iPad mini 3 vs ZenPad S 8.0 (Z580C)

June 8, 2015 Categories: Asus Z580C, comparison, vs, vs. iPad, vs. iPad mini, vs. iPad mini 3 by 0 Comments

vsWith our expectation that the ZenPad S 8.0 (Z580C) will be first to market, we thought a few comparison articles will be helpful. We’ve already made some vs. articles with the monster ZenPad S (Z580CA) which you can check out here.

Certainly the Z580C is very similar to the Z580CA, but it’s not on the same level. If you’re tablet shopping, just be aware that there are fairly significant differences between the two ZenPad S models. At this time or writing, we are not expecting to see the Z580CA for some time. Thus, prepare your purchase based on the Z580C specs for now.

Let’s first look at the build size and dimensions. The iPad mini 3 is 7.9-inch and the ZenPad Z380c is 8-inch. When we look at which tablet is thinner, the ZenPad is 6.9mm and the iPad mini 3 is 7.5mm. That’s a win for the ZenPad S 8.0 for thinness. When it comes to weight, the iPad mini is 331g and the ZenPad S (Z580C) is 317g. That’s another win for the ZenPad S tablet.

Storage is going to be a bit lopsided because of the microSD slot on the ZenPad S 8.0 (Z580C) that allows for up to an extra 128GB of storage. The iPad mini 3 has no microSD slot. The iPad mini does come with a 128GB version, whereas the Z580C has up to a 32GB storage option. However, buying a 64GB or even 128GB microSD card is a far cheaper option that the extra $110 USD price difference between the 64GB and 128GB iPad mini 3. Also worth mentioning is that the ZenPad S offers a 5GB Asus online cloud storage for life.

Screen resolution and 4:3 ratio are both equal on these tablets.

Camera vs. camera, the megapixel duel has the ZenPad S 8.0 winning out with both tablets having a 5MP rear but the front facing ZenPad camera is 2MP compared to the iPad mini 3’s 1.2MP front facing camera. Now it’s common knowledge that Apple has some superior photo taking mobile devices. Right now it’s hard to say which of these tablets is going to do a better job. I would suggest Apple will likely win out when it comes to the rear camera photo taking ability.

It appears at this point there will not be a 3G or 4G LTE version of the ZenPad S 8.0 tablet(s). For options, the iPad mini 3 does have a cellular enabled model available, so the iPad mini 3 wins out for better choices.

Speakers is a pretty clear win for Asus simply based on the fact that the ZenPad Z580C has two front facing stereo speakers whereas the iPad mini 3 has side mounted speakers. We can debate the sound quality when the time comes, but who’s taking side mounted vs. front mounted? Nobody in their right mind would.

When it comes to processing, the ZenPad S 8.0 (Z580C) comes with 2GB RAM and the iPad mini 3 has but 1GB. Looking at the processors, the ZenPad S 8.0 is running an Atom Z3530 quad-core, 64bit, which runs at 1.33GHz. The iPad mini 3 runs a dual-core 1.3GHz Cyclone processor. So processors is pretty much equal, although the Intel Atom is the newer processor.

Battery life is going to be a likely win by the iPad mini 3, but it’s too early to say by how much. We can say from a spec perspective, the iPad mini 3 sports a 23.8 watt-hour battery but the Z580C only has a 15.2 watt-hour battery.

When it comes to unique features that one tablet has over the other, we should mention that the iPad mini 3 has the fingerprint identity sensor which the ZenPad S 8.0 (Z580C) does not have. Outside of that and the above mentioned features, that pretty much wraps it up.

Oh, do we need to discuss price? It’s quite clear what Asus has been doing with their products. It’s called being price competitive. Asus will price their ZenPad at a substantially lower price than the iPad mini 3. We can say this without know the final price of the Z580C.

So who win? It’s quite clear really. The winner is….

