Review of the Asus ME302KL tablet: technical specifications and reviews. Asus ME302KL tablet review: specifications and reviews Pros and cons
Some people like smartphones with a small screen, others want to watch movies or need to frequently surf the Internet. In this case, phablets (tablets with phone functions) come to the rescue. These “shovels,” as they are popularly dubbed, have a diagonal of 6-7 inches. Our review of one of these devices is the Asus Fonepad 7 tablet, a balanced mid-range tablet.
The Asus Phonepad series of tablets started in April 2013 and is produced to this day, periodically updating technical parameters, firmware and pre-installed software. Initially, the device was provided with communications only in GSM and 3G networks, but later support for operation in the 4G (LTE) range appeared. The affordable price ranged from 5,700 to 8,600 rubles, depending on the modification, helped the series gain its popularity.
Appearance and equipment
The phablet's delivery package is quite standard: accompanying documentation, charger, USB cable and mid-price headphones.
This device is available in four colors: black, white, red and gold. The style and design have been retained from the Asus Nexus 7 of the first modification; only the location of the power button and volume rocker has changed. The back cover of the case has rounded corners and a non-slip surface, which makes it convenient to hold in one hand and without fear of dropping it. I am pleased with the build quality, nothing creaks, does not play, or bends anywhere.
Appearance is typical for of this type devices, with the exception of the microUSB connector, it is located on top, and the 3.5mm headphone jack is located on the bottom. There is also a hole for the speaking microphone. The screen of the device, unfortunately, does not have an oleophobic coating and very quickly becomes covered with fingerprints, which, however, are easily removed after wiping with a simple napkin. But it has narrow frames, which is why the seven-inch phablet has compact dimensions.
Above the screen there is a 1.2 megapixel front camera lens and a light sensor. The main camera takes photos with a resolution of 5 megapixels. The absence of photo flash LEDs seems to hint that photography in this gadget is intended only for show and video calls.
You shouldn’t expect super photographs here, especially in other modifications of the phablet, the cameras have the following characteristics: 0.3 MP front and 2 MP main. The main camera lens protrudes slightly from the back of the body. This is not entirely successful; there is a possibility of damaging or scratching the camera lens if you carelessly place the phablet on a hard surface with the screen facing up, so it is advisable to use a case. For tablets with a standard size of 7 inches, it will not be difficult to choose original cases or from a variety of universal ones.
Screen and sound
The advantage of large phablets over phones is the screen. Chatting in various instant messengers and SMS correspondence is more convenient when the buttons on the virtual keyboard are large and do not overlap the text of the messages.
Asus Fonepad 7 K012 (FE170CG) had more modest specifications than the later ASUS Fonepad 7 (ME372CG). Only the diagonal of the screen remains unchanged and is 7 inches, as indicated by the number 7 in the name of the device. The display changed from a low resolution of 1024x600 to a higher HD 1280x800, and watching movies with 720p picture quality has become much more comfortable. IPS matrix with a density of 216PPI, covered protective glass. The presence of an air gap under the glass slightly obscures the image when viewed at angles.
The quality of the matrix is very good, the colors are bright and saturated, without distortion. Two high-quality front speakers that create a surround stereo effect are another plus of the tablet. ASUS technology SonicMaster improves loud sound, making it richer without excessive rattling. Proper placement of the speakers on the front side prevents them from overlapping when the device is lying on a table or in your hands.
Performance
The device operates under Android control 4.4 Kitkat (upgrade to Android 5.0 is supported) and the original ASUS ZenUI shell with a large number of proprietary features and improvements. In terms of performance, the Asus Fonepad 7 is at a high level, given its low cost. For example, the Antutu 5.3 benchmark gives a result of 37423, which is impressive.
The heart of the device (FE375CXG) is a 64-bit 4-core processor Intel Atom Z3530 with a frequency of 1330 MHz. The same PowerVR G6430 video chip that was installed on the iPhone 5S is responsible for graphics processing, and most modern 3D video games will run without lags or stutters. There is only 1 GB of RAM, which, frankly, is not enough by today's standards. The built-in memory is also small, 8gb or 16gb depending on the modification. But this is not critical, since there is support for USB OTG and a slot for microSD up to 64gb.
IN stock firmware majority third party applications do not support installation on an external memory card. To fully use it, you need to gain access to root rights and work some magic with the firmware. With open root and an unlocked bootloader, you can install custom firmware. Some of them are repartitioned system partitions, thereby allocating part of the internal memory for RAM. However, it should be remembered that all manipulations after obtaining root rights are done at your own risk and peril, besides, devices from Asus, at the slightest error, can become “bricked” and go into APX mode, which can only be cured by replacing the board!
Battery
The built-in lithium-polymer battery with a capacity of 3950 mAh provides a large reserve of autonomy. To fully charge the battery, it takes 3.5 hours to charge. At 7-8 hours active screen At maximum brightness, the charge lasts for almost two days.
Navigation and communication
The tablet has all the necessary communication modules: Wi-Fi (n), Bluetooth 4.0 and even Miracast for broadcasting from the tablet screen to a TV that supports this function. Availability of navigation GPS modules, Glonass and big screen involves the use of a phablet and a car holder, as a convenient and reliable navigator in a car, using third party software Navitel, CityGuide, Dublgis and others. A modest camera, when used in a car, will cope with the functions of a video recorder after installing the appropriate software.
Due to the large size and the housing made of plastic, the built-in antenna operates without interference and mobile communications are provided stably. Two slots for microSIM allow you to expand communication capabilities depending on the selected tariffs. For example, one SIM card is used for conversations and SMS, and the second for accessing the Internet.
