Acer Predator 8 now available for pre-order

Acer’s new tablet targeting gamers, performance enthusiasts, and fans of beveled edges everywhere is now available for pre-order on Newegg.

The Predator 8 is a monster of an Android device with some pretty impressive specs. The Atom x7-Z8700 processor is a 64-bit quad-core CPU chip with Intel’s Gen8 graphics architecture, and all that graphical power is showcased on a gorgeous 8-inch, 1080p display. It’s got 2 gigs of RAM and either 32 or 64GB of internal storage, depending on which version you pick. If you need more, there’s a microSD slot to boot.

The physical architecture of the tablet is pretty interesting as well. The lightweight aluminium is formed into a shape that makes the Predator 8 look like it fell out of a sci-fi action movie, and the four magenta parts are front-facing speakers that offer support for virtual surround sound that Acer calls “Predator Quadio”. The Predator 8 employs a technology Acer refers to as TacSense. It’s basically a more intelligent version of a Rumble Pak that provides vibrations for a more immersive gaming experience.

The cameras are decent, but nothing particularly stunning. This isn’t a device for nature photography, it’s a device for playing the hell out of demanding games. The rear-facing camera rocks a 5 MP  sensor, while the front-facing one features a 2 MP resolution.

The Predator 8 runs Android 5.1 Lollipop, and the tablet hopes to be a rival for the NVIDIA Shield tablet. The price tag is $299, which is fairly reasonable for a device with this much power under the hood.

Are you going to be picking up a Predator 8? The aesthetic seems to be a bit polarizing with some praising its unique look and others criticizing such flourishes as tacky. In a market that seems to be dominated by a minimalist aesthetic, it’s definitely a distinctive step. What are your thoughts? Let us know in the comments below.