Archos unveils world's first 256GB Android tablet and 'Fusion Storage' technology
Android tablets are a dime a dozen nowadays, making selecting one a bit daunting. Unlike iPad where you only must decide between full-size and mini, tablets running Google's OS come in various shapes, sizes, colors, and prices.
In order to stand out among the sea of rectangular slabs, a company must do something bold and unique. Today, Archos announces the world's first Android tablet to have 256GB of onboard storage. Even cooler? The company announces its fusion storage technology, allowing internal memory to seamlessly combine with a microSD card.
"The first ever Android tablets with up to 256 GB of internal memory, the Magnus range embodies Archos belief of delivering excellent tablets with huge storage capacity. Replacing mechanical drives for ultra-fast flash drives, the Magnus series guarantees excellent processing power, superb speeds, and an immersive user experience", says Archos.
The company further explains, "the Archos 94 Magnus and Archos 101 Magnus Plus feature 256 GB and 128 GB of internal storage respectively and enthralls users with amazing HD graphics and outstanding app and media experience without worrying about running out of space for their files, music, games or pictures".
The specs for these new tablets can be see below.
The specs are decent given the pricing, but high-performance should not be expected. Sadly, all three tablets feature the older 4.4 KitKat rather than Android Lollipop.
The really exciting announcement, however, is Fusion Storage technology. Archos explains that it "optimizes data storage by fusing internal memory with external micro SD card memory. Once activated, Archos Fusion Storage automatically migrates data from the micro SD card and optimizes memory balance, resulting in an increase in install space for apps and games, as well as more storage for media and large files".
How well this technology works remains to be seen. While it sounds interesting in theory, it may lead to performance hits. Quite frankly, if a 256GB tablet can be bought for $349, a microSD card may not be necessary. With that said, it would be cool to add an additional 200GB to the onboard 256GB, right?