Zync Quad 10.1 tablet: Raw power

As the name suggests,Quad 10.1 is a tablet with a quad-core processor. Apart from that,its high-resolution 10.1-inch display (1920 x 1200 pixels) and price are noteworthy features of the product. The tablet runs a relatively bloat-free Android Jelly Bean (4.1),and packs enough power to run resource-intensive apps without lags. Let’s see if it makes the most of the horsepower underneath the screen.

Zync Quad 10.1 is a fairly conventional looking tablet. When you look at the device or when you first pick it up,no feature stands out. It looks like the Apple iPad,but owing to the price difference,does not feel anywhere as premium. However,if you compare it to other tablets in this price bracket,the Zync device is well-designed,lightweight (471 g) and fairly sturdy. However,none of the other tablets in this segment are 10-inch devices,they are smaller.

There is a 5-MP camera at the back and a 2-MP front camera. There is no problem with the placement of the ports. The HDMI and micro USB ports are hidden under a flap. Although this protects those ports from dust,the plastic flap seems to be easily breakable. Users can charge the tablet via microUSB and DC 5V ports. Charging via the DC port is much faster,but the pin kept loosening,and delayed the charging process significantly. There is no LED indicator when the device is charging,so users will have to keep turning the screen on to see if Zync Quad 10.1 is charging. This tablet was tested in New Delhi,which is humid and dusty. The tablet does get dirty very soon,so better buy yourself a cleaning spray and cloth.

Android 4.1 is a robust operating system and Zync has done a good job by providing a bloatware-free version to users. There are handy software buttons on the bottom panel,such as volume control and screenshot. One problem is that the app drawer is very inconveniently placed on the top right. This problem is exaggerated by the tablet’s size.

There were no real issues with the software,apart from slightly choppy switching between screens. There are several launcher apps available of the store,such as Nova Launcher,ADW Launcher,etc,that solve the above-mentioned problems. One problem that Zync cannot solve is the dearth of tablet-optimised apps on Google Play Store. This tablet has 16 GB internal storage and up to 32 GB of expandable memory,which should be enough for most users.

The 1.5 GHz quad-core processor performs as expected. There were no freezes or lags when using resource intensive apps or when switching from one game to another. The tablet performs admirably well considering its price. The high-resolution display is a plus point and film lovers should enjoy using this tablet for their celluloid hobby. Although there are better displays in the market,this tablet’s screen is among the best in the sub-R15,000 tablet segment. The speaker at the back is average. Music lovers should invest in a good pair of headphones if they plan to use the tablet as their primary music source.

The battery life is pretty good. The 8,000 mAh battery on the Zync Quad 10.1 lasts around seven hours on moderate to heavy usage,involving a few hours of browsing,social networks,gaming and videos.

In conclusion,Zync Quad 10.1 represents how stiff the competition is in the budget tablet segment. This is a solid tablet and if not for the stiff competition,could easily have cost quite a bit more than its MRP—R14,990. The package has only one major con—no 3G. If you can live with that,this tablet is worth the price.