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Asus Fonepad 7 Dual SIM Hands on, Quick Review, Photos and Video

Asus today launched the dual SIM variant of Fonepad 7 in India priced at 12,999 INR. An extra SIM card slot is not the only thing that differentiates this tablet from its predecessor. Asus has trimmed down on build quality and processing power to accommodate the subsidized price tag. Let’s discuss how far that will affect user experience.

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Asus Fonepad 7 Dual SIM Quick Specs

  • Display Size: 7 Inch 1280 x 800 WXGA IPS LCD, 216 PPI
  • Processor: 1.2 GHz Dual Core Intel Atom Z2520
  • RAM: 1 GB
  • Software Version: Android 4.3 Jelly Bean
  • Camera: 5 MP camera, LED flash, 1080p video recording, 720p Video Recording
  • Secondary Camera: 1.2 MP
  • Internal Storage:  8 GB, 16 GB on the cloud free for 1 year
  • External Storage: MicroSD support up to 64 GB
  • Battery: 3910 mAh
  • Sensors: Finger print Sensor, Hear rate sensor, proximity, Compass, Barometer, Accelerometer
  • Connectivity: 3G , WiFi, Bluetooth 4.0 and GPS, AGPS and GLONASS

Design and Build

The Design and build of the new Fonepad 7 resembles its predecessor in terms of design, but the new model feels chunky (even though there is only 1 mm difference in thickness). How much you will enjoy the plastic-ky build also depends on individual taste, but to us it felt a tad bit better. The tablet is 11.35 mm thick and weigh 340 grams.

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The display has the same specifications and also felt same in practical usage. The 7 inch IPS LCD display has good viewing angles, but not too great. The color reproduction and brightness were pretty decent.

Camera and Internal Storage

The primary camera used in this smartphone has a 5 MP sensor and you can use it for 1080p as well as 720p video recording. Low light performance was strictly average and in day light details were ok. We are not big fans of imaging hardware on tablets as the large form factor doesn’t suit the photography needs very well. The front fixed focus 1.2 MP shooter will provide you with not so good selfies and good enough video chat.


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The internal storage is 8 GB and can be further extended to 64 GB using MicroSD support. Asus is also providing 16 GB of cloud storage for 1 year with Fonepad 7. Overall, the storage is pretty decent according to the price range and will suit most users looking for moderate usage.

Battery, OS and Chipset

The battery capacity is 3910 mAh and according to ASUS it will provide you with 30 hours of talk time and 720 hours of standby time on 3G. Asus also claims 10 hours of video playback time. The claims seem too good to be true on this 7 inch tablet and we will have to test them to believe them.

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Fonepad 7 Dual SIM comes with Android 4.3 jelly bean with light ASUS Android skin on top. We didn’t notice any UI lag in initial time with the device, but seeing the modest chipset, it’s hard to say how the tablet will behave in long run.

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The chipset used comes with Intel Atom Z2520 which is a downgrade compared to Z2560 used in previous tablet. The chipset is supported by 1 GB RAM and in our initial testing scored 60 FPS in Nenamarks and around 8,900 points on Antutu. This implies smooth gaming performance and average day to day performance.

ASUS Fonepad 7 Photo Gallery

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Conclusion

The standout feature in this new Fonepad tablet is the dual SIM dual standby functionality, which is not so common in devices from tier 1 OEMs. The launch price of 12,999 is also quite competitive and will be even more attractive after initial price cut. In case you are looking for a Dual SIM feature for full blown calling functionality on your tablet, You could do a lot worse than Fonepad 7 dual SIM in the same price segment.

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Deepak Singh

The Author spent a significant chunk of his formative years resisting technology. He now keeps an eye on where the world is heading to, and drives a passive pleasure from this indulgence. His passion to write, learn and improve drives him each day. When his day ends, he enjoys the pleasant languor and detoxifies with family. You can connect with him on and Twitter