Compact tablet computers have always been in high demand. There are many reasons for this: firstly, it is functionality (it is always convenient to have a device at hand that can perform many tasks); secondly - small dimensions (the diagonal of the display of such devices is 7-8 inches, which allows you to carry them with you); thirdly, an affordable price (almost all gadgets from this category cost no more than $100-200).
In this article we will talk about one of these devices. It is called Acer Iconia B1, however, you will not find this gadget on sale anymore. The reason for this is simple: the computer was introduced back in 2014. During this time, according to its technical characteristics, the device became outdated and was replaced by new, more advanced devices.
In the article we will give the characteristics of the tablet, describe its capabilities and special differences from other similar devices. We will also turn to the reviews left by customers and try to form some general conclusion regarding the device.
Package
An overview of an electronic device should traditionally begin with the characteristics of the kit in which it is supplied. In the case of the Acer Iconia B1, nothing special can be noted. The computer goes toclassic set: together with a charger consisting of a cable and an adapter for connecting to the mains, with a user manual, as well as a warranty card that provides support to the buyer in case of any malfunction.
As noted by the reviews describing the Acer Iconia B1, the model is offered in a white box with a picture of the device and standard Acer markings. You can’t say anything special about this: everything is the same as in other computers.
Positioning
If we talk in general about how the manufacturer positions itself, it can be noted that in terms of price, its products are in the middle between cheap Chinese tablets (such as Fly, TeXet and others) and more expensive equipment developed by Samsung, Asus and similar brands. However, again, in addition to low cost and belonging to a well-known manufacturer of computer equipment, the Acer Iconia B1 model also boasts a rich filling, including a GPS module and a Bluetooth transmitter. And in general, in terms of its characteristics, the device is ahead of many competitors with higher technical parameters, which we will discuss later in the article.
Appearance
In fact, when describing the design of the model, it is even difficult to focus on any of the elements of the latter: it may seem so unsightly and ordinary. The appearance of the Acer Iconia B1 stands out, except perhaps due to the bright blue line on the edging. If it were not for her, this “baby” cannot be distinguished from the mass of Chinese devices,having the simplest possible layout.
As users of the device note in their reviews, the build quality of the tablet can be called quite high: the model does not “backlash” and practically does not make any sounds in the process of working with it. The only thing you can pay attention to is the punching of the front panel of the gadget when pressing on some areas. However, this move is hardly noticeable and does not cause much discomfort.
The dimensions of the case are classic: around the screen (which we will describe later) there is a thick plastic frame, which is quite comfortable to hold on to if you place the tablet in one hand. The weight of the device (320 grams) makes it convenient to handle it while reading, watching movies or for “toys”.
The body of the model is plastic, but the quality of the material allows us to talk about its durability and wear resistance. As the reviews describe, even after a couple of months of active work with the tablet after purchase, small scratches are hardly noticeable due to the special texture of the coating.
Navigation
Speaking about how computer management is arranged, we should mention the classic set of “rocker” to change the volume, the screen unlock key, and the system keys at the bottom of the display. All this is identical to the control system used on other tablets, including inexpensive Chinese models.
The speaker of the device is located on the back cover, at the bottom of the case. By the way, the Acer Iconia B1 sounds clean and relatively loud. Holecovered with a special protective mesh in order to avoid dust and sand.
The tablet charging connector was placed at the bottom, while the headset hole was installed at the top (in a classic way). Next to the USB-input you can see a hole for a memory card. Also, in some reviews, there are versions in which there is an empty space (probably allocated for a SIM module, which the Acer Iconia B1 does not have).
Screen
The resolution of the tablet is not the highest and is only 1024 x 600 pixels. Based on this characteristic, you should not count on a high dot density: it is 170 units per square inch. They also saved money on the matrix that reproduces the image, installing instead of IPS (inherent in many cheap tablets) a version based on TN technology.
Due to this, it is not necessary to talk about both the saturation of colors and wide viewing angles: just slightly tilt or turn the device - and this will seriously change the tone of the picture.
This shortcoming, however, is compensated by a rather high flexibility of brightness settings. As evidenced by the comments of users who bought the Acer Iconia B1 tablet, at night this figure can be lowered to a minimum, which will allow you not to “go blind” in the dark from bright light. At the same time, in bright sunlight, the situation worsens: the device cannot provide a high level of screen illumination.
Battery
The main factor affecting the autonomy of the device and its ability towork on a single charge without additional connection to a power source, is the battery capacity and the level of energy consumption. Regarding the first, you can notice that the battery on the tablet has a capacity of 2710 mAh, which is relatively low (if we take into account the fact that most Chinese tablets are equipped with 3000-4000 mAh batteries).
Position Acer Iconia B1 723 perhaps partially rehabilitates the fact that the device is not equipped with the most powerful and colorful display, which does not require significant energy costs. As a result, we have 5-6 hours of active surfing or only 3-4 hours of watching high-quality video at maximum brightness. Of course, this device cannot be called a leader in energy saving and duration of operation.
