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Archos 97 Carbon review

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Archos 97 Carbon
Archos 97 Carbon
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The Archos 97 Carbon is one of the many Android-powered tablets available from electronics maker Archos. The difference between the 97 Carbon and the other models in the Archos tablet lineup lies in screen size and default software configuration. It comes with Android 4.0 Ice Cream sandwich pre-installed and features a 9.7-inch 1024x768 pixel resolution touchscreen display. If you’re keen, you might notice that its screen is similar to that of the first-generation Apple iPad. So can you expect to get a similar overall user experience with it?

The short answer to that question is no. You’re going to get an entirely different experience with the 97 Carbon, what with it running one of the latest versions of the Android software. And, from the looks of it, Archos didn’t do much to mess with the default Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich skin. Which is a good thing, considering how many other manufacturers ruin the experience by customizing the software too much. As for hardware, it offers a decent combination of parts. There’s a 1GHz ARM Cortex A8 CPU with 1GB RAM, 16GB internal storage, 2MP camera, microUSB, Wi-Fi, HDMI-out, and support for microSD cards.

At 620 grams (21.9 ounces) and about 11mm thick (0.43 inches), it may be a bit too chunky for some. But that same chunkiness is what lets the Archos 97 Carbon offer up to 8 hours of battery life in terms of video playback per full charge. Ultimately, it may come down to price as the deciding factor. With the appearance of low-cost yet powerful Android tablets like the Google Nexus 7, it will be a tough to see the 97 Carbon as an attractive option. But of course, that could change quite easily if the price is right.

Need to Know: Archos 97 Carbon

1. Comes with Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich pre-installed. (The Good)

2. Offers up to 8 hours of battery life per charge for video playback. (The Good)

3. Internal storage is limited to 16GB. (The Bad)

4. Lacks GPS, NFC, and other important wireless capabilities. (The Bad)


Android
Operating system
Operating system
Android
1 GHz
Processor
Processor
1 GHz
9.7"
Screen Size
Screen Size
9.7"
2+ MP
Camera
Camera
2+ MP
Unknown
Battery



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Quick view

Screen Size
9.7"

The Archos 97 Carbon's screen size is 9.7 inches with x pixels resolution.

Processor
1 GHz

There is a Cortex-A8 1 GHz processor (CPU).

OS

The tablet runs on proprietary operating system firmware.

Camera
2+ MP
You can take photos or capture video with the tablet's onboard 2+ MP camera. There is also a secondary front facing camera with VGA (640 x 480) resolution.
Storage
16 GB

Internal memory is 16 GB. An external, MicroSD, MicroSDHC (up to 32 GB) expansion slot is available for increased storage capacity.

Battery
Unknown

The tablet is powered by a Lithium Polymer (Li-Pol) battery.

97 Carbon Specs

Overview
Release Date July 11, 2012
Regions Available USA, United Kingdom
Operating System No

Compare Android Smartphones

Processor Cortex-A8 1 GHz
Internal Storage 16 GB
RAM 1 GB
Hearing Aid Compatible No
TTY/TDD No
SAR Unknown
Manufacturer Warranty 1 Year
Accessories Included AC Charger, Data Cable, Manual, Standard Battery
Cellular
Networks
Mobile / Cellular Data
No (Option available)
Wi-Fi Calling No
Voice over LTE (VoLTE) No
SIM card size
No
Dual SIM No
Connectivity
USB Micro-USB 2.0
USB OTG Support No
Infrared No
Bluetooth Unknown
Bluetooth Profiles No
Bluetooth Audio Codecs
Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n
Memory Expansion Slot Yes
Expansion Slot Info MicroSD, MicroSDHC (up to 32 GB)
NFC No
Camera
Main Camera
Resolution / Aperture
2+ Megapixels
Zoom
Unknown
Flash
No
Additional Main Camera Info
Video Recording Formats
H.264 / AVC, MPEG-4, FLV, AVI
Video Recording Parameters
Front Camera
Resolution / Aperture
VGA (640 x 480)+ Megapixels
Additional Front Camera Info
No
Video Recording Parameters
Display / Screen
Type Color
Technology LCD (TFT)
Colors 16.7 million
Resolution x pixels
Pixel density Unknown
Size 9.7 inches
Sensors Motion / Accelerometer
Backlit Illumination Yes
Zoom / Magnification Yes
Screen Orientation Lock Yes
Multi-Touch Yes
Fingerprint-Resistant Coating No
Additional Display Features Capacitive touch screen
Power & Battery
Type Lithium Polymer (Li-Pol)
Battery Capacity No
Removable Battery No
Wireless Charging
Fast Charging No
Battery Charge Time Unknown
Video Playback Time Up to 8 hours
Internet Use (Wi-Fi) Unknown
Internet Use (Cellular) Unknown
Standby Time Unknown
Mixed Usage
Physical Characteristics
Material Unknown
Colors Black
Dimensions [H x W x D] 18.4 x 23.9 x 1.1 cm (7.2 x 9.4 x 0.4 in)
Weight 620 grams
Water Resistant / Waterproof Unknown
Rugged design No
IP Rating No
Headset Jack 3.5mm
External Speakers Yes
Input / Navigation
Touchscreen Yes
Sleep / Wake Key No
Home Key No
Physical keyboard No
Text-to-Speech No
Screen Reader No
Keypad/Screen Lock Yes
External Volume Control Yes
Fingerprint Sensor No
More
Additional Information Graphics: Yes
Backlit Illumination: Yes
Zoom / Magnification: Yes
Screen Orientation Lock: Yes
Predictive Text Entry: Yes
Keypad/Screen Lock: Yes
Web Browser: Yes
PC Synchronization: No
TV Out Info: HDMI
Audio Formats: MP3, WAV, OGG
Video Playback Formats: H.264 / AVC, MPEG-4, FLV, AVI
Streaming Video: Yes
Custom Ringtones: Yes
Vibration Alert: Yes
Viewable document types:
Games: Downloadable
Apps: Downloadable
Included Software / Apps: -
Calendar, World Clock, Alarm, Calculator, Maps, Voice Memos / Recorder

Other Names (AKA):
Related Links Quick Start Guide (PDF)
Where to buy Archos 97 Carbon
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