Skip to main content

Acer plans budget quad-core Android tablet range to tackle Google and Amazon

Acer recently rebooted its tablet range with the introduction of the Iconia B1, a sub-$150 Android slate designed to take on the collective might of the Nexus 7 and Kindle Fire. Acer’s tablet plans haven’t come to an end though, and we can expect the launch of an 8-inch and a 10-inch tablet soon, both of which will use quad-core processors.

This isn’t idle Internet chatter, as Acer’s President, Linxian Lang, informed the China Times of the plan. He considers the market ripe for exploitation, figuring that this year 200 million budget tablets will be shipped and after Apple and Samsung have had their share, there are still 120 million opportunities to explore.

To do this, Acer will use the new MediaTek MT6589 quad-core processor as each tablet’s headline feature. The MT6589 is one of the first to use ARM’s Cortex A7 architecture and recently appeared inside the Alcatel One Touch Scribe, which debuted at CES 2013. Acer already uses a dual-core MediaTek processor in the Iconia B1, so this is an extension of an already existing partnership.

So, if Acer has gone for less than $150 for the Iconia B1, how much is it planning to charge for its 8-inch and 10-inch slates? Unwiredview speculates the smaller of the two could be around $200, then add another $50 for the 10-inch model. That’s quite a reduction on the Nexus 10, which costs $400, but Acer’s tablet isn’t likely to benefit from its high resolution screen.

Acer has been vocal about Windows RT’s failings, and making a strong push into Android territory isn’t a surprise. As for when they’ll be revealed to the public isn’t known, but according to Focus Taiwan, it won’t be until after September this year, making any Mobile World Congress unveiling unlikely.

Editors' Recommendations

Andy Boxall
Senior Mobile Writer
Andy is a Senior Writer at Digital Trends, where he concentrates on mobile technology, a subject he has written about for…
This is OnePlus’ next Android tablet — the OnePlus Pad Go
OnePlus Pad Go official imagery.

OnePlus Pad Go OnePlus

OnePlus started its journey making fast phones that didn't cost an outrageous amount of money — a strategy that soon trickled down to earbuds and subsequently made its way to the tablet segment. The OnePlus Pad arrived in April, serving a sleek slate with a high-resolution 144Hz screen and a top-tier chip for a price lower than Apple’s entry-level iPad.

Read more
I abandoned my iPad for an Android tablet and didn’t hate it
A person typing on a keyboard, connected to a Pixel Tablet.

Android tablets aren’t a patch on the Apple iPad, right? I mean, they don’t come close in app compatibility, performance, or versatility — making Android as an operating system good on phones, but disappointing on tablets. That’s the rule, and it’s one I have followed for some time.

At least, that was until I forced myself to live with and use the Google Pixel Tablet just like I do my iPad Pro. Would it change my mind? A bit, yes, but another Android tablet changed it more.
What does my tablet need to do?

Read more
Who needs the Pixel Tablet? Amazon’s new Fire Max 11 looks great
Amazon Fire Max 11 tablet laying on a desk.

Amazon just announced a new tablet — and it's probably not what you were expecting. Amazon's latest foray into the Android tablet world is the Fire Max 11, and it aims to be far more premium and powerful than any of the company's previous offerings.

The announcement also comes at an interesting time. Google just opened preorders for the Pixel Tablet, the OnePlus Pad recently debuted to fairly good reviews, and rumors of new Samsung tablets are quickly picking up. But even with so much going on in the tablet space, the Fire Max 11 looks like it could make a compelling argument for itself.
The Fire Max 11 has a few surprise features

Read more