Is the Acer Iconia Tab A700 Worth It? Find Out in Our Review!

Table of Contents

1. Introduction
2. Design and Display
3. Performance and Software
4. Camera and Multimedia
5. Browsing and Connectivity
6. Battery Life
7. Pros
8. Cons
9. Conclusion
10. Recommendations

Acer Iconia Tab A700: A Comprehensive Review

The Acer Iconia Tab A700 is the latest Android tablet offering from Acer, serving as an update to the A500 and A510 models released the previous year. In this comprehensive review, we will take an in-depth look at the tablet's design, display, performance, software, camera, multimedia capabilities, browsing experience, connectivity options, battery life, and more. By the end of this article, You will have a clear understanding of the tablet's strengths, weaknesses, and whether it is worth considering as your next device.

Design and Display

One of the standout features of the Acer Iconia Tab A700 is its high-resolution display. Measuring 10.1 inches in size, the A700's display boasts a full HD resolution of 1920 by 1200 pixels, resulting in a pixel density of 224 PPI. While not on par with the new iPad's display, the A700 significantly surpasses the 1280 by 800 pixel screens found on other Android tablets. The tablet's design is relatively familiar, resembling most 10.1-inch Android tablets in terms of weight and thickness. However, the 16:10 aspect ratio makes it more suitable for landscape usage rather than portrait orientation. The plastic rear cover, although featuring a dimpled texture for improved grip, feels slightly cheaper in quality compared to competing devices.

Performance and Software

The Acer Iconia Tab A700 is powered by a quad-Core Nvidia Tegra 3 processor clocked at 1.3 GHz, paired with 1GB of RAM. While the Tegra 3 is typically a solid performer, the A700's performance leaves something to be desired. Screen transitions and animations are noticeably choppy, and the touch response is not as smooth as that of the iPad or other Android tablets. This lag carries over to gaming as well, with games not running as well on the A700 compared to other devices. Furthermore, during intensive tasks such as gaming, the tablet's right side tends to overheat.

The A700 comes pre-loaded with Android 4.0.4 Ice Cream Sandwich, customized with Acer's own modifications. The lock screen features customizable app shortcuts, the action bar includes custom icons and quick setting toggles, and there is a unique ring feature accessible via a shortcut in the middle of the action bar. The ring offers quick volume controls, customizable shortcuts, searches, app launches, and easy access to browser bookmarks. While the ring is a cool addition, its longer loading times and practicality may be questionable.

Camera and Multimedia

The Acer Iconia Tab A700 is equipped with a 5-megapixel autofocus camera on the back, capable of capturing 1080p HD videos. However, the image quality is disappointing, with considerable noise and grain even in good lighting. The front-facing 1-megapixel camera suffices for video chats, but the overall camera experience is underwhelming. On the multimedia front, the tablet includes a custom music player, custom gallery, and a wireless printing app. It also provides access to the NVIDIA Tegra Zone and Wild Tangent game stores, along with pre-loaded games.

Browsing and Connectivity

The A700 offers a satisfactory browsing experience with its standard Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich browser. Page load times are Snappy, scrolling is smooth, and zooming is rarely necessary due to the tablet's high-resolution display. Google Chrome for Android is also available as an alternative browser. Connectivity options include a micro USB port for charging and syncing, a microSD expansion port, a micro HDMI port, a microphone port, a volume rocker, a screen rotation lock switch, and a 3.5mm headphone jack.

Battery Life

The Acer Iconia Tab A700 features a 9800mAh battery that easily provides a full day of usage, thanks to its power-efficient hardware. Even during intensive tasks like gaming, the battery should last through extended periods of use. The tablet's battery life is a notable positive aspect in its favor.

Pros

• High-resolution display
• Satisfactory browsing experience
• Long battery life

Cons

• Choppiness in performance and touch response
• Disappointing camera quality
• Limited practicality of added features

Conclusion

While the Acer Iconia Tab A700 may be an attractive option due to its relatively lower price compared to competitors, it falls short in several key areas. The tablet's performance and touch response are noticeably choppy, the camera quality is underwhelming, and the added features like the customizable ring lack practicality. For a little more money, alternatives such as the Asus Transformer Pad Infinity or the new iPad offer better overall experiences and a more robust app ecosystem.

Recommendations

If you are looking for a reliable and smooth Android tablet experience, it is recommended to consider alternative options like the Asus Transformer Pad Infinity or the new iPad. These devices offer superior performance, better camera quality, and a more streamlined user experience. However, if budget is a significant concern, the Acer Iconia Tab A700 could still be a viable choice, particularly for those who prioritize a high-resolution display and satisfactory battery life.

Highlights

• Acer Iconia Tab A700 boasts a high-resolution display with full HD resolution.
• The tablet's design is familiar but lacks the premium feel of competitors like the iPad or Asus Transformer Pad tablets.
• Performance and touch response on the A700 are noticeably choppy, with lag issues during gaming.
• The 5-megapixel camera on the A700 delivers underwhelming image quality.
• The A700 provides a satisfactory browsing experience with its standard Android 4.0 browser and supports Google Chrome for Android.
• Battery life on the A700 is a notable positive, offering a full day of usage even during intensive tasks.

FAQ

Q: Can the Acer Iconia Tab A700 compete with other high-end tablets? A: While the A700 offers some compelling features such as a high-resolution display, it falls short in terms of performance and overall user experience compared to other high-end tablets on the market.

Q: Does the A700 have any unique software features? A: Yes, the A700 includes Acer's modifications to Android 4.0, such as customizable app shortcuts on the lock screen and a unique ring feature for quick access to various functions.

Q: How is the camera performance on the A700? A: The 5-megapixel camera on the A700 delivers disappointing image quality, with noticeable noise and grain even in well-lit conditions.

Q: Can I expand the storage on the A700? A: Yes, the A700 features a microSD expansion port for expanding its storage capacity.

Q: Is the A700 a good choice for gaming? A: While the A700 supports gaming and includes access to the Tegra Zone and Wild Tangent game stores, its performance falls behind other devices, resulting in less satisfying gaming experiences.