Notebook Hunter

After the price drop in the Apple iPad 2 we were expecting a similar crash in Android tablet prices, and it seems to finally be starting. While it wasn’t that intriguing at $679, for $479 the Acer Iconia Tab A501 (16GB) is a great bargain for those needing a tablet on the go. Unlike the A500 the A501’s 3G capable, which together with the generally good build quality and strong feature set make this a compelling special.

It’s one of the heavier 10.1in tablets going at 777 grams, but ultimately that’s still light enough to ensure high portability. The metal backing feels pleasant to the touch, and the 10.1in (1,280 x 800 resolution) glossy screen has generous viewing angles along with good colour depth. In addition to the 3G SIM card slot there’s a MicroSD card reader, a USB 2.0 port and a Micro-HDMI port. The card reader in particular is sure to be a useful supplement to the A501’s small 16GB flash drive.

Wrapping up the essential features are 802.11 b/g/n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 2.1, front and rear cameras along with an integrated microphone. It may not compare favourably to new tablets like the ASUS Eee Pad Transformer Prime, but the significant price difference and well-rounded features still make the A501 worth considering.

Right now the A501 runs Android 3.2.1 Honeycomb, but according to Acer Australia & New Zealand on Facebook there’s an update to Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich scheduled for July 9th. Also, while we’re not sure when this special expires we’ll update this story accordingly.

See the special online here.