Acer Iconia Tab A500 3G (1GB + 32GB) Review | 168 Data compared

The TechNave review highlights the Acer Iconia Tab A501 as a high-end Android Honeycomb tablet, featuring a 10.1-inch display housed in a durable, brushed aluminum chassis. Powered by a dual-core 1GHz Nvidia Tegra 2 processor and 1GB of RAM, the device is noted for its robust build, affordability in the Malaysian market, and solid performance. Key advantages include versatile connectivity options, specifically a full-sized USB port for external peripherals and 3G/4G HSPA+ support for mobile internet. Storage is easily expandable via a microSD slot, allowing users to overcome the limitations of internal capacity. Conversely, the tablet is criticized for its significant weight of 777g, making it uncomfortable for extended handheld use compared to lighter competitors. Additional drawbacks include poor outdoor screen visibility under direct sunlight, limited viewing angles, and average camera performance that produces noisy images. Copy

The Acer Iconia A501 is a 10.1-inch tablet featuring a brushed aluminum design, a 1280x800 display, and a 1GHz dual-core Nvidia Tegra 250 processor, offering robust performance for multitasking. Key features include a 5MP rear camera with LED flash, a 2MP front camera, a standard USB port, micro-HDMI, and a high-quality included folio case, providing excellent, versatile connectivity. Despite its performance, the device suffers from limited battery life, lasting roughly 6 hours, and has a heavy, bulky form factor with a somewhat flimsy slot cover. For more details, visit The Mobile Indian. The Mobile Indian Copy

The Acer Iconia Tab A501, reviewed by CNET, is a spec-for-spec clone of the A500 featuring AT&T HSPA+ 4G connectivity, offering a competitive price point for mobile-enabled Honeycomb tablets. While 4G is the main addition, web browsing saw only marginal speed increases over Wi-Fi, and app downloads were often sluggish. Physically, the tablet boasts a sturdy brushed aluminum design with a full-size USB port and micro-HDMI, though it is notably heavy and thick, making it less portable than competitors. Performance was hindered by launching with the outdated Android 3.0.1, missing crucial optimizations found in later versions. For more details, visit CNET.

The Acer Iconia Tab A501, a 10.1-inch Android 3.0 tablet with a brushed aluminum chassis, delivers a sturdy, premium build and includes versatile connectivity options like a full-size USB port and micro-HDMI. Powered by a dual-core NVIDIA Tegra 2 processor, it provides a snappy user experience with 1GB of RAM and a bright 1280 x 800 display. A key pro is its highly affordable price point paired with functional, built-in AT&T 4G HSPA+ connectivity. The tablet’s 5MP rear camera and 2MP front camera are functional for basic photography, and the stereo speakers offer clear audio performance, note SlashGear. However, notable cons include its significant weight and thickness compared to lighter competitors. While 4G capability is a plus, the HSPA+ network resulted in slow upload speeds, and overall battery life was found to be average. Despite the drawbacks regarding weight and network speed, the A501 serves as a solid, budget-friendly option for users needing built-in data capabilities. The combination of strong, functional hardware and a competitive price makes it a competitive choice for its time.

MobileTechReview describes the Acer Iconia Tab A500 as an affordable, sturdy 10.1-inch Android 3.0 Honeycomb tablet featuring a brushed aluminum finish and significant connectivity options. Pros include a full-size USB host port for peripherals and a functional microSD slot, offering superior versatility to competitors, though it is relatively heavy at 1.7 lbs. Powered by a 1GHz Tegra 2 processor and 1GB RAM, the device provides smooth performance and good display resolution, supported by Dolby Mobile audio. However, the tablet has notable limitations, including a maximum 1080p playback of only 10fps and a screen that lacks brightness in bright environments. While the 5MP rear camera is adequate, it produces noisy, low-end photos. The 3260 mAh battery was initially affected by a "wake-up bug," though this was addressed via prompt firmware updates.

The TechRadar review describes the Acer Iconia Tab A500 as a rugged, functional Android 3.0 tablet featuring a durable brushed aluminum back. While this design is praised as a "gadget-abuse" proof pro, it makes the device notably wider and more cumbersome than competitors like the Motorola Xoom, serving as a con for portability. Internally, the tablet offers a standard dual-core 1GHz Nvidia Tegra 2 processor and 1GB of RAM. The 10.1-inch, 1280x800 display provides sharp, realistic visuals, though it is highly glare-prone in sunlight. A major pro is the extensive connectivity, which includes a full-size USB 2.0 port with host functionality, micro-HDMI, and a microSD slot. However, the battery life is a con, proving shorter than the Motorola Xoom. Running a mostly vanilla Honeycomb interface with light Acer enhancements, the tablet handles media and gaming well, including 720p video recording. The cameras are noted as a con, featuring awkward front-camera placement and average, often underexposed, rear photos. Ultimately, the review deems the A500 a solid, competitively priced alternative.

