Asus has been experimenting with its tablets. It was one of the first to come out with a tablet with a detachable keyboard and the first to combine a tablet and a phone. Its latest tablet, the ZenPad 8.0 (Rs.14,999), comes with a swappable cover with a built-in speaker. The cover costs an additional Rs.3,000.
The ZenPad 8.0 faces competition from the likes of Xioami Mi Pad (Rs.12,999) and Lenovo Yoga 2 (Rs.17,499).
Well-built and handy to use
The ZenPad 8.0 is a well-built device, with a plastic exterior. It’s 8.5mm thick, weighs 350g, and is designed so well that it feels more like a 7-inch tablet than an 8-inch one. This means it’s easy to operate with one hand, especially when used in the portrait mode for reading. Though the back panel has a soft-fabric like finish, it doesn’t impress with its overall look. Its closest rival, the Mi Pad, also has an 8-inch screen, and weighs 360g, but it is too wide and glossy to be used comfortably with one hand. The Yoga 2 has a metallic exterior, is 7mm thick and comes with a flexible in-built stand which allows it to be used in four different positions.
Built-in cover is a useful accessory
Vivid display, but not sharp enough
As the name suggests, the ZenPad 8.0 comes with an 8-inch LED display with a screen resolution of 1,280x800 pixels and an aspect ratio of 16:9. This is good because most videos and games are made in the 16:9 ratio. This makes the tablet ideal for watching movies. Though the display looks vivid, it is not very sharp. Games and e-books could have looked better if it had a screen resolution of at least 1,920x1,080p. It is also a bit reflective; this affects visibility.
The MiPad has a 4:3 ratio display but looks much more detailed as its screen resolution (2,048x1,536p) is almost twice that of the ZenPad 8.0. The Yoga 2 also has an 8-inch display but its screen resolution (1,920x1,080p) is higher than ZenPad’s 8.0.
Unique flavour of Android
The ZenPad 8.0 runs on Android 5.0 with the same Zen user interface (UI) that runs in ZenFone smartphones. It looks less cluttered because of the big screen. Despite the heavy customization, the Zen UI runs smoothly. Though it comes with over 50 pre-loaded apps, it allows users to uninstall some third-party apps. The Mi Pad runs on Android 4.4 (KitKat) with its proprietary MIUI. Though it runs an older version of Android, MIUI has a bigger stock of exciting themes and wallpapers. The Yoga 2 also runs on Android 4.4 (KitKat) with its custom UI over it.
Smooth and consistent performer
The Mi Pad runs on a more powerful Nvidia Tegra K1 processor and is much more appropriate for gamers. However, the Mi Pad is a Wi-Fi-only device. The Yoga 2 runs on Intel's quad-core processor and is good at multitasking and games.
Verdict
If you are looking for a capable tablet for calling and entertainment purpose, Asus’ ZenPad 8.0 is an option you can’t ignore. If you want something more affordable, the Mi Pad is an excellent option but you will miss out on the calling feature. You can also try the Yoga 2—it’s sleek, capable, supports calling and is flexible in its design.
