Small tablets are and hip. Not without reason, because the little packets with relatively large screens bring many of the best of two worlds together: the space to browse and play games and portability you know of a good smartphone. Due to the success of the Nexus 7 and iPad mini we see not only phones are getting bigger but now also have tablets on smartphone functionality. In this review I look at the ASUS FonePad, a 7 inch Android tablet with a built smartphone.
ASUS FonePad – Specifications
- The specifications of the ASUS FonePad are not cutting-edge or top-of-the-line, but there is quite a handsome price tag compared. The ASUS FonePad consumes 249 euros. In summary, it looks like this:
- 7 inch IPS LCD display
- 1280 x 800 resolution
- Intel Atom Z2420 processor
- 1GB RAM
- 16GB storage memory
- MicroUSB port
- SIM Card Slot (Micro)
- MicroSD slot
- 1.2 MP webcam
- 3.0 MP camera
- 4270 mAH battery
The most striking from the above list is of course the Intel processor that is in this Android tablet. This is something that we have not previously come to be an Android tablet (Windows 8 is of course another story). The processor is combined with ‘only’ 1GB of memory, and that is for the modern 4.1.2. Android Jelly Bean version on ASUS FonePad not running really well proportioned.
ASUS FonePad – Design and Hardware
The FonePad looks like a lot of areas very much like the Google Nexus 7 , including the design. Nothing too fancy or surprising but just a decent shape and fairly large edges (bezels) around the screen. Unlike the Nexus 7 is the back of the FonePad however aluminum instead of plastic and there is a unclipping plastic top side where you can place. A SIM card and microSD card The gray color and the plastic edge ensure ultimately that ASUS FonePad a clear ASUS product. It is a combination between the Nexus 7 and Eee Pad Transformer Prime (in design).
Display
The display appears on paper exactly the same as we know from the Nexus 7. In comparison video that you can find on YouTube shows that the screen is still just a little less good than the screen of the Nexus 7. However, the same resolution of 1280 by 800 pixels and because it involves a 7 inch 216 pixels per inch. Views color, contrast and viewing angles are reasonable and by the addition of an ‘outdoor’ mode so that the screen can be slightly brighter it is also fairly usable outdoors. If you do not have Nexus 7 are next to you will be more than happy with the screen, and I would personally describe as a screen of average quality.
One comment I still just want to say on this screen is the degree to which fingerprints left behind and thus visible. Not every glass is equal and where manufacturers like Apple oleophobic coating used to reduce visible fingerprints ASUS has unfortunately not chosen here. As a result, the FonePad therefore always looks pretty nasty.
Processor and RAM
Intel Inside is not directly something that you expect on the back of an Android tablet, and yet the FonePad runs on an Intel Atom Z2420 processor with a clock speed of 1.2GHz. If you then also read that only a single-core processor is breaking cold sweat in most people who are familiar with current conventional tablet specifications from. The limited 1GB of RAM which is chosen not directly generates confidence.
And yet the system is running reasonably smoothly. Especially with regard to the most basic tasks I have little to complain about. Of course you have to wait a little longer to start up than just apps faster machines but basically you can cool browsing, email, social media spamming and gaming. Games like Angry Birds or Temple Run go fine but once you get to the heavier games like Rip Tide Dead Trigger or you will have to endure. Regular lags So much so that I would simply describe as don’ts on FonePad. That kind of games Also a game between these two extremes as Candy Crush can cause problems, but then again I would not necessarily label it as unplayable. It may just be that it is not the Intel Processor is responsible for this but the combination of the amount of RAM. This also affects the number of apps that you may have found on the Fonepad. Opened with confidence All in all the experience decent but can not be described as the Fonepad speed monster, gaming tablet or multitasker.
Cameras
The ASUS FonePad is actually a kind of all-in-one solution for anyone without smartphone, tablet and maybe even a digicam. Where FonePad as the tablet still fun doing is the field of the cameras completely wrong. The quality of the pictures are available as alarmingly bad that I actually make any application imaginable. Even if you pull the photos by an app like Instagram come no fine results from. This of course is super unfortunate because now it’s not right (good) all-in-one solution more.
Smartphone
A 7-inch smartphone is probably the biggest smartphone you’ve ever seen. It is certainly the greatest ‘phone’ I have ever had in hands. And that is probably because it obviously does not own real smartphone, a tablet with more ‘built smartphone. Yet there is a real little speaker at the top to keep your ear and there is a microphone at the bottom to chat. At Especially those two things are responsible for ensuring that you ASUS FonePad as smartphone can describe.
In terms of software it is just a familiar Android smartphone. There is not really crazy about to say other than that everything is just bigger. For SMS messages, and the same applies if I see still some advantages of the larger screen and especially larger keyboard. Also an app like Whatsapp works fine on the FonePad.
Speakers
There is a little speaker at the rear of the Fonepad which is used for the audio of apps. For phone calls. Speaker on the front is The sound is remarkably respectable and although you obviously can not use it to provide your party music when the system is more useful than fine for watching a YouTube video or listening to a podcast.
Connections and buttons
Like all other tablets you can also find on the FonePad a few buttons to turn the tablet on / off and adjust the volume. It is striking that there is no mute switch, something that I would like to see on a smartphone anyway. However, there is a 3.5 mm jack where you can plug in headphones.
