Appearance, materials, controls, assembly

The Acer Predator gaming lineup includes laptops, monitors and desktops, and not so long ago it was replenished with a new device - the eight-inch Acer Predator 8 GT-810 tablet with a characteristic aggressive design. There are one, two, and only specialized gaming tablets on the market, so the emergence of a new model for gamers is of great interest. Let's play and see what the new device from the "predatory" family is capable of.

Technical specifications Acer Predator 8 GT-810

• Screen: IPS, 8 ", 1920x1200, 283 ppi, capacitive, multitouch
• Processor: Quad-core 64-bit Intel Atom X7-Z8700 1.6-2.4 GHz
• Graphics Accelerator: Intel HD Graphics
• Operating system: Android 5.1 Lollipop
• RAM: 2 GB
• Built-in memory: 32 GB
• Memory card support: microSDXC up to 128 GB
• Wireless interfaces: Wi-Fi 802.11 a / b / g / n, Bluetooth 4.0
• Navigation: GPS, GLONASS
• Cameras: main - 5 Mp, front - 2 Mp
• Sensors: accelerometer, microgyroscope, compass
• Battery: 4420 mAh, removable
• Dimensions: 217.9x127.4x8.6 mm
• Weight: 353.8 grams

Packaging and equipment

Acer Predator 8 comes in a small black box made of thick cardboard. The tablet package includes standard items: a power adapter, a micro-USB cable, and a set of documentation.

Appearance

All devices in the Predator game line have a distinctive "predatory" design: pointed corners and a combination of black and red with gray metal. All these are references to the most brutal alien bounty hunter from the cult action movie, whose name appears in the name of the line. The tablet in this regard was no exception and received a rather original appearance for the modern industry.

On the front surface above the screen there is a front-facing camera, below it there is a silvery company logo. There are no physical or touch-sensitive navigation buttons, they are displayed on the screen. In the corners there are four speakers protruding from the housing, the grilles of which are painted in red.

On the right side there is a volume rocker and a power / lock button, on the left there is a memory card slot without a cover.

At the top there is a micro-USB connector, a 3.5 mm audio output and a microphone hole. On the bottom, there are no controls and connectors.

The back surface is made of three different materials: closer to the ends, black matte plastic is used, closer to the side edges - gray and glossy plastic, in the middle there is a gray metal plate with a large Predator logo. The main camera is in its usual place - at the top.

Ergonomics

The display bezels are wide, but you want to enjoy your favorite games on the largest screen in a case with minimal dimensions. But in this regard, a cool gaming tablet, alas, does not differ from the usual one.

The tablet case is not separable, but it bends and creaks when twisted with both hands. This is due to the "mosaic" design of the case, assembled from several elements. Nevertheless, they are tightly fitted to each other, there are no gaps and backlashes.

However, the "mosaic" design is here not only for beauty, but also for convenience. For example, matte black inserts on the ends thicken the body and make the tablet grip in landscape orientation more comfortable. Matte plastic is more pleasant to the touch than glossy, moreover, there are no traces on it.

The tablet has a narrow, elongated shape, which makes it very convenient to hold it with one hand in portrait orientation. The physical buttons are located in the places familiar to most smartphones and tablets, so they do not require additional getting used to them. The keys are responsive and have a long travel reserve.

Screen

Acer Predator 8 is equipped with an eight-inch IPS-screen with a resolution of 1920x1200 pixels. The aspect ratio is 16: 9, the pixel density is 277 ppi, the maximum number of simultaneous clicks is 10.

The screen is made using OGS-technology Zero Air Grip, so the viewing angles are maximum. The image is saturated and contrasty, the brightness margin is large. The screen fades a little in the sun only if held at an angle. But if it is positioned directly, the image remains well readable. Individual pixels can only be seen if you look closely at the screen.

V basic settings display, you can only change the brightness level, which is quite logical, because there is no automatic adjustment in the tablet, as well as a light sensor. But there is a pre-installed application Predator MediaMaster from Acer, which allows you to adjust the picture and sound in four modes of use: "Standard", "Movie", "Games" and "Album". For each mode, you can set different sound settings, change the picture saturation and color temperature.

Also, the tablet has a Bluelight Shield function, when turned on, the blue spectrum radiation harmful to the eyes is filtered. The image quality suffers from this somewhat - the display turns greenish-yellow, but this function can be very useful during long gaming sessions at night.

The screen is protected by glass with an oleophobic coating. According to the manufacturer, the display of the Predator 8 has more sensors than the screen of a regular tablet, but in practice, there is not much difference.

Interface

The Acer Predator 8 runs Android 5.1 Lollipop. The interface has some cosmetic differences from the "bare" Android, but there is no proprietary add-on. What's surprising is the number of pre-installed apps. Moreover, it surprises, rather, pleasantly.

First, there are two additional game stores installed here: from Gameloft and WildTanget Games. Note that all games from them can be easily found in the Play Market. There's also Asphalt 8 preinstalled with 320,000 Gift Credits, which would cost around $ 50 to purchase. Nice, and not even a trifle.

Secondly, three packages of very useful system utilities from Acer are installed - 12 applications in total. The Acer Caring package includes programs for power management, a tool for diagnosing working elements of the tablet and a system "doctor" for optimization - removing cache and garbage, closing background applications. The Acer BYOS suite has four cloud-based applications for different file types.