Conclusion
Considering that average price is 7 thousand rubles, we can say with confidence that the Asus Fonepad 7 is a phablet, one of the best in its class. Despite the fact that the gadget does not have top-end characteristics, the seven-inch tablet is perfect solution for 3D video games and viewing multimedia files, it will become a faithful friend for regulars social networks and those who like to pass the time on the Internet. Asus company Once again it has proven that it can make high-quality and inexpensive electronics.
To help differentiate the MemoPad line from the company's other offerings, ASUS has moved away from industrial design in favor of a more playful look. Unlike the metal cases typical of other gadgets, the Asus ME302KL MemoPad FHD 10 has a rubberized panel covered with three-dimensional micro-fabric. The transformer is available in black, blue, pink or white.
Appearance
The ASUS logo is inlaid in the center of the rear panel, above which there is a 5-megapixel camera. The front side of the Memo Pad FHD 10 LTE ME302KL looks rather nondescript, being designed in a sporty style, with a gray ASUS logo on the left top corner. On the right side of the device, you will find the volume rocker and the 3.5mm audio jack. The left edge has MicroUSB and microHDMI ports, as well as a MicroSD slot. The power button is on the top edge of the tablet.
Display
Despite its modest appearance, the display of this ASUS model offers decent viewing angles - images and videos are easy to view at an angle of more than 40 degrees. You can use the app in Splendid ASUS to adjust screen tints, color saturation, and color gamut. However, this feature does not have a very significant effect on the image.
Sound effect
The Asus ME302KL has side-mounted SonicMaster speakers that produce excellent sound. Music sounds clear and loud even when maximum volume sound. The AudioWizard app allows users to select from six preset audio profiles, including power saving, music, video, recording, gaming and speech modes. Of the available modes, the default setting is listening to music, which offers the best and loudest sound quality. Testing shows that the maximum audio volume level can reach 85 decibels.
Keyboard
In this model, ASUS has equipped the keyboard with many functions, including typing tracing, predictive text input, and next word prediction. Unfortunately, the keyboard doesn't support haptic feedback, so you can't create your own input patterns or social media buttons.
Interface and platform
LTE ME302KL runs on a modified version of Android 4.2.2. There are innovations that provide many unique features that help improve the overall functionality of the OS. Shrinking and enlarging the main desktop window, for example, allows you to save and freeze what is on the screen up to 6 times in a row. Additionally, you can add an additional desktop by minimizing previous windows. You can also set one of your saved desktops as your home screen by placing a tag on it.
ASUS also offers three different custom modes in the Asus ME302KL where you can customize your desktops accordingly. The default mode gives you six desktops and offers a main home screen with weather and a widget Email. Work mode gives you two desktops, one of which contains a notebook and a calendar. Entertainment mode offers two desktops containing a YouTube widget and corresponding shortcuts to various entertainment programs. New mode allows you to configure Asus Memo ME302KL from scratch, right down to the number of desktops.
Menu Features
ASUS developers also added new setting shortcuts. Long press on Home button opens two semicircular context menus. The inner semicircle displays links to Google Voice, Google Mailbox, apps, settings shortcuts, and a locking system that prevents access to Android navigation buttons (to eliminate accidental press anything during the game). The outer semicircle contains labels for various applications, including calendar, calculator, ASUS SuperNotesLite, ASUS Studio and browser. You can change these shortcuts by clicking on their settings button and making a selection of the applications you want to replace.
The Asus 10 ME302KL menu has a notification feature that provides users with quick access to Wi-Fi, SmartSaving, Instant, Bluetooth, GPS, Sound and Auto Rotate settings. Here you can also change display brightness, AudioWizard settings, and system settings.
Floating buttons
Asus Memo Pad 10 ME302KL also offers floating apps that are loved by many Android users. By tapping the icon in the bottom left corner of the screen, you'll see a moving menu of app icons that you can open at the same time as standard full-screen programs. By default, floating apps include a calculator, AudioWizard, dictionary, video player, converter, countdown timer, stopwatch, compass, browser, calendar, BuddyBuzz and email. You can add additional services, if they are supported by ASUS or have their own widgets for Android.
Programs
In addition to the standard set of services from Google, ASUS adds a number of different useful proprietary applications to the Asus ME302KL, including ASUS App Backup, AppLocker, Studio, SuperNoteLite and MyLibraryLite. provides a means to save all installed applications and their data on an external storage device (for example, microSD card). ASUS AppLocker gives you the ability to lock any of your apps by restricting access with a password.
The Asus FHD 10 ME302KL comes with a pre-installed graphics application that allows you to use colored pencils, brushes, markers and spray paint. ASUS Studio brings photo editing capabilities, allowing users to add filters, as well as edit and draw pictures. ASUS SuperNoteLite serves as a standard note-taking service, complete with basic typing and (allowing users to enter data manually using a stylus).
Setting Modes
The device has six various settings, which are easy to switch. By default, the power saving mode is set, in which the screen appears very dim. In addition to the standard settings, there is an audio wizard that enhances the sound and automatically removes noise, making the sound better. The sound quality, even when using this feature, is not excellent, but for tablet speakers it is a very good indicator.
Due to the placement of the speakers on the rear panel, when the tablet is placed on a flat surface, sound waves are reflected from it, creating a loud and full sound. The highest volume level is not very loud, but this is a decent result for small speakers - more sound power would lead to a sharp drop in quality.
Production capacity
Asus 10 Memo ME302KL 32GB is equipped with a dual-core IntelAtom Z2560 (CloverTrail) processor with a frequency of 1.6 GHz and 2 GB random access memory. The gadget shows mixed results during everyday use. Applications launch quickly, although some of them are a little slow before closing. At the same time, games run smoothly, and changing the screen orientation from portrait to landscape mode takes just four seconds.
