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Asus Fonepad
Asus Fonepad
Asus Fonepad
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7.8/10
Informr score
The Asus Fonepad currently has an Informr score of 7.8 out of 10. This score is based on our evaluation of 13 sources including reviews from users and the web's most trusted critics.

What's good

  • Excellent battery life
  • Display offers crisp details and good viewing angles
  • Connects to 3G network without tethering
  • Good day-to-day performance

What's bad

  • Slight lag when opening and using apps
  • Mediocre call quality
  • Bad bright light legibility

Not to be confused with the Asus Padfone, the Asus Fonepad offers a hybrid phone and tablet experience. At 7", the device is fairly unwieldy for critics to use as a regular phone without the aid of a headset. Most experts agree that it won't replace a standard smartphone, especially when taking its mediocre call quality into account. Still, a major perk of the Fonepad's phone aspect is its ability to connect to the 3G network without tethering. This gives users the ability to connect online anywhere, even if there is no WiFi available.

As a tablet, the Fonepad didn't wow reviewers. The 7" screen offers a decent resolution of 1280x800 pixels, which equates to 216ppi. According to experts, the display delivers wide viewing angles due to its IPS technology and crisp image details. Unfortunately, Wired says, "The brightness settings don't allow it to get particularly vivid…" and critics mention that the tablet is very difficult to read under bright light situations.

With a 1.2GHz single-core Intel processor and 1GB of RAM, the Fonepad consistently scored low in system benchmark tests. After test driving, however, most critics were surprised by its good day-to-day performance. Of course, they also point out that there are issues with lag and stutter, but nothing bad enough to ruin the overall experience. In addition to the processor and memory, the tablet also comes equipped with 16GB of onboard storage and an expandable microSD slot.

The one area where the Fonepad excels is battery life. When put through battery tests, it lasted 8 hours of intense usage and 20 hours of moderate use. According to Ubergizmo, the battery also charges "crazy-fast," going from 0 to full in less than two hours.

Although this product doesn't offer top-of-the-line features, most experts were happy with the budget tablet. Phone Arena says, "The Fonepad…stands out with being a good-looking, 3G-capable slate…" but they go on to say, "Nevertheless, we would definitely recommend you to consider trying the Nexus 7 tablet…it packs more processing power…at a similar price."


Android
Operating system
Operating system
Android
1.2 GHz
Processor
Processor
1.2 GHz
7"
Screen Size
Screen Size
7"
3+ MP
Camera
Camera
3+ MP
16 WHr
Battery


What the Critics Are Saying...


Gadgets 360
Gadgets 360

The Asus Fonepad 7 is available for as little as Rs. 7,299 on e-commerce platforms, which is a really good price for a tablet that performs so well. Yes, the software was slightly iffy in the beginning, but that could have been a problem with our review unit. The screen is not too great and the came...

- Ershad Kaleebullah, Gadgets 360
Android Central
Android Central

I really want to like the Fonepad, and in some respects I do. For the price, this is a very competitive device with fantastic battery life, Jelly Bean and the ability to make calls. Sadly, the internals let it down, and I fear that its low price point price may have led to the decision to use the In...

- Richard Devine, Android Central
ITProPortal
ITProPortal

The Asus Fonepad will be a brilliant Android tablet for many business and home users. In most areas it matches the Google Nexus 7 and in some key areas – like battery life and expandability – the Fonepad outperforms it. This device’s real ace, however, is its built-in mobile connec...

- Stuart Andrews, ITProPortal
The Mobile Indian
The Mobile Indian

The Asus Fonepad comes as a really good choice. Unlike other devices it has an Intel processor. Though just a single core processor, it offers very fluid performance thanks to its Hyper Threading technology. We would recommend this product over its rivals for its good battery back up, connectivity o...

- Anil Satapathy, The Mobile Indian
The Register
The Register

So, can you live with a 7-inch, 340g smartphone? Yes. Naturally there are compromises to be made. I wouldn't want to take a FonePad with me to my local pub for the evening or to a gig, and the absence of a suitable camera is going to become an issue at some point down the line. But the cash savings...

- Alun Taylor, The Register


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Quick view

Screen Size
7"

The Asus Fonepad's screen size is 7 inches with x pixels resolution.

Processor
1.2 GHz

There is a Intel Atom Z2420 Single core 1.2 GHz processor (CPU).

OS

The tablet runs on the Android 4.1 Jelly Bean operating system (OS).

Camera
3+ MP
You can take photos or capture video with the tablet's onboard 3+ MP camera. There is also a secondary front facing camera with 1+ megapixels resolution.
Storage
8/16 GB

Internal memory is 8/16 GB. An external, MicroSD, MicroSDHC (up to 32 GB) expansion slot is available for increased storage capacity.