The Iconia Suite includes five applications that make it easy to interact with the interface. EZ Snap allows you to take a screenshot with a three-finger swipe, EZ WakeUP configures commands to wake up the tablet - with a double tap or a five-finger touch. EZ Tasking allows you to work with applications in a two-window mode. EZ Note is a diary organizer and EZ Gadget is a floating toolbar.

In addition, the full suite of Google applications, the ASTRO file manager, McAfee antivirus, OfficeSuite, Opera Max, the Booking.com hotel booking application and the Dropbox cloud storage client are on board.

Apparatus in operation

Acer Predator 8 is built on a 64-bit Intel Atom X7-Z8700 processor from the Cherry Trail family. Its base frequency is 1.6 GHz, but in Turbo mode it is capable of overclocking up to 2.4 GHz. The integrated eighth generation Intel HD Graphics chip is responsible for the graphics. The graphics adapter uses 16 compute units with a base frequency of 200 MHz (in Turbo mode - 600 MHz). The amount of RAM is 2 GB, the built-in memory is 32 GB. There is support for microSD cards up to 128 GB.

The test showed that the tablet easily copes with all test games: WoT Blitz, Asphalt 8, Modern Combat 5, Godfire: Rice of Prometheus, Unkilled, Gangstar 4, Walking War Robots and Injustice.

In WoT Blitz, at low graphics settings, the frame rate in battle does not drop below 45 fps; at maximum settings, it drops to 30 fps in particularly hot moments. In other games, the picture also remained smooth, there were no lags or dropped frames. Except that in Asphalt 8 and Modern Combat 5 there were slight drawdowns, and in Godfire, too long load times were unpleasantly surprised. Of course, these are trifles, but since the device is positioned as a gaming device, one cannot but say about them. It is also worth noting that after half an hour of playing the tablet heats up quite a bit. Black matte inserts save you from discomfort (they remain the same temperature), but the metal plate on the back surface becomes hot.

The result of synthetic testing in the AnTuTu benchmark is 77284 points. The tablet also showed good results in the 3D Mark benchmark.

It is not difficult for a gadget to play online videos in 720p and 1080p resolutions.

TacSense technology contributes to a deeper immersion in the game - the tactile feedback of the tablet with the user. According to the manufacturer, only two vibration motors are installed inside the case, but it feels like there are much more of them. Vibration smoothly passes from left to right and from right to left, as if the vibration motors are distributed throughout the body. Unfortunately, not all games support the technology. But, for example, Asphalt 8, thanks to vibration feedback, coupled with a frenzied sound from four speakers, is becoming a real blockbuster in the world of mobile games.

The speakers deserve a special mention. There are very few tablets with such a powerful and high-quality sound (the manufacturer claims that there are none at all). Four front speakers are responsible for audio transmission, supporting the Predator Quadio intelligent audio distribution algorithm. The volume and clarity of the sound of the Predator can easily compete with any portable speaker, and this is not an exaggeration. Surround sound really deepens the immersion in the game, and it is a great pleasure to watch movies with this sound.

Camera

The tablet is equipped with two cameras: the main one with a resolution of 5 megapixels and the front one with 2 megapixels. High-quality images from a tablet camera are usually not expected, and the Predator is no exception. There is a lot of noise in the pictures with a lack of light and a blurry picture even with a slight shake of the device. It is best to wait for good sunny weather to get good pictures.

Outdoor and Indoor Daytime Shooting: Acer Predator 8 GT-810 Review: A Predator for the Gamer

Close-up shooting:

This is a simple collage.

Panoramas do not shine with quality.

An example of a daytime video.

The camera has a lot of settings. The user can change the shooting mode (collage, HDR, photo with sound, continuous shooting, panorama and shooting in presentation mode), add one of the effects (monochrome, negative, sepia), turn on the framing grid, change the white balance, brightness, ISO (100 –800), metering mode, aspect ratio (16: 9, 4: 3) and image resolution.

Wireless interfaces

The tablet has a small set of wireless interfaces. For communication with the Internet, a Wi-Fi 802.11 a / b / g / n module with support for 2x2 MIMO technology is used, for communication with other devices - Bluetooth version 4.0. The tablet does not have a radio module, and for a gaming device this can be considered an omission, since many mobile games require an Internet connection to enter account player. The tablet is equipped with a navigation module that works with satellites of the GPS and GLONASS systems, but the cold start time could be less than a minute.

Autonomous work

The Acer Predator 8 is equipped with a 4420 mAh non-removable battery. It takes about two and a half hours to fully charge the device. An hour of playing Modern Combat 5 with half brightness and Wi-Fi on used 33% of its battery. The tablet can scroll through Full HD video in Flight mode with full screen brightness for three and a half hours. With normal everyday (web-surfing, reading) use, the battery runs out more slowly - it lasts for 6-7 hours. To conserve battery power, a power saving mode is provided, which reduces processor performance, limits Wi-Fi and Bluetooth functions, and also closes most background processes.

Outcomes

The Acer Predator 8 is an interesting and controversial device. It is favored by a bright FHD screen, deafening and high-quality sound, vibration feedback technology and original design, but the hardware is not as powerful as we would like. All games run on the tablet without any problems, but many other, non-gaming devices cope with them with the same success. And when you buy a gaming tablet, you want the power to be in it with a margin, and any toys were sold not only today, but in the next two years. One can only hope that the "predator" will cope with such a role.

Pros:

• bright Full HD display;
• gaming-friendly case design;
• great sound from four speakers;
• vibration feedback technology.