Camera and shooting quality
Images taken from the 5-megapixel rear camera have quite clear details and vibrant colors. If you take a photo on a busy street, the image of moving people and cars will turn out without blur. Details such as subtle cracks in building facades and distant street signs are clearly visible.
The 1080p video resolution also allows for very clear images of even distant details. The 1.3 megapixel front camera allows you to take relatively clear images. If you take a selfie, you can see a clear image of the details of your face and hair.
Battery life
Testing shows that with continuous Internet use via Wi-Fi with screen brightness of 40 percent, the ASUS MemoPad FHD 10 lasts 8 hours and 51 minutes without recharging. This figure clearly exceeds the average parameters typical for devices of the same price category (7 hours 6 minutes). Thus, lower display brightness allowed ASUS to create a device with a long battery life battery life.
Configurations
ASUS offers two FHD versions. The $329 model has 16GB of memory, while the $349 model gets 32GB of storage. In addition to the built-in memory and MicroSD card slot, ASUS also provides 5GB cloud storage ASUS WebStorage.
Final verdict
As you can see, for just $329, the MemoPad FHD 10 offers an attractive design, a good set of useful applications and utilities and excellent battery life. Unfortunately, the display's 1920x1200 resolution is frustratingly dim, and the IntelAtom processor can be sluggish during everyday use. When compared with competing devices, the Samsung GalaxyTab 10.1 3 additionally offers the ability to remotely control the TV, but has the same disadvantages (slowness and low screen resolution).
Positive features
The Asus Memo Pad FHD 10 boasts a convenient build, a high-quality screen with good viewing angles and a reasonable price of $329. All these advantages are noted by users. The included Asus software greatly increases multimedia capabilities, and also allows you to multitask quickly and easily. Those who often work or play on a gadget appreciated this moment.
Flaws
Bulky apps and games take a long time to load. Additionally, the power button sometimes takes too long to operate. Many negative reviews from users contain complaints about the slowness of the device.
Bottom line - Asus Memo Pad FHD 10 is a good budget tablet that contains a number of useful additions. For users who intend to use the device for working with text documents and the Internet, this device is very good choice. Their positive reviews- confirmation of the fact that the tablet as a work device suits the majority. It is not very suitable only for those who need large production capacities.
Difference between small tablets And large smartphones practically erased, mainly because support for the former became popular voice communication, and even the screen sizes, but the performance and other advantages do not differ so much. Be that as it may, the Fonepad 7 FE170CG K012 is a tablet computer that combines the main advantages of two popular mobile gadgets.
Support for two standard-sized SIM cards certainly adds to the celebrity appeal of the device. The parameters of the built-in permanent storage device are not impressive - only eight gigabytes, almost all of which, without a doubt, will be occupied by the operating system and the most necessary applications.
But this drawback is easily compensated by the support of several types of memory cards, with a memory capacity eight times larger than the built-in one. In addition, the 7 FE170CG belongs to the budget price category, and all its characteristics correspond to this definition. And all the features of the gadget from the famous Taiwanese manufacturer will be discussed in more detail below.
ASUS Fonepad 7 FE170CG K012 is a mid-size tablet. It is powered by a 32-bit Intel Atom Z2520 processor with basic clock frequency 1.2 gigahertz and a maximum throughput of 8.5 Gb/s. Integrated graphics have base frequency 300 megahertz. RAM is standard for a budget model - one gigabyte, or 1024 MB RAM. An obvious advantage of the model is support for third generation networks. The navigation system is focused on both American GPS and A-GPS, and Russian GLONASS. Naturally, developers did not forget about support for wireless data transfer protocols, including Wi-Fi and Bluetooth.
The tablet is equipped as is customary in Lately, two cameras. Their parameters are quite modest, but they basically fulfill their tasks.
The display diagonal size is only seven inches, which is not too much for convenient use, but good for use outside the home, since the gadget easily fits into a pocket. The dimensions of ASUS Fonepad 7 FE170CG are 192x110x11 millimeters, that is, it fits comfortably in a medium-sized palm. The weight is quite impressive - 290 grams, but this is a tablet, and not a simple mobile phone, as it might seem at first glance. The body is made of high-quality impact-resistant plastic, which is also typical for a relatively inexpensive gadget.
For communication with other devices there is microUSB, as well as other necessary connectors. The battery's capabilities are described in rosy terms, which, of course, requires testing in practice.
ASUS traditionally uses an American-made operating system in its mobile devices. Google, that is, Android. Tablet 7 FE170CG was no exception, which is able to support all the latest versions of the popular “axis”. The proprietary ZenUI user interface only adds convenience to those who pick up the device under review.
Contents of delivery
In the box with the newly purchased gadget, the buyer will find the usual set, which first of all includes the ASUS Fonepad 7 FE170CG tablet itself. Not forgotten about charger, which is standard for all devices of the Taiwanese manufacturer. The user is provided with instructions that contain some useful information. There is also a warranty card, the main thing is not to forget to fill it out and be calm for at least 12 months.
Design
The main part of the device is, which is typical for touch devices. But, despite the fact that the screen is the central element of the design, it should be noted that the body does not spoil the picture. There are no unnecessary inscriptions or interface elements in the front part, and the original speaker grille organically fits into the overall design. Matte, non-glare plastic does not distract from work, and the angled edge ensures comfort for the hands. On the back cover, the main design elements are the camera and the large “ASUS” inscription.
Screen
The tablet screen is seven-inch capacitive sensor with a resolution of 1024 by 600 pixels (170 pixels per inch). Produced using technology TFT matrix does not promise much comfort, but some modifications are equipped with a display made using more advanced IPS LCD technology. As the specification states, the gadget’s screen occupies 65.29% of the total area, but visually it seems that this figure is larger. The displayed number of colors is 16,777,216. There is also a light sensor, and the surface is treated with a coating that protects well from grease stains.
