Acer Iconia Tab B1-A71: Great deal. Acer Iconia B1-A71

Acer periodically excites the budget device market with its new products. Thus, at CES 2014, it presented the third generation of inexpensive 7-inch Android tablets Iconia B1. Vesti.Hitek was looking into whether the compromise between functionality and cost was successful this time.

The first generation of Iconia B1-A71 tablets, launched at CES 2013 in Las Vegas, stood out among other ultra-affordable 7-inch devices not only in price, but also in the presence of a Bluetooth interface and a GPS receiver. With the cost of the new product being only 119 euros (about $150 at that rate), its weak points included the small size of RAM (512 MB) and built-in (8 GB) memory, as well as the absence of a 3G module.

The update to this family of tablets took place without much fanfare in May last year. Then the Iconia B1-A71 was replaced by two modifications at once - with a 3G module (Iconia B1-711) and without it (Iconia B1-710). Without touching the clock frequency (1.2 GHz), the 2-core Mediatek MT8317T (Cortex-A9) processor was replaced with a 4-core MT8389W (Cortex-A7), the RAM was expanded to 1 GB, and the internal volume began to vary - 8 GB or 16 GB. The third generation, represented by the Iconia B1-720 (Wi-Fi) and Iconia B1-721 (Wi-Fi+3G) models, appeared exactly a year after the first announcement, and again in the “city of sin”, but now at CES 2014 .

Specifications

OS: Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean
Processor: 2-core Cortex-A7, 1.3 GHz, based on MediaTek MT8312 platform
Graphics subsystem: ARM Mali-400 MP (500 MHz)
RAM: 1 GB
Storage: 16 GB eMMC (12.15 GB available), microSDHC memory card slot (up to 32 GB)
Interfaces: Wi-Fi b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.0, microUSB for charging/syncing, USB-OTG, 3.5 mm headphone jack
Communication: EDGE/HSDPA/HSPA+ (microSIM)
Screen: capacitive, TN TFT, 7-inch diagonal, resolution 1024x600 pixels (WSVGA), density 170 pixels per inch, 10 simultaneous touch points
Cameras: front (0.3 MP)
Navigation: GPS/GLONASS
Sensors: accelerometer
Battery: single-section, lithium polymer, 2,955 mAh
Dimensions: 199x122x11.4 mm
Weight: 323 grams

Ergonomics, design

The third generation of Iconia B1 has changed its design - it has become more stylish and, at first glance, seems even more expensive, but only until the tablet is in your hands. Even with gentle handling, the case begins to squeak pitifully, reminding the user of the imperfections of this world and, in particular, the joints between parts made of inexpensive plastic. At the same time, the assembly itself is very neat. At least there are no cracks or uneven gaps.

The tablet feels very comfortable in the hand, and thanks to the textured back panel it is also pleasant to hold. In addition, it will definitely not slip out of your hand. The device cannot be called “thin” by any means. If the thickness of the Iconia B1-721 case is 11.4 mm, then, for example, its “classmate” Dell Venue 7 16Gb 3G is 9 mm. The same can be said about the weight - 323 g versus 234 g, respectively.

Although the colors of the tablet cases are called “smokey gray” and “vermilion red”, only the ends, edges and part of the front panel surrounding the screen are painted in these colors. The back cover of tablets is always black.

Most of the front panel of the case is occupied by the display, which has very large margins around the edges. On the one hand, it may be more convenient to hold the device. On the other hand, we get a fair increase in size. The front camera lens is placed in the upper left part. The "Back", "Home" and "Recent Apps" control buttons on this tablet are on-screen.

Unlike previous models (Iconia B1-710/711), the speaker grille in the Iconia B1-721 has moved from the back cover to the lower left part of the front panel, on the right side of which there is a hole for a microphone.

From the stickers on the back panel you can find out the type of tablet model (in this case, Iconia B1-721) and information about power parameters (current, voltage).

On the right edge of the case, the only controls left are the volume rocker, just above which there is a slot for microSIM.

At the same time, the microSD memory card slot took place on the left edge.

The bottom end of the case is free, but the top one houses the power/lock button, a microUSB connector, and a 3.5 mm audio output connector for headphones.