In the modern mobile world, it is difficult to create specific gaming devices. Any more or less advanced smartphone or tablet can be considered a gamer simply by the fact of birth. Actual mobile games do not use even half of the flagship power of the most top-end devices, so most devices do not experience problems with their playback. Regardless, manufacturers try to create something special for game lovers over and over again. Sony experimented with PlayStation Mobile for a long time, but settled on supporting the Remote Play function on all top-end Xperias. For hardcore gamers, NVIDIA offers a range of SHIELD models with distinctive designs tailored for PC game streaming. ASUS, despite the extensive line of gaming products of the ROG series, is in no hurry to transfer developments to the mobile sphere. But Acer did it by launching the Predator 8 tablet with an aggressive design and good performance.

Specifications Acer Predator 8 (GT-810):

• Network: no
• Platform (at the time of announcement): Android 5.1 Lollipop
• Display: 8 ", 1920 x 1200 pixels, TFT, Predator ColorBlast
• Camera: 5MP
• Front camera: 2 MP
• Processor: 4 cores, 1.6-2.4 GHz, Intel Atom X7-Z8700
• Graphics chip: Intel HD Graphics 8 gen
• RAM: 2GB LPDDR3
• Internal memory: 32 GB
• Memory card: microSD up to 128 GB
• GPS and GLONASS
• Wi-Fi (802.11a / b / g / n), MIMO 2x2
• Bluetooth
• microUSB 2.0
• 3.5mm jack
• Four front speakers, two vibration motors
• Battery: non-removable, 4420 mAh
• Dimensions: 218 x 127 x 8.7mm
• Weight: 350g

Complete set and design

The tablet comes in a nice matte cardboard box with a glossy cover, which shows the main features and very important information for potential owners - a whopping 320,000 credits in the game Asphalt 8! There is nothing special inside: documentation, charging block, cable.

The design of the tablet evokes a wow effect when you look at the official photos. These sharp edges, highlighted red speakers and the Predator branding will impress any gamer.

In life, everything is somewhat different. The tablet is almost completely plastic, and there are only metal plates with a logo and speaker grilles. The Predator 8 feels exactly plastic and light, and not metal and impressive, although the cover takes up almost the entire rear panel. For ease of grip, rubberized inserts are used.

The assembly is not the best, there are squeaks of some parts with a tight grip. But this is not the worst thing. The slot for memory cards without a cover in the left side is what causes the main bewilderment. Honestly, the last time I saw such a budget version of the card compartment was only in the most inexpensive Chinese tablets. Yes, you can quickly change the card on the go, but the sight of the card sticking out in the compartment will dream of all connoisseurs of beauty for a long time to come.

The screen of the device is slightly better than the case design. It has good viewing angles, nice colors and is very bright, but whitens under slopes, has a loose texture if you look closely, and seems to be somehow faded. Inexpensive IPS panel as it is. We could not detect the presence of automatic brightness control in the settings, but there was a decrease in the blue color for less eye fatigue in the evenings. The implementation of the function is completely different from that in iOS and is more like a pale yellow curtain, rather than a decrease in temperature to the warmest values. The speakers of the device are much better made, of which there are four. The sound of them is powerful and loud, there is a choice of presets for games and movies, even the nature of the sound is chosen. For this size of case, this is really cool.

After lying in the box for a while, the tablet did not want to turn on for a very long time after a deep discharge. By some miracle, I managed to revive and charge it, but this behavior is alarming. Perhaps this is a feature of a particular sample. When turned on, the tablet vibrates powerfully with its two vibration motors to the beat of the boot animation and sets it up in a more playful way. Vibration and speakers give the most pleasant impression after unpacking the device and getting to know its appearance.

Software

The gadget runs Android 5.1, there is nothing to say about the upgrade to 6.0, not to mention 7.0. The shell of the tablet is a combination of bare Android, some modifications to the appearance and a lot of pre-installed proprietary software. The left screen of the desktop is dedicated to the aggregator of social activities and news. The central screen contains key programs, grouped by folders. The most important of them is MediaMaster, which allows you to adjust the picture parameters and sound quality for certain scenarios: cinema, games, photo display, normal mode. There are Acer cloud applications that provide access to your photos, music and files on your PC and in the cloud. The EZ Series utilities let you customize screen capture and wake up gestures, as well as widgets, notes, and split screen. Several proprietary optimizers of the device are preinstalled.

There are a lot of third-party programs: there are both simple games and dubious application stores (more precisely, one dubious, and the other from Gameloft), Asphalt 8 game with 320,000 free credits, OfficeSuite for working with documents, McAfee antivirus, Opera Max browser, file manager Astro, Dropbox storage and booking.com hotel booking service. All this stuff, together with the native software, takes up 9 GB of memory in an empty tablet, so out of 32 GB, only 21 GB is available to the user (another part is given to the system).

Camera

Shooting with compact tablets is not as embarrassing as shooting with huge cutting boards, so it's good that there are cameras here. The main camera has a resolution of 5 megapixels, the front one is 2 megapixels. They are only suitable for video calls and emergency filming of an event or important documentation. The advantage is a convenient control interface with a lot of settings.

Benchmarks and performance

The hardware in the device is specific: 4 cores, a frequency of 1.6-2.4 GHz, an Intel Atom X7-Z8700 chipset with Intel HD Graphics and 2 GB of RAM. Such stuffing is more common to see in Windows devices, but sometimes similar devices are found on Android. Acer Predator 8 even became the first commercial device on the 14nm Intel chipset, so on the one hand this is a significant application, and on the other hand, you expect to see top-end solutions from Qualcomm with Adreno or Exynos with Mali or even not the latest Mediatek chips in an Android gaming tablet. with powerful PowerVR graphics, just like in Apple chips. Fortunately, there are no problems with this, all applications and games run without errors or crashes, and the tablet itself is fast enough for everyday tasks.