A good, but already familiar screen function - automatic selection orientation. Many reviews claim that the orientation is quite high quality, without any particular delays.
Performance
The device does not have much powerful processor, which still provides fairly high performance. As already indicated in the review above, the maximum throughput The tablet's memory is 8.5 gigabytes per second. This indicator, as well as specifications the remaining components of the gadget provide the opportunity to operate the tablet in all modes for which it was intended, with sufficient comfort and speed.
Multimedia capabilities
High-quality acoustics and the use of proprietary developments from Taiwanese specialists promise quite good quality for playing music and dubbing videos. The development is ASUS Sonic Master, which has proven itself on many of the company's products.
Quite good resolution and matrix quality allow you to watch videos of acceptable quality comfortably.
Battery
The tablet is equipped with a 3950mAH lithium polymer battery. The possibility of working on a telephone call for up to 30 hours is announced. The standby time on a 3G network is generally enormous - 619 hours. For watching videos with one charge, the builder promises more modest parameters - only 10 hours.
Camera
The 0.3 megapixel VGA camera does not look impressive, but for communication through popular instant messengers like Skype quite suitable, providing acceptable image quality.
The camera located on the back cover of the gadget provides only 2 megapixels, allowing you to take pictures with maximum resolution 1600 by 1200 pixels and shoot video at 1280 by 720 (720p HD). The device is equipped with autofocus and can also set geo-tags.
Operating system and programs
By default, the device is provided with an operating system Android versions 4.3 Jelly Bean, which can be updated to Android 4.4 KitKat without any problems or difficulties.
Branded shell Asus ZenUI is often the determining factor for buyers when choosing a product from the specified developer, as it has functionality that meets the needs of even the most demanding users. It's about about managing contacts, programs, messages and other useful information.
And of course, the user has the richest Google store Play.
Competitors
In many polls and ASUS reviews Fonepad 7 FE170CG K012 consistently occupies a leading position in the upper price range of the budget segment. The list of inexpensive but high-quality devices includes the Lenovo S6000 10.1″ 3G, which has good characteristics and good performance. Among the competitors of the reviewed tablet is the seven-inch Samsung Galaxy Tab SM-T210 3. Other devices from the company from Taiwan are also vying for the same market niche. These are the seven-inch Asus ME372CG-1B045A, Asus MemoPad HD 7 (ME173X-1B061A), which have characteristics that are attractive to many consumers.
The same list can include Jeka JK-702 Dual Core, gaming device Assistant AP-110 F, pocket Lenovo A3000-N and many other devices from well-known and not so famous developers.
Advantages and disadvantages
The main advantage of ASUS Fonepad 7 FE170CG is its excellent price-quality ratio. For relatively little money, the user receives functionality that completely covers basic needs both in communication and in multimedia, Internet surfing, navigation, as well as in other areas.
Users note high build quality and no problems with the operation of components and devices.
Among the shortcomings, it is worth noting the small RAM, resolution and screen production technology, which do not allow high-quality viewing of Full-HD video; Some problems with keyboard calibration.
conclusions
The gadget in question can be safely attributed to the upper price range budget tablets, which can be recommended for purchase to those who are willing to pay the equivalent of a little over two hundred dollars for acceptable quality.
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Assessing evolutionary changes
Following the six-inch Asus Fonepad Note 6, our editorial team, as we promised, has its older brother - the second seven-inch tablet in the line, replacing the original Asus Fonepad. At the recent Asus presentation, it remained in the shadow of the new Padfone and Transformer Pad. Let's fill this gap.
Technical characteristics of Asus Fonepad 7 second generation:
- Model Number: ME372CG
- SoC: Intel Clover Trail+
- CPU: Intel Atom Z2560 @1.6 GHz (2 cores, 4 threads)
- GPU: PowerVR SGX544 MP2 @400 MHz
- Display: IPS, 7″, 1280×800, 216 ppi
- RAM: 1 GB
- Internal memory: 8/16/32 GB
- microSD memory card support
- 2G communication: GSM/EDGE 850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz
- 3G communication: WCDMA 700, 850, 900, 1900, 2100 MHz
- HSPA+ data transfer, up to 42/5.76 Mbit/s (download and upload, respectively)
- Wi-Fi 802.11a/b/g/n, Bluetooth 3.0
- GPS/Glonass
- SonicMaster stereo speakers
- Cameras: 1.2 MP front, 5 MP rear
- Micro-USB, 3.5mm headset combo, Micro-SIM
- Battery capacity: 3950 mAh
- Operating system: Google Android 4.2.2
- Dimensions: 197x119x10 mm (measured during testing)
- Weight: 334 g (measured during testing)
The technical characteristics of the tablet take us back six months - completely identical hardware was found in the Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 10.1. Having, by the way, the same display resolution
| Asus Phonepad | Google Nexus 7 | Asus Memo Pad HD 7 | Apple iPad mini | ||
| Screen | IPS, 7″, 1280×800, 216 ppi | IPS, 7″, 1280×800, 216 ppi | IPS, 7″, 1280×800, 216 ppi | IPS, 7″, 1280×800, 216 ppi | IPS, 7.9″, 1024×768, 163 ppi |
| SoC (processor) | Intel Atom Z2560 @1.6 GHz (2 cores, 4 threads) | Intel Atom Z2420 @1.2 GHz (1 core, 2 threads) | NVIDIA Tegra 3 @1.2 GHz (4 cores + 1 auxiliary, ARM Cortex-A9) | MediaTek MT8125 @1.5 GHz (4 cores, ARM Cortex-A7) | Apple A5 @1 GHz (2 cores, ARM Cortex-A9) |