The volume rocker is very unergonomic, although stylish, it is very recessed and practically does not protrude above the body. Therefore, despite the small bump on one edge, it is not possible to feel it and press it out of habit the first time. The same partly applies to the power/lock button.

Screen, camera, sound

The display diagonal size and resolution of the new Iconia B1 models have not changed - 7 inches and 1024x600 pixels (WSVGA, Wide SuperVGA), which gives an aspect ratio of approximately 16:9. The screen with a TN TFT matrix provides a pixel density of 170 ppi. Generally speaking, such permission today can be considered insufficient. The fact is that some “classmates” of the Iconia B1, including, for example, Asus MeMO Pad ME175CG, Dell Venue 7 and Lenovo TAB A7-50, already offer IPS screens with a resolution of 1280x800 pixels, which, for example, allows you to watch videos in full HD quality (720p). On the other hand, you need to remember about the affordable price of the device.

The touch panel supports multi-touch, and, according to the MultiTouch Tester program, up to 10 simultaneous touches are recognized. Due to the lack of a light sensor, which is not taken into account in the settings, the screen brightness can only be adjusted manually. In addition, we note that the glossy surface of the display glares.

The OGS (One Glass Solution) technology used means that the screen matrix itself and its protective glass are a single whole. This technical solution is usually used by manufacturers to improve color reproduction and overall image quality, as well as to expand viewing angles and reduce the thickness of the display.

But this did not greatly affect the thickness of the case, although, most likely, without OGS it would have been even greater. As for viewing angles, almost any significant rotation or tilt of the tablet leads to a noticeable drop in brightness and color distortion. So you have absolutely no fear of secret thieves who will want to look into the screen from the side or from behind. But seriously, the Iconia B1 screen definitely loses to the IPS displays of “classmates”, and even with a higher resolution.

The tablet is equipped only with a front camera with a 0.3 MP sensor and a resolution of 640x480 pixels (VGA). It can be successfully used mainly for video communication.

However, the Camera app does provide digital zoom, as well as some minimal settings, including setting exposure, changing white balance, turning on a timer, etc. In addition, one of three filters can be applied to the image from the camera in real time - “Aqua”, “Negative” or “Sepia”. Thus, it is easy, for example, to diversify your unpretentious selfies.

The Iconia B1 has only one speaker, the sound quality of which is not at all stellar. At maximum volume, extraneous noise and metallic rattling are added - the complete feeling of a concert with “spoons in empty pans”. It is worth recommending listening to music through external speakers or headphones - this is a completely different matter.

Filling, performance

The main computing element of the new Iconia B1-721 uses a budget platform for tablets from Mediatek - MT8312, which includes a 2-core Cortex-A7 processor clocked at 1.3 GHz and an ARM Mali-400 MP graphics subsystem running on 500 MHz. In test programs, including CPU-Z, the MT8312 chip is erroneously identified as MT6582, although we note that the latter is aimed at budget smartphones and includes a 4-core processor.

At the March release of AnTuTu X Benchmark, the tested tablet was at the bottom of the table, scoring 12,581 points, which allowed it to look advantageous compared, for example, with the flagship of 2011 - Samsung Galaxy S II (10,576 points).

The results obtained on the Vellamo HTML5 and Metal benchmarks also turned out to be predictable. And in the Quadrant Standard tests, the new Iconia B1 was ahead of the world's first 4-core Android tablet, Asus Transformer Prime TF201 (2011) and the HTC One X smartphone from the year before.

In the Epic Citadel gaming test using the Unreal Engine, only two settings were available for the Mediatek MT8312 platform - High Quality and High Performance (quality at the expense of performance and vice versa). At the same time, judging by the similar results - 42.8 fps and 43.4 fps, respectively - for such a low screen resolution, even high quality does not threaten performance at all.

It can be noted that the tablet's performance is quite sufficient for everyday scenarios, including web surfing, watching videos and simple 2D games. I would especially like to note the smooth and fast operation of the interface, which is unusual for cheap Android devices.

Iconia B1 carries on board 1 GB of RAM and 16 GB of internal memory, of which a little more than 12 GB is available, but, of course, less is free. Such volumes are typical for most of its classmates, but, for example, the Dell Venue 7 compares favorably with 2 GB of RAM.