The same cannot be said about benchmarks. In AnTuTu, the device sags from 71,768 points to 63,594 points in three runs due to heating, in Geekbench the best result was 1029/3348, Vellamo - 4147/1637/2285, in Epic Citadel Ultra - 51 fps, 8-16 fps in tests GFXBench Car Chase and Manhattan, 1455 points in 3D Mark. This is the level of devices based on Snapdragon 801/805 and iPad mini 2/3 based on Apple A7 chips. For half an hour of running in the Stability Test, the device is discharged by 17% and heats up to 39 degrees - not much, but the screen, back panel and metal cover become unpleasantly hot.

The main question is how are things going with games? The pre-installed Asphalt 8 was initially launched on medium graphics and slowed down a lot, but then it downloaded some kind of update and began to behave well even on the maximum graphics. In it, by the way, two vibration motors create an additional effect of immersion in the game with the help of tactile sensations from collisions and impacts. Unkilled flies at maximum, as does Implosion. Dead Effect 2 on the Extreme chart shows rare drawdowns. "Gods of the Arena" are lagging in the menu, but otherwise they go without problems. World of Tanks Blitz at maximum quality produces about 40 fps. As you can see, everything is fine with games, but whether the device will handle new generation games is a question. The situation with Asphalt 8 is alarming, since the lack of starting optimization for Intel chips can hack down the whole idea of ​​a gaming tablet at its root.

The game tablet must be autonomous, otherwise how can you play it away from home? With this, the Acer Predator has a major problem. The 4420 mAh battery barely lasts for a day of work, 4 hours of video watching and just a couple of hours of gaming.

conclusions

The Acer Predator 8 can be called a gaming tablet, but only with reservations. There is enough iron for modern toys, the autonomy does not allow you to enjoy them for a long time, and the case, although made in an unusual design, does not feel like a gamer's weapon, ready for any situation. The speakers and some software solutions deserve unconditional praise, but this is not enough for a gaming device. The Acer Predator 8 is more of a multimedia tablet than a gaming tablet. It is pleasant to watch movies and do other things on it, only occasionally launching toys.

For 32,990 rubles, the tablet has one main competitor - iPad mini 4 (review), which costs exactly the same amount of money. It does not have four powerful speakers, an aggressive design with vibration feedback in games, memory cards are not supported and for the same money it offers 16 GB of memory, and not 32 GB like the Predator 8. A better screen, a durable metal case, a fast fingerprint scanner, the best autonomy and optimization of all mobile games, primarily for iOS, make it no less a gaming device than the Acer tablet. The only difference is that the iPad mini 4 will be relevant for several more years and is guaranteed to pull all new toys, but whether the Predator 8 will pull them and what will happen with its support is a big question. Fillings of the iPad mini 2/3 level for the most modern toys will no longer be enough.

Introduction

When it comes to choosing Android tablets, there is no shortage of options - and that's a good thing. But take a look at the reviews, however, and tablets are a puzzle of sorts. What can I tell you about Acer's Predator 8 tablet, other than it's Android again, just on a different screen?

Acer has tried to differentiate its latest offering, the Predator 8, according to marketing company Acer, "the ultimate gaming tablet." In fact, this means that this 8-inch Android tablet can offer you vibration for feedback and better than average dynamics. Thus, Acer would be worth claiming that the Predator 8 is the loudest tablet on the planet.

AcerPredator 8: Design

There is a possibility that this tablet could fail or succeed almost immediately - during the design phase. Depending on your taste, you will either love it or hate it. The design certainly stands out, it is highly unlikely that you will mistake the Predator 8 or.

The case in red, silver and black is made mostly of plastic molded in a somewhat aggressive manner - with hard lines and corners. The rear panel is made of sheet metal as well as along the front edges of the device, giving the Predator a high-end design.

Four front-facing speakers that provide loud noise stick out from every corner of the tablet in an equally aggressive style.

On the back you will find two knobs that provide vibration feedback. Acer calls this trick TacSense. Predator comes with two small motors, similar to the ones that vibrate your phone, they provide tactile feedback and make noises when you play.

Users of consoles using vibration controllers won't be shocked by this feature, but it's a good addition for every tablet owner playing something a little harder than Candy Crush that requires some physical connection.

The overall design of the case is not as awkward as it might seem. It looks menacing, fits well in the hands, but it seems a little luscious. In fact, grays, deep reds and blacks form a muted color scheme, otherwise the Predator 8 is a solid and well-built tablet. It's also quite light and thin, measuring 8.6mm thick and weighing 350 grams.

If you are looking for something a little different, Acer will certainly meet your needs. But if you're looking for a regular black tablet, you'll have to look elsewhere.

AcerPredator 8: Display

The tablet is equipped with an 8-inch Full HD screen with a resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels, which Acer claims covers 100% of the NTSC color gamut.

There is no doubt that this is a truly impressive feature for a tablet. But when we found the Predator didn't offer QHD panels - unlike the same - we were disappointed. After all, this self-proclaimed "perfect gaming tablet" is by far one of the top considerations for every gamer, how good will the game look?

But using the tablet as part of the Acer Predator 8 review, we can say that you won't notice the lack of QHD. And all thanks to the brightness of the Predator screen.

