Thrifty tablets

AFFORDABLE: The latest range of tablets from Asus, Transfomer Pad TF103 (back), FonePad 7 FE375CG (second and third from left), Memo Pad 8 ME181 (right). The FonePad 7 FE170CG (front, left) is already available locally.

If you’re keen on getting a tablet but don’t want to break the bank just so you can own one, you might be interested in Asus’ latest range of tablet offerings, which it claims does not compromise on quality despite its more affordable prices. 

This latest lineup — comprising the Asus FonePad 7 (FE375CG), Asus MeMo Pad 8 (ME181) and Asus Transformer Pad (TF103) — is slated to arrive on our shores by the end of this month. 

Among the other things to look out for in this new range of tablets will be its lighter weight due to the presence of a thinner bezel and LCD panel. The company has also said it will be using a layer of Non-Conductive Vacuum Metallisation (NCVM) film, which gives the tablets a metallic shine yet does not interfere with radio signals as it's not made out of pure metal.

In addition, there will also be a anti-fingerprint coating applied to the tablets. Some software tuning has also been done to improve the touch response of these devices. 

The tablets are powered by Intel quad core processors and are expected to be capable of performance that is 1.5 to two times faster their predecessors. They will also be the first batch to carry Asus’ ZenUI, which also includes a collection of productivity apps to enhance the user experience. 

More specifically, the Asus FonePad 7 (FE375CG) is targeted at heavy data users and is an improvement from its predecessor, the FE170 model — its 7in HD display has a viewing area that is 70% larger than before, and it boasts of a thinness of 9.8mm and a width of 109mm which enables it to be held comfortably in one hand.

Besides its dual front firing SonicMaster stereo speakers, the tablet has a 5-megapixel back camera and a 2-megapixel on the front. 

Meanwhile, the MeMo Pad 8 (ME181) is designed for those who are seeking a tablet suitable for reading purposes. Its 8in display features a 1280 x 800 IPS panel and 330 nits brightness, a thickness of a mere 8.3mm, and a narrow width of 124mm that Asus claims puts the tablet ahead of the game when compared to competitor models. Stereo SonicMaster speakers are also included, with a dual camera of 2-megapixel front) and 0.3-megapixel (rear). 

Business users who would like to have the option of keyboard docking as well as the presence of a trackpad can consider the Transformer Pad (TF103), which features a 10.1in HD display with a 0.3-megapixel rear camera and 2-megapixel front camera. 

Pricing for both the FonePad 7 (FE375CG) and MeMO Pad 8 (ME181) is expected to be within the range of RM600 to RM700 each, whereas the Transformer Pad (TF103) will retail for around RM1,000.