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Acer Chromebook Tab 10 beats Apple iPad to the punch

The 9.7-inch tablet is the world's first for the education market to run Chrome OS. And likely won't be the last.

Joshua Goldman Managing Editor / Advice
Managing Editor Josh Goldman is a laptop expert and has been writing about and reviewing them since built-in Wi-Fi was an optional feature. He also covers almost anything connected to a PC, including keyboards, mice, USB-C docks and PC gaming accessories. In addition, he writes about cameras, including action cams and drones. And while he doesn't consider himself a gamer, he spends entirely too much time playing them.
Expertise Laptops, desktops and computer and PC gaming accessories including keyboards, mice and controllers, cameras, action cameras and drones Credentials
  • More than two decades experience writing about PCs and accessories, and 15 years writing about cameras of all kinds.
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Joshua Goldman
2 min read
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Acer's Chromebook Tab 10 is ready to take on your schoolwork.

 Acer

Maybe Acer knows what Apple is up to tomorrow, maybe not. Regardless the information and communication tech company announced today the world's first Chrome OS tablet made for the education market, the Chromebook Tab 10. 

Designed for use in K-12 classrooms, the 9.7-inch tablet could potentially add to Google's Chromebook lead in the US education market and take some of the wind out of Apple's education-focused press conference on March 27. The tech giant is rumored to announce an entry-level 9.7-inch iPad made to compete against Chromebooks. In 2017, nearly three out of every five machines used in schools runs on the Chrome operating system, according to researcher Futuresource Consulting. 

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Acer's new tablet, which will sell for $329 in April (about £230 or AU$425), is built around a 2048x1536-resolution IPS touchscreen with 264 pixels per inch. A durable Wacom EMR stylus comes standard and stores in the tablet's chassis that's only 0.39-inch thick (9.98 mm). Running on a Rockchip OP1 processor, 4GB of memory and 32GB of storage, the Tab 10 fully supports Google Play giving schools access to educational Android apps. 

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Acer includes a Wacom EMR stylus that stashes in the Tab 10. 

 Acer

The Tab 10 will also feature: 

  • Front 2-megapixel webcam and rear 5-megapixel camera
  • Dual speakers and mic 
  • USB 3.1 Type-C (Gen 1) port for charging, transfers and external displays
  • 3.5mm headset jack, microSD slot
  • 802.11ac (2x2) Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 4.1

Acer also plans for the Tab 10 to support augmented reality (AR) with Google's Expeditions AR. The technology maps the classroom so teachers can place virtual 3D objects in front of students to study subjects like biology and astronomy. 

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