The colors are really vibrant. When you turn on your tablet, you will be amazed at how bright the screen turns out to be, we were pleased to know that it is possible to adjust the screen radiation levels using the built-in Acer Mediamaster app. This is useful as the ColorBlast technology that Acer is rapidly promoting is definitely encroaching on the territory of oversaturated colors.

For an 8-inch screen, FHD is really enough, and while the lack of QHD cannot be denied, the gaming tablet has Nvidia Shield resolution. Nothing blurry, and the Predator's maximum brightness is greater than you'll ever need.

Picture dynamics may not be perfect, but you can easily tweak the settings, and the Predator 8's striking colors promise to dramatically improve the gaming experience.

AcerPredator 8: Sound

Another feature that promises to bring your games to life is called "Quadio", which Acer claims implements "virtual surround sound." And while the speakers are, of course, loud, surround sound is definitely not about them. The extra exit points help the Predator deliver the volume it needs, but the sound is not nuanced or improved.

Quadio solves the wrong problem that should have been addressed by Acer. A few small speakers don't solve the usual problem of mobile sound - lack of bass. While the Pixel C and iPad Pro have little to offer low frequencies small speakers will always suffer in this direction.

That's why it's so hard to surprise us with four Predator speakers. It doesn't matter how many speakers Acer puts in the tablet, they are very small, so you will invariably encounter almost no bass at all. So, in reality, Acer's Quadio technology represents four ways to highlight the disadvantage of mobile speakers.

However, the Acer Predator 8 has quite adequate audio for a tablet. The mids are obvious, and we didn't experience any distortion issues when reviewing the Acer tablet, even at high volumes. Just don't expect Quadio to revolutionize mobile sound and the ultimate immersion experience. These are just loud speakers - this is where the sound features end.

AcerPredator 8: Performance

Acer failed to outperform its main competitor, the Nvidia Shield K1, in the performance department - but the tablet did not suffer a devastating defeat either.

The Predator is powered by Intel 4-core processors, the 1.6GHz Atom x7-Z8700, along with Intel Graphics Gen 8-LP. 2 GB of RAM is also a support. The tablet comes in two models to choose from: 32 GB or 64 GB of storage, you can use up to 128 GB.

Despite Acer's choice of hardware for the Predator 8, the gaming tablet can't beat the Tegra K1-powered Shield Tablet, but it can handle most games, if not all. At the tablet level, Intel components are all you really need.

In terms of benchmarking, the tablet scored 1539 points in the 3DMark Sling Shot, which is one of the most powerful scores in the tablet category in the benchmark. A similar story happened on the Ice Storm Unlimited test, where the gaming tablet scored 25,967 points, an equally high score.

Another test, PCMark Work Performance, returned a score of 5167, accompanied by the following statement: Good news, this is one of the most powerful devices and everything seems to be working fine. ”

In Geekbench benchmarks, the Predator 8 scored an impressive 1,046 points in the single-core test, while multi-core testing returned a remarkable 3,517 points. All of this confirms the fact that mobile gamers will find Predator's performance more than satisfying when it comes to running their favorite games.

All games running on the Acer Predator 8 during the review ran smoothly and looked great, the live screen dramatically enhances the graphical experience. Outside of gaming, the tablet handles tasks well, and the Android OS runs incredibly smoothly.

AcerPredator8: Software

The tablet comes with. It would be nice to see Android 6.0 Marshmallow on the Predators, especially considering the Pixel C rival, but from the point of view of other so-called "gaming tablets", Lollipop is becoming the standard. We're also pleased to see that Acer has avoided using its own user interface.

Unfortunately, the Predator 8 GT-810 comes with a lot of pre-installed software... For those looking for pure Android, Predator 8 might be an insult. In addition to the standard Google apps that come with Android, the list of pre-installed apps includes the suite, Astro File Manager, Booking.com, Cloud Print, eBay, Dropbox, Games, Games Shop, OfficeSuite, Opera Max. Fortunately, you can remove most of them.

In terms of Acer apps that you can't uninstall, Predator 8 includes: Acer Liquid Home, System Doctor, Power Management, Acer Portal, abPhoto, abMusic, abFiles, EZ Note, EZ Snap, EZ WakeUp, EZ Gadget, EZ Tasking.

In addition to all of the above, with the first launch of the tablet, the entire home screen is covered with shortcuts for games and applications that still need to be downloaded, but Acer is sure that you just need that. Click the icon and you will be taken to the Google Play Store from where you can download the program.

Part of the fun of buying a new computer or tablet is getting it set up properly, installing only the essential applications, building everything and configuring it however you like. Having to uninstall pre-installed content is not at all the experience the user craves, although most manufacturers suffer from this, we would like to see a minimum of pre-installed programs. Acer failed.

Speaking of which, a set of applications with names starting with "EZ" can be quite helpful. This is especially true with EZ Tasking, a multitasking tool that offers a fairly simple and effective method run multiple applications side by side.

EZ Snap makes it easy to take screenshots with a three-finger gesture, and EZ WakeUp lets you wake up your device and launch the required app. The various apps from the Iconia tablet series work well and actually enhance the usability of the Predator 8 rather than distract from it.

AcerPredator 8: Battery

Acer claims the Predator 8's 4420mAh lithium polymer battery can last up to 8.5 hours. According to our review experience, the Acer Predator 8 (GT-810) can live up to the stated numbers. With regular use, without any games, the Predator lasts a long time. To send messages Email, surfing the Internet, as well as various applications that you will not be using for a long time, the battery drains up to 14% in 6.5 hours. This is with minimal use, but still pretty good.

