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This week Archos started selling the new Archos 80 G9 tablet with an 8 inch display and Google Android 3.2 Honeycomb operating system. When the company first introduced the tablet and its larger sibling, the Archos 101 G9 with a 10.1 inch display, the company said both would be available with 1.5 GHz dual core processors. But right now the 8 inch tablet is only available with a 1 GHz dual core chip.

Archos says that’s because Texas Instruments, which makes the chips used in the tablets, has experienced a few delays in its roadmap. As a result, the 1 GHz version is all that’s available right now.

A new “Turbo” option with a 1.2 GHz TI OMAP4 processor will go on sale in late October. Early next year that chip will be phased out and replaced with a 1.5 GHz processor.

Since the changes will affect the hardware and not just software, Archos won’t be able to roll out over-the-air updates to boost speed for existing tablets. So if you buy a 1 GHz model today, that’s the speed you’re stuck with (unless you overclock the CPU). The good news is that a 1 GHz TI OMAP4 dual core processor is still pretty zippy, and the Archos 80 G9 tablet with that chip sells for about $300, making it cheaper than the faster models on the horizon.

The Archos 80 G9 has an 8 inch, 1024 x 768 pixel display, 8GB of storage, and support for HD video playback. The Archos 101 G9 has a 10.1 inch, 1280 x 800 pixel display, 8GB or 16GB of flash storage or an optional 250GB hard drive, and also supports HD video.

Both tablets have GPS, WiFI, motion sensors, microphones and front-facing cameras. The 10 inch model isn’t yet available for purchase in the US.

via EuroDroid