Acer Iconia Tab 8: An Excellent Tablet for a Great Price
These days, it’s important for Filipinos to be mobile. Whether it’s for work or to check the latest news, mobile computing is more a necessity than a whim. Smartphones are popular options for computing on the go, but its size and specs are sometimes limiting. The perfect solution is a tablet. Tablets are large enough to have better visuals, but are not too heavy or thick to make it difficult to carry.
If you’re looking for a tablet with excellent features and a great price point, we recommend Acer’s Iconia Tab 8. The Taiwanese brand is known for its high-quality laptops, and they’re looking to establish themselves in the tablet arena. The Iconia Tab A1-840FHD, or the Tab 8, might just be their ticket.
What you notice first is the sleek design. It comes in a 8.5 by 5.5 in aluminum-backed body, and a depth of 8.5 mm. The weight is heavier at .79 lbs, but it’s not too noticeable and you can still conveniently bring it with you anywhere. Its narrow shape makes it the size of a writing notebook, and you can hold it in one hand without feeling tired.
In terms of specs, they are incredible considering the affordable price range. It’s run on Android KitKat, a high-resolution full HD display, a 2GB RAM, and an energy-saving quad-core Intel Atom Z3745 SoC, making its performance smooth and seamless. There is no lag-time between apps, which means it can handle even the most multi-tasking user (and gamer).
The processor has a 1.33 GHz core and an Intel HD Graphics (Bay Trail), making graphics pop out. Videos are the usual quality, but does not offer anything new. But that’s alright, because it’s as good as any standard tablet. The same goes with the camera, which is 5MP at the back, and 2MP in front. Good lighting is still essential, but with the many options for photo editing apps, a double-digit camera megapixel may not be necessary.
The audio is also standard. There are times when the highest volume is inaudible, but it can easily be solved with a good set of earphones.
When it comes to space, it comes with a 16GB mass storage, but can be expanded up to 32GB. It’s a decent size if you have a lot of apps, but the Acer Iconia Tab 8 comes with the Acer Portal, a cloud service where you can access all your files in any Acer gadget. It’s a nifty app that takes the on-the-go lifestyle even higher. You can access the tablet’s files on your Acer smartphone, netbook, and other gadgets. If you’re using other brands, we recommend Google Drive.
The battery boasts a six-hour lifespan, but if you are a seasoned smartphone user, you’re probably aware of energy-saving tips like closing apps, adjusting the brightness, and lowering the volume.
These tips are helpful for prolonging the battery life.
Our only concern with Acer Iconia Tab 8’s software is the number of apps that are pre-installed. Some may find it useful, but you cannot uninstall the pre-installed apps you don’t need. You can only disable it, which will still take up space. The McAfee Security Suite is quite helpful, as is the range of Google apps like Maps, Drive, Gmail, and Drive.
Another issue may be finding a case for it. Its unusual shape makes it hard to find a case that will fit, and universal cases usually have garters in the corner that will cover the power button and the volume keys. You will need to go to an Acer store to find a case dedicated to the tab.
Overall, Acer’s Iconia Tab 8 is an affordable tablet that packs a lot of punch, both in terms of design and function. The sleek white frame and the aluminum back gives a sophisticated feel, but is both light in the hands and the pocket. Its P8,990 pricetag democratizes this handy gadget, without sacrificing much of the quality. If you’re looking for a capable tablet from a trusted brand, we recommend Acer’s Iconia Tab 8.
Acer Iconia Tab 8: An Excellent Tablet for a Great Price