You can also enable Power Saving Mode, which slows down tablet performance by limiting Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, vibration, location services, and reference data. This mode also stops most applications from syncing automatically.

The charging speed also remains decent. The tablet was left unattended for about an hour, and the Predator was almost 50% charged.

When it comes to gaming, the Predator works well enough, but you'll definitely want to keep a charger close at hand. During an hour-long session of Asphalt 8, with screen brightness at 50%, the tablet drained 43% of its charge. If you're going to play graphics-intensive games for extended periods of time, the Predator 8 will require regular charging.

Acer Predator 8: Camera

The Acer Predator 8 comes in 5MP and 2MP cameras, but you can still take decent quality photos. You can also immortalize your gaming experience with selfies while you play. The rear camera is capable of shooting 1080p video at 30 frames too.

Here's an example of a photo from the main camera:

And here is the front camera:

As you can see, the camera is not a wow factor, and when it comes to front-facing optics, the image quality is pretty poor. Of course, photography is not a tablet's priority. So as long as the front-facing camera can provide reasonable FaceTime and Skype performance, that's enough. And Predator 8 performs exactly at this level.

In comparison, the Pixel C and Galaxy Tab S 8.4 classmates come with 8MP cameras that shoot slightly better. The Nvidia Shield K1 has the same 5MP camera as the Acer tablet, although it also has a 5MP front camera.

In other words, if the camera is the main problem for you, there is also best options on the market. But if, like most people, you don't want to use a tablet for photography in the first place, Predator can handle the job with ease when you need to make a Skype call or take a quick photo.

Worth buyingAcer Predator 8?

It depends on a number of factors. Do you want your tablet to look like a design partnership between NASA engineers and Lucifer himself? Then you will be thrilled with Predator. However, if you prefer Android tablets to which you can attach a keyboard to increase productivity, this tablet is not for you.

How about Acer's claims for a perfect gaming tablet? Well, you have to ask yourself what a tablet - essentially just an Android with a screen - has to offer to enhance your gaming experience. It's true that tablet gaming is getting more and more impressive, but the sound, vibration and supposedly more responsive screen are really all the improvements you could count on, which are not enough for the most immersive gaming device.

Until you take the Nvidia route, with the option to buy a separate controller.

You can't blame Acer for trying, but all of its additional functions just complement the tablet gaming experience, not enhance it.

That's right, the speakers are loud, just like Acer promises, but has volume ever been an important part of your games? Sure, surround sound has always offered an enhancement to the PC and console gaming experience, but if you're playing games on a tablet, headphones will provide all the decibels you need.

I'm not really a mobile gamer, but I love the Predator 8 as a tablet. Its bright screen may put off some, but I like the bright and juicy picture. It also boasts a solid build, and a variety of features will add to the tablet experience even if it doesn't offer a revolution.

So, if you're not intimidated by the design and don't care about a lot of unnecessary apps, you might find the Predator a refreshing upgrade from your regular tablet. However, if you are looking for a serious gaming experience - if there is suitable device- the Nvidia Shield K1 is probably the best option.

Acer Predator 8 review

Anton Zim

11.05.2017 An interesting, well-built tablet with an energetic screen, but users looking for the next level of tablet gaming will be disappointed.

8 Overall Score

Verdict:

An interesting, well-built tablet with an energetic screen, but users looking for the next level of tablet gaming will be disappointed.

The idea of ​​an Android gaming tablet looks a little odd to me. Why is this separate positioning needed? This is true for PCs: gaming computers stand apart from office solutions. And in the mobile sphere, a different approach is used: a person buys a flagship smartphone or tablet and automatically receives the maximum from it for the next couple of years, including in terms of games. But, apparently, Acer thinks differently, so they decided to try to release a solution aimed primarily at gamers. Let's see how successful it turned out.

Specifications

• Class: game tablet
• Form factor: candy bar
• Body materials: plastic
• Operating system: Android 5.0.2
• Network: no SIM card slot
• Platform: Intel Atom x7-Z8700
• Processor: Quad-core 1.6 GHz
• RAM: 2 GB
• Memory for data storage: 32/64 GB, slot for a microSD memory card (cards up to 200 GB are supported)
• Interfaces: Wi-Fi (a / b / g / n), Bluetooth 4.0 LE (A2DP, EDR), microUSB (USB 2.0) connector for charge / synchronization, 3.5 mm for a headset,
• Screen: 8 '', capacitive, IPS-matrix, 1920x1200 pixels (FHD), automatic backlight adjustment, oleophobic coating
• Camera: 5 MP
• Front camera: 2 MP
• Navigation: GPS / Glonass (A-GPS support)
• Sensors: accelerometer, position sensor, gyroscope, light sensor
• Battery: non-removable, Li-Pol, 4420 mAh
• Dimensions: 217.9 x 127 x 8.6 mm
• Weight: 353.8 grams
• Price: 33,000 rubles

Equipment

• Tablet
• Charger
• PC cable (also part of the charger)

The delivery set is standard, nothing superfluous, although I would not refuse some beautiful case in red and black colors, the same as the tablet itself.

Appearance, materials, controls, assembly

For some reason, when it comes to gaming gadgets, all manufacturers go crazy. Traditional austere and calm design fades into the background, its place is taken by sharp edges, bright colors, associations with various toys, etc. Personally, I do not understand such experiments with the appearance, but considering that all companies that produce the same gaming laptops do this, the method definitely justifies itself. The Predator 8 tablet is no exception, so here we see the same popular mix of red and black (gray), sharp edges and a defiant, unusual appearance. In defense of the design, the device definitely stands out from most other tablets, and this might appeal to some potential buyers.

