Acer Iconia Tab A500 (1GB + 16GB) Review | 168 Data compared

The Techlicious review describes the Acer Iconia Tab A500 as a sturdy, budget-friendly 2011 Android tablet featuring a brushed aluminum design and robust connectivity, including a full-sized USB port and micro-HDMI, which outperform the contemporary iPad 2 in versatility. Key drawbacks include its 1.69-pound weight, making it the heaviest in its class, along with underwhelming camera performance and an inconsistent auto-brightness feature. Despite a speedy browsing experience and solid multitasking capabilities, the device offers only average battery life compared to rivals, resulting in a neutral rating for this budget-focused, high-connectivity device.

The Acer Iconia Tab A500, reviewed by MobileTechReview, is a competitive 10.1-inch Android 3.0 Honeycomb tablet featuring a Tegra 2 processor and a robust, brushed aluminum design, though it is notably heavy. A major pro is its extensive connectivity, including a full-size USB 2.0 port, micro HDMI, and microSD storage expansion, offering high value at its $450 price point. However, the device suffers from performance cons such as a 720p video playback limitation, a "wake-up" screen bug, and mediocre, noisy camera performance. While the display is protected by Gorilla Glass, its quality is outclassed by competitors, and the battery life is merely average, offering 6–10 hours of usage. Despite these shortcomings, the tablet is praised for its strong audio performance via Dolby Mobile-enhanced speakers and solid overall performance. Copy

The Trusted Reviews analysis of the Acer Iconia Tab A500 highlights a robust, brushed aluminium build that feels durable but heavy at over 700g, making it less portable than competitors. Featuring a high-resolution 10.1-inch display and dual speakers with Dolby Mobile, the tablet delivers solid multimedia performance despite a highly reflective screen, while the Nvidia Tegra 2 processor offers capable, smooth operation. Key advantages include extensive connectivity, specifically a full-sized USB port and HDMI output, although it is constrained by poor camera quality and weak battery life, typically lasting only 5 to 6 hours.

The Acer Iconia Tab A500 is a competitively priced 10.1-inch tablet featuring a "zippy" NVIDIA Tegra 2 dual-core processor and 1GB of RAM, providing solid performance and a high-resolution 1280-by-800 display. Its hardware strengths include a sturdy brushed aluminum frame, a microSD card slot, and robust connectivity options, specifically a full-size USB port and micro HDMI-out. However, the tablet is noted for being heavy and bulky compared to the iPad 2, and it lacks built-in 3G/4G connectivity, limiting its portability.

The Acer Iconia Tab A500 is a 10.1-inch Android 3.0 tablet featuring a durable aluminum chassis with good build quality, though some alignment issues were noted. Driven by an Nvidia Tegra 2 dual-core processor and 1GB of RAM, the device provides smooth performance and competitive connectivity options like a full-size USB 2.0 port, micro-HDMI, and a microSD slot. However, the tablet is relatively heavy, and the close proximity of its USB ports can be restrictive, notes the Notebookcheck review. The 1280x800 display offers high contrast and stable viewing angles, but its glossy finish suffers from high reflectivity in bright, direct sunlight. Battery life provides a decent range of 3 to 6 hours under mixed usage, with maximum runtime reaching over 10 hours at lower brightness levels. The review concludes that the A500 is a versatile, well-connected, and affordable alternative to the iPad 2, despite minor refinements and software ecosystem limitations. Copy

The TechRadar review describes the Acer Iconia Tab A500 as a durable, Android 3.0 Honeycomb tablet featuring a brushed-aluminum back and robust connectivity, including a full-sized USB 2.0 port and micro-HDMI out. Powered by a 1.0GHz Nvidia Tegra 2 processor and 1GB of RAM, the device offers a responsive, high-definition 10.1-inch display suitable for media consumption. However, the tablet is noted to be quite heavy and bulky, and the display struggles with visibility in bright, direct light. Additionally, battery life is limited to around seven hours of mixed usage, often requiring frequent recharges. For more details, visit TechRadar.

The CNET review of the 2011 Acer Iconia Tab A500 highlights a competitive 10.1-inch Android Honeycomb tablet offering premium features, such as a 1,280x800 display, at a sub-$500 price point. Key pros include a robust brushed aluminum design, a capable Nvidia Tegra 2 processor, and exceptional connectivity featuring full-size USB, micro-USB, and micro-HDMI ports. Despite these strengths, the device is criticized for being notably heavy and bulky (1.69 lbs), alongside average battery life and poor outdoor screen visibility. Copy

Rayaz Muthalif's 2011 review highlights the Acer Iconia A500 as a durable, "geek-friendly" alternative to the iPad 2, featuring a robust, gun-metal build and comprehensive connectivity options. Key strengths include a full-size USB port for easy file transfers, a micro HDMI port, and smooth performance powered by the Nvidia Tegra 2 processor. However, the tablet is constrained by poor, off-centre camera quality, a highly reflective screen, and average battery life.

The 2011 The Verge review highlights the Acer Iconia Tab A500 as a well-built, affordable Android tablet featuring a brushed aluminum design, a bright 10.1-inch 1280x800 display, and impressive stereo speakers. Its "geek-friendly" design boasts excellent connectivity, including a full-sized USB host port, micro-HDMI, and a microSD slot. While the 1GHz Tegra 2 processor provides generally solid performance, it still experiences occasional Honeycomb OS lag. Key drawbacks include its bulky, heavy design and mediocre camera quality, along with a "mixed bag" battery life that falls short of the iPad 2. Despite impressive hardware for its price, the lack of optimized Android apps remains a hurdle. The Verge

The Acer Iconia Tab A500 is a high-performance 10.1-inch Android 3.0 Honeycomb tablet powered by a 1 GHz NVIDIA Tegra 2 processor, offering zippy, competitive performance. Notable pros include an extremely responsive, bright display, a rugged design with a brushed aluminum back, and extensive, versatile connectivity options like full-size USB 2.0 and micro-HDMI, surpassing many competitors. However, the device is considered heavy and thick compared to rivals like the iPad 2, and the 16:10 screen aspect ratio makes portrait browsing feel narrow. Software, while largely "pure" Honeycomb, is supplemented by useful media-focused folders from Acer. While the 5MP rear camera and speakers are strong, the 2MP front camera is awkwardly angled, and the tablet faces the drawback of a less mature app ecosystem compared to iOS. Ultimately, the A500 offers strong value with its low price and superior connectivity, despite its heavier weight.