ZenPad S 8.0 (Z580C)

ipad mini vs zenpad s 8.0

Samsung Galaxy Tab S2 9.7 vs. Asus ZenPad 10

June 7, 2015 Categories: comparison, vs, vs. Galaxy Tab S2 9.7, ZenPad 10 by 3 Comments

zenpad-s-8-0-vs-galaxy-tab-s2-8-0Are you ready for this? We can say that the Galaxy Tab S2 is the flagship, top of the class Android tablet offering from Samsung. The Asus ZenPad 10 is not the premium ZenPad S Series, but we think it’s fair to put both these similar sized tablets into a full-on vs. battle. Keep one thing in mind. The ZenPad 10 is built more for affordability and would not be considered an Asus flagship product. Putting the ZenPad 10 up against the Galaxy Tab S2 is not exactly a fair fight as it were. Price wise, these two tablets are going to be priced vastly different so keep that in mind in this comparison.

As we move along here, we will update with official details of the Galaxy Tab S2 9.7 because it’s not quite official just yet at the time of writing.

In terms of actual build quality, the Tab S2 is going to own the ZenPad 10. Samsung has obviously put a lot of effort into creating the lightest and thinnest tablet on the market. We will create this as a ratio for weight because the Galaxy Tab S2 is 9.7-inch whereas the ZenPad 10 is 10.1-inch. So for thinness, the ZenPad 10 is 7.9 mm but the Tab S2 is 5.6 mm. Not a typo, this is apparently correct information. Weight wise, the ZenPad 10 is 50g per inch but the Tab S2 9.7 is just 42g per inch. In terms of cosmetics and build specs, that Tab S2 is a clear winner.

asus-zenpad-10-z300c-gold-metallic-001Processors comparison, the Galaxy Tab S2 is using a 1.9GHz octa-core Exynos 7420 and the ZenPad 10 is using the Intel® Atom™ x3-C3230 Quad-Core, 64bit @ 1.2GHz [source]. RAM wise, the Tab S2 9.7 has 3GB and the ZenPad 10 come in a 1GB or 2GB configuration. Resolution wise, the Tab S2 is top of the class with a 2048 x 1536 display and the ZenPad 10 has a 1280 x 800 display. Aspect ratio is different, with the ZenPad 10 having a 16:10 ratio whereas the Galaxy Tab S2 uses a 4:3 ratio. Ratio wise there is no winner as they both have their pros and cons. Both of these tablets have microSD slot expansion, so no advantage either way in terms of expanding storage capacity. Wireless connectivity, we do know that the ZenPad 10 has wifi a/b/g/n but no ac. The Galaxy S2 9.7 does comes with the newest wifi ac standard. Audio wise, we would give the edge to the ZenPad 10 because of the dual front facing speakers. The Galaxy S2 has speakers on the one side edge only. It’s hard to imagine a side facing speaker being better than front facing, but until we hear otherwise, ZenPad 10 has the better speakers.

Battery life is simply not measurable at this time of writing. We can speculate only, so let’s do that. When you consider the thinness and light weight of the Samsung Tab S2 9.7, and top that with a super high resolution screen, we wonder if the battery will be able to hold up. On the flip side, the one benefit to having the lower resolution screen on the ZenPad 10 is likely going to be in terms of battery life. It would be surprising if the ZenPad 10 gets less battery life, that’s for sure. From a sheer battery size comparison, the ZenPad 10 has a 4,890mAh battery and the Tab S2 9.7 has a 5,870mAh. On that basis, it’s most likely Samsung will get a longer battery life, but let’s wait for a final verdict.

Camera wise, the Galaxy Tab S2 9.7 beats out the ZenPad 10 rather handily. The rear on the Tab S2 is 8MP, and the best option on the ZenPad 10 is 5MP. Front camera, the Tab S2 9.7 comes with a 2.1MP and the ZenPad 10 has a maximum 2MP depending on the configuration.

Unique Features Comparison

Because we know the ZenPad the best, we will start off with the two fairly substantial unique features. First, the ZenPad 10, all models, support the Z Stylus pen input. Secondly, the ZenPad 10 has a keyboard dock/audio dock accessory. In terms of what the Samsung Galaxy Tab S2 9.7 offers that the ZenPad 10 doesn’t have? We believe there will be a fingerprint reader on the Galaxy Tab S2.

