The Acer Iconia Tab A510 is a tablet
in the upper echelons of the Android tablet hierarchy thanks to its Tegra 3 CPU
power.
Price: $495
Website: www.laptopsdirect.com
Ratings: 4/5
Acer
Iconia Tab A510
It’s a 10.1-inch tablet boasting the same
resolution as the A500 and the Transformer Pad 300 - an HD-tastic 1,280 x 800.
Running Android 4.0, aka Ice Cream Sandwich, the A510 was actually the official
tablet of the 2012 Olympic Games. At least, the special edition one was. Our
review sample lacked the iconic Olympic rings on the back, but this is the only
discernible difference between the two models.
The A510 looks a lot like its older brother
- the Iconia Tab A500. However, it’s lost the brushed aluminum back and the
silver trim, opting instead for a rubberized, matte backing, making it more
comfortable to hold.
It’s
more comfortable to hold
The top and bottom edges are nicely curved
and the two side edges feature an attractive metallic trim. Up top you’ll find
the reassuringly sturdy volume rocker and lock switch. Down south there’s a
micro-USB port and a hard-reset button. Hidden behind an awkwardly large flap
on one side, you’ll find space to pop in a SIM card (on the 3G version) or a
microSD card. There’s also a Micro HDMI port.
The display is of the TFT variety and, at
less than $525, an HD display - even one lacking IPS technology - is not to be
shunned. It may be overly-glossy with a bad glare-reaction to bright light, but
viewing is still pleasant overall.
Quad-core power
The action is all powered by a quad-core
1.3GHz Nvidia Tegra 3 processor, which is backed up by 1GB of RAM, and there’s
a healthy 32GB of on-board storage for all your digital files. This can be
increased by up to 32GB more by making use of the microSD. Acer is promising 12
hours of video playback from its impressive 9,800mAh battery. We got a solid 10
hours of general usage, and under stress it lasted 444 minutes.
The Tegra 3 CPU means that HD video is
handled with aplomb, with even 1080p content played back with a buttery
smoothness. Dolby Digital Plus tech is also built in, so there is a wealth of
EQ options.
Android 4.0 is in its native form on board
the A510, bar a couple of slight tweaks. The lock screen is our first look at
Acer’s biggest customization - the Acer Touch Ring. The Touch Ring, in unlocked
mode, provides an easy-to-use carousel platform for quick launching into your
favorite apps or web pages.
Keeping
trim: The metallic trim on the edge is a smart touch
Don’t expect too much with the camera
setup, although 5-megapixel stills and full HD 1080p video are on offer. We
found photos to be grainy and pretty much unusable when taken in low light
situations, and the HD video footage was stuttery at best, and sometimes unwatchable.
The Acer Iconia Tab A510 could be the
perfect tablet for you if you are looking to score a powerful Android without
breaking the bank. It cuts corners for the price but it is still a decent
performer, and is a great way of getting in on the Ice Cream Sandwich fun.
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Pros
·
Value for money
·
Tegra 3 power
·
Long battery life
Cons
·
TFT display
·
Unoriginal design
·
Poor cameras
·
Bulky
Dimensions
·
Height: 175mm
·
Width: 260mm
·
Depth: 10.95mm
·
Screen size: 10.1-inch
·
Weight: 680g
Specification
·
Supplier: www.laptopsdirect.com
·
OS: Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich)
·
Processor: Nvidia
Tegra 3 1.3GHz
·
RAM: 1GB
·
Storage: 32GB
·
Expansion: microSD
·
Rear camera: 5MP
·
Front camera: 1MP
·
Screen type: TFT
·
Screen resolution: 1,280x800
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