Archos Launches Three New Platinum Tablets

After teasing us with the devices back at the end of August, Archos has released its updated line of "Platinum" tablets including the Archos 97b Platinum HD, the Archos 101 Platinum and the Archos 80b Platinum. All three have the same quad-core ARM Cortex-A9 28 nm chip clocked at 1.6 GHz, the same 8 GB of internal storage, and a microSD card slot for adding up to 64 GB of additional storage. The devices are slated to arrive this month, but so far Archos isn't providing the pricing details.

According to the specs, the Archos 101 Platinum will have a 10.1 inch IPS screen with a 1280 x 800 resolution, 2 GB of DDR3 memory, a 0.3MP camera on the front and a 2MP camera on the back. Also thrown into the mix will be dual-band Wi-Fi (presumably 802.11n) and Bluetooth connectivity, a G-Sensor, a built-in microphone, a built-in speaker, miniHDMI output, a 3.5 mm audio jack, a microUSB 2.0 port, and Android 4.2 "Jelly Bean." Of the three, this is the only tablet with GPS.

Next in line is the Archos 97b Platinum HD. This tablet will have a 9.7 inch IPS screen with a huge 2048 x 1536 resolution, 2 GB of DDR3 memory, a 2MP camera on the front and a 2MP camera on the back. Meanwhile, the Archos 80b Platinum tablet will have an 8 inch IPS screen with a 1024 x 768 resolution, 1 GB of DDR3 memory, a 0.3MP camera on the front and a 2MP camera on the back.

Outside those specs, these two smaller tablets will have the same features as the 10.1 inch model save for the GPS. All three support USB OTG, meaning users can connect a peripheral and possibly even an external drive or USB stick. All three will also support Wireless Display, allowing users to display content on the tablet directly on a compatible wireless TV with the touch of a button. Naturally, the miniHDMI port provides a physical connection to a supported HDTV or monitor.

The specs show that the 10.1 inch model will measure just 0.39 inches thin and weigh 1.4 pounds. The 9.7 inch model will measure 0.35 inches thin and weigh 1.4 pounds, and the 8 inch model will measure 0.38 inches thin and weigh 0.97 pounds.

"As a pioneer in the portable technology market, our company philosophy has always been to provide innovative solutions to consumers at the best price possible," says Loic Poirier, CEO of Archos. "It is our intention to strengthen this philosophy by directly challenging the current leading tablet brands with a high quality product that has the best specs and aesthetic design available at a lower price. The combination of features and design of the 97b Platinum HD and 101 Platinum tablets will put them in front of the iPad 4 and Galaxy tab3's at a better price."

For more information about the new Platinum tablets, head here.