With official Galaxy Tab S2 9.7 specs out there now, we can see that the finger scanner is something unique over the ZenPad 10. Beyond that, there isn’t an outstanding feature that the ZenPad 10 is without.

 

Samsung Galaxy Tab S2 8.0 vs Asus ZenPad S 8.0 (Z580CA)

June 6, 2015 Categories: comparison, vs, vs. Galaxy Tab S2, vs. Galaxy Tab S2 8.0, ZenPad S, ZenPad S 8.0 by 8 Comments

We are going to have quite the tilt here. It’s flagship vs. flagship. A real head-to-head battle for Android tablet supremacy. We will go with rumored specs for the Galaxy S2 8.0 at this point, but we will also update as official details come out.

What’s in a name you ask? Well just on the naming schemes alone, it’s quite clear who Asus is taking aim at. Both are S tablet and both will be taking the 8.0 or 8-inch size. Both feature a 4:3 aspect ratio. Both tablets will share the same screen resolution. As with the ZenPad S 8.0, the Galaxy Tab S2 8.0 appears to have a microSD slot for extra and cheap storage expansion. We understand right now that the Galaxy Tab S2 8.0 is going to have a max of 32GB storage, and if true, then Asus beats Samsung because the ZenPad Z580CA has a 64GB model.

RAM wise, the Galaxy S2 8.0 has 3GB and the Asus Z580CA beats that with 4GB. Processor wise, both tablets here are have the fastest out there right now. Officially the Galaxy Tab S2 8.0 has a 1.9GHz processor which is not as fast as the ZenPad S 8.0 which clocks in at 2.3GHz (or 1.8GHz if alternate configuration).

zenpad-s-8-0-vs-galaxy-tab-s2-8-0Camera wise, it’s a challenge for Asus to beat Samsung. The Samsung Galaxy Tab S2 8.0 sports a 8MP rear and a 2.1MP front camera. Megapixel wise it appears to be a draw for the rear, but Samsung has a strong track record when it comes to great cameras on their mobile devices. We will need to wait for some better reviews and side-by-side photo comparisons. Photos from a tablet? Nice, but certainly not a primary criteria for buying one of these tablets over the other. The front camera on the ZenPad S 8.0 is 5MP which in theory should out perform the 2.1MP front camera of the Galaxy Tab S2.

Let’s look at the actual build now. Size wise, these are both 8-inch tablets. The Samsung Galaxy Tab S2 8.0 has the following specs: 198.6 × 134.8 × 5.6 mm and the ZenPad has the following specs: 203.2 x 134.5 x 6.6 mm. On this basis, the Galaxy Tab S2 8.0 beats out the ZenPad S 8.0 in terms of being smaller (less bezel) and also being quite a bit thinner. We don’t want to downplay thinness, but it’s important to consider cases and covers and what role that will end up playing in how thick or thin your tablet becomes. In this comparison, it’s quite possible that the thinness is a result of Asus placing a pair of front facing stereo speakers. Thus, there is a compromise and as a shopper, you decide if being thinner is more important to you than front facing speakers.

Weight wise, the Samsung Galaxy Tab S2 8.0 is 265g in comparison to the Asus ZenPad S 8.0 (Z580CA) which weighs 290g. Samsung certainly has Asus beat in being lighter and by quite a good margin.

Battery life is going to be a heated battle (no pun intended). What we do know is that the ZenPad S 8.0 sports a 4,000 mAh battery and the Galaxy Tab S2 has a 4,000 mAh battery battery. Thus the battery life in theory should be close to a draw.

Price comparison? We can only go with track record. How has Asus in the past compared with Samsung? Looking at the recent Zenfone vs. Galaxy S6 pricing, Asus has Samsung beat by a big margin. We would expect Asus to continue this strategy of being a much lower priced product in hopes of gaining some market share. We don’t have prices right now on either device, so we will have to update in the near future.

asus-zenpad-s8-high-resolutionSpecial Features vs. Comparison: We don’t want to come of being fanboys. However, when you look at the extras? There is a clear winner and it’s the Asus ZenPad S 8.0 (Z580CA). We say this for a couple reason. First, the Z Stylus means pen input. It means a substantial added value for what you can do with the tablet. You can question stylus pen input on touch devices, but there is value. If you have kids, you know the educational value in something like this. Second, and this is a big deal, the ZenPad S 8.0 features two front facing stereo speakers. When you consider consuming media, speakers are a core feature. It does appear that Samsung put their design resources into creating thin and light, and with that there has to be some sacrifice. Front facing speakers are a big deal.

