Taiwanese manufacturer Acer has updated its Android tablet line-up for CES 2014. There are two new Iconia tablets, providing updates to the aging A1 and B1 series.
The Acer Iconia A1-830 sports a 7.9-inch LED-backlit IPS display with a disappointing resolution of 1024 x 768 pixels. The back cover is a premium-feeling aluminum and it is thin (8.15mm) and light (0.84 pounds). Inside there’s a 1.6GHz Intel Atom Z2560 processor with 1GB of RAM. Storage is 16GB, with an option to add a microSD card for up to 32GB extra. It runs Android 4.2.1 Jelly Bean, and Acer claims you’ll get 7.5 hours of battery life between charges.
The tablet also has a rear-facing camera capable of capturing 1080p footage and 2560 x 1920 pixel images. There’s also a front-facing 720p camera with a maximum image resolution of 1600 x 1200 pixels. Naturally, you’ll find support for Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth 3.0, and a microUSB port. The A1-830 will hit the market by the end of March and it will cost just $150.
The Acer Iconia B1-720 is smaller with a 7-inch display. It has a 1.3GHz dual-core processor and 1 GB of RAM. There’s also 16GB of storage expandable via microSD by up to 32GB. Acer is not forthcoming on full specifications, but this is clearly an entry-level tablet that should be suitable for kids. The back is soft-touch white and the front bezel comes in red or gray. It is set to launch this month and it will cost $130.
While the specs may not be very impressive, these tablets will add to the considerable competition at the budget end of the Android tablet market, and Acer will be hoping they might tempt first-time buyers and attract the kid’s market.