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Acer Iconia B1-A71 vs. Kindle Fire vs. Nexus 7: Spec showdown

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acer iconiaCompetition in the 7-inch Android tablet space is fierce and Acer’s latest release, the Iconia B1-A71, is a budget entry that’s looking to grab your attention. We examine what it has to offer when compared with Amazon’s revamped Kindle Fire and Google’s market leading Nexus 7. While the Nexus 7 is the clear winner in terms of raw power and quality, it will cost you at least $50 more. The Acer Iconia B1-A71 manages to come in significantly cheaper than the Kindle Fire, but the competition is far from clear cut. Check out the specs for yourself.

 

Acer Iconia B1-A71

Acer Iconia B1-A71
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Kindle Fire

kindle fire hd review android tablet
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Nexus 7

Google Nexus 7 tablet in landscape orientation
Image used with permission by copyright holder
Size 197.4 x 128.5 x 11.3 (mm) 189 x 120 x 11.5 (mm) 198.5 x 120 x 10.45 (mm)
Weight 320g 400g 340g
Screen 7-inch 7-inch 7-inch
Resolution 1024×600 pixels 1024×600 pixels 1280×800 pixels
OS Android 4.1 (Jelly Bean) Android 4.0 (ICS) with Amazon overlay Android 4.2 (Jelly Bean)
Storage 8GB 8GB 16GB/32GB
SD Card Slot Yes No No
Processor 1.2GHz Dual-core Mediatek 1.2GHz Dual-core ARM Cortex-A9 1.3GHz Quad-core Nvidia Tegra 3
RAM 512MB 1GB 1GB
Connectivity Wi-Fi Wi-Fi Wi-Fi, HSPA+
Camera Front 0.3MP None Front 1.2MP
Bluetooth Yes No Yes
Battery 2710mAh 4400mAh 4325mAh
Marketplace Google Play Store Amazon App Store Google Play Store
Price Under $150 $160/$175 $200/$250/$300
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The Nexus 7 is the clear leader, but for people on a really tight budget the fight comes down to the Acer Iconia B1-A71 and the Kindle Fire. There’s very little to separate the two. The Acer Iconia has the advantage of running stock Android 4.1 (Jelly Bean), whereas the Kindle Fire sports the older Android 4.0 (ICS) with an Amazon overlay which also limits it to the Amazon App Store. You’ll have a bigger choice of content on the Acer. It also has a microSD card slot, Bluetooth 4.0 support, and a front-facing camera for Skype calls. The Kindle Fire has more RAM and a bigger battery, but is that realistically enough to tempt you in Amazon’s direction?

Though the small amount of RAM has us moderately worried, we think the Acer Iconia B1-A71 is a credible budget choice.

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Simon Hill
Simon Hill
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Simon Hill is an experienced technology journalist and editor who loves all things tech. He is currently the Associate Mobile…
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