In terms of what Samsung has over Asus in this tablet comparison? Finger scanner is one feature that the Galaxy Tab S2 has over the Z580CA. You cannot get a 4G LTE version of the Z580CA, however the Samsung Galaxy Tab S2 8.0 has a mobile connected model available. Certainly build quality is substantial. Screen wise, in terms of brightness, Samsung should reign supreme. However outside of the design, there isn’t a big number of added features in the Galaxy Tab S2 8.0 tablet. To become the world’s thinnest tablet is impressive, but is that a key feature for making a purchase?

We almost forgot to mention the USB Type-C connection on the ZenPad S 8.0. So this is a third special feature that Asus has over Samsung. In the official specs of the Tab S2 8.0, nowhere has it been mentioned about having a Type-C connection port.

Conclusion: When you start looking at the Asus flagship tablet, you realize what a formidable product it is. When we look at the competition, in this case the upcoming Galaxy Tab S2 8.0, it becomes more evident just how good the Asus Z580CA really is. On a spec-by-spec comparison, Asus simply has more. Likely it will be more for less (cost) to the consumer. Even if both these tablets come in at around the same price, which one offers more features? The ZenPad S does clearly. Brand name? Samsung has an advantage. Reputation wise? Samsung has an advantage. However, Asus is proving that when they put everything into a “hero” product, they are tough to match.

Asus tablet (P022) shows up at FCC

June 6, 2015 Categories: FCC by 1 Comment

Finally a little bit different FCC submission by Asus here. We need to check the label position from the diagram below.

zenpad-tablet-fcc-p022-june-5-2015

So we have a more unique label position here. Unfortunately it doesn’t give a great indicator as to what model we’re looking at here. What we can gather from this recent flood of Asus tablets at FCC is that we’re likely to see some pre orders in mid to late June with orders shipping in early July. Our best guess right now for the USA and Canadian markets.

[source: FCC]

ZenPad 10 Keyboard vs. Transformer Pad Keyboard

June 5, 2015 Categories: comparison, vs, vs. Transformer Pad by 2 Comments

Asus has taken a different direction for the ZenPad 10 keyboard docking station. In this vs. comparison you will see some stark differences. It’s hard to say whether there will be an alternative to the current ZenPad 10 “Audio Dock”, such as a more traditional touchpad style keyboard dock.

original

Above is the Transformer Pad keyboard and below is the ZenPad 10 keyboard.

zenpad-10-keyboard-dock

When you compare the keys, there are a few differences, but nothing  overly dramatic. A few keys on the ZenPad 10 keyboard dock have been shrunk, but that is due to the fact that the ZenPad 10 tablet dimensions are simple smaller. There is less “wiggle room” as it were. It’s very nice to have a wrist rest, but the main selling point of the ZenPad 10 keyboard is the audio output. Still, the keys are quite similar which is quite interesting.

Below is an image, some the side perspective, of the Transformer Pad.

original (4)

Below is a side image of the ZenPad 10 dock.

zenpad-10-keyboard

 

Another Asus tablet (P01Y) shows up at FCC

June 5, 2015 Categories: FCC by 0 Comments

We figured there would be a rush of Asus tablets heading to the FCC and now the number stands at three. Today we’ve spotted the P01Y which shares the same label diagram as the other 2 submission. We know the first submission was a ZenPad S but we have no further details on what the P01Y might be. It might be safe to assume that Asus will be bringing two 8-inch tablets, one 7-inch and one 10-inch tablet making 4 in total. We don’t expect the ZenPad C7.0 to be making it into the USA market.

zenpad-fcc-june-4-2015-p01y

[source: FCC]

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