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As is so often the case when manufacturers are in the final stages of testing new products, Acer’s latest Iconia tablet has been observed in the GFXBench database, with its specifications being unwittingly unveiled. The new model is called the Iconia 7 A1-724 (it just rolls of the tongue doesn’t it?), and it might be the replacement model for the outgoing A1-713.
According to the leaked specifications, the Iconia 7 A1-724 will be powered by a Quad-Core Snapdragon 410 processor that is clocked at 1.2GHz and graphics are provided by the Adreno 306 GPU. There’s 1GB of RAM on tap, along with 16GB of internal storage and you can add more storage thanks to the included Micro-SD card slot. The 7.1-inch display has a 1280 x 720 resolution, with 5 finger gesture support. On the front there is a 1.8MP camera for video chat and selfies, while on the rear is 4.7MP camera that can record in full HD. The leaked specifications state that there is also a flash on the rear, but seeing as it isn’t present in the leaked images below, I would say its doubtful. As you can tell from the images below, the A1-724 sports dual front-facing stereo speakers.
The Iconia A1-724’s claim to fame lies in its ability to conduct voice calls. Yes, as that implies, there is a SIM slot present, and the tablet is said to be 3G compatible. This means that the A1-724 can serve as a dual-purpose device, acting as a normal tablet, while also being able to make and receive calls and texts. The tablet will be running Android version 4.4.4 out of the box, and seeing as the Snapdragon 410 is 64 bit compatible, one would hope that it will see an update to Android 5.0 Lollipop.
So, those are the specifications, and while the Iconia A1-724 isn’t going to beat the Nexus 9 in a benchmarks test, it isn’t meant to. The Iconia A1-724 will be marketed as a budget tablet, and while the exact pricing isn’t known as yet, it would be surprising to see it priced at too much over £150 ($235). As to when it will be launched, there hasn’t been as specified day yet, but with the Christmas shopping season upon us, you would think it will be before the end of 2014. If you were in the market for a device to act as both your phone and tablet, would the Acer Iconia A1-724 be the product for you? Would you be happy to get it for Christmas? (I know, I can’t believe I’ve just typed those words out either). Let us know at our Google Plus page.