We'll skip the long contextual intro about how high-powered Tegra 3 tablets are becoming a dime a dozen and get straight to the meat: the new Acer Iconia Tab A700 is an NVIDIA-powered slate with a super-charged screen. Yes, this device is all about the display, and we're talking 1920 x 1200 pixels on a 10.1-inch panel. And until ASUS' Transformer Pad Infinity goes on sale next month, this is the only Android tab with that resolution you can get your hands on.
At the risk of spoiling our whole review, bright colors and a high resolution make navigating Acer's branded build of Ice Cream Sandwich a treat, and its quad-core Tegra 3 insides make the tablet more than just a pretty face. But the WiFi-only Tab A700, retailing for $450, is not the only good ICS option around -- and it's not the most budget-friendly, either. Let's take a closer look to see if its considerable advantages make it worth swiping that plastic.
HARDWARE
Acer isn't throwing any design curveballs here: the A700 looks very similar to the Iconia Tab A510, with sharp corners and a smooth, textured back. Our review unit was silver, though the tablet is also available in black. At 1.47 pounds and 0.43 inches thick, it's not the lightest or thinnest option around, though Acer isn't exactly known for churning out ultra-slim tablets (the 0.43-inch-thick A510 and the 0.49-inch A200 stand as evidence). Still, the A700 feels great in our hands, and that extra bit of thickness lends the device a solid, reassuring grip. Given its girth, though, we would have expected to see a stronger showing of ports on board. While there is a micro-HDMI connector, for example, there's only a microSD card slot to augment the 32GB of internal storage. We guess we've been spoiled by devices like the Toshiba Excite 10, which measures 0.35 inches thick and still packs a full-size SD card reader.
Let's take a trip around the tablet now, shall we? Starting on the top edge, there's a volume rocker along with the screen lock. The right side hosts a micro-HDMI port and that microSD reader. On the bottom you'll find two stereo speakers along with the microUSB port / power connector. Finally, the left side hosts the power button and a 3.5mm headphone jack.
Display and sound
The main attraction, of course, is the 1920 x 1200, LED-backlit display with a pixel density of 224 ppi, which puts most other Android tablets to shame. With the default background showing trees and grass in a rich shade of green, the A700's level of detail is outstanding. We'll steer clear of naming that other tablet with a 2048 x 1536 screen, but that and ASUS' Transformer Pad Infinity TF700 are about the only competitors we can think of when it comes to the Iconia Tab A700's stunning visuals. Speaking of which, we have to temper our praise for the A700's display by noting that the similarly priced ($499) Infinity TF700 has an IPS panel, whereas the A700 has a standard LCD. And, unlike Acer's tablet, the TF700 is viewable in direct sunlight, thanks to a staggering brightness rating of 600 nits.
Along with that high-res screen, Acer includes Dolby Mobile 3 and 5.1-channel surround sound to enhance the entertainment experience. Audio, be it dialogue in shows streamed from Netflix or instrumentals in songs, is clear and undistorted. At max volume, the A700's sound is loud enough to fill a small room. Without headphones, you'll detect a bit of tinniness, but with headphones, sound is crisp and rich.
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