Since the new iPad was released recently it has totally dominated the tablet market, as did its predecessor. Apple has stepped up the specs and features once more and the new iPad has impressed many people. However, not everybody wants to go down the Apple route and we thought we’d look for a credible rival hence today’s look at the new iPad vs. the Acer Iconia Tab A510.

Some of you may already have a huge preference for Apple’s iOS operating system over Android or vice versa, but if you’re flexible then there’s a lot to consider between these two tablet devices. The new iPad is already available whereas the Acer Iconia Tab A510 is now available to pre-order with a release date not yet confirmed. However we’d imagine it wouldn’t be too much longer until it launches now. We’ll list some of the key features and specs for both so you can compare them more easily —

New iPad

Apple A5X dual-core processor with PowerVR SGX 543MP4 quad-core graphics
9.7-inch IPS Retina display with resolution of 2048×1536
5-megapixel iSight rear camera with backside illuminated sensor, five-element autofocus lens, face detection, image stabilization and 1080p video capture capability
VGA front-facing camera
LTE connectivity
16, 32, or 64GB storage options starting at $499
802.11a/g/b/n WiFi
Bluetooth 4.0
Battery performance of around 10 hours
Built-in apps
Operating System — iOS 5.1
Weight 1.44 lbs or 1.46 lbs for LTE version
0.37-inches thick
black or white color options

Acer Iconia Tab A510

NVIDIA Tegra 3 quad-core processor
12-core NVIDIA GeForce GPU,
10.1-inch WXGA HD display with resolution of 1280X800
5-megapixel rear camera with HD video recording
1-megapixel front-facing camera
1GB of RAM
32GB of internal storage — price $449.99
802.11/b/g/n WIFI
BLUETOOTH 2.1
HDMI port
microSD slot
Battery performance of around 12 hours
Operating System — Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich
Productivity apps suite including Polaris Office 3.5 and Acer Print
Weight 1.54 pounds
0.43-inches thick
Silver or black color options

As you can see these are both significantly impressive tablet devices and both have outstanding factors. The iPad has that amazing Retina Display and that may well be enough to tempt many of you but then the Iconia Tab A510 has a quad-core processor. The Iconia Tab weighs more and is thicker than the new iPad but delivers 32GB of storage for $449.99 whereas the cheapest 32GB storage variant for the new iPad is $599.00. You may have a personal preference of design or the way you usually use your tablet may impact which you choose. However in some respects the software is as important as the hardware and it may be purely a choice between the iOS or Android platform for you. If you want to find our more or order the new iPad head to this Apple page here, or for the Iconia Tab A510 the Acer product page here.

We’d say that the Acer Iconia Tab A510 is one of the more viable contenders to the new iPad so far, especially when taking into account the price but we’d like to know what you think. Are you already sold on purchasing the new iPad or could you be swayed by this very nice competitor? Maybe your choice between these two will ultimately come down to the operating system rather than the hardware?