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Journalism of Courage
The Asus Zenfone 5 (read our review) was the perfect example of a smartphone that matches good features with an affordable price for the Indian audience. With the Fonepad 8, Asus is trying to do the same with tablets.
Quick specs: 8-inch IPS touchscreen (1280×800 pixels) with oleophobic coating | 1.33GHz quad-core Intel Atom Z3530 processor | 2GB RAM | 8GB internal memory, microSD up to 64GB | 5MP rear camera, 2MP front camera, no flash | 3G, Voice Calling, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, microUSB | Android 4.4 KitKat with Zen UI
Price: Rs 13,999
What’s special about the FonePad 8?
The most striking aspect of this tablet is the design and build quality. When you put the last-gen FonePad 7 with its 7-inch screen on top of the FonePad 8, the actual size of the two devices is almost the same. But you get a bigger screen on the FonePad 8. So it’s actually an 8-inch device which you can handle as easily as a 7-inch one. Asus has also put in a textured back that makes it easier to grip, and the general quality of the materials feels far more premium. Indeed, this tablet seems like it should cost more than it does.
How is the screen and performance?
Let’s not kid ourselves, an HD screen at 8 inches is going to show you pixellated and unclear images often. Whether you’re playing Words With Friends and zoom in on a tile, or you’re reading a book on your Kindle, the experience is decent at best. Asus has got the colour settings right so the images do look accurate, but the pixelation often dampens the effect.
The upside of an HD screen is the performance. All games played smoothly, probably because they didn’t have to render at Full HD or higher resolutions. Still, watching movies and playing games is a pleasant experience on the FonePad 8, as is multi-tasking and using resource-intensive apps.
All of the other features—camera, battery, storage, etc.—are good enough for this price and most users will be happy with it. If you’re a power user though, these will feel constricting.
Is it actually useful as a phone?
Absolutely not. Don’t even think about it. That SIM slot should be used for 3G only, and maybe to set up another WhatsApp account for yourself. Actual voice calling is spotty, often dropping network and the voice clarity is poor too.
Should you buy it?
At Rs. 13,999, there are few tablets that do a better job than the Asus FonePad 8. The size is just right for most people—it’s an 8-inch screen in the form factor of a 7-inch tablet, after all. It has all the right features, including 3G on the move, which makes it a more useful tablet. If you aren’t a power user, buy the FonePad 8. It’s well worth it.
