Archos launches the GamePad 2: a tablet designed for games - Tablets Magazine

In 2012, Archos launched its first generation GamePad, a tablet specifically designed for playing games. In 2013 the French manufacturer brings a highly improved version on the market in the form of GamePad 2 .

Archos GamePad 2

The second generation GamePad is officially launched today, but during IFA 2013 in September we were already briefly play with the tablet. We were especially impressed with the good display, the premium build quality and fast performance. That was not really a surprise because Archos has chosen better components, including a powerful processor, an IPS display that comes with Panasonic and controllers that are made by the supplier of Sony. In addition, the design is adapted to the tablet better in the hand.

Looking at the specifications, the GamePad 2 is

quite gone ahead in any case. For example, the tablet has a 7-inch IPS LCD display with a resolution of 1280 by 800 pixels, a quad-core processor with a clock speed of 1.6GHz, 2GB of RAM, 8GB or 16GB of storage memory and a microSD card reader. There is also dual-band WiFi, Bluetooth 4.0, Wireless Display, a microUSB port and a mini HDMI port on board. The most striking of course the physical buttons that we found on the tablet. These are the French manufacturer faster and more accurate than the previous generation.

An important part is the software. The tablet runs on Android 4.2 Jelly Bean with some apps from Archos and access to the Google Play Store. Especially for games are however some extra things added. For example, the tablet using Google’s own Android SDK that enables developers support for physical buttons to add, there is a special app store for games available (based on content in the Play Store) and the Game Mapping Tool, which you every game on touchscreen buttons you have to work with the physical buttons, which is improved almost every game with the physical buttons to play.

Price and Availability

is expected that the GamePad 2 is from November for a suggested retail price of 199.99 euros. shops in the Dutch More information about the features of this tablet, all specifications and a list of the games that are included for free can be found on the product page of the Archos GamePad 2 .