Archos G9 80 & 101 tablets June 2011

What are the key features?

G9 is the name for the new range of Archos tablets featuring 1.5GHz processors, a hard disk option and the potential for 3G connectivity. Two models make up the range to begin with, the 80 and the 101. The 80 is the smaller of the two with an 8-inch 1024 x 768 screen, whereas the 101 has a 10.1-inch 1280 x 800 screen.

The 80 comes with a choice of 16GB internal flash memory or a 250GB hard drive. There's a 250GB hard drive available on the 101 also, or you can plump for a 32GB internal flash drive. A hard disk on a tablet is rare. 250GB is large enough to hold up to 40 full-length HD films, something that other tablets like the Apple iPad 2 can't do. The largest capacity iPad 2 has a 64GB internal memory. 

Hard disks have their downsides, though. They're not as robust as flash memory, meaning they're susceptible to damage during knocks and bumps, and they're larger, adding 2mm to the thickness of each tablet. Spinning hard drives use more power, too, so could reduce battery life.

Related: Tablet buyers' guide

What are they like to use?

Anyone familiar with Android will get used to these tablets quickly. The operating system is Android 3.1, with an upgrade to Android 3.2 available when it's ready. 

Touching the screen and making selections didn't feel super-responsive. This is surprising because inside there's a 1.5GHz dual-core processor, which is supposedly faster than processors used in the iPad 2, Motorola Xoom and other tablets. We'll take a closer look at this issue when these tablets reach our labs.

The weight of the tablets is manageable, and there's a stand that you can pull out from the back for standing the tablets up on a table. This should be useful for watching video, particularly considering the large hard drive option on offer.

Archos claims that the G9 tablets can play Full HD movies smoothly, on-screen or on an HDTV via an HDMI connection. We weren't able to test this during our short hands-on, but if Archos's claims are borne out and colours are reproduced accurately then either of these tablets with the 250GB hard disk would make a great media player. This is something else we will examine carefully in our full lab test.

Is 3G internet an option?

Both the 80 and 101 have a small slot on the back for neatly inserting a proprietary 3G USB stick. The 3G stick will be available for £50, and can be added as an extra anytime after purchase. The Apple iPad 2 with 3G costs £100 more than the non-3G iPad 2, although you can sign up for a monthly data plan. Initially the £50 Archos 3G stick will be offered on Pay-as-you-go only, meaning it will probably be less cost effective for heavy 3G users in the long term.

When will they go on sale and for how much?

The Archos G9 80 and 101 will be available to buy in September. Prices will start at £199 for the 80 and £249 for the 101. This makes them both very competitively priced compared to other Android 3.1 tablets and the Apple iPad 2.

To see how other Archos tablets have performed in our tests, read our tablet reviews.