The Acer Iconia Tab A700 10.1" Tablet Goes High-Res

Quick Start

When you first open the box, you’re greeted by the Acer quick start guide. This quick start guide folds out into a four-panel page showing you how to set up your Acer Iconia Tab A700 tablet, complete with pictures and different languages. Remove the quick start guide and you’re face to face with the glossy 10.1” screen. The beauty of the A700 is even more apparent after you remove the protective film surrounding it. Put the A700 aside for just a moment, because there are various accessories located beneath it, such as the mini-USB to USB cable and a unique AC adapter with a detachable plug for the outlet. This is especially useful if you travel abroad and need to plug into a different outlet. Unfortunately, Acer doesn’t provide you with additional plugs except for your country of origin (in our case, the US plug) so you’ll have to purchase the others through Acer's official website.

A Display of Excellence

Going back to the star of the show, the most impressive feature of the Acer A700 tablet is its beautiful glossy 10.1” screen. With an impressive 1920 x 1200 native resolution, 224 pixels per inch and a 16:10 aspect ratio, the A700 delivers high-definition photos and videos in vibrant color. A good example is the default background, which is a high-quality photo of a park with the trees and grass portrayed in a rich shade of green. While we’ll refrain from mentioning that other tablet with a 2048 x 1536 resolution, the A700’s resolution definitely puts fellow Android tablets to shame. To take full advantage of the screen, we played a Full HD 1080p video—and the A700 did not disappoint. The video played smoothly and seamlessly without any screen tearing or frame-rate drops. You can also output in Full HD 1080p to an external HDMI-compliant display, such as an HDTV, via the micro-HDMI port on the A700. Please note that you’ll need to purchase a micro-HDMI to HDMI cable separately in order to do so.

Dolby Mobile 3

While the high-res screen is certainly impressive, it would mean nothing if the audio was not on par with it. Fortunately, Acer had the good sense to add decent stereo speakers. Keep in mind that these are tablet speakers, so audiophiles will probably not be impressed. However, for tablet speakers, Acer managed to minimize the tinny noise that plagues many tablets and laptops, as well as giving them a bit of volume. It’s probably a safe bet that the audio from the A700 you’ll enjoy will come primarily from the 3.5mm headphone jack. Plug in a pair of good headphones and Dolby Mobile 3 will bring compelling surround sound and cinematic impact to your movies, TV shows and videos. Your music will also sound great since Dolby Mobile 3 will deliver unfettered highs and extended bass for clear and well-balanced sound quality. There is also a built-in microphone, which uses noise suppression and acoustic echo cancellation to make video chatting easier to hear for both parties, thanks to the reduction of ambient noise.

Elegant Mobility

Measuring 0.43 inches thin and 1.47 pounds, the Acer A700 tablet is not the lightest or thinnest tablet around. However, that slightly thicker build gives the A700 a more solid feel. The back of the tablet features a smooth, textured design (available in silver or black), which allows you to maintain a reliable grip. Judging by the way Acer has placed their logo and model name, it appears they want to encourage the use of A700 in landscape mode. There’s nothing wrong with that since that’s how you’ll be able to take full advantage of that gorgeous 10.1” screen.

Taking inventory of the A700, there is a 1-megapixel front-facing camera located on the bezel surrounding the screen. It is a bit off-center to the right, to work better with the built-in camera app. There is also a light sensor located just left of the front-facing camera. After having to deal with subpar cameras on other Android tablets, it’s refreshing to see the 5-megapixel camera with autofocus on the back of the A700. While no one can change the fact that taking a picture with a tablet is awkward, it’s nice to have a decent camera as an option for when an opportunity arises. The bottom side of the tablet features a mini-USB port and a reset button, while the top side features a volume rocker, a screen lock switch and an integrated microphone. On the left side are the power button and a headphone jack, while the right side has a micro-HDMI port and a hidden compartment with a microSD slot.