You can expand your data storage by another 32 GB using microSDHC cards. In addition, support for the USB-OTG protocol allows you to connect flash drives to the tablet.

The tested Iconia B1-721 model has a 3G cellular module, which is missing in the B1-720. In addition, wireless communications are also supported thanks to Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n and Bluetooth 4.0 interfaces. The tablet also has a GPS receiver, and the reception quality turned out to be quite good even indoors.

The capacity of the single-section lithium-polymer battery Iconia B1-721 is 2955 mAh (11.2 Wh, 3.8 V). This, again, is far from the best indicator among “classmates”. For example, the Dell Venue 7 and Huawei MediaPad 7 Lite received a 4,100 mAh battery. The small battery capacity certainly affects battery life. Thus, continuous playback of videos at maximum brightness lasts no more than one and a half to two hours. If you lower the brightness a little, it will be enough to watch one full-length movie.

Software

The new Iconia B1 is based on the time-tested version of Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean OS. The tablet retains the native interface of this operating system, which can be considered a plus, especially considering the promised ability to upgrade to version 4.4 KitKat (so far, however, only in the promotional video). In addition, many users like this ascetic style and do not like shells and launchers rich in widgets and spectacular graphics. Note that the power of the MT8312 chip is more than enough for the simple Android interface to work smoothly and without lag.

In addition to stock applications, Iconia B1 limited itself to installing only a small number of additional programs. But thanks to them, immediately after turning on the tablet, it is easy, for example, to find out the weather forecast (AccuWeather), book a hotel room (Agoda), take work notes (Acer Documents, Evernote), watch a video ("Video"), listen to music ( "Music"), radio (TuneIn Radio) or audiobooks (Audible), something to read (Kobo, Zinio), some fun (Wild Tangent Games), etc.

Purchase, conclusions

Acer Iconia B1-721 is sold in large retail chains at a price of 7,990 rubles, and in smaller online stores - from about 6,500 rubles. Such devices usually appear in the home arsenal when you want to have a tablet, but it’s a pity to spend a lot of money on it. At the same time, buying a Chinese “noname”, which often costs almost half as much, is somehow scary, but for a well-known brand you can overpay a little. But not only Acer understands this. Other first-tier companies also offer quite worthy “classmates” Acer Iconia B1, and at fairly competitive prices. These are, for example, Asus MeMO Pad ME175CG 8Gb (6,990 rubles), Dell Venue 7 16Gb 3G (7,990 rubles), Huawei MediaPad 7 Lite (6,990 rubles), Lenovo TAB A7-50 3G (6,990 rubles), Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 Lite 3G (7,990 rubles), etc.

Functionally, all these devices are very similar, because the presence of a Bluetooth interface and a GPS receiver in a budget tablet with 3G will no longer surprise anyone. In addition, for the money that is being asked for the Acer Iconia B1-721, you can buy a tablet with more interesting hardware. For example, the same Dell Venue 7 16Gb 3G, which is not only thinner and lighter, but also has a better screen resolution, twice as much RAM and a more capacious battery.

On the one hand, the Acer Iconia B1-721 will please the novice user of Android devices with its appearance and functionality, but on the other hand, it is unlikely to be the best buy for your money today. Perhaps, for users who do not need a 3G connection to the Internet and want to save money, the WiFi version of the device (Iconia Tab B1-720), which costs in the capital's retail stores, according to Yandex.Market, from 4,500 rubles.

Acer Iconia B1-721 tablet review results

Pros:

Stylish design
Performance enough for most tasks
Functional software

Minuses:

At a similar price, it is inferior to competitors in terms of "filling"
Mediocre screen
Short battery life

Compact tablet with great value for money

Compact tablet with excellent value for money.

Equipment

The scope of delivery is quite standard for tablets. In addition to the Iconia Tab, in the box you will find a charger, a microUSB cable, and a quick user guide.

Design

The rustic design of the tablet may appeal to many. Rounded corners and edges are pleasing to the eye. The highly visible blue trim on the body is something new. And the triangle in the lower left corner will always remind you of the name of the model.

There is a display on the front panel, and the front camera for communication and Skype conversations is clearly visible in the upper right corner.

