Doing what I do means being online all the time. I spent a very large part of my day working at the computer, & I use my phone for work a lot whether I’m travelling (out of town), stuck in Mumbai traffic or at events. And when I’m not working, I still spend my leisure time watching TV shows on Netflix, listening to music on Spotify, catching up on YouTube videos etc. I’ve been testing the Asus Zenpad 8.0, Asus’ newest Android based tablet for a few weeks & now I’m read to talk about it. While I will mention the more important tech specs, this review is going more on the usability aspect of the device.
Asus has a few tablets in the Zenpad line up, with the Zenpad 8 being the top-end device. It runs on Android 5.0, with the ZenUI interface that expands & improves on Android in many ways. As I’ve also been using the Asus Zenfone laser, the interface was absolutely familiar to me & it took no time getting comfortable with it. It has 2GB RAM, 16GB of internal storage (expandable upto 128GB), and LTE connectivity, Bluetooth 4.0, Wi-Fi and a 4000 mAh battery, an 8-megapixel primary (back) camera, and a 2-megapixel secondary camera.
The design is sleek, clean & minimal, just how I like it! At 8 inches long & 350 gms, it’s comfortable to hold & the texture on the back panel provides added grip. You can switch out the back panel if you wish, there are a lot of different colors available. The black one looks very classy but the wilder side of me wants to switch it with tangerine or more fittingly turquoise (as it’ll match my current wallpaper!)
The ZenUI apps that come all all Asus Zenfones & Zenpads. The offer the chance for additional features & customization. The Power Saver app is my favorite. However, these apps can’t be uninstalled even if you want to & they do take up space. Though I like them, I would have also liked the option to delete them.
Although I personally don’t use tablets much for shooting photos or video, I tested it anyway. The camera functions well with a lot of modes to enhance it’s features like low light, beautification etc. Since it’s an Android you also have access to a lot of great photo editing apps via the play store, for filters or whatever! (Whether I’m on iOS or Android, Snapseed & vsco are personal favorites!) The main (back camera) shoots up to 1080p video & the front one shoots up to 720p.
Whether I’m at home or travelling, I watch a lot of videos (primarily Netflix or YouTube) & tablets are the most convenient, easiest way to watch whether you’re stuck on a flight or in traffic, or just chilling in bed). If you’re watching alone, you probably have earphones or headphones, no problem. If you’re watching with someone else, that’s where the problem arises. Tablets (& even some laptops like my Macbook Pro) have soft, tinny audio. This is usually easy to fix with one of the many bluetooth speakers on the market today (I love my Jambox!) but it’s still an additional thing to carry especially if you’re travelling.
And now we come to what is hands down my favorite accessory of the Zenpad, the Audio Cover. The Audio cover is not part of the box by default: you can buy it seperately or buy it in a (pricier) bundle with the Zenpad 8.0. To use it, just remove the default back panel & clip this on in place. It has a connector on the inside part so it works automatically when connected without having to worry about Bluetooth pairing or anything.
Closed, it makes a very luxe-looking flip case for the Zenpad. Even with a speaker & battery, it hardly adds any bulk. I love picking this up & throwing it in my bag.
The flip cover has a little groove so you can convenient place the tablet in this position or a table or something. That’s my Autumn Lookbook Video, shot in Goa – have you seen it yet? 😉
The audio cover has six 5.1 Channel Speakers (Main x 4, Center x 1, Subwoofer x 1) that provide a sound that both loud enough & also rich! No more tinny / scratchy sounding audio!
In addition, it also has a battery that extends the already excellent battery life of the Zenpad by 6 hours! You don’t have to even recharge separately, it does recharge automatically when your charging the Zenpad (it has to be connected obviously)
Now if only the the Zenpad 8.0 had a full HD screen, it would have been my absolute dream device for watching videos. Nevertheless, that’s what I’ve primarily been using it for.
I use the Zenpad mainly for video, to reply to email & browse instagram. My mom’s been using it a lot to play hidden object games too (she’s a little obsessed!) & the large screen makes it fun to do that.
To me, the Asus Zenpad 8.0 is the perfect devise for my off time, to play games & watch videos. Long battery life means I never have to worry about charging, it just goes on & on! I’ve greatly enjoyed using it & I’m surely I will continue to do so. If you’re looking for a tablet for yourself (or even to gift someone, I’m sure your parents will love it too!) look no further than the Zenpad 8.0.
This post was created in association with Asus. The Asus Zenpad 8.0 costs ₹14,999/- for device only and₹17,999/- bundled with the audio cover. You can find out more about the Zenpad 8.o on their website.
