eloisa wimsey: Archos 101 XS review

Thursday, August 23, 2012

Archos 101 XS review

Android Central

With the introduction of its brand new Gen10 XS line, Archos is reminding the world today that the Android tablet market is not limited to a couple of high roller manufacturers. It’s latest flagship, the 101 XS, is a tablet that shies away from competing with the likes of Samsung and Motorola and enters a niche that gives Archos an opportunity to cement its name in the mobile computing world. The Gen10 XS line is Archos’ attempt at replacing your laptop, and while its goals might be lofty, the French manufacturer has at least stepped out of the box.

The 101 XS performs admirably well, and its onboard OMAP processor rarely stumbles. Archos has been known to be prompt with Android updates, and the company says Jelly Bean is right around the corner. The Coverboard-included price of $399 is a deal.	The 101 XS' display is really, really terrible. The Coverboard works well enough under perfect conditions, but all too often fails when needed. Furthermore, it doesn't remain attached to the 101 XS when not in use.

The 101 XS is a nice step up from Archos G9 series, and its budget friendly price gets you a lot of hardware for your buck. The Coverboard is a unique idea and it's great that Archos is including it in the $399 pricetag, but at this time you'll be hard pressed to replace your keyboard with it. If you can get past the screen, though, the 101 XS is a well-performing Android tablet at an affordable price.