Unboxing – First Impressions – ZenPad 8.0 (Z380CX/Z380C/Z380KL)

October 7, 2015 Categories: Unboxing, Z380, Z380C, Z380CX, Z380KL, ZenPad 8, ZenPad 8.0 by 1 Comment

Here is a look at the retail box of the ZenPad 8.0, in particular the North American version, Z380CX. The other variants, the Z380C and 4G LTE Z380KL share the same box, but obviously different details on the rear of the box. We are unboxing a black model and we will have a full review coming very soon.

Just to quickly clarify, the Z380CX has 2GB of RAM which is more than the 1GB found in variants of the Z380C and Z380KL. Some markets may see 2GB of RAM in the Z380C or Z380KL, so if that’s important to you, then it’s best to pay attention to those spec details. The Z380CX went with reduced camera quality in exchange for the extra RAM.

First Impressions

At $129 US pricing, the ZenPad 8.0 has a solid build quality. The chrome trim is a nice touch and the rear of the tablet is definitely plastic feeling, but textured for better grip. Just the basics in the box which means you need to download the PDF owners manual from Asus.com. Overall, the Z380 handles nicely and we’re looking forward to seeing how it runs and performs. Out of the box though, this seems like a solid tablet for the price. Check back in the next week for a full review of the ZenPad 8.0. We don’t have the accessories like the Power Case and Audio Cover to review yet, but hopefully we can also have those reviews up in the near future because it’s those accessories which make this a unique tablet.

Photos – Unboxing and Retail Box

Coming Soon to US – Audio Cover Case for ZenPad 8.0

October 6, 2015 Categories: Accessories, Audio Case, Audio Cover, Z380C, Z380CX, Z380KL, ZenPad 8, ZenPad 8.0 by 1 Comment

We’ve been hoping for some indicators for the ZenPad 8.0 (Z380C/Z380CX/Z380KL) accessories coming to North America. We’ve spotted the Audio Cover in the Asus US online store, priced at $59.99 and listed as “Coming Soon”. Not shipping, but seeing a listing does suggest it’s going to be available to buy very soon. Outside of Taiwan, we really haven’t found any retail listings or pre order availability. Both the Power Case and Audio Cover are impressive accessories and exclusive to the ZenPad 7.0 and ZenPad 8.0 tablets.

As a quick recap, the Audio Cover features 5.1-channel surround sound and even includes a subwoofer. It has a 6-hour battery life and interacts with the Asus AudioWizard app.

zenpad-8-audio-cover-case-us

 

Asus India marketing effort ramping up. Teaser #2 on their Facebook page.

October 5, 2015 Categories: India, Release Date, Teasers by 0 Comments

Days, not weeks, that’s our feeling now with the upcoming ZenPad launch in India. If there is one particular model of ZenPad that you are excited about and want to buy, please let us know in our poll question here which is for anyone who is currently living in India. If you live in India, it’s important to voice your opinion. Not all models of ZenPad show up in every market!

The latest Asus teaser is displaying “ZenPad is coming” just like the first teaser, except this time they are trumpeting the audio and the DTS HS Premium Audio of the ZenPad tablets. There is no question that the front facing speakers on the ZenPad tablets is a strong selling point and it’s something that a lot of the competition doesn’t have. It’s funny with tablets that audio is important to a lot of what we use our tablets for, yet in most designs, the speakers are not front facing. Is that an Apple effect?

Consider the fact that any home speaker setup, or any speaker setup, anytime and anywhere, the speakers are facing the viewing area. Pointing at the listeners ears! Why then the consumers don’t demand speakers on a tablet that are front facing is a bit baffling from a logic perspective. Speakers are to face the ears and the audience. Period. If not, then it’s a flawed listening experience. There is no other way to say it.

Regarding speakers and the ZenPad series, it’s the ZenPad S 8.0 and ZenPad 10 that have dual stereo front facing speakers. The ZenPad C 7.0, 8.0, and 7.0 have a single front facing speaker.

asus-india-facebook-zenpad-teaser-2

Asus ZenPad Z Stylus Unboxing – First Impressions

October 4, 2015 Categories: Accessories, Unboxing, Z Stylus by 8 Comments

Being in North America, we decided in September to order a Z Stylus from an Ebay seller in Taiwan. The only regret we had was not paying for priority shipping! We waited a little while for the package to arrive, but we’re excited to finally have it in our hands! If you are interested in ordering one of these from Ebay like we did, then please read our post here.