The Trusted Reviews assessment of the Acer Iconia Tab A500 highlights a solid, albeit heavy, early Android Honeycomb device featuring a brushed-metal finish and excellent connectivity options, including a full-size USB port and micro-HDMI. While the 10.1-inch 1280x800 display provides good performance, the review notes the tablet's significant bulk at 730g makes it uncomfortable for extended handheld use. Despite boasting a capable NVIDIA Tegra 2 processor for smooth gaming, the device is held back by a mediocre camera and a glossy screen that struggles with outdoor visibility.

The PhoneArena review characterizes the Acer ICONIA TAB A500 as a competitive, affordable ($449.99) entry into the Android 3.0 Honeycomb market, featuring a solid, albeit heavy, brushed metallic design. Performance is driven by a 1GHz dual-core NVIDIA Tegra 250 processor, offering a smooth experience for typical tablet tasks. While the 10.1-inch display is generally good, the device suffers from high reflectivity in direct sunlight.

The PCMag review highlights the Acer Iconia Tab A500 as an affordable, well-equipped Android Honeycomb tablet, offering a budget-friendly alternative to competitors with its dual-core 1GHz Nvidia Tegra 2 processor and 1GB of RAM. Key pros include a sharp 10.1-inch screen, extensive connectivity options—such as a full-size USB port with host functionality, micro-HDMI, and a microSD slot—and pre-installed, useful media applications. Conversely, the tablet is noted for being relatively heavy and bulky, along with limitations like a lack of 3G/4G options, an awkward front-facing camera, and the immature nature of the Android Honeycomb platform at the time. Copy

The Acer Iconia Tab A500 enters the market as a competitively priced $449 Android Honeycomb tablet, offering high-end specifications including a Nvidia Tegra 2 processor and 1GB of RAM that deliver solid performance for multimedia and gaming. Its 10.1-inch, 1,280x800 display is complemented by robust connectivity options, featuring a full-size USB port and micro-HDMI, housed in a mostly brushed aluminum body. Despite these strengths, the 1.69-pound tablet is notably heavy, and its highly reflective screen, mediocre six-hour battery life, and average camera quality are limiting factors. Copy

The Acer Iconia Tab A500 features a sturdy, brushed aluminum chassis and a high-contrast 10.1-inch WXGA display, though it suffers from a reflective screen, uneven edge illumination, and minor manufacturing inaccuracies. Performance is driven by the Nvidia Tegra 250, offering smooth operation, while connectivity is a highlight with full-sized USB 2.0, Micro-USB, and Micro-HDMI ports, despite cramped port spacing. Battery life ranges from 3 to over 10 hours depending on usage, and while the unit remains cool, it is heavy at 750g and faces stiff competition from more polished alternatives.

Rayaz Muthalif’s 2011 review highlights the Acer Iconia A500 as a durable, "superbly useful" Android tablet featuring a premium, brushed gun-metal finish, though it lacks the slim profile of the iPad 2. Key pros include extensive connectivity with a full-size USB port and microSD slot, along with strong performance from the Tegra 2 processor. Significant cons, however, include a highly reflective screen that is difficult to use in direct sunlight and disappointing camera performance. The tablet's 4–5 hour battery life is described as sufficient, though it falls short of competitor benchmarks from that period. Copy

The Techlicious review positions the Acer Iconia Tab A500 as a competitive, $449 budget alternative to the iPad 2 and Motorola Xoom, featuring a durable, brushed aluminum design. Key pros include extensive connectivity with a full-sized USB port and microSD slot, along with strong performance from the Nvidia Tegra 2 processor and a bright 10.1-inch display. Notable cons include the device's heavy 1.69-pound weight, poor camera performance, and lackluster battery life compared to the competition. Techlicious Copy

The Acer Iconia Tab A500 is a 10.1-inch Android 3.0 tablet praised for offering solid Tegra 2 performance and extensive connectivity, including a full-sized USB port and microSD slot, at a competitive, budget-friendly price point. While it boasts a rugged, brushed aluminum design, the device is criticized for being notably chunky and heavy compared to rivals, with a highly reflective screen that hinders outdoor usability. Despite these drawbacks, the tablet offers good value, particularly for users prioritizing physical ports and expandable storage. Pocket-lint

The Tom's Hardware review of the Acer Iconia Tab A500 highlights a device featuring a durable brushed aluminum chassis, offering a premium, scratch-resistant feel suited for on-the-go use. The tablet includes a 10.1-inch, 1280x800 display, which is ideal for landscape media consumption but feels awkward for portrait web browsing. Powered by a Nvidia Tegra 2 processor and running Android Honeycomb 3.1, the A500 emphasizes connectivity by including a full-sized USB 2.0 port and a micro-HDMI output, although the port layout creates messy cable management. However, the tablet's primary drawbacks include its significant 1.65 lbs weight, making it heavier than competitors, and a mediocre battery life compared to the iPad. While the stereo speakers are adequate, the 5-megapixel rear camera produces mixed results with washed-out, bluish indoor photos, according to the review.

The TechRadar review of the Acer Iconia Tab A500 highlights a device with a high-quality screen suitable for media, but it lacks a built-in content store for movie rentals. Pros include a durable aluminum design, a full-sized USB port, and HDMI output, while cons involve a bulky form factor and visible pixel grid. Software instability, such as app crashes, along with shorter-than-average battery life, ultimately prevent the tablet from being a top-tier recommendation.