Under the cover on the back of the ASUS FonePad there is room for both a SIM card and a microSD card to expand the internal memory convenient! The tablet can be charged or connected to the computer via a microUSB connection. It is very nice that ASUS has chosen. These standard connector Most of us will have more than one cable to use!
Battery
There is 4270 mAH was nice ‘gravy’ in FonePad. Intel processors go there unfortunately not always very waste it. Therefore I was enormously surprised with the observation that the FonePad very long life on a full charge. With regular use, I could play on 10 hours without too many worries, and so through the day. In standby mode the battery good long time and I can imagine that in practice this means that you FonePad only once every 2-3 days to have to load.
ASUS FonePad – Software
The FonePad runs on Android 4.1 Jelly Bean , which is one of the latest versions of Android. Only 4.2 is newer and gives you the ability to use user accounts so that you can share with other members of the family. Tablet easier However, Android 4.1 is simply a great modern version and gives you access to just about all the good that Android has to offer, including Google Now. Because bears this product from ASUS approval of Google, you also have access to all Google apps like Gmail, Hangouts (new), maps and of course the Google Play Store.
ASUS has the right idea in terms of skin and makes a few minor adjustments to stock-Android. There is a slightly different color scheme in the notification menu and in this menu are also a number of quick toggles to quickly find Wifi, Bluetooth or other things to put on or off. There is also a special battery saving adjustments in the software to find where ASUS gives you control over pretty much happy. In practice I actually made almost constant use of “smart saving ‘mode because it was in my opinion not crazy much impact on performance and a long battery life I can always appreciate.
In the bar at the bottom of your screen you will find the ASUS FonePad not three but four icons. In addition to the three known (back, home and app switcher) is a fourth icon to open the menu. Suspended for apps These floating apps are mini-applications that float above the rest of your screen and can be used. By default there are already pretty much like a calendar, calculator, stopwatch and video player but as a user you have the option there to install any app or ‘to build’ a floating widget. ASUS also has its own equalizer built into Android (which works reasonably well) and via the ASUS Splendig app you even control over the appearance of colors on your screen.
Apps that are included are the ‘standard’ ASUS apps and for me not too particular. You will find on the FonePad apps like Super Lite Note, ASUS Studio and Storybook. All in all, ASUS Android 4.2.1. not too much polluted with various apps and bloatware and that’s just a good thing.
ASUS FonePad – In use
To immediately but to coincide with the door at home, the FonePad works fine as a smartphone. Our friends * Bliep have a SIM card with what my credit sent to really be able to test. Calling, texting, what juices and – especially important – mobile internet all works fine luxury on the tablet. However, you do look like a tablet with your 7 inch ‘smartphone’ to your ear and even users of the Galaxy Note will have trouble keeping. Their snickering inaudible Luckily you can of course use a headset that you can plug connection or via Bluetooth to connect. 3.5mm in Unfortunately ASUS has not opted for Bluetooth 4.0 (or maybe it’s a limitation of the processor). Especially for a device that you do not really want to have your ear it is useful to have. Most modern communication methods at your disposal.
I have the FonePad much as possible try to use as an all-in-one tablet and therefore especially the mobile Internet use. Where can I get 3.6Mbps I arrive at the rate of 1 euro per day * Beep on my iPhone in FonePad at 3.2Mbps, respectable and certainly usable so. At 50 cents cheaper per day rate is noticing. No significant difference.
If the tablet is FonePad a nice device, although not all of course is the fastest possible. For the things I do on a smartphone and tablet is actually more than fine. I just want to check the news, a little messing around on social media or the internet and sometimes play a simple game. Delicious Actually, the above requirements apply get more than what I expected from a smartphone expected. The iPad I’m pretty spoiled hit and I do not play games, but there just something blitsere I tap all stories (reviews) and I even edit videos. You should not expect the FonePad. And if we are honest even though the FonePad lightning fast are the lack of Android apps for those applications also take a threshold.
ASUS FonePad – Conclusion
ASUS has the FonePad a fairly interesting device on the market, but unfortunately lacks a clear market for this device. Or at least, ASUS has not yet been able to make it. Clear in their current manifestations Most of us have a smartphone and your smartphone is a lot more mobile and (therefore) better. Many of us will if they buy a tablet then look for a little system with powerful specifications so you can run without worry. All apps But the retail price (249 EUR) of the device and the fact that you can immediately explain what in many tablets already easily cost 50 to 100 euros more, a mobile internet connection makes ASUS FonePad again very interesting. Especially for fathers and mothers, grandfathers and grandmothers and maybe even teenagers who have not have smartphone and tablet. It is, however, a device with a lot of ‘buts’.
- It is a tablet, but not super powerful and can therefore not everything.
- It is a phone, but so large that you probably can not or dare to use. As phone him.
- It’s a digital camera, but lousy quality.
For most readers of this review is probably the Google Nexus 7 or Kobo Arc an interesting device to consider, especially given the expected arrival of a new Nexus 7 that will be. sold for the same price That makes the current Nexus 7 probably even cheaper if you have the same money as a FonePad an even better tablet. But then you obviously do not also immediately a smartphone and lacks the 3G module for mobile Internet
Negatives
- Difficulty heavier apps
- Bad cameras
- Too big as a smartphone
Pros
- Cheap
- Fine display
- Built-in GSM and 3G module