Archos 97 Titanium HD

The Archos 97 Titanium HD is probably measure for measure the top tablet produced by the company and, a shortage of internal memory aside, is a reasonable, fairly priced alternative to the Google Nexus 7.

The highlight of the Archos 97 Titanium HD is to be found in the “HD” bit of the trade name. The 9.7” display is a 2,048 x 1,536px super high-definition, retina-quality screen; that resolution puts the 97 Titanium on par with the Apple iPad 4. Video viewing is served well enough by Archos here, but the 1.6 GHz dual-core processor is not the quickest, and users will typically have to shut down most operations other than the necessary software for ideal results.

On the minus side is that memory problem: The Archos 97 starts with just 8 GB of internal storage and expansion is only possible with the micro SD card slot. Also working against this tablet is its weight. Despite a smaller screen than the iPad, the Archos 97 Titanium is nearly as heavy (22.58 ounces for the Archos vs. 23 oz for the iPad) though a wee bit thinner (at 9mm vs. the iPad’s 9.4mm).

The best comparison for the Archos 97 Titanium in terms of specs and look is the Google Nexus 7, and Archos further blurs this difference by outfitting the 97 Titanium with all the familiar Google apps – but at a significantly lower price.