NEW YORK: Acer announced a pair of new Android tablets. Both the Iconia One 7 B1-760HD and One 8 B1-830 join existing families of devices. They also both run the latest version of Android, 5.1 Lollipop, and make use of MediaTek processors (in the One 8’s case, an octa-core chip). As a result, the B1-830 will probably be a little cheaper than the previously announced B1-820, which ships with an Intel quad-core processor.
There’s not a lot to get excited about with the B1-760HD, though the 7-inch model is available in a bevy of color choices and features a textured back to provide a little more style. Acer hasn’t detailed most specs for either version (including price and availability), but don’t expect far more beyond the basics. In the case of the B1-830, it does come with Acer Precision Plus technology, which the company claims provides “the most accurate touch experience” and allows you to use a pencil to write or draw with on the display.
The other bit of Acer tablet news was revealed by way of Intel and not the PC maker itself. As previously reported by my ZDNet colleague John Morris, the chip maker highlighted Acer’s forthcoming Predator 8 Android gaming tablet, complete with an Intel Atom X7 processor, during its keynote event. When we previously reported on the Predator 8 a few weeks ago, no processor (or any other real specs) had been detailed, but with the Atom X7 CPU disclosure, we now know that it will be using the same processor family as Microsoft’s new Surface 3 tablet. As with its Iconia One siblings, the Predator 8 has neither an official release date nor an official price, but is expected sometime later this year.
