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  • Asus announces Fonepad - a $249 7" Android slate powered by Intel Atom

Asus announces Fonepad - a $249 7" Android slate powered by Intel Atom

Posted: , by Daniel P.

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Asus announces Fonepad - a $249 7" Android slate powered by Intel Atom

Asus announced the Fonepad today, an affordable 7" Android Jelly Bean tablet with 3G voice and mobile data that place a smartphone in it. The kinky thing about the slate is that it is not powered by an ARM processor, but the new Intel Atom Z2420 with full Android compatibility and good balance of performance and energy efficiency, that allows up to nine hours of battery life during hardware-accelerated 1080p Full HD video decoding. 

All models have a front 1.2-megapixel camera for easy video chat and ASUS SonicMaster audio technology with MaxxAudio 3 processing by Waves ensures clear, well-rounded sound quality.

The 7" screen features 1280 x 800 HD resolution for crisp, and its IPS technology ensures nice colors with 178-degree wide viewing angles, and sufficient outdoor brightness. 

Asus announces Fonepad - a $249 7" Android slate powered by Intel Atom

As per Jonney Shih, ASUS Chairman, and Hermann Eul, Intel vice president and co-general manager of the Mobile and Communications Group:

It is ideal to have a larger screen with entertainment, social media and other online activities now playing an increasingly important part in our mobile lifestyles. The incorporation of 3G mobile data with full telephony support makes the Fonepad™ a perfect combination of tablet and phone in one single device...

Extending our long history of collaboration, including most recently on the Ultrabook and Intel-based tablets, we are very excited to be partnering with ASUS again. Intel’s new Atom Z2420 processor delivers the power, performance and flexibility required to accommodate a range of devices and market needs. We think the ASUS Fonepad is a very innovative device in an emerging category of 3G tablets with telephony features.

Asus announces Fonepad - a $249 7" Android slate powered by Intel Atom
The Fonepad is not your typical plastic slate, as it sports a metallic chassis, yet still weighs only 340g, and with a 10.4mm body is fairly slender, too. Because of the built-in HSPA+ modem and 3G radio, you can browse the Internet on the go or us it for voice calls routed through the noise-cancelling digital microphone.

Two new optional accessories will be available at launch: VersaSleeve 7 comes with four colors, and is a wraparound cover with a folding design that both protects the tablet and places the screen in two different positions for typing or watching video. Turn Case is a lightweight hard-shell case with a soft interior and a built-in stand that puts the slate in a suitable angle for watching video.

ASUS throws in some productivity apps, too: Floating App for easy management of running apps and multi-tasking; SuperNote Lite for handwritten notes and drawing; and WebStorage Office Online for Microsoft Office-compatible document editing on the move.You also get 5GB of free lifetime ASUS WebStorage for syncing and sharing data with other devices.

The ASUS Fonepad will be available in the UK late Q2 with 16GB of internal storage and up to 32GB of additional storage with a microSD card, starting from £179 (inc VAT) for the 16 GB Fonepad.  The VersaSleeve accessory will cost £19.99 and the Turn Case comes at £39.99. Other markets are to be announced at a later date.

In the US, this price turns into $249, available in March, while for Europe the Padfone will come at EUR 219, hitting shelves in April.

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1. wendygarett posted on 25 Feb 2013, 07:00 3

I love metal :)

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2. jade272727 posted on 25 Feb 2013, 07:31 1

Only single-core not dual-core nor quad-core! :(((

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4. TylerGrunter posted on 25 Feb 2013, 07:47 1

And a underpowered PowerVR SGX540 on top...
Sorry ASUS, not this time, there are much better 7" in the market with lower price and better specs.

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7. homersimpsons posted on 25 Feb 2013, 12:17

Given that there are no other Android Tablets out there with this type of processor/graphics combination, what is your basis for harping on it?
And what are the better 7" Tablets out there - the Nexus 7 which has no micro SD Card slot and is made of cheap plastic instead of aluminum?

Quotes from PHONEARENA hands-on:

"In fact, you can't really tell what kind of silicon is powering the contraption, as the Jelly Bean interface moves as smooth as we are accustomed to on ARM-based CPUs, so the average person wouldn't even know there is Intel inside."

"The 7" 1280x800 pixel display is of the IPS variety, so the viewing angles are very good, it is bright and with well-defined colors, and we only wish your average laptop came with such screen tech."

"There is a hidden slot compartment at the top, which reveals a microSD and micro SIM slots when you remove the soft-touch plastic cap, hinting at another pleasant surprise with the Fonepad..."

"but the build quality and features for the price more than compensate for this, plus the back is tapered for better grip."

- Read and research before tossing out uninformed comments...

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3. Phaze0085 posted on 25 Feb 2013, 07:39

Why didnt you guys type down that it has a rear facing camera? Engadget got it right.

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5. Daniel.P posted on 25 Feb 2013, 08:25

Hi, it only has a 1.2 MP front-facing camera

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6. Daniel.P posted on 25 Feb 2013, 10:35

Actually, the UK version pictured here doesn't seem to have a rear camera, while the unit we tested in our hands-on had a 3 MP one

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8. MrWilli5 posted on 25 Feb 2013, 12:40

no thanks id rather have the nexus 7

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