Asus introduces Fonepad 7 phablet

MANILA, Philippines - Asus has announced the new Fonepad 7 (FE170CG), the latest version of the seven-inch Android device with full 3G telephony functionality.

The latest Fonepad 7 comes in a range of colors (black, red, white, and blue), and is powered by an Intel Atom dual-core processor 1.2GHz with Intel hyper-threading technology.

It is handier than its predecessor, the Fonepad 7 Dual SIM ME175CG, with an 11-centimeter width, and you can easily hold it with one hand. A narrower bezel design provides users with a larger viewing area on which to experience the brand new ZenUI interface.

The Asus Fonepad 7 (FE170CG) combines powerful performance with energy efficiency, giving this Android 4.3 Jelly Bean (4.4 KitKat upgradable) tablet smooth multi-tasking performance and an incredible 10-hour battery life.

The 1020 x 600 display provides vivid, clear visuals while high-quality audio is provided by a front speaker with Asus SonicMaster technology.

Built-in 3G with HSPA+ mobile data with download speeds up to 42Mbit/s and uploads of 5.76Mbit/s means the Asus Fonepad 7 is an always-connected device for seamless Web browsing.

With full 3G telephony support across GSM and WCDMA bands, the Fonepad 7 can also be used for voice calls using the built-in noise-canceling digital microphone or an optional Bluetooth headset.

The Fonepad 7 has a rear-facing two-megapixel camera capable of taking 1600 x 1200 resolution images and 720p video recording at up to 30 frames per second (fps). The front-facing 0.3-megapixel camera allows for video chats and VGA video recording at 30 fps. Both cameras feature f/2.8 aperture lenses.

The improved camera software features a Selfie Mode that automatically starts a countdown and takes a shot once it detects a preset number of faces in the frame, as well as a Time Rewind mode which takes a series of burst shots so the user can choose the best images from the set.

Weighing just 290 grams and measuring 192 x 110 x 10.7 mm, the Fonepad 7 is light enough to comfortably fit in a user’s palm. Its narrow bezel design increases available display area despite its smaller dimensions. The display also has a smudge-resistant coat that helps repel fingerprint smudges.

The Fonepad 7 features the exclusive Asus ZenUI mobile device interface. It features more than 200 software tweaks over previous Asus interfaces and sports a new visual design with modern “flat” icons, customizable vivid color themes that match the device color, animations, new ringtones and notification sounds, and a clean layout to clearly present information.

Asus ZenUI also includes two features — What’s Next and Do It Later — designed to free users from actively having to manage the multitude of information they are confronted with daily, thus enabling them to be more productive.

The Asus Fonepad 7, priced at P5,995, is available in all authorized Asus telco and computer shops nationwide.