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Asus Fonepad 7 FE375CG Tablet Review

For big ears. Asus launches a refresh of its phablet line with the Fonepad 7. The mid-range, 7-inch device is well-equipped - it features Intel's Atom Z3560 quad-core SoC with a clock rate of 1.83 GHz and integrated PowerVR G6430 graphics chip, dual-SIM feature, and an IPS screen in HD resolution. A rounded total package.

For the original German review, see here.

Asus' Fonepad 7 FE375CG is located somewhere between two categories because Asus unites a tablet and smartphone in one device. The now third model generation has received good equipment to reap in a decent score in both genres. The latest Android 4.4.2 KitKat runs the mid-range model, and content is displayed on an IPS touchscreen with a resolution of 1280x800 pixels. An energy-efficient Intel Atom Z3560 quad-core SoC with a clock rate of 1.83 GHz and integrated PowerVR G6430 graphics chip alongside 1 GB of RAM provides enough power. Models with either 8 GB or 16 GB of flash storage that can be expanded up to 64 GB via a micro-SD card are available. Furthermore, a phone module with dual-SIM support is installed into the Fonepad 7 FE375CG.

The review sample competes against HP's Slate 7 6100en VoiceTab, Asus' Memo Pad HD 7 ME176C, and Acer's Iconia Tab 8 A1-840FHD in the 200 Euros (~$254) price range. The precursor Asus Fonepad 7 ME372CG from the same company is also an affordable alternative.

Case

The casing of Asus' Fonepad 7 FE375CG is comprised of matte-white polycarbonate. The tablet is also available in black, red and gold. Although the matte plastic on the back is not grooved, the review sample provides a very good grip and is also fingerprint resistant. The Fonepad 7 is not exactly compact for a phablet with a thickness of 9.8 mm and a weight of 299 grams, but it is quite lean for a 7-inch tablet as can be seen when compared directly with the competition. The build is good and the device exhibits evenly spaced gaps. The review sample also proved rigid even under strong pressure, and it barely warped or produced cracking noises. The SIM and micro-SD flap on the side were a bit unstable, and thus they should be opened with caution.

215 mm / 8.46 inch 130 mm / 5.12 inch 8.5 mm / 0.3346 inch 360 g0.794 lbs197 mm / 7.76 inch 120 mm / 4.72 inch 10.5 mm / 0.4134 inch 328 g0.723 lbs194.3 mm / 7.65 inch 108.9 mm / 4.29 inch 9.8 mm / 0.3858 inch 299 g0.659 lbs189.3 mm / 7.45 inch 113.7 mm / 4.48 inch 9.6 mm / 0.378 inch 295 g0.65 lbs189 mm / 7.44 inch 115 mm / 4.53 inch 9.5 mm / 0.374 inch 325 g0.717 lbs210 mm / 8.27 inch 148 mm / 5.83 inch 1 mm / 0.03937 inch 2.9 g0.00639 lbs

Connectivity

Asus installs an energy-efficient quad-core SoC from Intel in its Fonepad 7 FE375CG. Intel's Atom Z3560 clocks with up to 1.83 GHz (burst) and integrates a PowerVR G6430 graphics unit alongside a dual-channel LPDDR3-1600 memory controller with 1 GB of RAM. The internal flash storage has a capacity of 16 GB, of which 11 GB is available for use. It can be expanded up to 64 GB via a micro-SD card. Asus additionally offers 5 GB of storage in its proprietary Webstorage Space. The App2SD feature is not available for most applications. Both micro-SIM slots support 3G/UMTS, but LTE was not integrated. Naturally, a micro-USB 2.0 and a 3.5 mm jack are also installed. The power and volume buttons function reliably and can be reached comfortably with one hand. Unfortunately, their positioning on the far lower part of the casing's rounded edge is not ideal and makes using them when the device is placed on a table impossible.