Communication
As noted above, Acer Iconia Talk B1 723 has a GPS module, which distinguishes it from similar cheap models made in China. In just a couple of minutes, the device can establish a connection with the satellite, which will give accurate information about where your gadget is and how to get to the place you need.
As mentioned above, the tablet does not have a SIM card, so you will have to forget about 3G / 4G mobile Internet. Maximum - the device can connect to a Wi-Fi network operating on a fixed basis.
RAM and physical memory
The gadget that we characterize in this article cannot boast of a large amount of RAM, which would allow the device to work faster and more smoothly. Hereonly 512 megabytes are presented, of which no more than 200 MB are available in the permanent mode. This, of course, is not enough to run some capacious (in terms of resource loading) applications, colorful games and other “complex” programs. Most likely, as the duration of the operation of the tablet increases, the speed of its system will decrease, as it happens with all devices.
As for the internal memory, the device is equipped with 6 GB of memory, of which 1 is allocated for downloading applications and 5 for servicing user data. In addition, the device has a slot for a memory card, thanks to which the total memory can be increased by another 32 GB.
Camera
Naturally, the specifications of the tablet computer include such a module as a camera and its description. However, a simple buyer is unlikely to make a choice in favor of one or another model due to the fact that it has good opportunities for taking pictures, because all tablets have approximately the same poor camera parameters. Our Acer Iconia B1 tablet is no exception in this regard. There is only one camera, located on the front panel (right above the screen). As you might guess from its location, it serves to create modest (in terms of quality) selfies, as well as for video communication on Skype and similar programs. As many users note, the capabilities of this module are enough for them. It is unlikely that anyone can use the front camera to photograph large-scale landscapes.will.
Processor
Finally, we come to one of the most important modules in any electronic smart device: the processor. This is the heart of our gadget, which, in the case of the Acer Iconia Talk 7 B1 723, does not have the best performance. Let's start with the fact that this is the MediaTek MT6517 used in budget models. The module works on two cores, each of which has a frequency of 1.2 GHz. The processor, which, in principle, provides fast user interaction with the device, works in tandem with the graphic “engine” of the VR SGX531 modification.
Operating system
We have already informed you that the device was released back in 2014. Of course, even then it was not considered a flagship model, which is why the firmware on the Acer Iconia B1 was not the latest (even by those standards). Now we mean the operating system Android modification 4.1.2. We know her as one of the earliest in the fourth generation line. However, since the manufacturer has provided the ability to “update”, it may well be that the gadget has already received the 5th or 6th generation of the operating system.
Speaking of the shell interface, it should be said that the development company did not work on creating a custom design for their Acer Iconia B1 7”. The classic theme from Android is used here, so for those who have experience with it, it will feel really “native”.
Reviews
Because the tablet we are analyzing was priced at 120dollars and was, at the same time, developed by a well-known computer developer, buyers hurried to order their own version of a compact but interesting device. In this regard, it is not difficult to find reviews of those people who have already been able to get acquainted with the gadget and test it on their own experience.
After analyzing the reviews, we can draw several main conclusions. The main one is the availability of a famous brand, which is so actively emphasized by buyers in their reviews. Most of them write that the gadget is worth its money, that it exceeds the cost in terms of features and functions presented here.
At least due to this, the Acer Iconia B1 (16Gb) is already a bargain.
In addition, users praise the capabilities of the gadget and the overall quality of its work. Indeed, even by the way the case materials are assembled, one can draw conclusions about the high quality of the device and its positioning. As for the functionality, here, too, many were pleasantly surprised by the GPS module and good hardware, on the basis of which the tablet works.
As for the negative characteristics, they relate to the screen, which does not have a high image density, to the not the most accurate camera, and, of course, to the battery, which does not have the longest “life”.
There are also a number of negative reviews that write about the device stopping after a certain amount of time. For example, this applies to such situations when the gadget functioned normally for 4-6 months, and then suddenly failed.computer screen/sensor/speaker. Perhaps this refers to the Acer Iconia Talk B1, which belongs to a particular batch with a marriage. In general, most of the reviews on “excellent” evaluate the work of the device and recommend it to everyone.
Conclusions
What can we say about the device that we presented in this article? I would like to note its practicality. Yes, in terms of its ratio of “cost” and “quality” parameters, this gadget is clearly the leader in the entire segment of affordable tablets with a 7-inch display. It is called reliable, easy to use and versatile in terms of application.
Also, the Acer Iconia One B1 770 can be called an excellent choice if you are looking for a tablet computer for your child (so that he does not “ditch” a more expensive device), and also if you just need a gadget for surfing and periodic mail checks. Believe me, you simply will not find a better device! This is noted by reviews, and we fully agree with this. Hold the device in your own hands, "play around" with it for 10-20 minutes, and you will understand what we mean. Acer managed to find the right balance between high-quality assembly, cheap equipment and functionality. And, hopefully, the company will be able to keep the same "alignment" in their other products.
True, of course, now you can buy, perhaps, a used version of the gadget. More modern modifications are entering the market new, however, their characteristics are a topic for a new article.
