For Acer fans that are seeking to get full Windows PC capability in a much smaller device, the Acer Iconia W4 tablet may be worth your time to take a look.
Acer made it first debut into the compact tablet market with the introduction of the Iconia W3 which was the first 8-inch Windows 8 tablet to hit the market. Since then other smaller tablet PC makers such as Dell, Toshiba, and Lenovo have released their own versions of an 8-inch tablet.
The Acer Iconia W4 stands to compete with the other tablets on the market by offering an upgraded display and a high performance quad-core processor. Acer also added a few bells and whistles to sweeten the deal, such as free access to Microsoft Office Home and Student 2013 with a nice array of other software that combines portability with entertainment and productivity.
What is the Acer Iconia W4?
The Acer Iconia W4 is Acer’s latest compact tablet PC running on Windows 8.1. The Iconia W4 provides you with a true Windows 8.1 PC experience, only the tablet fits conveniently into your pocket or bag for easy transport and access on the go. It is also lighter and thinner in design and is made of a rugged plastic for a solid feel when you hold the device in your hand.
Despite its thinner and light design, the Acer Iconia W4 does not flex when in use and features a high tech thick plastic back that sports a high tech brushed metal finish. The touchscreen continues the high quality feel and durability of the Iconia W4 with a tough Gorilla glass screen positioned in a silver frame with a Windows button positioned in the center allowing you to instantaneously switch between the Modern UI and the Desktop. The display has the Modern UI Windows 8.1 interface readily available as soon as you boot the device with Live Tiles that display rich colors and vivid details, resulting in an impressive display for a tablet of this size.
What are the Specifications?
The main specification for the Acer Iconia W4 is the new features and improvements that make the W4 tablet better than last year’s Acer Iconia W3. Instead of being a conventional black tablet like the others on the market, Acer added a high tech brushed silver design that sports a thicker bezel on the bottom (portrait mode) for storing the Windows button. Plus, the processing performance is better than the Iconia W3. Let’s take a look at the Iconia W4 specifications:
Display: The much improved display offers vivid colors and a respectable screen resolution at 1280 x 800. The 10-point multi-touch 1080p display is equipped with LCD IPS (In-Plane Switching) with a 16:10 aspect ratio and pixel density of 189ppi which is an improvement over 186ppi in the Iconia W3. The display also offers better wide angle viewing capability than last year’s Iconia. For reading and watching videos, this is a pretty decent screen quality with improved levels of contrast and image sharpness. The display improvements are the result of Zero Air Gap technology which helps to eliminate the air between the touchscreen and the screen module.
Processing Performance: The Acer Iconia W4 is equipped with a Bay Trail-class Intel Atom Z3740 SoC (System on Chip) quad-core processor running at 1.3GHz with 2GB of DDR3 RAM (Random Access Memory) and HD graphics. The W4 is also available in a 32GB or 64GB version to accommodate different storage needs. If you are planning on using the device for games or storing videos, you may be better off with the 64GB model since there is about 24GB of storage in the 32GB model after Windows is installed.
Port Connectivity: The port connectivity includes a microHDMI output for connecting to a larger display, microSD card slot for an extra 64GB of storage, 3.5mm headphone jack, and one microUSB 3.0 port for recharging the unit. You can also find the volume rocker button and power button located on the side of the device.
Cameras: The Iconia W4 offers a front facing 2MP camera and a rear facing 5MP camera. The front facing camera can be found on the top right hand side of the tablet (portrait mode). The front facing camera offers average picture quality which will accommodate videoconferencing on Skype. The rear facing camera is located on the back of the device and offers autofocus for capturing higher quality images than the Iconia W3. The 5MP camera supports video recording with the capability to capture high definition videos. The 2MP and 5MP cameras manage 60 frames per second 720p HD and 30 frames per second 1080p HD respectively. The camera UI is revealed by swiping upward from the bezel and offers camera roll access, camera adjustments, timer, and exposure adjustments.
Audio: On the bottom of the Iconia W4, you will find two audio speakers when holding the device in landscape mode. The speakers offer average sound quality and lack the richness of sound like most tablet PCs on the market. In this case, you will probably get better sound quality by connecting a pair of high end headphones. Bose makes a very nice set of QuietComfort 20i headphones that offer noise cancelling technology and are known for really pumping out rich sound quality.
Wireless Connectivity: The Acer Iconia W4 supports 802.11a/b/g/n Wi-Fi connectivity and is equipped with Bluetooth 4.0 for connecting peripherals. There is no port for wired Ethernet connectivity.
Battery: Acer improved the battery in the Iconia 4 with a 2-cell Lithium Polymer 4,960mAh battery which is larger than a few of the comparable tablets on the market such as the Dell Venue Pro. The Iconia W3 was equipped with a 3400mAh battery which gave users up to 6-7 hours of battery life. The Iconia W4 has a battery life of up to 10 hours as claimed by Acer. However, in benchmark test, the Iconia 4 battery lasted just under 9 hours when used to watch videos with the screen brightness set on default. This is still not bad for a tablet of this size and exceeds other tablets of this caliber such as Dell Venue Pro and the Toshiba Encore tablet.
Dimensions: The Acer Iconia W4’s dimensions measure up at 0.4 x 5.3 x 8.6 inches or 10.16mm x 134.62mm x 28.44mm. The tablet weighs in at 14.64 ounces or 415 grams. This places the Iconia W4 in the middle of the Toshiba Encore and the Lenovo tablet in terms of weight.
What about the Operating System, Software, and Apps?
The Acer Iconia W4 comes with the 32-bit version of Windows 8.1 preinstalled and the welcome addition of free access to Microsoft Office Home and Student. Microsoft Office gives you access to Word, PowerPoint, and Excel however, there is no access for Outlook. The biggest selling point in terms of the operating system and software. is the capability to run the full version of Windows 8.1. This means you can install desktop applications such as Adobe Photoshop and work on word documents and Excel spreadsheets using the included onscreen keyboard.
In terms of app use, you still get access to the Live Tiles and multitasking capabilities by scaling and snapping apps together to view more than one app simultaneously. Additionally, Acer has included its own versions of software for viewing multimedia, editing documents, cloud services, and more. The nice part is there is very little bloatware which is limited to an eBay app, Nero BackItUp, and a few others. If you prefer to free up more space, you can always uninstall the software you know you will not use.
Some of the other preinstalled apps include Microsoft OneDrive which is their cloud storage and sharing application previously known as SkyDrive. You also have access to Xbox Music, and Remote Files. One especially useful application is the Acer eRecovery Management application which provides a way to restore the Iconia W4 in the event of system crash.
The Acer Media, Docs, Remote Files, and Photo apps work in conjunction with the Acer cloud service which also works with non-Acer devices including iOS and Android. Other third party apps include Amazon, Amazon Kindle, Netflix, and Hulu.
Where Can I Buy the Acer Iconia W4?
If you prefer to shop online, there are many locations where you can shop for the Iconia W4 and compare prices. Some of the primary websites include Amazon, the official Acer website and Staples.
If you prefer to make a purchase offline, your nearest office supply store such as Office Max or Office Depot may carry the Acer Iconia W4. Additionally, larger retailers such as Walmart, Target, PC Nation, and others will most likely carry the Iconia W4.
What are the Key Accessories?
In addition to the Bose headphones we mentioned earlier, there are a few accessories you can purchase to enhance your computing experience on the Iconia W4.
If you are in need of a keyboard to enhance productivity with Microsoft Office, you should consider the Crunch Keyboard which is a keyboard dock that makes you more productive. The Crunch Keyboard provides a larger keyboard, in addition to docking your Iconia W4 at the head of the keyboard for use as a laptop.
Another useful accessory is the Crunch Cover which protects the Iconia W4 from the trials and tribulations of mobility. The Crunch Cover is also designed for versatility and can be folded into a stand for your tablet for easy viewing by one or more users.
Additionally, you can choose to protect the Iconia W4 with a Slim-FIT Folio PU Cover Case which provides a protective cover for the device while providing access to all controls and ports. The case also offers a foldable front flip for improved viewing angles and is made of quality leather with a slot holder for a Stylus pen.
What are the Pros and Cons?
Without a doubt, Acer made some significant improvements in the Iconia W4 since the release of the W3. However, here are a few pros and cons for you to consider as you decide whether or not the Iconia W4 is suitable to your needs.
Pros
Higher processing performance helps you get things done on the go.
Offers an improved display and better viewing angles.
MicroHDMI allows you to use the W4 on the big screen
Decent battery life carries you through your day.
Free access to Microsoft Office Home and Student.
Access to a full version of Windows on a compact device.
Fast startup clocked at less than 10 seconds.
Cons
Display is average compared to other tablets in this category.
Front facing camera tends to pixelate during videoconferencing.
Audio quality leaves much to be desired.
Conclusion
If you like Windows 8.1 and are looking for functionality and productivity in a compact device, the Acer Iconia W4 may be just what you need. Plus, the micro HDMI which is not present on some of the other tablets in this category, will allow you to view and share content on a larger screen.
The sturdy build may be something you are looking for but then again, it may not because of the additional weight. Plus the cameras and audio are average to say the least and may not suit your intended use.
Overall, the Acer Iconia W4 is a very good Windows 8.1 tablet that is a good follower to the Iconia W3. And, at the price point being offered, you get solid performance and all-around functionality in a compact device.
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