It is not very long ago when the mobile market in India seemed to be ruled by three or four big names. But that seems to be changing rapidly. The competition is heating up and the consumers are loving it. Especially with the increasing choice of gadgets that offer good quality and interesting features at much less the price.
Asus ZenFone devices are prime example of such. Ranging from a 4 inch screen to a 6 inch screen smartphones, ZenFone offer dependable quality coupled with a set of useful features that make ZenFones an attractive option for people looking for smartphones that offer good features at reasonable rates, without compromising on the quality and durability..
Recently, ASUS has launched a similar offering for those looking for a tablet device. This brand new device by ASUS is Fonepad 8 (FE380CG). As you can perhaps guess by the name, it is an 8-inch tablet.
Talking about Fonepad 8, Mr. Peter Chang, Regional Head, South Asia & Country Manager, System Business Group, ASUS India, said, “Redefining the user experience of calling tablets category, we are elated to bring our 8 inch Fonepad 8 to the country. The device features next generation interface ‘ASUS ZenUI’ improves on your smart device experience, giving you a brand new user interface that features over 1000 upgrades and enhancements over the standard Android operating system. Our Fonepad series have constantly introduced widely accepted innovation and all the necessary functionality; which has been loved by all our users. This encourages us to go beyond the regular and deliver incredible,”
Let’s see what this 8-inch tablet by ASUS has:
Hardware: Fonepad 8 is a dual-SIM tablet device with a 3G phone functionality. It is powered by 64-bit quad-core Intel® Atom™ Z3530 1.33GHz processor. That should ensure a fast performance. It has decent 2G LPDDR3 RAM and 16 GB of internal storage which can be expanded upto 64GB with MicroSD Card. And the Fonepad 8 is equipped with 4000 mAh battery which claims to provide up to 12 hours videos playback or web browsing and or up to 21 hours of 3G talk time.
Software: Fonepad 8 has Android 4.4 KitKat operating system coupled with ASUS ZenUI. I haven’t yet got the chance to check out the device myself, but as per the information I got the all new user interface of Fonepad 8 has been designed around the concepts of freedom, expression and connection. The new ZenUI design has ‘flat’ icons and is said to have vivid themes that match the color of the device. And of course, some new animations, ringtones and notifications sounds to add freshness to the experience of using the device.
Design: In terms of dimensions, Fonepad is 8.9 mm thin and weighs 310 g. With the total width of 12cm, ASUS Fonepad 8 claims to have the world’s narrowest bezel on an 8-inch tablet. This narrow bezel works well in maximizing the display area, giving the device a 72.2% screen-to-body ratio. The display of Fonepad 8 is 8-inch, 1280 x 800 IPS. The tablet is equipped with dual front speakers tuned with MaxxAudio® that claim to provide more immersive multimedia experiences.
Camera: Using an 8-inch tablet device as a camera can’t be very comfortable. But still, a camera is now a necessity in every smartphone device. Fonepad 8 has a 5 MP rear camera and a 2 MP camera at the front. The cameras of Fonepad 8, just like ZenFone devices, are equipped with the PixelMaster technology that helps in clicking better pictures even in poor light conditions.
Features: As per the information I got, Fonepad 8 also includes the features like What’s Next and Do It Later. As the ZenFone smartphones also have these features, I am familiar with them and like them a lot. What’s Next and Do It Later are designed to help the users keep track of their schedule and remember and be notified in correct time about what’s important and needs to be done. For example, if you miss a call but can’t respond to it right away, add it to Do It Later and be reminded of making that call at the right time. The What’s Next widget places the useful information like weather updates, schedule reminders right on the Home Screen. Not just that, the What’s Next information can also be optionally made available on the lock screen as well.
Sharing Features: Fonepad 8 features also include the quick sharing features like Party Link which enables simultaneous sharing of files to upto three devices. The Share Link features enables quick sharing of files and media to other devices. The Camera is also equipped with quick and instant sharing of photos.
ASUS Fonepad 8 will be available in black and gold color options in ASUS Exclusive stores and also on Flipkart. And now for the all important quest – what will it cost? Well, this 8-inch tablet device by ASUS comes with a very reasonable price tag of Rs. 13,999 (SRP)
Now, as I said, I haven’t had the chance to check out Fonepad 8 yet. But I know and like Zenfone devices. And If Fonepad 8 too manages to deliver the same quality, performance and features that Zenfones have, than I think I can safely say that it will be a good buy for anyone looking for a decent and well-performing tab at an affordable price.
SPECIFICATIONS OF ASUS FONEPAD 8:
- Model Name: FE380CG
- Display: 8″ LED Backlight WXGA (1280×800) IPS Panel
- CPU: Intel Atom Z3530 Quad-Core, up to 1.33 GHz, 64bit
- RAM: 2G LPDDR3
- Storage: 16G EMMC (Up to 64GB Micro SD Support)
- WLAN: 802.11 b/g/n
- BT: BT 4.0
- Camera: Front: 2M / 5M with Auto Focus
- Battery: 4000 mAh
- OS: Android KitKat 4.4
- Connectivity: 3G Embedded/ Voice Calling (Dual SIM support)
- Sensor: G-sensor/ Light sensor/ E-compass/ Proximity Sensor/ Hall sensor
- I/O Port: Micro SIM/ Micro SD/ Micro USB
- Price of Fonepad 8 in India: Rs. 13,999 (SRP)
