Review of the tablet Acer Iconia Tab W4

I still remember the excitement caused by the announcement of the previous model Acer W3, then compact tablet on a full Windows was a big step forward and potentially interesting proposition for many users. However, Acer is not particularly focused on the model, the cause was not a very good screen used in W3. But time goes on, there are new products, among them the Acer Iconia Tab W4, which is no problem with the screen, or almost none.

Options

• Tablet
• Charger
• Cable for connection to a PC (also part of the charger)
• USB-OTG cable
• Documentation
• Activation code for Microsoft Office for Small Screens, Students Version
• DVD-ROM to reset and restore the system

You know, there are some special irony in the fact that in order to restore the system put DVD-ROM, nor do most of the CD-ROM is not. I believe that the companies time to move on the stick, the benefit they are now quite cheap.

Exterior materials, controls, assembly

In the tablet calm strict appearance, there is no any special design refinements, but as horrible body parts of glossy plastic.

The front side is almost completely occupies an eight-screen, above it is a light sensor and front camera eye. And under it, you can see the physical button «Windows», her short soft pressing, no complaints about it.

On the left side are the following controls: volume control, built-in microphone hole, port microHDMI, as well as slots for memory cards and SIM-card format microSIM. In soft rocker short press snaps, use it comfortably.

On top is the power button and indicator light, it glows red while charging and green when the unit is charged.

In the tablet has two stereo speakers, they are below, along with the microUSB connectors and a 3.5mm headphone jack.Do speaker volume levels, but the maximum value they start to wheeze. And in general, the role of “music box» Iconia Tab W4 does not apply.

The back cover and edges of the tablet made of matte gray plastic. He is pleasant to the touch and resistant to contamination. Of the elements on the back of the eye is only 8 MP camera.

The device is well built and gaps, scratches or any gaps missing.

Dimensions

In Acer traditionally make their plates slightly thicker competitors, I do not know what it involves, but Iconia Tab W4 was no exception.

	Length (mm)	Width (mm)	Thickness (mm)	Weight (g)
Asus VivoTab Note 8	221	134	11	380
Acer Iconia W4	219	134	11	415
Lenovo ThinkPad 8	224	132	9	430
Dell Venue Pro 8	216	130	9	395

Convenient to use the tablet while holding it with both hands, or putting on his knees, but read the article and keep the device for a long time with one hand uncomfortable.

Screen

Screen size – 8.1 inches, the type of matrix – IPS, resolution – 1280×800 pixels, oleophobic coating is missing, there is support for “multi-touch”. The display has an automatic brightness control, in my opinion, it works rather well, exposing the comfort value in most cases.

Pro display not much to say. On the one hand, there is IPS-matrix and a good resolution, and on the other, for the price offered is already available on Android devices with a much higher resolution. However, for Windows 8 is 1280×800 pixels to eight inches is the optimal resolution.

As for picture quality, it is not bad, but viewing angles are average, rejecting the image fades. Also, due to the low resolution when reading small text is noticeable pixelation.

Operating System

The device is running a full-fledged Windows 8.1 without «RT». And this is its main feature and advantage.

You have access to the broadest capabilities of Windows to work. All office applications and other highly specialized applications can be used on this tablet. However, it is important to note that you need to make a correction for the size of the display, still trying to get into the small window menu on this screen is very problematic, and scaling is not at all the applications. I would not consider Iconia Tab W4 (and the other tablets on Windows) as a full replacement for a laptop or PC, it’s more compact companion on the road, from which, if necessary, you can quickly fix something in the familiar interface of business applications.

As for entertainment, then this situation for Windows is much worse. No, there certainly have customers for VKontakte, Google Chrome, Facebook and a few familiar to you applications. However, their range is much lower than on Android, and even more so than on iOS.

Working with text

Included in the plate is a license for Microsoft Office 2013 for Small Screens, and it pleases, no need to think about which application to use.

However, if you want to recruit at Iconia Tab W4 large texts, then you will be a big disappointment. Firstly, in the kit to the plate did not put a wireless keyboard (and here at W3 she was!), And secondly, the screen size does not allow comfortable typing.If you look for a typewriter, it is best to look the other way Chromebook’ov.

Performance

The device is installed chipset Intel Atom Z3740 with a quad-core processor, clocked at 1.33 GHz, a video card Intel HD Graphics, amount of RAM – 2 GB of internal storage capacity – 32/64 GB, there is a slot for a memory card.

Autonomy

Built-in battery capacity is 4960 mAh, the manufacturer claims up to 8 hours of battery life. I did not drive out the device in synthetic benchmarks, but instead decided to provide you with the normal use of the data.

In the morning I take my tablet with a charge, going to the office or anywhere else for. During the day, use a tablet about 2-2.5 hours, 3G is always on. In the evening, the charge is 50-60%. If you leave the plate overnight, then it is discharged by about 10%. In general, when more or less active use of its charge will last you for two days.

Average charging time is 3.5 hours.

Wireless interfaces

Wi-Fi (b / g / n) – for use Wi-Fi module no claims of the nice features support for dual-band Wi-Fi.

Mobile Network – the tablet has a slot for a SIM-card, you can use it to connect to the network. The device supports 2G / 3G, LTE support is not.

Bluetooth 4.0 – supports most popular standards, including A2DP.

Conclusion

The average retail price for a version of the tablet with 3G and 64 GB of internal storage is 17,500 rubles. For the money you get a good tablet full Windows 8.1, one of the few supporting work over the mobile network (among devices on Win 8.x).

I liked the look of the plate, nice body materials and assembly, good (in general) the screen and battery life. Did not like the low (for a price) display resolution and size of the device: the device is thick and heavy.

First of all, I note that before you buy you need to decide how much to you is critical presence is full of Windows 8 on board. If not critical, I say at once, look in the direction of iPad Mini Retina, or the Nexus 7 2013 or Samsung Galaxy Tab 8.4 Pro. All three of these devices in terms of “tablet” comfortable on the head surpass all the plates on Win 8 and have a similar or lower price.

But if it is critical for you operating system to Windows, Iconia Tab W4 becomes a contender for the purchase. In the competition, I will write Lenovo ThinkPad 8, it has a higher resolution screen, a little more powerful chipset (Intel Atom Z3770), but similar to the memory configuration would cost 20000-21000 rubles. The higher resolution also became less and ThinkPad 8, because working in a standard desktop at this resolution and diagonal screen quite uncomfortable, so it turns out that for non-metro applications Acer Iconia Tab W4 optimal.

Features:

• Class: tablet
• Materials used: smooth matte plastic, glass (screen protector)
• Operating System: Windows 8.1
• Network: 2G / 3G (only online)
• Processor: Quad 1.3 GHz, the platform Intel Atom Z3740
• Graphics: Intel HD Graphics, /
• RAM: 2 GB
• Data Memory: 32/64 GB, a slot for memory cards microSD (up to 128 GB)
• Connectivity: Wi-Fi (a / b / g / n) Dual-Band, Bluetooth 4.0, connector microUSB (USB 2.0, support USB-OTG) for charging / synchronization, 3.5 mm headset jack
• Screen: capacitive, IPS-matrix, diagonal 8.1 “, a resolution of 1280×800 pixels (186 ppi), automatic level control backlight /
• Main camera: 5 megapixel with autofocus, video is recorded at 1080p
• Front camera: 2 megapixel camera without autofocus
• Navigation: no
• Extras: accelerometer, light sensor, gyroscope
• Battery: Non-removable battery capacity of 4960 mAh
• Dimensions: 219 x 135 x 11 mm
• Weight: 415 grams