After teasing us last March, Archos officially launched their new Gen10 XS tablet line, and specifically announced the Archos 101 XS, a 10.1-inch Android 4.0.3 tablet powered by Texas Instruments OMAP4470 (Dual core Cortex A9) @ 1.5 GHz that features a detachable magnetic keyboard called the CoverBoard which also serves as a protective cover when not in use.
Here are the specs for this new tablet:
| Processor | Texas Instruments OMAP4470 @ 1.5GHz with SGX544 GPU |
| Storage | 16 GB Flash Memory + microSD Slot (up to 128GB) |
| System Memory | 1GB RAM |
| Video codecs and containers | • H.264 HD (HP@L4.2, up to 1080p@30 fps and 1080i/720p@60 fps) • MPEG-42 HD (SP/ASP@L6, up to 1080p@30 fps) • With optional plug-in: MPEG2 HD (MP/HL, 1080p@30 fps) • With the above codecs, the device can play video files with the following extensions: AVI, MP4, MOV, 3GP, MPG, PS, TS, VOB, MKV, FLV, RM, RMVB, ASF |
| Audio codecs | • MP3 • WAV (PCM/ADPCM) • AAC3, AAC+ 5.13 • OGG Vorbis • FLAC • With optional plug-in: AC3 5.1 |
| Pictures | JPEG, BMP, PNG, GIF |
| Subtitles | srt, .ssa, .smi, .sub formats supported |
| Camera | 720p front camera with 720p encoding |
| Interfaces | • Micro USB 2.0: Mobile Transfer Protocol (MTP) • USB host: Mass Storage Class (MSC) (USB 2.0/USB Host cable sold separately) • Proprietary USB docking connector • microSD (SDXC compatible) • mini HDMI output (mini HDMI / HDMI cable sold separately) |
| Connectivity | • WiFi 802.11 b/g/n • Bluetooth 4.0 |
| Miscellaneous | • Built-in speaker • GPS • G-sensor • Compass • Built-in Microphone |
| Dimensions & weight | • Tablet: 273 mm x 170 mm x 8mm • Coverboard: 273 mm x 170 mm x 5mm • Tablet: 600g • Coverboard: 200g |
| Battery life | • Music playback time: up to 40 hrs • Video playback time: up to 7 hrs • Internet navigation time: up to 10 hrs |
All Archos Gen10 XS tablets are Google certified (with official Google Play), currently feature Android 4.0, and will be upgradable to Android 4.1 Jelly Bean in Q4 2012.
AFAIK, this is the first tablet where the keyboard is fully part of the design (and not simply an accessory). Archos 101 XS can be used without the keyboard just as a normal tablet, or with the keyboard to turn it into an Android netbook (and I’m pretty sure Ubuntu will run on that thing), and the keyboard can be used to as a cover when the device is not in use. Watch the video below to see how the keyboard and tablet fit together.
The 101 XS tablet will be available in November and sell for $399.99 US (Suggested retail price) in the US and 379 Euros in Europe.
Archos has sent some evaluation samples to several blogs, and reviews are available on sites such as Anandtech, Ubergizmo and Engadget. Further information is available on Archos 101 XS page.
Jean-Luc started CNX Software in 2010 as a part-time endeavor, before quitting his job as a software engineering manager, and starting to write daily news, and reviews full time later in 2011.
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Well… if you ignore about a dozen devices like Asus EeePad Slider.
@Dr. Azrael Tod
OK… I was not thinking right when I wrote that. I corrected it.
do all these companies go bye bye if microsoft releases surface RT for $200?
@Romonid
If MS get the Surface RT out at this price point it will be good value. At half this price point they will be losing a ton per tablet.
I think maybe for the SOC/Display, Archos are $50 too expensive, it will be interesting to see how much the 80 goes for. If they can do it for the same as the 80 G9 was last year they could have a winner.
Archos had command on entire Europe market once in tablet segment, but now they are slowly losing those market to biggies, this model is very late and fell into almost 2nd tier category. They can’t advertise this as a flagship model and they shouldn’t.
Especially when similar chips are being used in Chinese tablets, which are selling on 30-40% lower then this price along with JB and 2GB DDR3, IPS display, bigger batteries etc.
These specifications taken from their website.
Ram: 1GB (No mention of DDR2 or DDR3 frequency etc.)
Display: 10.1’’: 1280 x 800 MVA which is middle of the road not LCD but Not an IPS either.
Battery: Video playback upto 7 Hours (Test run with low backlight)
In short this means average display and below average battery.
What has stopped archos to push this with Snapdragon Quad? along a transformer like keyboard which can bump the precious battery time. I’m not even saying built in 3G, which is a very desirable feature in European tablet market.
Common archos you can do better. Charbax might agree with me on this:)
@max
In 2010 and 2011, times were good for Archos, because they were almost the only one on their market segment (mid-range tablets with low price), but now there’s just too much competition and it will be difficult to survive without innovating, with possibly something else than tablets. I don’t think they should try to compete at the top end, as bigger companies marketing machine would crush them, and their business strategy is to offer tablets below $400.
I really like 101 XS Tablet concept with the magnetic keyboard, and OMAP4470 performance is really good (several benchmarks show it’s as good as the iPad 3), but this may have come to the cost of poor battery life. If you want to compare this tablet to others, Anandtech review linked above is the best one to read.
I agree on every point you said, But the moment you’ll read that it’ll be available in November, everything sounds too dated. I made my point considering that date of release.
I’ve seen the review.
And i agree that they should diversify their portfolio, But again my question is, why they haven’t done it yet? They made ok money till 2011. They should have started making mid range unlocked phone and 3G tablets. The entire Europe and Russian’s sales now a days is going to China.
The small Chinese players like oppo,zoppo, jiyayu, newman are coming up with extreme hardware like Snapdragon Quad / 2GB ram / full HD ips display etc. Then why can’t archos? Xiaomi m2 pre- booking already crossed 1 million units in 10 days. They are preparing for official release in Europe.
Archos is slow and will pay dearly for this. I feel sorry for them.