Acer Launching $99 Iconia B1 Iconia Tablet Early in 2013
Cheap tablets aren't anything new. After all, the $199 Nexus 7 is easily one of the most value-packed tablets on the market, boasting a slick design and an unadulterated copy of Android. But according to a new report, Acer may be trying to up the ante by racing down to the bottom. The company is reportedly looking to launch a tablet next year priced at around $99. The company isn't confirming the leak just yet, but sources are suggesting that it would be a 7" affair with a 1024x600 display, 1.2GHz dual-core processor and a name: Iconia B1.
It should shape up to compete with the Kindle Fire and Nook Color, but at first, it's going to be aimed at emerging markets that may be more accepting of low-res panels and last-gen specifications. Furthermore, it remains to be seen if the $99 price point is going to be "low" once this ships. At CES, we're apt to see a flood of similar products -- low-cost 7" slates from here, there, and everywhere. The race to the bottom is real, and Acer is likely to simply be one amongst the crowd. We aren't told what version of Android this B1 will run, but there's no question that the price squeeze is going put real pressure on rivals. Looks like the tablet war is about to take it to an entirely new level.
It should shape up to compete with the Kindle Fire and Nook Color, but at first, it's going to be aimed at emerging markets that may be more accepting of low-res panels and last-gen specifications. Furthermore, it remains to be seen if the $99 price point is going to be "low" once this ships. At CES, we're apt to see a flood of similar products -- low-cost 7" slates from here, there, and everywhere. The race to the bottom is real, and Acer is likely to simply be one amongst the crowd. We aren't told what version of Android this B1 will run, but there's no question that the price squeeze is going put real pressure on rivals. Looks like the tablet war is about to take it to an entirely new level.