| GPU | PowerVR SGX544 | PowerVR SGX540 | ULP GeForce (416 MHz) | PowerVR SGX544MP | PowerVR SGX543 MP2 |
| Flash memory | from 8 to 32 GB | from 8 to 16 GB | from 8 to 32 GB | 8 or 16 GB | from 16 to 64 GB |
| Connectors | Micro-USB, 3.5 mm headset jack, Micro-SIM | Micro-USB, 3.5mm headphone jack, Micro-SIM (optional) | Micro-USB, 3.5 mm headphone jack | Lightning dock connector, 3.5mm headphone jack | |
| Memory card support | microSD | microSD (up to 32 GB) | No | microSD (up to 32 GB) | No |
| RAM | 1 GB | 1 GB | 1 GB | 1 GB | 512 MB |
| Cameras | front (1.2 MP); optional rear (3 MP) | front (1.2 MP) | front (1.2 MP) and rear (5 MP) | front (1.2 MP), rear (5 MP) | |
| Internet | Wi-Fi, 3G, 2G | Wi-Fi, 3G, 2G | Wi-Fi (optional - 3G) | WiFi | Wi-Fi (optional - 3G/LTE) |
| Wireless modules | Bluetooth, GPS/Glonass | Bluetooth, GPS/Glonass | Bluetooth, GPS | Bluetooth, GPS | GPS/Glonass (optional), Bluetooth |
| operating system | Google Android 4.2.2 | Google Android 4.1.2 | Google Android 4.1 | Google Android 4.2 | Apple iOS 6 |
| Battery capacity (mAh) | 3950 | 4270 | 4325 | 4050 | 4440 |
| Dimensions* (mm) | 197×119×10 | 196×120×10.4 | 199×120×10.5 | 196×120×10 | 200×138×7.2 |
| Weight* (g) | 334 | 340 | 340 | 301 | 308 |
| Average price** (price.ru) | $131() | $132() | $155() | $149 (MSRP) | $546() |
| Average price** (Ya.Market) | T-10533727 | T-9353524 | T-8367736 | T-10414122 | T-8485579 |
| Offers Asus Fonepad 7 second generation (Ya.Market) | L-10533727-10 | ||||
* according to the manufacturer, except for Fonepad 7 second generation and Memo Pad HD 7, measured in the editorial office
** for all tablets the price is for the version with 16 GB of memory; For iPad mini The price indicated is for the 3G version.
Equipment
The Asus Fonepad package has changed slightly: instead of all the accompanying papers, the box contains a simple plastic stand (not shown in the general photo).
The stand can be used to secure the tablet in both a bookcase and landscape orientation:
Design
Already looking at the front panel, the initial assumptions are confirmed: the changes in the second generation of seven-inch Fonepads affected mainly the appearance.
The manufacturer's logo was removed, and SonicMaster stereo speakers, already familiar to us from the review of the six-inch model, were installed around the edges.
At the top of the front panel, in addition to the front camera, you can see proximity and lighting sensors.
The rear panel material is slippery glossy plastic with fine texturing. It picks up fingerprints easily and looks like it's covered in lots of tiny glitter. Bearing in mind the more reliable and solid metal of the last generation, we cannot approve of such a change.
The illustrations show that in most angles the side edges of the tablet become mirrored.
In the image above, fine texturing is clearly visible. It does not increase grip on the palm and serves only an aesthetic function.
In general, the Fonepad design has been noticeably simplified. Previously, the slots were located under a removable cover that fit harmoniously into the case. Now they have been separated along the edges, thereby bringing the new product closer to the budget Asus Memo Pad HD 7. It also has an uncovered slot for a memory card. If moisture gets into this hole, the performance of the tablet will be in great doubt.
Positive changes include the fact that the audio jack is now located more conveniently, not on the top edge. The side buttons have a short and clear stroke. But pressing them is inconvenient. The reason for this lies both in the sloping side edge and in the surface of the buttons themselves, which coincides in tactile sensations with the rear panel.
The SIM card is installed in a removable tray, which requires thin instrument. By the way, it is not included in the kit. The SIM card holder is a separate small part - which means there is a risk of loss.
Compared to the first generation, the updated Fonepad design was rather disappointing. The ubiquitous dark glossy plastic quickly loses its neatness, and in general only emphasizes the budget nature of the tablet, unlike metal. The new placement of the SIM and memory card slots looks much less practical and convenient. But there is also positive sides. As we already mentioned in the review of the six-inch analogue, the design of Asus's front-facing speakers is very convenient for use in landscape orientation. Finally, the build quality of the device is at a high level: there is no play or squeaks when bending.
You can also find a version of the tablet with a white rear panel on sale. Definitely, after some time of use it will look much more attractive.
Screen
The front surface of the screen is made in the form of a glass plate with a mirror-smooth surface that is scratch-resistant. Judging by the reflection of objects, there is some kind of anti-glare filter, which in terms of reducing reflection brightness is noticeably worse than that of Google Nexus 7 (2013)(hereinafter simply Nexus 7). The surface of the matrix itself under the glass is slightly matte, so the screen reflects both direct light sources (by the outer surface) and diffuse light (by the surface of the matrix), this reduces readability in conditions of strong external illumination. For clarity, here are photographs in which the white surface is reflected in the switched off screens of both tablets (Asus Fonepad 7 - on the left):
Light gray surface Asus screen Fonepad 7 speaks for itself. The reflection in the screen triples, which suggests the presence of an air gap between the surface of the matrix and the outer glass. On the outer surface of the screen there is special oleophobic (grease-repellent) coating (not very effective, worse than Nexus 7), so fingerprints are removed more easily and appear at a slower rate than with regular glass.