On the front side there are four main speakers at once, responsible for sound transmission. Two "vibration motors" have been added to them, so that you literally feel every bump and turn in the same Asphalt 8 (or when you unlock the screen). The speakers have excellent quality and especially the volume margin; they, together with vibration motors, perfectly fulfill their purpose - to enhance immersion in the game.

Below are three photos with a description of all the connectors on the ends:

Right side, memory card slot

Left side, power button and volume rocker

Top end - 3.5 mm for headphones and microUSB port

The main body material is matte gray plastic, which in official photos looks more like aluminum. Pay attention to the two black inserts on the sides of the device, they are made of soft-touch plastic and are needed for more comfortable holding the tablet in horizontal mode.

I have a small complaint about assembling the tablet: as soon as you squeeze it a little harder, you hear a characteristic creak. I don't know if this is a problem with my sample or all devices in general, but it was worth mentioning it.

Dimensions (edit)

Even at the first acquaintance with the tablet, it was immediately clear that this is far from the most compact model in comparison with competitors, and the table above only confirms my words. However, I cannot say that the Predator 8 feels thick or heavy in the hands. The high height even has an excellent excuse: thanks to the wide upper and lower (or side, if we are talking about landscape mode) ends, the device is comfortable to hold during games, accidental clicks are almost completely excluded.

Screen

In gaming laptops, the display is an important part of the device, so manufacturers are always attentive to this element, for example, I have not seen glossy displays among gaming models, only matte ones. Acer decided to take the same careful approach when creating a gaming tablet.

The screen in Predator 8 is simply wonderful: bright, clear picture, no air gap, maximum viewing angles and a wide range of brightness.

In the settings you can choose one of several picture display modes, there is even a special game mode. To be honest, I didn't really like it, the picture became overexposed.

Operating system

The tablet has the good old Android 5.0.2 with several proprietary additions from the manufacturer. You can read an overview of the operating system itself at the link below, now we will discuss the features added by Acer.

Firstly, the manufacturer changed the notification curtain, I didn't really like this innovation, however, it's a matter of taste.

Thirdly, you can use the dual-window mode, it works, however, with a limited number of applications.

Fourthly, you can turn on the display using a double tap on the off screen, and take screenshots by pinching it with three fingers.

With the help of Bluelight Shield technology, it is possible to change the white balance in the direction of warm tones, such an add-on helps to reduce eye strain when working with text.

Performance

What chipsets do you think of first when we talk about gaming tablets? The latest series from Qualcomm with their Adreno 4xx video accelerators and models from NVIDIA, the same Shield, immediately come to my mind. At worst, the MediaTek Helio X10. However, none of these are installed in Acer. Instead, the company decided to rely on the next generation Intel CherryTrail. We'll talk about how good the chipset turned out to be a little later, but now I would like to draw your attention to one more parameter of the tablet. The Predator 8 has only 2 GB of RAM, although from a gaming model you expect at least three, and preferably four GB of "RAM" at once. With the negative points finished, now we turn to the merits.

Asphalt 8 comes with the tablet as a gift, along with a substantial bonus - 320,000 credits to buy new cars. This is a significant amount, for comparison, a beginner gets 1,000-2,000 credits in one race, a stronger player - 5,000-7,000 credits. During IFA 2015, I specifically checked the operation of Asphalt 8 on this tablet and was unpleasantly surprised that the game did not start at maximum settings. However, in the commercial version this problem is solved, in confirmation I attach a screenshot of the settings.

I cannot but note that four speakers and vibration motors are very appropriate in races, you feel every turn and impact of neighboring cars, the effects resemble vibration feedback in Sony Playstation joysticks.

I've tested the tablet with most serious games, including Real Racing 3, N.O.V.A. 3, GTA and several other well-known titles. In addition to these, I added the increasingly popular Vainglory. The behavior of all toys was approximately the same: excellent smooth operation even at maximum settings, and everything would be fine, if not for one "but". After about 15 minutes of playing, the tablet starts to get very hot, and the further, the more it heats up. The problem is partially solved with the help of plastic black inserts, since basically only the gray part of the back is heated, but even they become noticeably hot after 30-40 minutes of games.

Autonomous work

You can familiarize yourself with the results of our traditional tests in the table above, in addition to them, I measured the average playing time in the same Vainglory, the tablet worked in this mode for about four hours. With everyday use, you can count on one or two days of battery life.

Camera

The main camera in the tablet is quite simple and is unlikely to come down even for capturing text, you can judge for yourself by a couple of pictures below. The front one is perfect for video calls in the same Skype or Hangouts.

Wireless interfaces

As for the wireless interfaces, you need to know exactly two facts about the tablet: it lacks a SIM card slot and a very, very brooding GPS, a cold start can take up to three minutes.

Conclusion

In retail, the Acer Predator 8 will be sold for 33,000 rubles. For the money, you get an eight-inch gaming tablet with a great display, cool stereo speakers, and a controversial but original design. The disadvantage is the heating of the case in games.

As I said in the introduction, the difference between a regular and a gaming PC is visible to the naked eye, but it is not so clearly visible between a gaming and an ordinary tablet. For example, let's take a direct competitor to this model - Asus ZenPad S 8.0. The same eight-inch display, stereo speakers, a simpler chipset, but as much as 4 GB of RAM. At the same time, we have in front of us an ordinary, not a gaming tablet, and it costs not 30, but 26 thousand rubles.

