What's good
- Decent specs for a basic tablet
- Near-stock Android version
- Low price tag
What's bad
- Poor build quality
- Low-end display
If you’re looking for a barebones 7-inch Android tablet, you’ll find exactly that in the Acer Iconia B1. Among its best qualities is a low price tag which you won’t see many branded tablets with similar specs. However, as Techradar’s Jamie Carter rightly points out, this means that it comes with strings attached - largely in the form of lower quality components.
Still, that doesn't mean that if you use the B1, it will disappoint in all departments. It relies on a 1.2GHz dual-core chip for processing power, comes with a front-facing VGA camera, 1GB of RAM, choices of either 8GB or 16GB of internal storage, and a built-in microSD card slot.
From this short list of specs, one can determine that the B1 is all about giving users a taste of the basic Android tablet experience. And again, if that’s exactly what you’re looking for, then the B1 will serve you quite well.
Engadget’s Dana Wollman is quick to admit that the build quality and screen on the B1 aren't nearly as nice as what you'll get on the 2012 model of the Nexus 7 tablet. And this should come as no surprise, given that the Nexus 7 is meant to be a flagship model for Google, while the B1 is nothing more than a second-string Android offering for Acer. The Taiwan-based company has a more expensive model sitting a notch above it in terms of price and performance.
The bottom line is that if you aren’t asking for much out of your Android tablet, then the B1 is right up your alley. Not to mention, Acer isn’t asking for much for it in terms of money, either. It serves all the most important tablet features in an easy-to-use and affordable package. As Katharin Byrne from Expert Reviews says, “it could be better, but it's certainly no slouch at all”.
What the Critics Are Saying...
- Michael Moser , NotebookcheckSo, is the Acer Iconia B1-721 a price-performance gem? In short: Not really. True, its application performance is acceptable, and the communication modules perform flawlessly as well. UMTS 3G is on board alongside Bluetooth 4.0 and a relatively spacious 16 GB of internal memory. With its high maximu...
- Katharine Byrne, Expert ReviewsThis budget tablet is very much part of Acer's B-team, but its microSD card slot is a nice addition.
Prices (Where to Buy)
Ask the Community
Resources
Manuals / User Guides
- Acer Iconia B1 Manual (PDF)
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