It’s been a while since we saw a major tablet launch from Acer. While the company dabbled in smartphone and tablet hardware during the early days of Android, it’s since mostly focused on its main product strength which consists of desktop and laptop computers. With that said however, the company unveiled several new products during IFA 2024 in Berlin, including its first-ever handheld gaming PC as well as its new Iconia X12 tablet which marks Acer’s return to the high-end Android tablet segment.
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In terms of design, the Iconia X12 comes with a design that’s reminiscent of most other tablets these days. Gone are the times when each manufacturer would try and put their own design spin on their tablet, with hardware design differences now mostly limited to the rear of the device. With that said, the X12’s aluminium build weighs in at just around 600 grams and is just 6.7mm thin, with slim bezels all around the display. Inside you’ll find a 10,000 mAh battery, which supports quick-charging.
As with any other tablet, the X12’s main highlight is its large 12.6-inch display, which features an AMOLED panel with a 2560×1600 pixel resolution. This makes it ideal for content consumption such as streaming your favourite shows and movies, as well as a bit of added productivity thanks to features like split-screen mode and support for stylus input. There are some downsides however, such as the low 400 nits of brightness, and a modest 60hz refresh rate. The display is flanked by quad stereo speakers, which should make for a more immersive viewing experience overall.
In terms of performance, Acer has decided to equip the tablet with the humble but reliable Helio G99 chipset from MediaTek. It’s a surprising choice given that it’s usually the go-to chip for budget Android devices, and to see it beating inside a premium-coated device is interesting. Of course one could argue that the tablet isn’t exactly marketed as a powerful gaming device, but on the other hand it would’ve been nice to see a more capable chip inside. In addition to the G99, the tablet also comes with 8GB of RAM in addition to 128/256GB of internal storage.
As mentioned earlier, Acer is focusing more on productivity with the tablet – buyers can also look forward to additional accessories including an optional stylus pen, a detachable Bluetooth keyboard, as well as a portfolio case that doubles as a multi-angle stand for added usability.
Other specs include a 13MP main camera with autofocus and flash, an 8MP front camera, expandable storage via a microSD card slot (up to 1TB capacity), a 3.5mm headphone jack, and Android 14. The Acer Iconia X12 will be available in several regions starting next year, so you’ll have to wait a bit more to get your hands on one. It arrives in January 2025 for North America starting at $349, in EMEA regions at EUR 369, and in China starting at RMB 2,688.