Matte power and volume buttons are located on the left side. Ports and connectors are installed on the top and bottom sides.

Most of the back panel is occupied by a metal insert painted black. The manufacturer's logo stands out on it. And in the lower right corner of the plane there is a speaker grille.

Display

The tablet uses a 7″ matrix made using TN technology. Its resolution is 1024 x 600 pixels with a density of 170 dots per inch.

The display has a good level of brightness and viewing angles sufficient for reading books and watching movies. Contrast is also at an acceptable level. And even though the colors could be brighter and more saturated, the fantastic worlds from movies and games look great on the display.

Ergonomics

The tablet is light and compact. It won't take up much space in your bag or backpack.

Even though the manufacturer had to save on materials, the build quality is not bad. The surfaces of the case are not easily soiled, but the same cannot be said about the front side. It gets dirty easily, so we recommend getting a microfiber cloth.

It is worth noting that the gyroscope is working correctly. The sensor responds quickly, so you don't have to wait for the interface to deign to turn.

The on-screen keyboard is large enough for typing even in portrait orientation.

It remains to add that the built-in speaker produces sound that is not too loud, but clear and pleasant to the ear. You don't need headphones or an external audio system when watching movies and videos.

Interface and software

Iconia Tab B1-A71 runs Google Android 4.1.2 Jelly Bean operating system with a standard interface.

The user has access to 5 desktops that can be decorated with wallpaper. They contain application shortcuts, folders with icons, and widgets.

The notification panel is supplemented with switches for wireless functions and settings.

The standard set of applications is supplemented by the Acer Cloud cloud storage client and a shortcut to the website of the Gameloft developer, where you can download games for the tablet for free.

Performance

The device has a dual-core MediaTek MTK 8317T processor with a clock frequency of 1.2 GHz, a PowerVR SGX531 video processor, and 512 MB of RAM. The internal storage size is 8 GB of which about 6 GB is available to the user. The memory can be expanded using a microSD card up to 32 GB.

The performance level is quite high for a budget device. The tablet can easily handle web surfing, high-definition movies and most games and applications available on the market.

Communications

The tablet's wireless capabilities are limited to Wi-Fi 802.11b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.0 and GPS modules.

On the top edge of the device there is a 3.5 mm port for connecting headphones.

On the opposite panel you will find a microUSB connector and a slot for a microSD card, which is hidden behind a plastic flap.

Working hours

The Iconia Tab B1-A71 does not boast the most capacious battery among 7-inch tablets. It uses a 2710 mAh lithium polymer battery. However, the device shows excellent battery life. The tablet will easily work for 12 hours when browsing the Internet at minimum display brightness. If you set the brightness level comfortable for reading, the device will provide 6-7 hours of operation.

At maximum load on the processor and graphics adapter, the tablet will last about 3 hours.

It is also worth noting that the B1-A71 is capable of working for more than 5 days in standby mode.

Impression

Even with all the compromises that the manufacturer had to make, the Acer Iconia Tab B1-A71 is a good budget tablet from a famous brand.

Peculiarities:

7″ display

Compactness

Android 4.1.2

Good level of performance

Battery life

SPECIFICATIONS:

Model Acer Iconia Tab B1-A71
CPU MediaTek MTK 8317T, dual core, 1.2 GHz
GPU PowerVR SGX531
Dimensions 19.7 x 12.9 x 1.13 cm
Weight 320 g
Display TN, touch, 7”
Permission 1024 x 600 pixels
RAM 512 MB
Memory 8 GB + microSD up to 32 GB
Nutrition Li-polymer, 2710 mAh
Camera front, VGA
Communications Wi-Fi 802.11b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.0, GPS, 3.5 mm output, microUSB
OS Google Android 4.1.2 Jelly Bean

Why is $99 for a tablet such a hot topic? Is it really such a thrill to expect from cheap things what they a priori cannot provide? Acer's $99 tablet, the B1, which has been rumored for months, has been unveiled with a $150 price tag. But, as it turned out, even this cost is too small to be true.

No, the B1-A-71 does cost $150 in the US, but can it be used as a full-fledged tablet? It is logical that when designing it, the developers saved money; now we will figure out what exactly.

