The Android tablet landscape has drastically changed since the debut of
the less-than-fantastic Motorola Xoom, with the likes of Samsung, Sony,
and Asus bringing high-end offerings to the market. We’ve also seen the
low-end tablet market explode, with dozens of affordable Android tablets
available today. One such tablet is Acer’s Iconia A1, which brings with
it a serviceable set of specifications at the very low price of $180.
Hardware
Mike Homnick
The Acer Iconia A1 ships with an 8-inch IPS display with a resolution of
1024x768, giving the tablet a measly pixels-per-inch (PPI) of 160, but
this is to be expected from a tablet of this caliber. Still, the display
on the A1 has decent viewing angles and color saturation, so not all is
lost.
While a tablet’s display leads the charge for the consumer experience,
the Iconia A1 has more going for it. Shipping with a 1.6GHz dual-core
Intel Atom Z2560 processor, 1GB RAM, 16GB internal storage and 4,000 mAh
battery, the innards found on the A1 are expected, given its low price
point. Rounding out the specifications, you’ll find a 2 megapixel
front-facing camera, 5 megapixel rear camera and dual speakers.
As far as performance is concerned, the A1 feels snappy enough. The
Intel Atom processor really is the highlight of the tablet, and I found
no lag inhibiting the overall experience, though it’s not the most
responsive tablet I’ve handled.
Given that the battery on the Iconia A1 is only slightly larger than the
battery on some of the newer really big smartphones today, the battery
life is your standard affair. It’ll last you a few days with moderate
use, maybe more.
Designed by team Afterthought
Mike Homnick
The Iconia A1’s design is painfully simple, and it’s easy enough to see
that Acer was looking to go with a design that’s very reminiscent of the
Apple iPad. So much so, in fact, that it seems a bit silly. The
ultra-clean face of the tablet gives way to an aluminum rear side that
looks nice enough, but is ultimately uninspiring. The subtle, chamfered
edges that meet the plastic bezel on the front side do little to show
that Acer put a lot of thought into the A1’s design. I can’t say that
this is a bad looking tablet, but it just doesn’t stand out in any way.
A solid, durable tablet
The A1 feels solid in the hands, and the aluminum backside gives it a
nice and sturdy feel. Holding the A1 in one hand is possible, but you’ll
likely find yourself using this tablet with two. With an 8 inch
display, we wish that Acer had made the display a little taller than
wider, which would allow users with smaller hands to hold the device
more comfortably. Doing this also could help prevent it from slipping
out of the hands. Luckily, the A1 could likely take a tumble and remain
relatively unscathed.
Straightforward but aging software
Mike Homnick
On the software side, Acer has done little to differentiate itself from
the stock Android experience, save for a few custom widgets and
applications, and some may like this. The Android 4.2.2 Jelly
Bean-toting tablet comes with custom video, gallery, and music
applications pre-installed, along with the Google counterparts. Amazon’s
own app store is also pre-installed, as well as some choice app picks,
like 7digital, Accuweather, Dropbox, and Evernote.
So, what’s it like to actually use it? With no genuine standout features
or software customization, the A1 feels a bit like a Nexus tablet. One
that’s stuck with Android 4.2.2. In time, that could change, but for
now, the Acer Iconia A1 is a Jelly Bean tablet that only dreams of
KitKat. Those who do purchase this tablet may not take issue with, or
even know what version of the operating system the A1 is running, so it
might not be a problem. Still, Acer needs to upgrade the OS ASAP.
Bottom Line
For $180, the Acer Iconia A1 is a solid Android tablet that could be
good for kids or as your first budget tablet, but there are more options
that can give you more bang for your buck in either price or features.
The Nexus 7, Kindle Fire HDX, Tegra Note, and the Galaxy Tab 3 7-inch
can be yours for just a few more greenbacks, so the A1 certainly isn’t
an affordable tablet in a desolate space. Possibly the most interesting
part of the Acer Iconia A1 is the fact that it ships with an Intel
processor, but that’s just a curiosity that won’t impress those who are
actually going to buy it.
The A1 ends up as another cheap Android tablet with a decent build
quality, but little else. It performs serviceably, but with that said,
it would behoove you to look at other options with similar price points
before pulling the trigger.
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