ASUS Zenpad Z370CG Unboxed!
Priced at just Php7,995, the ASUS Zenpad 7.0 (Z370CG) promises to be one of the best value-for-money Android tablet options in the market today. It has the compelling combination of great design, competitive specifications, and good pricing. We finally got our hands on a review unit and we’d like to share with you guys our unboxing and initial impressions!
ASUS Zenpad Z370CG specs
- Intel Atom x3-C3230 quad-core processor
- 2GB of RAM
- 7-inch, WXGA display with Gorilla Glass protection, 1280 x 800 resolution
- 16GB of internal storage
- 8-megapixel rear camera with AF
- 2-megapixel front camera
- 3G (Single Sim)
- WiFi, Bluetooth, GPS, GLONASS, Miracast
- Android 5.0
- 13Wh Li-polymer battery
As you guys can see it ain’t a spec beast but it’s definitely not a slouch either. Read on for more!
Unboxing: No Frills and Straightforward
Unboxing the Zenpad was straightforward and simple. We popped open the lid and we were immediately greeted by the tablet. We picked it up, took a minute to just admire how beautifully crafted it was, and then set it aside to dig deeper into the box.
There was nothing much inside after the tablet. We found the usual wall charger, USB to micro USB cable, and a bunch of manuals. Just like with other tablet products, this one didn’t come with any free earphones or other freebies. ASUS should consider bundling screen protectors or some sort of freebie though just to increase the value perception and improve the unboxing experience, hehe.
After rummaging through the box we focused on the tablet and man is it a gorgeous piece of tech!
First Impressions: Fantastic Design, Very Good Display, Minimal Stuttering
If there’s one thing going for the Zenpad, it’s how it looks. It is without a doubt the nicest looking Android tablet below Php10,000. A friend of ours even called it the “clutch bag tablet” because it looks like a small leather bag of sorts. What makes it so stylish? Four things come to mind.
First, it’s very lightweight. We didn’t even notice it in our bag unless we specifically rummage for it. Second, it’s super thin. As in you can almost chop a carrot with this. ASUS has definitely made major strides in their hardware design and the Zenpad is another testament to their eye for aesthetics.
Next is the sezzy back.
The ASUS Zenpad’s removable back cover has a fine textured design that gives great contrast to the actual body shell and casing. We believe this is the part which gives it that “clutch bag” vibe.
Lastly is the display. While the bezels are still thin as we would want them to be, they’re now more acceptable and pleasing to the eye. The screen itself is fantastic due to the One Glass Solution technology which ASUS employed to make the images “pop” out more. We’ll tackle this more in the actual review.
Initial Review: Fantastic Design, Very Good Display, Some Lags
When it came to actual performance, the ASUS ZenPad 7 was smooth for the most part except when we were multi-tasking. This is when the lags would noticeably come out. It’s wasn’t a dealbreaker for us but we would be remiss not to mention it in this initial hands-on.
Other than that, we had loads of fun using it as our main “phablet” for the last few days. It’s been a great media consumption device, whether it be video, web browsing, or listening to music. It was easy to handle thanks to the slim and light build. It wasn’t an eyesore as well because we had at least 5 people come up to us and ask us what tablet we were using either when we were in the office or even when we were just in a coffee shop in the mall.
Truth be told, if ASUS is able to address the minor lags and slow downs via a software update, this would easily be our pick for best affordable Android tablet of the year.
Initial Verdict: Has Potential But Needs More Testing
As far as initial impressions go, we can say two things:
- We were blown away with the design and the build. Greatly surpassed our expectations.
- We’re hoping that over time and through updates the minor lags would disappear (fingers crossed).
Watch out for our full review soon! 🙂
The ASUS Zenpad 7 is now available locally. This model has an SRP of Php7,995.
