After releasing a few entry level Android tablets over the past ten months, Archos is kicking it up a notch with five new Android tablets slated to make their appearance at IFA this week. Powered by Android 2.2, this diverse group includes slates whose display sizes run from the very small 2.3-inches all the way up to very comfortable 10-inches. Though they all share Android 2.2 in common, each device rocks a different set of underlying hardware which places them at different price points.
Archos 101 ($299, October)
Shown above, the Archos 101 is the big daddy of the bunch with a spacious 10-inch, 1024×600 capacitive display. Accompanying this over-sized display is a 1GHz Cortex A8 processor, 720P HD video playback, OpenGL ES 2.0, VGA camera, HDMI port, 802.11b/g/n, Bluetooth 2.1, and 8GB or 16GB of internal storage. The Archos 101 is expected to debut in October with a $300 price tag.
Archos 70 ($275, October)
The Archos 7o is a 7-inch offering that includes the same 1GHz Cortex A8 processor as the 10-inch Archos 101. The Archos 70 also includes a 7-inch 800×480 capacitive touchscreen display, 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth 2.1, a front-facing camera, and both a USB and HDMI port. The Archos 70 will be available with 8GB of flash storage or 250GB of hard drive storage. Also launching in October, the Archos 70 will set you back $275.
Archos 43 ($199, October)
Slightly smaller, the Archos 43 will feature a 4.3-inch 480×854 touchscreen resistive display, 1GHz ARM Cortex A8 processor, HDMI port, 2MP rear-facing camera with 720P HD recording, 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth 2.1, and internal storage capacities of 8GB or 16GB. The Archos 43 is more like a smartphone than a tablet and will debut in October for $199.
Archos 32 ($149, mid-September)
Keeping with trend, the Archos 32 includes a 3.2-inch resistive display with 400×240 resolution, 800MHz Cortex A8 processor, VGA camera, 720P HD video playback, built-in mic, composite output, USB port, 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth 2.1 and 8GB of internal storage. Hitting the market in mid-September, the Archos 32 will retail for $150.
Archos 28 ($99, Late September)
Lat but not least is the Archos 28, a 2.8 inch offering that resembles a portable media player more than a slate device. The Archos 28 includes a 2.8 inch, 320×240 display, 800MHz Cortex A8 processor, 802.11 b/g/n, and 720P HD video playback though the attractiveness of HD is diminished by the tablet’s small screen size and low resolution. The Archos 28 lacks the HDMI out, camera, and Bluetooth connectivity of its larger brethren but sports an ultra-low price tag of $100. Look for the Archos 28 to hit the market in late September.
With five different models offering five very different screen sizes, there is an Archos tablet for everyone. The prices on these devices are very affordable but do not take into account the accessories and numerous plug-ins that are often required by Archos’ devices. If you have an Archos 101 and want MPEG-2 playback, then you will have to buy an optional plug-in. Also noticeably absent from these initial specs is GPS which was present on previous generation Archos tablets. Despite these limitations, our interest is piqued and we plan to swing by the Archos table at IFA this week. Anyone else interested?
[via Archos]