Nextbook, a company that makes affordable Android and Windows tablets, has some relatively new Android based tablets available, and we got to see what it was all about.
In the past, it was a general rule to avoid any cheap Android device, but over the past year things have started changing. We have seen more and more affordable Android devices that are worth checking out, and it appears as though that trend may be moving towards tablets as well.
Out of the box, the Ares 8 runs Lollipop with relative ease.
Nextbook currently has two Android tablets on the market, the Ares 8 and Ares 11, both affordable with some small differences. We got to take a look at the 8-inch variant, but lets run through some of the specs of both. With both models, Nextbook has packed a 1.83GHz Intel Atom processor along with 1GB of DDR3 memory. The Ares 8 comes with 16GB of on-board storage, while the 11-inch variant packs 64GB, and both have microSD card slots to add additionally storage if needed.
On the 11-inch, the cameras are improved, and it comes with a keyboard attachment as well, which the 8-inch does not. The Nextbook Ares 8 is available in 3 color choices, black, red, and blue, while the Ares 11 is only available in black. With the additional features of the 11-inch model comes a larger price tag as well, but it still comes in under $200 at $197.
Now, talking about the performance. Out of the box, the Ares 8 runs Android 5.0 Lollipop with relative ease. The 8-inch display features a 1280 x 800 resolution IPS display, which looked reasonably crisp. Of course it wasn't the nicest display that we have seen, but it was far from the worst as well. The cameras are nothing to write home about, but that is to be expected from a tablet in this price category. Switching between apps, and moving around the OS felt pretty smooth, with no huge stutters or lag when using it.
Priced at $78, the Ares 8 is a great affordable option, so long as you aren't looking for the greatest tablet on the market. If you are looking to browse the web, watch a few videos, and keep up with your social networks, this tablet is something to be considered. However, if you are looking to play resource intensive mobile games, or need the absolute best in class, this one is likely not for you.
