR 120 is considered. A Cortex A9 based dual-core processor is not seen often in this price range. 512 MB of memory and 8 GB of internal storage are also appropriate especially since the latter can inexpensively be expanded up to 32 GB via a microSD card.
Case
Acer's Iconia B1 does not belong to the smallest 7 inch tablets with a size of 197.4 and 128.5 millimeters in width and length. It is height of 11.3 millimeters also towers over some contenders. It is not least due to its weight of 320 grams that the B1 is very comfortable to hold. Consequently, it places itself in the midfield of 7 inch tablets.
Accessories
Trivial - everything else would be exaggerated when looking at the included accessories. Apart from the compulsory PSU and micro USB cord, which is also used for recharging, merely a quite comprehensive quick start guide and warranty conditions in paper form are found in the box.
Warranty
Acer includes a 12 month warranty on its entry-level tablet, which optionally covers "International Travelers". In Germany, a 24 month statutory warranty is also included.
Display
7 inches is the current trend for tablets. The leaders Apple and Google paved the way with their iPad Mini and Nexus 7 tablets for the current hype around this device category, which are both genuine premium tablets within different price ranges. Google's Nexus 7 excels with its HD resolution despite the low price. The iPad cannot compete with that and Acer's Iconia B1-A71 remains discreetly in the background with 1024 x 600 displayed pixels. This WSVGA resolution leads to a rather unusual aspect ratio of 17:10. The pixel density is merely 170 ppi. For comparison: Google's Nexus 7 achieves a rate of 216 ppi, which is good 27 percent more. Remarkably, the 162 ppi of Apple's iPad Mini does not come close to Acer's entry-level device although it is three times as expensive.
The buyer cannot expect a high-performance machine for EUR 120. However, when drawing parallels to the automotive sector, the buyer must get a sufficiently motorized vehicle that can deal with normal, everyday requirements in all situations even in the entry-level sector. That should not be different for tablets. Our experience however has taught us the opposite the odd time.
Energy Management Power Consumption
According to Acer, a 2720 mAh lithium ion battery is installed in the tablet. Thus, the battery belongs to the smaller ones in the 7 inch tablet sector. The power consumption in different load scenarios is crucial for the battery life though. The B1 sooner presented itself from its energy-efficient side in idle. A power consumption between 1.2 and 3.1 watts do not indicate big energy hunger. For comparison, Apple's iPad Mini consumes up to 5.6 watts here. However, it also features a much brighter screen.
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