Frame

They didn’t skimp on the design, I even liked it. Not a remnant, there is even a colored insert, there is a certain protrusion on the back. The material used is plastic, I liked it too. Both beautiful and not easily soiled – just what you need. But the protective plastic above the display is simply incredibly easily soiled and collects fingerprints instantly, even in winter, even from my dry fingers. It’s hard to imagine what will happen in the summer.

But the whole thing bends and rotates quite easily. Moreover, the assembly is normal, it’s just that the materials are inexpensive and there are few stiffeners in the design. So, when you press the back of the tablet with medium force, streaks appear on the display! Without going into details, I will say that if the body in the Acer B1 was of the same quality as in, then this review would be 60 percent different. But the impressions from the case, just taken out of the box, are below average, and after a couple of weeks, in my opinion, both play and squeaks will appear.

The main control elements are touch-sensitive, these are on-screen buttons. But there are two mechanical ones – the volume key and the display lock key. The material from which they are made is very different from the materials of the case. This is just a stolen part from a cheap Chinese toy. But both perform their functionality, so we remember about $150 and calm down.

Display

TFT LCD (TN matrix), 7″, 1024x600 pixels. The most inexpensive of all that could be chosen to complete the B1 line. The viewing angles are so small that it is almost impossible to hold the tablet in such a way that there is no gradient. The colors are faded, in the sun you can’t see anything except yourself in the reflection. And, if you use the tablet a little, you won’t even see yourself - the fingerprints on the surface of the display won’t allow it.

Below is a photo showing one picture from different sides of the device.

Camera

Oh yes, a $150 tablet has a camera! Front, VGA, inserted a little crookedly. If you want to take a photo of yourself... No, let's come up with a more plausible scenario. You want to talk to someone on Skype. You take your tablet, call someone and bam - the camera only captures a piece of the top of your head. Of course, you can rotate the tablet a little, but then the small viewing angles of the display will affect you and you will no longer see your interlocutor. It's kind of stupid. But don’t be upset, it’s 150 dollars! Let's just treat the presence of a camera in the Acer B1 as a joke from the manufacturer!

Hardware and software

Processor – dual-core MediaTek MTK 8317T with a clock frequency of 1.2 GHz, graphics accelerator – PowerVR SGX531. Enough? Enough, there are fewer complaints about the hardware, if you look at the cost without sarcasm. Even with single-core graphics, I was able to launch and play Dead Trigger and ShadowGun: DeadZone. Moreover, fps dropped only in the last one, and even then not much. It’s clear that the graphics are cut down as much as possible, but this is more than logical. There is not enough RAM - 512 MB. This is the weakest point in the iron. Built-in memory – 8 GB, no questions asked, especially looking at the memory card slot.

Battery capacity – 2710 mAh. That's more than the iPhone and less than the Galaxy Note 2. It's too small for a tablet, but you won't be using it too much (read the last point in the review), so there's plenty of capacity. If you load the tablet to the maximum, while turning the screen to maximum, the battery will use up in less than 3 hours.

Android version – 4.1.2. I think this is the latest version for B1; it’s unlikely that the manufacturer will bother with an update for such a budget model. But I think there will be more customs for B1 than for some Yanhun @jt8 from heaven. Still, a brand means more market penetration, which means they will buy more, which means they will spend more money. Android here is bare, without third-party shells. The interface works equally smoothly everywhere - with the number of frames per second about 20. There is no smoothness, there are no special slowdowns either. The rest is Android, Android.

Specifications Acer B1-A71

Dimensions: 197.4 x 128.5 x 11.3 mm.
Weight: 320 g
Operating system: Android 4.1.2 JB.
CPU: dual-core ARM Cortex A9 MediaTek MTK 8317T, 1.2 GHz.
Graphic arts: PowerVR SGX531.
Display: TN, 7″, 1024x600.
Memory: 8 GB flash, expandable.
RAM: 512 MB.
Camera: front - VGA.
Wireless technologies: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.0.
Interface connectors: 3.5 mm headphone jack, MicroUSB.
Battery: Li-Pol battery 2710 mAh.

The main part of the review!