When manually controlling the brightness, its maximum value was about 310 cd/m², and the minimum - 13 cd/m². The maximum value is not very high, and, given the weak anti-reflective properties and matte surface of the matrix, in bright daylight The image on the screen is unlikely to be clearly visible. In complete darkness, the brightness can be reduced to a comfortable level. Works automatic brightness adjustment based on light sensor(it is located to the right of the front camera eye). In automatic mode, as external lighting conditions change, the screen brightness both increases and decreases. In complete darkness in automatic mode, the brightness is reduced to 13 cd/m² (not enough, but you can read), in an office illuminated by artificial light (about 400 lux) the brightness is set to 160 cd/m² (acceptable), in a brightly lit environment (corresponds to the lighting on a clear day outdoors, but without direct sunlight- 20000 lux or a little more) - increases to maximum (as you would expect). As a result, this function works adequately. There is some modulation of the backlight, but its amplitude does not reach 100%, and the spectrum of modulation frequencies has a maximum of around 50 kHz, so the flickering of the screen cannot be visually seen and the presence of such modulation cannot in any way affect the comfort of working with this device.
IN this tablet used matrix IPS type . The microphotographs show a typical IPS subpixel structure:
The screen has good viewing angles without inverting shades and without significant color shifts, even with large viewing deviations from perpendicular to the screen. For comparison, here are photographs in which the same images are displayed on the screens of the Nexus 7 (above) and the tested tablet (below and button icons are always displayed on its screen), with the brightness of both screens set to approximately 200 cd/m². Test picture perpendicular to the screens:
It can be seen that the color reproduction is slightly different (the Nexus 7 has brighter colors), but this is the only conclusion that can be drawn from the photo. And a white field:
We note good uniformity of brightness and color tone. Now at an angle of approximately 45 degrees to the plane and to the side of the screen:
It can be seen that the colors did not “float” on both tablets, but on the Fonepad 7 the contrast noticeably decreased. Then the white field:
The brightness at an angle for both tablets decreased noticeably (by about five times, based on the difference in shutter speed), but in the case of the Fonepad 7 the drop in brightness is slightly greater (brightness according to photographs is 226 versus 237 for the Nexus 7). However, the color tone did not change much. When deviated diagonally, the black field brightens greatly and acquires a red-violet or yellowish tint. A photo from the Nexus 7 shows this for comparison (the brightness of the white areas in the perpendicular direction is the same for both tablets!):
When viewed perpendicularly, the uniformity of the black field is good:
Contrast (approximately in the center of the screen) is normal - about 730:1 . The gamma curve constructed using 32 points did not reveal a blockage either in the highlights or in the shadows, and the index of the approximating power function is 2.65, which is more than the standard value of 2.2, while the real gamma curve deviates greatly from the power-law dependence:
Due to the aggressive dynamic adjustment of the backlight brightness in accordance with the nature of the output image (in light images the brightness increases, in dark images it decreases), the resulting dependence of brightness on hue (gamma curve) does not correspond to the gamma curve of a static image, since the measurements were carried out with sequential output shades of gray on the entire screen. For this reason, we carried out a number of tests - determining contrast and response time, comparing black illumination at angles - when displaying special templates, and not monochromatic fields in the entire screen.
Color gamut slightly different from sRGB:
Apparently, the matrix’s light filters slightly mix the components with each other. The spectra confirm this:
Judging by the coverage graph and impressions of working with the tablet, the most recognizable shades - skin tones - do not lose much in saturation, so in most cases the colors of images - drawings, photographs and films - oriented to the sRGB space (and these are the vast majority), have more or less natural saturation. The balance of shades on the gray scale is good, since the color temperature is close to the standard 6500 K. The deviation from the blackbody spectrum (ΔE) is above 10, however, the variation in ΔE and color temperature is small, which has a positive effect on the visual perception of color balance. Dark areas of the gray scale can be ignored, since there is no color balance of great importance, and the error in measuring color characteristics at low brightness is large.
The brightness adjustment range of this screen is not very wide, so in complete darkness or indoors you can work with the tablet without any problems, but the comfort of use on a clear day outside remains questionable, since in addition to not very high maximum brightness at the screen weak anti-glare properties And matte surface of the matrix under the outer glass. At the same time, the user is relieved of the need to manually adjust the brightness, since the corresponding function copes well with this task, in addition helping to preserve battery charge. The advantages include no screen flickering, excellent black field uniformity And good (though not perfect) color rendition. Unfortunately, Black stability to gaze deviation from perpendicular to the screen surface is low. Based on the totality of characteristics The screen is not of high quality, but it is not a failure either - so, average.
According to our expert's conclusions, seven-inch Asus Fonepads continue to have average screens. But the bug with automatic adjustment brightness: now it works not only to increase it.
operating system
The second generation Asus Fonepad 7 runs Android 4.2.2. On the basic and latest firmware version at the time of writing, the user has access to 11.32 of 16 GB of memory - 40 MB less than in its predecessor on Android 4.1.2. The operating system still runs smoothly, as we have seen from our own experience and which MobileXPRT will confirm in the next chapter.
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Functional changes in the operating system are almost invisible. Users still have access to widgets that can be accessed from Android menu and move freely around the screen. The list of additional tools includes AudioWizard profiles, a utility for adjusting color rendering Splendid, and a convenient dictionary.
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Only the Asus pop-up menu has changed slightly. Old version looked less crude, but, in general, the functionality remained unchanged. It is possible to lock the bottom panel of Android through the menu that appears when you long press the “Home” button.
Platform and performance
The second generation of the seven-inch Asus Fonepad is based on the same platform as the Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 10.1, has the same gigabyte amount of RAM and even the same resolution (albeit with a significantly smaller diagonal) of the screen. Let's move straight to the tests.
