Archos launched its 7 inch Android-based GamePad tablet back in March 2013 with very little fanfare. The device had a dual-core Cortex-A9 chip clocked at 1.6 GHz, 1 GB of RAM, Android 4.1 "Jelly Bean", and built-in physical game controller buttons spanning analog thumbsticks, directional buttons and so on. It looked like a very large PSP, but with a silver chassis housing.
Just recently a second-generation model was spotted at the FCC, revealing that the device will support Wireless N and Bluetooth connectivity (the original didn't have Bluetooth). The tablet was labeled as the GamePad 2 (A70GP2), manufactured by China-based Shenzhen Emtek Co. Ltd. and sporting a black casing unlike the previous model. Unfortunately, that was it in regards to actual specs.
Now the second-generation Archos gaming tablet has appeared on the HKTDC website. The specs reveal an unnamed 1.6 GHz quad-core SoC with four GPU cores, 2 GB of RAM and a choice of 8 GB or 16 GB of internal storage. As with the previous model, an SD card slot will be provided for up to 64 GB of additional storage although don't expect to sling apps over to the SD card.
The next-generation model will also sport a 7-inch IPS capacitive touch screen with a 1280 x 800 resolution, a slight increase from the previous model's 1024 x 800 resolution. Archos has redesigned the physical controls, with two buttons removed from the tablet face and one button added to each device shoulder. The analog sticks appear to be closer to the action and directional buttons, possibly giving way to larger speakers.
The specs also reveal support for the Archos mapping tool so that gamers can map any game's controls to the physical buttons. The tablet will also come packed with Gameloft's Asphalt 8: Airborne, Modern Combat 4, and the typical Google assortment of apps like Gmail, Google Play, Google Plus and so on. So far it's unknown what version of Android this tablet will use, but HKTDC currently lists the device with a unit price of $169.99 USD.
Archos briefly revealed that development of the GamePad 2 was currently underway at the end of August, stating that it "is the perfect combination of Android tablet and gaming console with access to thousands of the latest games." The company has been relatively quiet about the device ever since.
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