Acer Iconia A1 Crashes The Nexus 7 Tablet Party

Looks like $169 is the new sweet spot for Android tablets, and bringing the fight to Google's Nexus 7 is the new Acer Iconia A1. Fronted by a 7.9-inch LED IPS display, and promising seven hours of Android – version unspecified – on a quadcore processor, the Iconia A1 also records 1080p Full HD video using its rear 5-megapixel camera.

There's also a front-facing camera for Skype and similar, along with a microHDMI port for hooking the A1 up to a nearby display. Other connectivity includes microUSB 2.0, WiFi b/g/n, and Bluetooth 4.0, and there's integrated GPS (though no sign of a 3G variant).

Acer will offer 8GB and 16GB versions of the Iconia A1, with support for up to 32GB microSD cards. The 4:3 aspect screen runs at 1024 x 768, and the whole thing tips the scales at 0.9 pounds and 0.44-inches thick.

Generally it seems Acer has left alone with its modifications, but there is a Touch WakeApp gesture which the company says will kick into preset apps when you swipe in a certain way. Of course, you also get the full Google Play market to explore, if Acer's tweaks aren't sufficiently engaging.

The Acer Iconia A1 will go on sale from June, priced at $169.99 for the 8GB model and $199.99 for the 16GB model.