In browser benchmarks, resolution does not matter, so instead of the first, we included the second generation of Google Nexus 7 in the table. And the four-thread Clover Trail+ outperformed the quad-core Snapdragon S4 Pro in all tests, sometimes by a significant margin.
In Antutu 4 and Antutu X Editor, the new Asus Fonepad scored 18161 and 18150 points, respectively, that is, there is no attempt to “cheat parrots” here. Detailed Antutu X results for comparison are shown below: second Fonepad 7 on the left, second Nexus 7 on the right (pictures are clickable). As we can see, our hero manages to reduce the difference only due to a lower resolution and a better RAM rating (apparently, the benchmark does not particularly take into account the difference between 1 and 2 GB).
In MobileXPRT, which evaluates work with photos and gestures, our hero excelled with 132 and 99 points, respectively - a result higher than that of the LG G Pad 8.3 (130 and 91 points), based on SoC Qualcomm Snapdragon 600.
Here Fonepad's progress is again significant, but it's still a long way from the new Nexus 7. Next up are gaming benchmarks:
After evaluating previous tests, we expected the Intel-friendly Epic benchmark to be faster on the new Fonepad than on the new Nexus. And our expectations were confirmed - most clearly in the most difficult mode. Synthetic 3DMark was much more critical.
| Asus Fonepad 7 second generation | Asus Phonepad | Google Nexus 7 | Google Nexus 7 (2013) | Asus Memo Pad HD 7 | Apple iPad mini | |
| GFXBenchmark T-Rex HD (C24Z16 Offscreen) | 7.1 fps | - | - | 15 fps | 2.6 fps | 3.4 fps |
| GFXBenchmark T-Rex HD (C24Z16 Onscreen) | 12 fps | - | - | 15 fps | 4.5 fps | 6.4 fps |
| GFXBenchmark T-Rex HD (C24Z16 Fixed time Offscreen) | 6.9 fps | - | - | 14 fps | 2.5 fps | 3.5 fps |
| GFXBenchmark T-Rex HD (C24Z16 Fixed time Onscreen) | 12 fps | - | - | 14 fps | 4.3 fps | 6.9 fps |
| GFXBenchmark Egypt HD (C24Z16 Offscreen) | 26 fps | 11 fps | 9.4 fps | 39 fps | 10 fps | 15 fps |
| GFXBenchmark Egypt HD (C24Z16 Onscreen) | 33 fps | 8 fps | 14 fps | 30 fps | 14 fps | 22 fps |
In the Egypt HD scene we see a quadruple progression of the Fonepad line! Moreover, when working in native resolution even remains behind new Nexus. But when evaluating the game scenes displayed on the display, we must not forget that the Nexus’s resolution is 1080p, while our hero’s is 1280x800. The offscreen mode, which equalizes this aspect, puts everything in its place.
Let's evaluate the performance of specific games:
| Modern Combat 4: Zero Hour | works fine |
| Mass Effect: Infiltrator | works fine |
| Asphalt 8: Airborne | slows down occasionally |
| N.O.V.A. 3 | |
| Dead Trigger 2 | works with critical errors |
| Shadowgun: The Leftover Pack | slows down occasionally |
| Dungeon Hunter 4 | works fine |
| Max Payne Mobile | slows down a lot |
| Need for Speed: Most Wanted | slows down occasionally |
The second generation of Asus Fonepad, the second generation of zombie shooter Dead Trigger... and the compatibility is getting worse. If previously rainbow “guns” could be survived, now the prompt “move around the area” sticks to half the screen, preventing you from replenishing ammunition.
Shadowgun still slows down, but Modern Combat 4 stops 20 seconds after the game starts. However, with new graphically demanding games, the tablet does not seem to be able to provide comfortable gameplay.
Let's take a closer look at the sound. Finally, a pair of tablet speakers really allowed us to hear stereo sound, for which it was actually installed - from behind, from the side, and in general, wherever your imagination allows. But the Asus SonicMaster speakers occupy the most logical and correct place in this case - on both sides of the display, towards the user. This transforms the gameplay process, increasing its fascination by an order of magnitude. In general, the volume of the speakers can be rated as average, and the quality as very good.
Playing video
We did not find an MHL or SlimPort (Mobility DisplayPort) interface in this tablet, so we had to limit ourselves to testing the output of video files on the screen of the device itself. To do this, we used a set of test files with an arrow and a rectangle moving one division per frame (see “Method for testing video playback and display devices. Version 1 (for mobile devices)”). Screenshots with a shutter speed of 1 s helped determine the nature of the output of frames of video files with various parameters: the resolution varied (1280 by 720 (720p) and 1920 by 1080 (1080p)) and frame rate (24, 25, 30, 50 and 60 fps ). In the tests, we used the MX Player video player in the “Hardware+” mode. The test results are summarized in the table: 720p30
Note: If in both columns Uniformity And Passes“green” ratings are given, this means that, most likely, when watching films, artifacts caused by uneven alternation and frame skipping will either not be visible at all, or their number and visibility will not affect the viewing comfort. "Red" marks indicate possible problems associated with the playback of the corresponding files.
