Asus has launched a page that can narrow down your ZenPad options to suit your needs. You can pick your preferences from things like your intended usage, importance of style to you, and your need for portability. If you are just new to the many ZenPad offerings, this can help. If you have a good idea or are up to speed on the options out there, then perhaps you could do without this. If you’re interested, check out the find the right ZenPad for you page here. Once you click your preferences, give the next page a few seconds to load. From there you will get a “You Might Like” listing with a few tablet suggestions.
New ZenPad 10 (Z300M) Passes Through FCC
Asus appears to be making a lot of moves behind the scenes during this lead up to Computex 2016 in late May early June. We’ve spotted a model going by the code P00C. We’ve been able to fetch a few more details for you.
First, this appears to be a MediaTek powered ZenPad 10 tablet. The actual model is expected to be Z300M, with the “M” indicative of the MediaTek processor.
As has been reported lately, Asus is moving away from Intel processors and using more Snapdragon and MediaTek processors as a result. In the past MediaTek has meant lower priced products and their processor quality has improved.
The question right now is whether the ZenPad 10 (Z300M) is simply the same tablet with same specs, but just with a different processor. In keeping the “300” it would in fact indicate a same spec ZenPad model. The substantial change though could be in a lower price. If our theory is true, it might explain the somewhat bizarre timing of this tablet coming through the FCC. Afterall, it’s at least 4 to 6 weeks for a device to show up at the FCC and get onto store shelves.
What is the ZT500KL?
Watching new products come to market is always an exciting time. We have thoroughly enjoyed following the process and evolution of Asus tablets from the beginning.
When we spot something interesting and unknown, we like to talk about it. Today, let’s look at a mysterious ZT500KL.
Theory A: This is simply a misprint/typo.
Theory B: This is not actually a ZenPad but a Zenfone or a device from some other Asus product line-up.
Theory C: This is a ZenPad Transformer.
No question that typos can and do happen. So with a ZT in the name, if that was supposed to be ZE, then the mystery is over. ZE is for the Zenfone products. Based on the ZT we can rule out ZenBook (UX) and a lot of other Asus product categories.
So let’s look at this product assuming that there is no typo. ZT is interesting. All ZenPad tablets have Z followed by the model and size numbers. Such as Z580CA. The Z5 is reserved for the ZenPad S series. If we look at the VivoBook Flip series of laptops, they use TP. The P can quite easily be part of the “flip” reference. The ZE in Zenfone can reference the “e” in fone. Asus in the past has used TF for their previous Transformer Pad 2-in-1 devices. With ZenPad tablets, there is the ZD300 which is the bundle of a ZenPad 10 with the keyboard “D”ock.
The point is that most often the second letter has some significance to the product. It’s not random. So if we could hope for anything, we would hope that the ZT would be for ZenPad Transformer. It’s possible, but it’s just a best guess at this point.
Let’s break down the model number a bit more. The KL is easy. We are certain that it is indicative of a Snapdragon (K) processor and LTE (L) capable. As for the 500 in the name, we what this could mean. The “5” has been indicative of the ZenPad S series. The “00” says one thing to us. It says 10-inch size. How so? The ZenPad S 8.0 models are Z580, and the “8” is indicative of the size in inches. Have 500 says to us that it’s a 10-inch device.
So our hopes are for a 10-inch ZenPad Transformer that has the same premium design of the ZenPad S Series. If this model was simply Z500KL then we would be suggesting it’s a 10-inch ZenPad S tablet, with a possible branding of ZenPad S 10.0 or something similar. It’s the “T” that has us hoping for a new Transformer.
If you think about it, Asus has pushed out some Windows based 2-in-1 products over the past year. The omission was the Android based Transformer Book products. In a sense Asus is due for a new model.
There has been quite a lot of news about Asus not utilizing Intel processors as much in their upcoming devices, so the Snapdragon processor in this particular device brings further credibility to this being an actual new product.
What we can say is that there is no indicators anywhere right now as to the existence of the ZT500KL. We don’t have much at all to go with at this point, so please don’t think that there is more to this right now. If we see any more indicators, we will be sure to update this article with corrections or further proof supporting out theory.
Asus CFO Nick Wu talks tablets and release dates
An interesting interview with Asus CFO Nick Wu from TaipeiTimes.com about the company’s plans for their tablet line-up.
Wu says that Asus is planning to introduce new tablets in June. This would indicate a Computex 2016 unveiling which is not surprising.
Asus however is not expecting to surpass last year’s 5.9 million unit sales volume. This in part due to the global drop in demand for tablets.
Sales of Asus tablets in the first quarter of 2016 is down 33% from 1.5 million units a year ago. The annual decline was 36% for Asus tablet sales last year.
From our perspective, the interest certainly in the ZenPad S 8.0 was very high. There was a lot of per order activity which indicated as much. The ZenPad 8.0 (Z580C) and the incredibly low price point caught buzz around the tech websites, but the availability at that time was limited to Best Buy only. The hero Z580CA model made it to North America and sold out quite quickly, and the restocking was delayed. Some of the lack of Asus tablet sales may be partially attributable to lack of inventory, at least from the ZenPad S 8.0 perspective in North America.
The tablet market really needs apps and games that push the hardware and make the older tablets more dated. If older tablets can still do what people need them for, the incentive to upgrade isn’t there. The demand may be low for tablets, but it may be a lack of need for buying a newer tablet. Let’s hope for some continued support for stylus input in the upcoming ZenPad tablets in June.
[source: TaipeiTimes.com]
UK Shoppers – Finally a ZenPad 10 Audio Dock Keyboard available to buy!
Update: Sorry folks, this eBay listing has ended and we are now trying to find other options for UK shoppers.
One of the most common questions we get at zenpad.org is about the illusive ZenPad 10 Audio Dock keyboard. This is especially true from UK visitors who have been asking when or where they can buy it in retail. Thanks to the heads up from one of our visitors, there is a chance right now to buy a new Audio Dock keyboard for those in the UK. I don’t suspect there are many in stock so I suggest getting in on this quickly before these sell out.
Click Here To Shop:
Asus Zenfone reducing Intel processor use. Will this apply to next gen ZenPad tablets?
Recent news indicates that Asus will indeed be using fewer Intel processors on their next generation Zenfone smartphone. Instead, it appears that Snapdragon and MediaTek processors will be used instead.
In 2015, Asus went big on Intel processors in their Zenfone models and their ZenPad models. There were some indicators and rumors that Intel was offering a substantial subsidy which does makes sense when you see the price points that Asus was able to achieve with those products. In fact at a recent Asus investors conference, Asus CEO Jerry Shen indicated that the subsidies being offered by Intel were not as substantial. Reports on other news outlets have also indicated that the amount of subsidy being offered by Intel has shrunk.
Asus did offer a few ZenPad tablets with either Snapdragon or MediaTek processors in their first generations. Is moving away from Intel going to be a big deal?
I think we should really wonder about the flagship ZenPad S tablets that may not have Intel. I wonder if having a Snapdragon processor rather than Intel will mean a higher price point. Price changes might be my biggest concern, although Asus is pretty clear and consistent on getting price points that are much lower than the competition. So I’m confident that whatever they decide on, the price to value will be a win for consumers.
We also may be under the false assumption regarding Asus moving away from Intel processors for the ZenPad tablets. It’s entirely possible that this is needed for the smartphone category and is not so critical for tablets. That said, the tablets that has been discovered online recently does have a Snapdragon processor and not an Intel processor.
