When the Acer A700 and the new iPad were announced this year, the two tablets were expected to go head-to-head as they both have a Full HD display screen and other similar specs.

The iPad weighs 662 grams while the Acer weighs 705 grams, so 42 grams in favor of the iPad. Interestingly, although the shapes are quite different due to the proportions of the screen, the actual size of both tablets is quite similar. In thickness, the iPad is also better than the A700: 1.5mm thinner at 9.4mm vs. 10.9mm. On dimensions alone, the iPad wins hands down.

Processor-wise, the iPad has the A5x, while the A700 runs Tegra 3. There are definite graphics performance gains for Apple, but not necessarily for the CPU. Screen resolution is the next interesting comparison. The iPad with its 2048 by 1536 display has a pixel density of 264 pixels per inch. The A700, on the other hand, has a 1900-by-1200 screen and a pixel density of 224, a bit closer, but the iPad is still unbeatable when it comes to pixel density.

Additionally, the iTunes AppStore has started to release apps designed specifically for the new high-resolution iPad. With no other Anroid tablet with the same screen definition as the A700, the comparison of both tablets is simply not possible for now.

However, one thing that should be noted when it comes to Acer is the native 16:9 display. Since video content typically requires no more than 1080p on a mobile device, Acer’s ability to display a movie in virtually the same screen ratio could be a deal breaker for some tablet buyers. As we know, portrait versus landscape is a visual difference in the way one holds or views content on Apple or Android tablets.

As for memory, the iPad has a capacity of 64 gigabytes, while the Acer has 32 gigabytes on board, but also has expandable memory via the microSD card slot up to 32 GB. As for audio, it’s a single speaker for Apple and a stereo speaker for Acer. As for ports, the iPad is restricted to its 13-pin connector, while the Acer A700 has micro-HDMI and micro-USB ports, allowing direct transfer of files from a hard drive. So on these points the A700 has definite benefits from an Android point of view.

Camera-wise, Acer uses a 5-megapixel rear camera just like the iPad and both shoot at 1080p quality.

Both Acer and Apple tablets can connect to HSDPA+ networks, which improves normal 3G speeds by almost twice. Also, the battery life is about the same for both at around 10 hours, so that’s a draw too. When it comes to the operating system, there is a much higher level of app variety for the iPad compared to any Android tablet. It’s a shame because there is a very high level of innovation on the part of Android manufacturers to try and make the Android tablet category a success. For example, the Acer Ring UI is a great way to use the existing OS and tweak it to provide shortcuts to really enhance functionality.