In this issue of Fangler's regular(?) This time, I will write about the opening ceremony of ASUS ZenPad S 8.0.
I am not very familiar with such gadgets, so I'll start from the very basics!
What is "ZenPad S 8.0" in the first place?
It is an Android tablet device released by ASUS in September 2015.
ASUS had previously released the Nexus 7, the official Google tablet, the MeMO Pad series, and the Fonepad series.
This time around, ASUS' flagship Zenbook laptop, ZenFone smartphone, and ZenWatch smartwatch all have the "Zen" in their name, meaning that the ZenPad will be the first of its kind to be released by ASUS.
In other words, the ZenPad will be the flagship series of ASUS tablets.
The ZenPad series released at the same time includes...
- ZenPad 7.0 (Wi-Fi model)
- ZenPad S 8.0 (Wi-Fi model)
- ZenPad 8.0 (Wi-Fi model)
- ZenPad 8.0 (SIM-free model with voice/data communication support)
- ZenPad 10 (Wi-Fi model)
- ZenPad 10 (SIM-free model, no voice calling, data communication support)
ZenPad S 8.0 is a Wi-Fi model only.
What is it that you do with a tablet device?
Browse websites? Reading e-books? Watching videos? Playing games? You can do just about anything!
If your smartphone is a little small, but you want to take it with you anywhere, or if it's a hassle to turn on your PC, then this is a very useful item.
This is a very useful item when you want to take your PC with you anywhere.
I was looking for a tablet to read e-books on the train as it takes me over an hour to commute to work.
All of them have an aspect ratio of 16:10, except for the S 8.0.
The S 8.0 I purchased this time has an aspect ratio of 4:3. Compared to other ZenPad series, it is shorter in height and longer in width.
I recommend 16:10 for watching videos and 4:3 for viewing e-books and comics.
(This is because 16:10 has left and right margins when reading comic book spreads, and 4:3 has top and bottom margins when watching videos.)
So, it's time to begin the unboxing ceremony!
First, the outer box
The design of the product's outer appearance can be seen at a glance.
It is very simple, with white as the base color, but there are some colorful parts that catch the eye.
The box is cut at an angle when viewed from the side, showing the attention to detail.
(Oh, it has intel in it.)
Looking at the back, we find performance details and more.
You can see that it supports DTS-HD Premium Sound™!
What is "DTS-HD Premium Sound™"? I did some quick research and found out that it supports 5.1ch virtual surround sound, so you can enjoy watching movies and listening to music with great power!
Finally, opening the box!
Finally, let's open the box.
Included in the package is a palm-sized user manual, warranty card, AC adapter, etc.
There is nothing unnecessary, and only the bare minimum is included.
The main unit is very simple, as depicted on the outer box, and can be used in both business and private situations.
Thin! Lightweight! and easy to carry around!
The back of the main body has a silver line that accentuates the simple body.
Personally, I love the elegant and stylish look. This kind of design.
The overall specs are as follows.
| OS | Android™ 5.0 |
|---|---|
| Display function | 7.9", LED backlight, 2,048 x 1,536 dots (QXGA) IPS LCD Gorilla Glass Anti-finger print process Full lamination display |
| Supported CPU | Intel® Atom™ Z3580 |
| Supported Memory | 4GB |
| Storage Functions | eMMC: 32GB ASUS WebStorage service: 5GB (free forever) Google Drive: 100GB (2-year free version) |
| Graphics Capability | PowerVR G6430 |
| Wireless | IEEE 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac Bluetooth V4.1 |
| Camera function | 5-megapixel webcam (front) 8-megapixel webcam (rear) |
| Interfaces | USB port: USB Type-C x 1 Card reader: microSDXC memory card, microSDHC memory card, microSD memory card Audio: Microphone/headphone combo jack x 1 |
| Onboard sensors | GPS (GLONASS support), accelerometer, light sensor, electronic compass, magnetic sensor |
| Battery function | Battery life: approx. 8 hours Battery charging time: approx. 3.5 hours |
| Size | 134.5 × 203.2 × 6.6 mm |
| Weight | 298 g |
Comparison with other tablets
Although Apple's iPad mini series is the most famous tablet of the same size and has a large market share, ZenPad has a number of advantages over the iPad mini.
External storage support
ZenPad supports external storage with microSD, so in addition to 32GB of internal storage, you can increase the capacity up to 128GB!
Buying a 128GB model of the iPad mini 4 costs 64,800 yen without tax! What a difference in price is more than double... Isn't it the best cosmetics!
Uses the latest USB Type-C standard
This may be controversial, but USB Type-C, which is also used in the new Macbook, has been adopted.
Currently, the only advantage that comes to mind is that you don't have to worry about which port to plug in when charging, but we expect to see external output and a variety of third-party accessories!
5-megapixel in-camera!
The iPad mini 4 has a 1.2 megapixel in-camera and the Galaxy Tab S2 has 2.1 megapixels, but the ZenPad S 8.0 has 5 megapixels!
Great for taking selfies and video chatting?
ATOK pre-installed!
ATOK, a Japanese input system, is preinstalled on the ZenPad series.
ATOK costs 1,543 yen for the Android version and 1,600 yen for the iOS version. While most paid applications are priced in increments of 100 yen, ATOK costs more than 1,000 yen, so some people may be a little reluctant to purchase it, but with ZenPad, you can use it for free!
Summary
Thin and light, it is easy to carry around and just the right size for reading a book or comic book on the way to work.
The aspect ratio is 4:3, which is nice because it makes it easy to read a comic book in landscape orientation, even if you're reading a spread!
In addition, other ZenPad series have a resolution of 1,280 x 800 pixels, whereas the S 8.0 has a resolution of 2,048 x 1,536 pixels. This means that fine text, such as in magazines, can be read clearly, and videos can be viewed clearly.
With these specs and a price in the 30,000 yen range, this tablet is highly cost-effective and recommended for those who want to make the most of their free time (mainly those who read e-books and comics!). This tablet is recommended for those who want to make the most of their free time (mainly e-book and comic readers!).