Quad-Core Performance

The Acer Iconia Tab A700 tablet houses a 1.3 GHz nVIDIA Tegra 3 mobile processor, which integrates quad-core processing and 12-core graphics performance. Using quad-core processing and an ultra-low power (ULP) nVIDIA GeForce graphics processing unit (GPU), the nVIDIA Tegra 3 processor allows the A700 to run quickly, reliably and efficiently. The four central cores provide greater responsiveness for demanding applications, such as video editing and HD gaming. There is also a fifth battery-saving core in the Tegra 3 processor that handles simpler tasks in order to conserve energy. The 12-core graphics powers an 800:1 contrast ratio, 10-point finger support for the touch screen, dual displays or micro-HDMI to HDTV in beautiful, high-definition 1920 x 1200 native resolution.

Memory and Storage

With a quad-core nVIDIA Tegra 3 processor, the A700 needs enough system memory to run efficiently. Fortunately, Acer put 1GB of RAM in the A700 tablet. When coupled with the nVIDIA Tegra 3 processor, the A700 provides a smooth and seamless multitasking experience. Also, the A700 has 32GB of internal storage so you’ll have ample space to save your documents, music, photos and videos. If you require more space, you can use the built-in MicroSD slot to expand up to 32GB (MicroSD cards sold separately).

Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich OS

Running Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich OS, the Acer A700 tablet features a redefined interface with rich notifications, customizable home screens, resizable widgets and deep interactivity. With Ice Cream Sandwich, you’ll experience improved communication over previous builds, better calendar tools, a new voice-input engine, great photo features and an overall better multitasking experience. If you’re coming over from a different operating system, it might seem daunting to jump into Android, but the user-friendly controls make it easy to grasp. You’ll also have access to the Google Play Market, which has thousands of games and apps at your disposal. From Netflix to Angry Birds, you’ll be able to find the right apps for you.

Connectivity

The Acer A700 tablet had no trouble connecting to various public Wi-Fi networks using 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi. It can also connect to a secure Wi-Fi network, but you’ll need the WEP password in order to access it. However, if you need 24/7 Internet access while on the go, the A700 might not be a viable option. The A700 lacks 3G connectivity and Wi-Fi networks may not always be available, especially when you’re traveling. If you can deal with the lack of 3G and will primarily use the A700 in your home, office or public places offering free Wi-Fi, the A700 tablet will work just fine for you. The A700 also has Bluetooth 2.1+EDR technology, so you can pair your favorite peripherals with the tablet. The integrated 2-cell lithium polymer battery provides up to 13 hours per charge (11 hours when connected to Wi-Fi) so you can stay mobile without having to be tethered by a power cable.

Included Software

There are several included apps that come with the Acer A700 tablet. First, the Polaris Office 3.5 app allows you to read and edit documents in high resolution. You can then use Evernote to help you remember important dates, deadlines, projects and more. If you need to look something up, just open up the Android browser, which lets you save web pages as bookmarks to be accessed later, when needed. When you’re finished with your document, you’ll be able to print wirelessly with Acer Print, which connects the A700 to available Wi-Fi-enabled printers.

The Acer A700 tablet also has a unique interactive Acer Ring that allows you to customize your tablet by selecting your most used apps and keeping them in one spot. This way, you don’t have to go back to home screen just to access your favorite apps. You can launch Acer Ring by tapping the double circle located in the system bar and it will open a series of key apps, settings, bookmarks and contextual menu options. From there, you can pick which app you would like to use, without any hassle.

More than Comparable

The Acer Iconia Tab A700 tablet may not be the best tablet in the world, but it’s definitely one of the better Android tablets available. A high resolution screen has been sorely missing from the sea of Android tablets and the Acer A700 delivers, with a high-definition 1920 x 1200 native resolution. While its lack of 3G connectivity may prevent it from being an all-around tablet, the A700 is more than comparable with other Android tablets in its price range. If you’re in the market for a high performance yet easy-to-use tablet, the Acer Iconia Tab A700 tablet may be right for you.

Specification

Your Feedback

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