Acer Iconia A1 tablet launched

Acer South Africa unveiled the Iconia A1 tablet at a media event in Johannesburg yesterday.

The tablet is a 7.9” device that has an LED-backlit display, a quad-core 1.2GHz processor, has a 5-megapixel camera, and offers up to 7 hours of battery life.

Acer aims to reach a wider audience with the Iconia A1 and says its targeting ‘modern day explorers, adventurers, digital freaks and busy mobile executives’.

Speaking about its ‘one-handed’ use, Oliver Ahrens, president of Acer Europe says, “The design is comfortable to hold, while sleek build makes it a natural extension for anyone who wants to keep their digital life right in one hand.”

My initial first impression after holding the tablet was that it’s slightly thick (11.1mm thick) and weighs 410 grams. The A1 has along the edges a mircoSD slot, and mini HDMI out, and at the bottom, a charging slot and audio jack, with a power button on the top. The 4:3 aspect ratio screen (1024×768) has a 170-degree viewing angle.

The tablet offers WiFi connectivity and an optional 3G and Bluetooth 4.0. The 5MP camera shoots video at 1080p and has a front facing camera. Storage options include 8GB or 16GB with option to expand up to 32GB via microSD.

The recommended retail price is somewhere between R3000 – R3500.

Each guest at the event received a tablet, which I will be reviewing soon. Stay tuned.