The Asus FonePad is all set to embrace potential buyers in India as the company will officially launch the tablet at a press event tomorrow. The device in question was announced back at the MWC along with the PadFone 2 and as most are probably aware, the main highlight here is that it combines voice calling with a slate form factor, hence the name.
The country has been witness to numerous tablet launches from local manufacturers, most carrying voice capabilities along with budget-friendly retail tags. So does the slate have a chance in the market against the high competition it faces? Simply put, the device is designed with a pretty decent set of specifications and it also runs on the Android 4.1 platform which basically gives it a good chance of survival. It will also go up against the 7-inch Galaxy Tab 2 which has cellular support with voice calling.
The slate will be the fourth device in the country to come with an Intel mobile processor on the inside. Here the single core Atom Z2420 SOC will take charge of the heavy lifting while operating at 1.2GHz. There’s 1GB of RAM on-board to enhance multitasking capabilities and proffer smooth operations, while a 7-inch WXGA IPS touchscreen delivers visuals.
Storage needs are taken care of by internal options of 8GB or 16GB and there’s 5GB of lifetime Webstorage space available for free. The overall capacity can be expanded up to 32GB more through the microSD card slot. The Android OS is layered with the company’s own launcher and there are a host of pre-loaded goodies in tow. They include apps like MyLibrary, File Manager, Kindle, Zinio, SuperNote Lite, App Backup and App Locker.
At present, there are no official details pertaining to a release date or price. However, we expected the tablet to be available for around Rs. 15,000. We’ll only be able to confirm this tomorrow when the Asus FonePad is launched, so stay tuned for an update.
Specifications at a glance:
– Platform: Android 4.1 Jelly Bean
– Display: 7-inch LED-backlit WXGA IPS panel
– Connectivity: Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth 3.0, HSPA+, WCDMA, EDGE, GPS with GLONAAS
– Memory: 8GB, 16GB internal options, 32GB expandable, 5GB web storage
– RAM: 1GB
– Processor: 1.2GHz Intel Atom Z2420
– Camera: 1.2MP front; 3MP AF rear with 720p recording
– Battery: 16Wh Li-polymer; 32.5 hours of 3G talktime or 9 hours of activity
– Dimensions: 196.4mm x 120.1mm x 10.4mm
– Weight: 340 grams