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Asus Fonepad 7 lacks the performance punch
Asus and its Fonepads. We've lost count of the number of upgrades in the series. This time it's the ASUS Fonepad 7 - FE171CG, an upgrade to the earlier FE170 with notable changes in its processor, operating system (OS), RAM and price.
The petite device, at 280g, is light enough to be used as a primary device and fits into a handbag, briefcase or backpack. Thankfully, this time ASUS has given the upgraded Fonepad 7 an attractive champagne gold finish instead of the monotonous white and black.
The dual-SIM device (both 3G) runs Android 4.4, and is powered by a 1.2GHz dual-core Intel Atom processor. Internal storage has been bumped up to 16GB (expandable storage support is capped at 64GB), while RAM has been upgraded to 2GB. Even with an upgraded processor and OS the tablet lags while switching between apps, and the touch response is fairly delayed. Sunlight visibility is miserable.
The primary and secondary cameras (8MP and 2MP respectively) click pleasant outdoor shots; the same can't be said of it in artificial light. Moreover angles are not wide.
The Asus Fonepad 7's front-facing speaker, just above the display, features SonicMaster Technology, which directs the sound towards you.
The large 4,000mAh battery, even with ordinary use, was gasping for a charge by the end of the day. At Rs 10,999, the upgraded version is not worth the hype.
SPECS
PRICE Rs 10,999
DISPLAY 7 inches IPS (1,024x600 pixels)
PROCESSOR Intel Clover Trail Plus Z2520 1.2GHz dual core
RAM 2GB
STORAGE 16GB (expandable up to 64GB)
CAMERA (rear/front) 8MP/2MP
OS Android KitKat
BATTERY 4,000mAh
Agamoni Ghosh
The Xiaomi Mi Pad, which comes to India much later than China, looks elegant - despite the slippery, plasticky, removable white back that gets scratched easily. (It's not going to be available in other colours for now in India.)
The bulky 7.9-inch Mi Pad is not meant for single-hand use. And no SIM slot either. However, those aren't reasons enough for ignoring it. Switch on the high-resolution display, protected by the Corning Gorilla Glass 3, and the Mi Pad wows you with its bright, sharp and crisp colours and viewing angles. Visibility is equally good in a dimly lit room and on the terrace on a sunny afternoon. The Xiaomi MIUI 6 interface is based on Android Kitkat 4.4.4. The volume rocker and power/sleep buttons are on the top right edge, the microSD card slot on the top left; the USB port on the bottom edge, the 3.5mm headphone jack on the top. The two speakers at the back are not well positioned. Depending on where and how you keep the Mi Pad the sound can range from muffled to high but never loud enough for a medium-sized-room party. The Nvidia Tegra processor and the Kepler graphics processor are top-notch and support high-end gaming and video streaming. The touchscreen responds quickly and you won't notice any lags even with a dozen apps running simultaneously.
Both front and rear cameras disappoint - grainy pictures low on detail. If anything could be a deal-breaker, this is it.
SPECS
PRICE Rs 12,999
WEIGHT 360g
DISPLAY 7.9 inches; 1,536 x 2,048 pixels
OS Android KitKat
PROCESSOR Nvidia Tegra K1 Quad-core 2.2GHz
MEMORY 16GB, expandable up to 128 GB
RAM 2GB
CAMERA(rear/front) 8MP/5MP
BATTERY Li-polymer 6,700mAh
Vipul VIvek