Battery
16WHr

The tablet is powered by a Lithium Polymer (Li-Pol), 16 WHr battery. Asus's performance ratings are 31.3 days standby time.

Asus Fonepad Specs

Overview
Release Date April 24, 2013
Regions Available United Kingdom
Operating System Android 4.1 Jelly Bean

Compare Android Smartphones

Processor Intel Atom Z2420 Single core 1.2 GHz
Internal Storage 8/16 GB
RAM 1 GB
Hearing Aid Compatible No
TTY/TDD No
SAR Unknown
Manufacturer Warranty 1 Year
Accessories Included AC Charger, Data Cable, Manual, Standard Battery
Cellular
Networks
GPRS, EDGE, HSUPA, HSPA+
Mobile / Cellular Data
Wi-Fi Calling No
Voice over LTE (VoLTE) No
SIM card size
Micro-SIM
Dual SIM No
Connectivity
USB Micro-USB 2.0
USB OTG Support No
GPS Type A-GPS
Infrared No
Bluetooth 3.0
Bluetooth Profiles A2DP, AVRCP, OPP/FTP, HFP, HSP
Bluetooth Audio Codecs SBC
Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n
Memory Expansion Slot Yes
Expansion Slot Info MicroSD, MicroSDHC (up to 32 GB)
NFC No
Camera
Main Camera
Resolution / Aperture
3+ Megapixels
Zoom
Yes
Flash
No
Additional Main Camera Info
Auto focus, Effects, White balance, Exposure value
Video Recording Formats
3GP / 3GPP, H.264 / AVC, MPEG-4, WMV
Video Recording Parameters
HD (1280 x 720 pixels)
Front Camera
Resolution / Aperture
1+ Megapixels
Additional Front Camera Info
No
Video Recording Parameters
Display / Screen
Type Color
Technology LCD (IPS)
Colors 16.7 million
Resolution x pixels
Pixel density 216 pixels
Size 7 inches
Sensors Ambient Light, Proximity, Motion / Accelerometer
Backlit Illumination Yes
Zoom / Magnification Yes
Screen Orientation Lock Yes
Multi-Touch Yes
Fingerprint-Resistant Coating Yes
Additional Display Features -
Power & Battery
Type Lithium Polymer (Li-Pol)
Battery Capacity 16 WHr
Removable Battery No
Wireless Charging No
Fast Charging No
Battery Charge Time Unknown
Video Playback Time Unknown
Internet Use (Wi-Fi) Unknown
Internet Use (Cellular) Unknown
Standby Time Up to 31.3 days
Mixed Usage
Physical Characteristics
Material Plastic
Colors Champagne Gold, Titanium Gray
Dimensions [H x W x D] 19.6 x 12.0 x 1.0 cm (7.7 x 4.7 x 0.4 in)
Weight 340 grams
Water Resistant / Waterproof Unknown
Rugged design No
IP Rating No
Headset Jack 3.5mm
External Speakers Yes
Input / Navigation
Touchscreen Yes
Sleep / Wake Key No
Home Key No
Physical keyboard No
Text-to-Speech Yes
Screen Reader No
Keypad/Screen Lock Yes
External Volume Control Yes
Fingerprint Sensor No
More
Additional Information Messaging: SMS, MMS, Google Talk
Graphics: Wallpapers
Backlit Illumination: Yes
Zoom / Magnification: Yes
Screen Orientation Lock: Yes
Predictive Text Entry: Yes
Keypad/Screen Lock: Yes
Multiple Numbers Per Contact: Email address, Other fields
Web Browser: Yes
Email Client: Yes
Email Protocols: POP3, IMAP, SMTP, Microsoft Exchange
PC Synchronization: Yes
Audio Formats: MIDI, MP3, eAAC+, AAC+, AAC, AMR-WB, WMA Pro, WMA, WAV, OGG, AMR-NB
Video Playback Formats: 3GP / 3GPP, H.264 / AVC, MPEG-4, WMV
Streaming Video: Yes
Custom Ringtones: Yes
Vibration Alert: Yes
Mobile Hotspot: Yes
Games: Downloadable
Apps: Downloadable
Included Software / Apps: -
Calendar, World Clock, Alarm, Calculator, Weather, Maps, NotePad, Voice Memos / Recorder

Other Names (AKA): Asus ME371MG

Up to 9 hours of Talk Time
Other models don't have rear camera
Related Links Manual (PDF)
Asus Fonepad Reviews
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