The intervals between frames (or groups of frames) alternate more or less evenly, and there are no frame skips. However, uniform alternation of frames is a relatively unstable state, since some external and internal background processes lead to periodic failure of the correct alternation of intervals between frames. The displayed brightness range exactly corresponds to the standard video range - all shade gradations are displayed in shadows and highlights (for video in the range 16-235). The image of 720p files (with an aspect ratio of 16:9) fits into the screen and has the correct proportions, but there are some problems with the resolution; in the “Hardware” mode (or simply in the standard player) the vertical resolution is normal, but the horizontal resolution is less than possible (worldwide) after one pixel it is blurred to a gray solid), and in the “Hardware+” mode the horizontal resolution is normal, but the vertical image is stretched by a couple of pixels. We are far from the first to encounter such oddities of a hardware decoder, and, of course, in real frames it is very difficult to notice the loss of clarity, but it’s still somehow not neat.
| Format | Container, video, sound | MX Video Player | Standard video player |
| DVDRip | AVI, XviD 720×400 2200 Kbps, MP3+AC3 | not playable | |
| Web-DL SD | AVI, XviD 720×400 1400 Kbps, MP3+AC3 | plays normally, video is programmatic | not playable |
| Web-DL HD | MKV, H.264 1280×720 3000 Kbps, AC3 | plays without sound | |
| BDRip 720p | MKV, H.264 1280×720 4000 Kbps, AC3 | plays normally, sound is programmatic | plays without sound |
| BDRip 1080p | MKV, H.264 1920×1080 8000 Kbps, AC3 | plays normally, sound is programmatic | plays without sound |
When playing the most used video formats, the picture is absolutely the same as in the previous generation. Out of the box, the tablet can hardly reproduce anything, but MX Player, supplemented with a package of codecs for Intel, in the “Hardware+” mode eliminates all problems.
Wireless network support and OTG mode
In the second generation of Asus Fonepad 7, support for standards has expanded wireless networks: The tablet now supports 5 GHz Wi-Fi (one antenna in single-channel mode). Of course, 2G and 3G capabilities have not gone away, as well as Bluetooth 3.0 along with GPS.
The standard Android interface is used for calls and SMS. The quality of communication left us with extremely pleasant impressions. The GPS performance of the second generation Fonepad 7, like other devices powered by Intel Clover Trail+, does not deserve any comment.
But their work in OTG mode deserves it. Test copying required about ten attempts in total, since it constantly stopped during the process. Based on the results of successful file manipulations, the copy speed from the drive was about 12.2 MB/s, and to the drive - about 7.1 MB/s.
Cameras
The new Asus Fonepad 7 is equipped with two cameras. The front one has a resolution of 1.2 megapixels and provides, by the standards of video chats, an image of excellent quality:
The rear camera copes well with landscapes, and in general with text too (although more small font in the photo is already difficult to read):
Video quality (MPEG-4 (Base Media), 1920×1080, 25,694 fps, 12.9 Mbit/s) is also at a decent level. We filmed it in 1080p mode. In the settings you can select 1080p30, but in fact the number of frames per second in it differs by some tenths.
As in the six-inch model, long pressing the photo button here activates fast shooting (approximately 5-6 frames per second).
Autonomous operation
The battery in the new Fonepad 7 has been slightly reduced, to 3950 mAh, although the dimensions of the device remain almost the same. Let's see how this affects battery life. For all scenarios, with the exception of the gaming one, Asus's energy-saving mode was enabled.
| Asus Fonepad 7 second generation (Intel Clover Trail+) | Asus Phonepad (Intel Lexington) | Google Nexus 7(NVIDIA Tegra 3) | Google Nexus 7 (2013)(Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 Pro) | Apple iPad Mini(Apple A5) | |
| Game scene | 5 hours 35 minutes (Epic Citadel Guided Tour, brightness 100 cd/m², Wi-Fi enabled) | 6 hours 20 minutes (GLBenchmark 2.5.1 Battery Test, max brightness, 60 fps, Wi-Fi off) | 4 hours 5 minutes (GLBenchmark 2.5.1 Battery Test, max. brightness, 60 fps) | 3 hours 25 minutes (Epic Citadel Guided Tour, brightness 100 cd/m², Wi-Fi enabled) | 4 hours 44 minutes (GLBenchmark 2.5.1 Battery Test, max brightness, 60 fps, Wi-Fi off) |
| Playing video | 7 hours 2 minutes (direct link, MX Player, 720p, 100 cd/m²) | 9 hours 55 minutes (direct link, MX Player, 720p, 100 cd/m²) | 7 hours 15 minutes (Youtube app) | 9 hours 30 minutes (Youtube 720p, 100 cd/m²) | 6 hours 15 minutes (Youtube, browser) |
| Reading mode | 11 hours 10 minutes (Moon+ Reader, auto-scrolling, 100 cd/m², Wi-Fi on) | 12 hours (Moon+ Reader, auto-scrolling, 100 cd/m², Wi-Fi off) | about 8 hours (slideshow) | 25 hours (Moon+ Reader, 100 cd/m², Wi-Fi enabled) | about 9 o'clock (slideshow) |
Reducing battery and using more powerful filling compared to the first generation, it gave a small but still noticeable reduction in battery life, which can partly be attributed to work Wi-Fi module. A serious difference is noticeable only in video mode - the time has been reduced by almost three hours. As a result, the Nexus 7 (2013) is left behind only in 3D games.
By the way, the notorious Galaxy Tab 3 10.1 with the same SoC almost repeats the results of our hero: the costs of turning on Wi-Fi and the backlight of a larger display are almost exactly offset by the increased battery.
Fully charging the second generation Asus Fonepad with Wi-Fi turned on takes just over four hours.
conclusions
At a price of just over ten thousand rubles, the first generation Fonepad 7 looked like six months ago great buy. But today the situation has changed to the disadvantage of Asus. The second seven-inch Fonepad with a similar starting price is made of plastic and generally suffers from several unsuccessful design decisions. Battery life no longer looks impressive: competitors are progressing, and Fonepad is losing another significant advantage. The display was and remains average in quality. But the stability of operation has become even better, and the new speakers can easily claim the status of “killer feature” of the second Asus generations Phonepad.