Or here, the Wi-Fi version of the Samsung Galaxy Tab S2 8.0. Better display, more RAM, more compact dimensions and costs the same. However, this is also a regular tablet, not a gaming tablet.

Acer has always been famous for its democratic price, but I suspect that the price tag of the Predator 8 includes not only the usual margin, but also a surcharge for being a gaming gadget. However, if in laptops and PCs this overpayment is justified, then in Android tablets the situation is completely different, and there is no point in overpaying. If you liked the aggressive design of the model, then I still recommend waiting a couple of months until the price drops, because for 23-24 thousand rubles, the Predator 8 becomes quite a competitive offer.

Not all Android tablets are created equal. Some are designed for children, while others focus on everyday tasks. In the case of the Acer Predator 8, the tablet is for gamers.

Stylish design with a large display, four front-facing speakers and, most importantly, high performance for running heavy games.

During our review of the Acer Predator 8, we will find out the positive and negative qualities of the tablet, and whether it really deserves the attention of avid gamers.

Design

The Acer Predator 8 is one of the most unusual tablets on the market in terms of design. Its black, charcoal and red colors scream gamer.

The back panel is made from three different materials. The upper and lower parts are made of anodized aluminum inserts. The center panel is made of brushed aluminum. There are soft inserts on the right and left for a comfortable grip.

The front panel consists of a gray-red palette. In addition to the 8-inch display, there are red tinted speakers on the front panel. The 2MP camera is located at the top of the device. On the right side there is a power and volume button. The microSD card slot is located on the left side. Micro USB port and headphone jack are at the top.

Performance

The Acer Predator 8 is powered by an Intel Atom x7-z8700 quad-core processor with 2GB of RAM. Playing games on this tablet leaves an unforgettable experience. Regardless of which game I ran - Asphalt 8, Dungeon Hunter 5, Star Wars: Uprising - the tablet showed stunning graphics, with no hint of lag.

The Acer Predator 8 has 32GB of internal storage that can be expanded up to 128GB using a microSD card.

Display

A large display is a core component of any gaming tablet. The 8-inch screen of the Acer Predator 8 has a resolution of 1920 x 1200 pixels. The LCD panel delivers vivid colors and crystal-clear details without the highest brightness.

Acer has installed the Mediamaster application, which offers several profiles for sound and display (Standard, Album, Movies and Games). Thus, the user can adjust the settings for optimal viewing. Throughout my review, I found that the profile of the album and the movie add color to it, providing a warm, deep color.

When I played Asphalt 8: Airborne, I set the game profile, after which the screen was saturated with saturated colors.

Audio

Whenever I see manufacturers bragging about audio systems on smartphones or tablets, a chill runs down my spine. However, I should note that I was pleasantly surprised during the review of the Acer Predator 8. The front speakers of this tablet outperformed even the iPad Mini 4. The sound of the Acer gaming tablet is richer and fuller.

Tactile feedback

The company has added an unusual feature to the Acer Predator 8 tablet. During the game, the user feels vibration from the tablet, for example, when hitting. Currently, this feature only works with two games: Asphalt 8, which is pre-installed on the tablet, and the popular multiplayer online game Vainglory.

Tactile feedback adds another sense to the gaming experience. A high-quality screen, clear sound and more vibration - an amazing combination for a complete immersion in the game.

Interface

The Acer Predator 8 runs Android 5.1 Lollipop with three home screens that can be expanded to seven. Overall, the familiar interface of the Android operating system.

At the bottom are the Back, Home and Recent Apps buttons. In the status bar, as usual, date, time, battery, Wi-Fi.

The notification panel provides access to the latest notifications and mini settings. Acer has added its Mediamaster and Bluelight Shield app icons to the settings panel.

Battery

Considering the Acer Predator 8 tablet is a gaming device, you shouldn't expect long battery life. During our standard test (continuous web surfing over Wi-Fi), the tablet lasted only 5 hours and 36 minutes.

Recall that the average is 9 hours and 11 minutes. The main competitors Acer Predator 8 lasted at least an hour longer: Nvidia Shield - 8 hours and 34 minutes, while iPad Mini 4 - 9 hours and 23 minutes.

Cameras

Photos taken with the main 5-megapixel camera were characterized by a whitish-hazy tint with relatively sharp facial features. Even after thoroughly wiping down the camera, we were unable to get rid of the white haze.

Low-light photos appear grainy, making details difficult to see.

The 2MP front camera wasn't much better. For example, my navy green sweater looked gray while the bright blue walls looked black or navy blue.

Software

Acer Predator 8 focuses on mobile gamers by providing a wide range of applications for work and play. The user gets a whole set of applications, consisting of abPhoto, abDocs, abMusic, abVideo and abFiles, and cloud sync to have access to personal files on both PC and tablet.

Third-party pre-installed apps include Amazon, Amazon Kindle, Astro, eBay, Gameloft Games Shop, and Opera Max.

Summarizing

The Acer Predator 8 is good android tablet in a stylish cover for gamers.

Unusual design, colorful display with Full HD resolution, loud speakers - all these are the features of this tablet.

At the same time, do not forget about the battery life, which is significantly below average. Moreover, Acer does not offer any software features that real gamers really need.

Considering the $ 299 price tag, I'd advise looking at the Nvidia Shield, which has the ability to stream PC games and offers longer battery life.

Either way, the Acer Predator 8 is a great multimedia tablet.