Have you been thinking long and hard about getting yourself an Android gaming tablet that’s a little more affordable than the Nvidia Shield? Then, you’ll be delighted to hear about the GamePad 2 from ARCHOS. After debuting their first GamePad at CES earlier this year, the company is back with a much improved GamePad 2 that not only features a built in physical controller, but also a HD screen with a better resolution, a bigger battery, and a faster processor, all for a very optimal price of €179.99 in Europe.
The latest iteration of the gaming tablet promises an amazing gaming experience with its 7 inch HD screen which offers a 1280×800 pixel resolution. The Gamepad 2’s powerful 1.6GHz A9 generation quad-core processor, quad-core graphics processor and 2GB of system RAM is designed to ensure that the biggest and best 3D games are rendered smoothly.
The original GamePad’s buttons, sticks, and directional pad give way for more precise incurved dual thumb-sticks, double buttons on each shoulder, and a single part directional pad that should vastly improve the gaming experience. And with a 50% bigger battery, the the battery life should improve by leaps and bounds and keep you engaged for longer hours. The GamePad 2 will be available in 8GB and 16GB models with a microSD slot (64GB compatible) and app2SD support to accommodate all the games you want to download. Expect the tablet to come with Android 4.2 out of the box and two awesome games from Gameloft as well.
A textured grip surface and a curved edge should make this gaming tablet far more comfortable than the average ones you hold onto when playing. And with a weight of less than 400g, this baby should fit right into your jeans pocket to offer you a truly mobile gaming experience no matter where you are.
Quick Look: Tech Specs
- Display: 7’’: 1280 x 800 pixels, IPS
- OS: Android 4.2, Jelly Bean
- Processor: Quad-core A9 @ 1.6GHz; Quad-core GPU Mali 400 MP4
- Storage: 8GB or 16GB + micro SD (compatible with cards up to 64GB)
- RAM: 2GB
- Video playback:H.264 HD (up to 1080p @30fps); MPEG-42 HD (up to 1080p @30fps)
- Audio Playback: MP3, WAV, AAC3, AAC+ 5.13, OGG Vorbis, FLAC
- Photo viewer: JPEG, BMP, PNG, GIF
- Camera: Front webcam
- Wireless technologies: Dual band WiFi, Wireless display, Bluetooth
- Gaming Controls: Two analogue thumb-sticks, Directional pad, 6 front facing buttons, 4 shoulder buttons
- Dimensions : 200.5 mm x 154 mm x 9.9 mm
- Weight: 400g (0.88 pounds)
- Miscellaneous: Built-in stereo speakers, G-sensor, Built-in Microphone, Audio Jack 3.5mm, HDMI output
The ARCHOS GamePad 2 will be available in Europe at the end of October and we will update you on availability in the US as and when we get the details.
