Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Mobile

Acer Iconia B1-A71 vs. Kindle Fire vs. Nexus 7: Spec showdown

By

acer iconiaCompetition in the 7-inch Android tablet space is fierce and Acer’s latest release, the Iconia B1-A71, is a budget entry that’s looking to grab your attention. We examine what it has to offer when compared with Amazon’s revamped Kindle Fire and Google’s market leading Nexus 7. While the Nexus 7 is the clear winner in terms of raw power and quality, it will cost you at least $50 more. The Acer Iconia B1-A71 manages to come in significantly cheaper than the Kindle Fire, but the competition is far from clear cut. Check out the specs for yourself.

 

Acer Iconia B1-A71

Acer Iconia B1-A71
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Kindle Fire

kindle fire hd review android tablet
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Nexus 7

Google Nexus 7 tablet in landscape orientation
Image used with permission by copyright holder
Size 197.4 x 128.5 x 11.3 (mm) 189 x 120 x 11.5 (mm) 198.5 x 120 x 10.45 (mm)
Weight 320g 400g 340g
Screen 7-inch 7-inch 7-inch
Resolution 1024×600 pixels 1024×600 pixels 1280×800 pixels
OS Android 4.1 (Jelly Bean) Android 4.0 (ICS) with Amazon overlay Android 4.2 (Jelly Bean)
Storage 8GB 8GB 16GB/32GB
SD Card Slot Yes No No
Processor 1.2GHz Dual-core Mediatek 1.2GHz Dual-core ARM Cortex-A9 1.3GHz Quad-core Nvidia Tegra 3
RAM 512MB 1GB 1GB
Connectivity Wi-Fi Wi-Fi Wi-Fi, HSPA+
Camera Front 0.3MP None Front 1.2MP
Bluetooth Yes No Yes
Battery 2710mAh 4400mAh 4325mAh
Marketplace Google Play Store Amazon App Store Google Play Store
Price Under $150 $160/$175 $200/$250/$300
Recommended Videos

The Nexus 7 is the clear leader, but for people on a really tight budget the fight comes down to the Acer Iconia B1-A71 and the Kindle Fire. There’s very little to separate the two. The Acer Iconia has the advantage of running stock Android 4.1 (Jelly Bean), whereas the Kindle Fire sports the older Android 4.0 (ICS) with an Amazon overlay which also limits it to the Amazon App Store. You’ll have a bigger choice of content on the Acer. It also has a microSD card slot, Bluetooth 4.0 support, and a front-facing camera for Skype calls. The Kindle Fire has more RAM and a bigger battery, but is that realistically enough to tempt you in Amazon’s direction?

Though the small amount of RAM has us moderately worried, we think the Acer Iconia B1-A71 is a credible budget choice.

Topics
Simon Hill
Simon Hill
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Simon Hill is an experienced technology journalist and editor who loves all things tech. He is currently the Associate Mobile…
If your iPhone can handle iOS 18.2, it can probably handle iOS 19
An iPhone 15 Pro Max running iOS 18, showing its home screen.

The last few iPhone updates have brought a lot of changes with them. Just take a look at iOS 18.2: It introduced a ton of AI-powered features that had never before been available. If you have an older phone, it's easy to worry that its hardware won't be up to snuff for the next round of updates. For now, you can breathe easy: If your iPhone can handle iOS 18, then it should also work with iOS 19, according to a new leak.

The news comes from the French site iPhoneSoft. Although Apple guarantees five years of support for its devices, some devices get supported for longer periods of time, but this tip suggests that any phone currently capable of downloading and installing iOS 18 will also work with iOS 19, although some features could be limited.

Read more
Samsung has a smartphone design problem
Three Galaxy S24 Plus models laying on a table, including the white, gray, and yellow ones.

The year was 2015. Back when the obsession was making the thinnest phones out there. Chinese smartphone brands made their presence felt in the race, out-slimming the big boys. Vivo’s crown jewel was merely 4.75mm across.

Even Samsung partook and launched a phone that beat Apple at the cross-section game. A decade later, the wheels of smartphone design are turning back to slim phones.

Read more
I have the new Mocha Mousse color for the Motorola Razr Plus, and it’s stunning
The Mocha Mousse Motorola Razr Plus in someone's pocket.

The Motorola Razr Plus 2024 stands tall as one of the year's best folding phones. It's highly performant and has good cameras, solid software, and a striking design. That last point was one of my favorite aspects of the phone when I reviewed it this summer, and just in time for the new year, Motorola found a way to ensure the Razr Plus continues to be a design leader heading into 2025.

Earlier this month, Motorola announced its new Mocha Mousse color for the Razr Plus. I thought the renders looked good, but as with any smartphone color, it's difficult to get the full experience until it's in your hands.

Read more