What do you do when, while buying groceries in a supermarket, you see a package of sausages costing 4 UAH (16 rubles)? You think it's cheap to be true (meat) and that the taste as well as the healthiness of these sausages may be poor. But the most important thing is that you don’t buy them. You know that there are fewer benefits and pleasures from them than bad qualities. Moreover, even if they are given to you, you will not eat them. The same can be said about cars; 4 years ago you could buy a Grate Wall Pegasus jeep and today you would get a rotten trough. Yes, it looks like a car, even an SUV, and for little money, but you would never buy it!

At the end of December, Acer introduced its budget tablet B1-A71 costing $150. It is clear that in Russia or Ukraine this tablet will have a higher price, approximately 200-220 dollars, but, nevertheless, it will be interesting to look at this model and understand what they saved on.

Appearance of the Acer B1-A71 tablet

Typically, budget and other tablets tend to have a boring design. Acer B1-A71 is an exception. Firstly, thanks to the blue insert, which adds some zest. Secondly, the unusual convex back cover. The body is made of plastic, which does not cause rejection. The build is not bad, for a budget device. The weight of the new product is only 320 grams and the size is 197.4 x 128.5 x 11.3 mm, which makes it one of the lightest and most compact tablets on the market.

Screen Acer B1-A71

The tablet display has a diagonal of 7 inches. The resolution is 1024*600 pixels, which is quite normal for the price of the device. The pixel density is 170 PPI. All the pleasure from the screen is spoiled by the terrible TFT matrix. It still displays colors more or less normally, but the viewing angles are just a nightmare. Even with a slight deviation, there is a strong distortion of the picture, and making out any information on the screen becomes problematic.

In addition, the display is covered only with protective plastic: there is no glass here. Therefore, when you press on the screen, you can see how the plastic bends. Therefore, in terms of display quality, this model deserves a negative assessment, because many budget tablets from China already have IPS matrices, which are head and shoulders above the brightness and color rendition of the screen installed in the Acer B1-A71 tablet.

Hardware or filling Acer B1-A71

B1-A-71 has a 2-core processor from the Taiwanese company MediaTek with a frequency of 1.2 GHz per core. The graphics core is PowerVR 531. The RAM is only 512 megabytes, which is not enough, considering that the Android system eats up a lot of RAM. The built-in memory is 8 GB and can be easily expanded with Micro SD cards up to 32 GB. In principle, the filling is quite good for a budget tablet. Most popular toys start up fine.

Operating system Acer B1-A71

The tablet has the current version of Android 4.1 Jelly Bean installed, without any add-ons. Considering that the Acer B1-A71 is a budget device, there will most likely not be an update to version 5.0. The interface works quite quickly, although not as smoothly as on its more powerful counterparts. No radio.

Camera Acer B1-A71

The tablet has only a 0.3 megapixel front VGA camera, which is only 640x480 pixels. You can also shoot video, but you already understand what kind of quality the shooting will be... There is no main camera and this is understandable due to the low cost of the device. The quality of the front camera is not very good and is at least suitable for communicating on Skype.

The tablet has Bluetooth 4.0, as well as a WI-FI 802.11 b/g/n module. There is no 3G support, which makes the tablet significantly unattractive. There is also no GPRS or EDGE (digital wireless data technology for cellular communications). There is a microUSB v2.0 input.

Battery Acer B1-A71

The built-in battery has a small capacity of 2710 mAh. It is clear that with such a capacity you cannot count on a long life without an outlet. In active use mode, the tablet lasts about 3 hours.

Our conclusions and reviews about the Acer B1-A71

In general, to be honest, the tablet from Acer was not entirely successful. Among the advantages, we can note a pleasant appearance, Android 4.1, good hardware for such a price, and, in fact, a low price.

There are also plenty of disadvantages. This is a very poor screen matrix, no protective glass for the display, a small battery, and a weak front camera.

Technoreview advises that it is better to pay a little extra and get a more functional and high-quality tablet than to regret the purchase later. Although, if you have never used Android devices, then this tablet will be a good entry into this system. Or, as an option, buy it for your growing son or daughter, but before you let him use the Acer B1-A71 tablet, first warn him not to poke his fingers too hard into the display.

Watch the video review of the Acer B1-A71 tablet: