The Chrome OS tablet space has a new entry in the form of the Acer Chromebook Tab 510, but it has its work cut out for it considering there are a handful of options available on the market. This isn't Acer's first attempt at a Chrome OS tablet. The world's first Chrome OS tablet, the Chromebook Tab 10, was released by Acer in 2018.
Despite being the first in the Chrome OS tablet space, Acer has focused on making Chromebooks with a laptop form factor. It has launched several models that cut across different price points, including the Chromebook 317, announced in 2021 as the world's first 17-inch Chromebook.
The Chromebook Tab 510 is quite different from Acer's first Chrome OS tablet announced more than four years ago. The new tablet is rugged and designed to take a beating, although not as high as its ENDURO tablets. Acer says the tablet has an impact-resistant chassis, and there are bumpers at the corners to absorb shocks from drops from as high as four feet. Protecting the display is a sheet of Gorilla Glass with an antimicrobial coating to reduce the growth of microbes that cause odor and stains. In addition, the Tab 510 has front-facing speakers, an audio jack, a USB-C port, and a garaged USI stylus.
Chromebook Tab 510 Vs The Competition
Acer's new Chrome OS tablet is equipped with a 10.1-inch IPS display with a 1920 x 1200 resolution. Unlike its first tablet, powered by the Rockchip-made OP1, there is a Snapdragon 7c Gen 2 Compute Platform under the hood with 4GB of RAM and 64GB of storage. Acer hasn't revealed if there will be other configurations, but it is disappointing that there isn't a MicroSD slot to add more storage. A 5MP MIPI camera is in front for video calls, and the back is home to an 8MP sensor. Like several other Chrome OS tablets, there is no LED flash. The Chromebook Tab 510 has a battery life of 11 hours, but there is no mention of how fast it charges. Other features are Bluetooth 5.0, WiFi 5 and optional LTE.
When it launches in July 2022, Acer says it will carry a starting price of $399. This is slightly more expensive than the Lenovo IdeaPad Chromebook Duet 3, priced at $369 for the base model with 4GB of RAM and 64GB of storage. The camera configuration is also identical, and it is also missing a storage expansion slot. The Lenovo tablet lacks an audio jack but gains an additional USB-C port for connecting accessories or external displays. Its battery life is rated 12 hours, and it comes with a charger in the box. Unfortunately, those who want LTE will have to look elsewhere as this doesn't have a modem.
Lenovo also has the Duet 5, a much bigger tablet with a 13.3-inch display. The screen is a gorgeous Samsung OLED panel giving it an edge over the LCD used by the Acer Chromebook Tab 510 and the Duet 3. It has the same processor but comes with 8GB of RAM and 256GB of non-expandable storage. It has a 5MP front-facing camera and an 8MP rear camera too. The Duet 5 doesn't have front-facing speakers like the Acer tablet, but it has double the speakers, two on each side. The battery life goes up to 15 hours with support for 45W charging, and like the smaller Duet 3, there are two USB-C ports. It also has a keyboard case and charger in the box but no stylus. The Duet 5 has been available since late 2021, which explains why Lenovo has slashed the price. Interested buyers will be able to grab the 4GB+256GB version for $389.
A final contender in the Chrome OS tablet space is the HP Chromebook x2 11. This 11-inch tablet with its 2160 x 1440 resolution and 3:2 aspect ratio was announced in 2021. Powered by the less-powerful Snapdragon 7c Gen 1, it comes in 4GB and 8GB RAM versions with 128GB of storage. Unlike the other tablets on this list, HP has added a MicroSD card slot, and it doubles as the SIM slot on the LTE model. In addition to having support for storage expansion, there's a fingerprint scanner buried under its power button, a rarity on Chrome OS tablets. The Chromebook x2 11 has an identical camera configuration to the others. Like Acer's tablet, it comes with a USI stylus and charges wirelessly. There are Bang & Olufsen stereo speakers but no audio jack. It also has dual USB-C ports and a battery life of 11 hours. HP ships it with a 45W Type-C charger and a keyboard case. Initially priced at $599, HP now sells the 4+64GB version for $369 while the 8+128GB version retails for $479.
It will be difficult to convince buyers to choose Acer's Chromebook Tab 510, considering the other options available. It is already at a disadvantage compared to the cheaper Lenovo Duet 3, which has a bigger display, longer battery life, and a keyboard case. Those who pick up the Acer tablet have to purchase this accessory separately. Thanks to its size, the bigger Duet 5 also has the upper hand in the display department and will appeal to those who want a laptop replacement. Plus, it is cheaper and packs four times the storage of the Acer tablet. The HP is also a promising tablet even though it has a less-powerful Snapdragon chip. Those who want to use it for work will find its aspect ratio suits that need better than any other tablet. It is also the only one with a fingerprint scanner and support for storage expansion. Furthermore, HP has slashed the price, undercutting Acer. Nevertheless, those who solely want a Chrome OS tablet with a rugged build will find the Acer Chromebook Tab 510 will suffice better than the other options listed above.
Source: Acer