PERFORMANCE. We evaluate how fast a tablet can perform calculations and see how long it takes to complete different tasks. The Acer Iconia One 7 B1-780 (16GB) has fair speeds when running everyday tasks, such as web browsing or email. The time to turn on and load the OS was faster than most, although this will be affected by what apps are installed on your tablet. Copying a set of files was very fast.
DISPLAY. We also score the attributes of a tablet's display. This device has a display resolution of 1280 x 720, and produces typical detail at 210 pixels per inch. The very bright screen and its reduced glare will be easy to view when used outdoors or in bright rooms. Testers found the display quality is washed out for colors, and the default text size is very small. Viewing angles are very narrow and not ideal for sharing the screen; a single viewer will have limited positions for getting optimal display.
CONVENIENCE. To gauge a tablet's ease of use, we look at the intuitiveness of its controls, as well as how quickly it takes to perform common tasks, such as connecting to a wifi router or transferring files. The on-screen keyboard had a less comfortable size than on other tablets, and buttons were intuitively placed or easy to use. The touchscreen accurately interpreted touch gestures and it had some lag in response. This tablet's initial setup process was quick and simple to personalize. It was fast in connecting to a wireless network. There were few, if any, issues when transferring files to and from different computers or storage solutions. You can only display one app at a time on this tablet, so multi-tasking will be more difficult with less information on the screen.
SPECIFIC TASKS. Looking at how easy it is to perform a set of everyday tasks can show how functional a tablet will be. This tablet scored very good, with some tasks easy to perform. Most common file types are not supported by default; you may need additional apps to view certain files. Some unsupported formats include: rtf, MSOffice files. The tablet includes a video conference app by default for making video calls. The camera video records in HD, good for creating movies for playback on TV. The webcam video records in HD, good for making video calls. Video playback was smooth and had little lag, and sound quality from the built-in speakers is very thin. Photos produced from the camera had unnatural colors, and videos had some noise, producing somewhat unnatural-looking colors. Text was somewhat hard to read under various lighting conditions. There was some sluggishness when using the web browser.
VERSATILITY. The features that are available on a tablet and other physical characteristics can affect its usability. It has no USB port. It has no HDMI port. Without a keyboard, it weighs 0.5 lbs and is more lightweight than most tested tablets. The tablet has a mostly solid feel, with some flex in its contruction.
BATTERY LIFE. A longer battery life is important for mobility, whether using it while outside traveling, or even just at home as you carry the tablet between rooms. While browsing the web, the tablet can last 6.8 hours, and while playing back movies, it can last 6.2 hours, shorter than most other tested tablets. After partially charging a drained battery for 30 minutes, the tablet can last 2.1 hours. The tablet has a battery-saving mode, but it took testers some time to find and activate it.