A full review is coming, but for now here is just a look at the retail boxing, along with a few other photos. The Z Stylus feels solid and is as comfortable as any regular pen you might use. In the next few days we will put it to the test on our ZenPad S 8.0 (Z580CA). To clarify, the Z Stylus is only compatible with the following models of ZenPad: Z580CA, Z300C, Z300CG, and Z300CL.

ZenPad 7.0 with 4G LTE (Z370KL) now official

October 4, 2015 Categories: Z370KL, ZenPad 4G LTE, ZenPad 7, ZenPad 7.0 by 0 Comments

Asus.com is now showing a product page for a new ZenPad, the Z370KL which is a 4G LTE version of the ZenPad 7.0. In case you were wondering, the “KL” is indicative of this tablet having a Qualcomm Snapdragon processor. We had noticed a few instances on the Asus.com website where they mentioned this previously unannounced model, but until now we weren’t sure of its existence. Turns out, it’s here and now!

Here is a quick rundown on the main specs of the Z370KL:

  • running Android 5.1 Lollipop
  • 1280 x 800 resolution
  • 7-inch
  • Qualcomm MSM8909 quad-core processor up to 1.26GHz, 64bit
  • comes with 8GB or 16GB storage configuration
  • interchangeable design
  • 2MP front camera (720p video recording) and 5MP rear camera (auto focus and 720p video recording)
  • 189 x 110.0 x 8.7mm
  • 272g

Network Standard and Details:

HSPA+ DL: 42Mbps, UL: 5.76Mbps (TBD), LTE Cat4 DL: 150Mbps, UL: 50Mbps

JP:
4G: LTE:2100(1) / 1800(3) / 800(19)/ 1700(9) / 850(26) / 800(18) /900(8)
4G: TD LTE:2600(41)
3G: WCDMA :2100(1) / 800(6) / 900(8)
EDGE/GSM(2G) : 850(5) /900(8) /1800(3) / 1900(2)

EU/IN:
4G : FDD LTE: 1800(3) / 2600(7) / 800(20) / 1900(2) / 2100(1)/ 850(5)
3G : WCDMA : 1900(2) / 2100(1)/ 850(5) / 900(8)
EDGE/GSM(2G) : 850(5) /900(8) /1800(3) / 1900(2)

APAC/TW:
4G: LTE: 1800(3) / 900(8) /700(28) /2600(7)
3G: WCDMA 2100(1) / 1900(2) /850(5) / 900(8)
EDGE/GSM(2G) : 850(5) /900(8) /1800(3) / 1900(2)

Where can you buy the ZenPad 7.0 (Z370KL)?

At this point it’s unclear. With the 4G LTE connectivity and phone calling ability, we don’t expect this to be widely available. We will check to see which markets are set to get this tablet.

zenpad-7-tablet-showing-covers

ZenPad 10 keyboard available to buy in the US for the first time!

October 3, 2015 Categories: Accessories, Audio Dock, ZenPad 10, ZenPad 10 Keyboard by 4 Comments

Did you buy a ZenPad 10 and live in the US? If the answer is yes, you may have been frustrated trying to find the keyboard dock, named the Audio Dock. We have some breaking news that you can now buy the black color keyboard dock at the Asus US online store. The price is $59.99 US. If you don’t have the black ZenPad 10, then this really isn’t the color keyboard you want!

Our guess is that there isn’t a lot of stock available, so if you want one, we suggest that you don’t wait. If you’re considering buying from a different retailer in the US, good luck because we simply haven’t seen these anywhere else. If you find another retailer, please let us know in the comments below.

Perhaps now that some keyboard are for sale and available, you’re considering the ZenPad 10. Check out our full ZenPad 10 resource page here.

Here is a quick rundown of the key (no pun intended) features: has 12hrs of music playback battery life, you can pair 8 different devices and it has a 10 meter wireless range. No trackpad, but you get some nice sounding audio.

 

zenpad-10-keyboard-dock-in-stock

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