Skip to main content

Nextbook 2-in-1 Tablets get Cherry Trail Upgrades; Let’s Hope They Improved the Keyboard Connection as Well

Early last year tablet maker E-Fun announced a two-in-one Android tablet that combined a mid-grade 11″ tablet with a solid keyboard dock that had a trackpad and a couple full-sized USB ports.

Now the company is back again this year with an updated model, as well as a trio of two-in-one tablets running Windows 10. All four new Nextbook tablets are going to be shown off at CES next week (I won’t be going, alas).

Nextbook_Ares11A

The Nextbook Ares 11A features an 11.6″ screen, and runs Android 5.1 on a quad-core Atom x5-Z8300 CPU with 2GB RAM, 64GB internal storage, 2MP cameras, a multitude of ports and card slots, and a backlit keyboard.

It’s going to ship in the second quarter with a retail price of $220.

E-Fun is also announcing three Windows 10 two-in-one tablets. All three Nextbook Flexx tablets have a quad-core Atom x5-Z8300 CPU with 2GB RAM, 32GB (Flexx 9A) or 64GB internal storage (for the 10A, 11A), cameras, a multitude of ports and card slots, and a locking keyboard dock.

Nextbook_Flexx_10A

They’ll be available in three screen sizes:

  • Flexx 9A: 8.9” (1280 x 800)
  • Flexx 10A: 10.1” (1280 x 800)
  • Flexx 11A: 11.6” (1366 x 768)

Prices will start at $150 (for the Flexx 9A, with 32GB storage) and go up to $199 and $249 for the larger models. They are expected to ship in the second quarter.

O O O

I have last year’s model, and while it is very solidly built for the sub-$200 price tag, I have also found that it has a serious flaw that ruins it as a two-in-one. The locking mechanism that keeps the tablet connected to the keyboard dock is wobbly.

It can’t guarantee a solid connection. Every time I pick up the tablet by holding on to the screen the two parts lose connection, and the tablet thinks it is undocked. As a result it ignores the keyboard input until I disconnect and reconnect the two parts.

Let’s hope they fixed that issue in the new models, because aside from that one issue this was a great tablet.

Edit: And since I forgot to mention it, I fixed the wobble by using 4 thicknesses of Post-Its to make the dock grip the tablet a little more firmly.

liliputing

Similar Articles


No Comments


Write a Comment