Upper edge: Micro-USB 2.0
Upper edge: Micro-USB 2.0
Right: Volume rocker, power button
Right: Volume rocker, power button
Lower edge: 3.5 mm jack, microphone
Lower edge: 3.5 mm jack, microphone
Left: The SIM 1 and 2 as well as micro-SD...
Left: The SIM 1 and 2 as well as micro-SD...
...are under an unstable flap.
...are under an unstable flap.
Android 4.4.2 KitKat
Android 4.4.2 KitKat

Software

The latest Android 4.4.2 KitKat operating system is installed, which Asus modifies with Asus ZenUI. It highly facilitates intricate actions, and ensures an intuitive use: Starting with the home screen with the most important information, over easy and quick accessing of frequently used functions such as Wi-Fi and GPS settings, Bluetooth or energy settings, up to intelligent applications like a cross-platform messenger app or a clearly arranged storage manager. Asus additionally preloads a few useful apps, such as Google Chrome, Amazon Kindle, Facebook and the usual Google package. Annoying bloatware is kept within tolerable limits.

GPS Test
GPS Test

Communication & GPS 

The review sample provides Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n and Bluetooth 4.0 for local wireless data transmission. Mobile browsing is ensured in a sufficient speed via UMTS/3G. The Wi-Fi reception is good; Asus' Fonepad 7 FE375CG set up a stable connection to the router even through several walls and a distance of 10 meters in the test. Flexible use on the go is possible with quad-band GSM (850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 MHz) and the dual-SIM feature. Additionally, UMTS quad-band (850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 MHz) in the HSPA+ network standard with a bandwidth of 42 Mbps in downlink and 5.76 Mbps in uplink are installed. The A-GPS module also functioned reliably and quickly connected to several satellites as can be seen in the test performed with the GPS Test app. Asus' Fonepad 7 scored quite well in our navigation comparison using the Garmin Edge 500, although it took "shortcuts" in difficult parts like through the woods or curvy sections.

Asus Fonepad 7: bridge
Asus Fonepad 7: bridge
Asus Fonepad 7: woods
Asus Fonepad 7: woods
Asus Fonepad 7: total
Asus Fonepad 7: total
Garmin Edge 500: bridge
Garmin Edge 500: bridge
Garmin Edge 500: woods
Garmin Edge 500: woods
Garmin Edge 500: total
Garmin Edge 500: total
Multi-SIM settings
Multi-SIM settings
Phone app
Phone app

Telephony & Speech Quality

The phone app has also been modified subtly and scores with its good multi-SIM support. The user can choose among multiple settings for each SIM card. For example, private and business calls can be assigned to either one of the two cards or to use an additional, less expensive data plan. We can classify the in-call voice and audio quality as good to very good after the practical test. The contact also heard us perfectly loud and clear. The hands-free feature is loud enough to make calls even in busy environments.

Cameras & Multimedia

Asus' Fonepad 7 FE735CG features a 5.0-megapixel primary camera with auto-focus alongside a 2 MP webcam. The rear-facing camera shoots good pictures with sufficient focus and natural color reproduction when the object is well illuminated; there is relatively little image noise. Unfortunately, an LED flash is not installed. The front-facing camera disappoints with grainy pictures and a poor color reproduction despite its fairly high resolution. This particularly becomes obvious in a direct comparison; the primary camera fares quite well here.

Asus Fonepad 7: primary camera
Asus Fonepad 7: primary camera
Asus Fonepad 7: webcam
Asus Fonepad 7: webcam
Apple iPad Mini: primary camera
Apple iPad Mini: primary camera


Apple iPad Mini Retina: webcam
Apple iPad Mini Retina: webcam
Nikon D7100
Nikon D7100


Accessories

Only the modular power supply besides a USB cable, quick-start guide and warranty card are included for Asus' Fonepad 7 FE375CG. Asus offers optional accessories like an Asus View Folio Cover protector with view on important information on the screen. It also has a stand function.

Warranty

Asus includes a 24-month warranty on the Fonepad 7 FE375CG.

Input Devices & Controls

Keyboard portrait mode
Keyboard portrait mode
Keyboard landscape mode
Keyboard landscape mode
Keyboard messenger
Keyboard messenger

Using the virtual keyboard is intuitive and reliable. The key field covers the screen to approximately one-third in portrait mode. The keys are big enough to type without errors. The visible field, unfortunately, shrinks evidently in landscape mode.

The capacitive multi-touchscreen functions reliably and accurately. Though the automatic screen rotation needs a moment when changing the view mode, it still seems fast enough.

Display

Asus Fonepad 7 FE375CG: IPS screen with 1280x800 pixels
Asus Fonepad 7 FE375CG: IPS screen with 1280x800 pixels

The 5-inch screen has an HD resolution of 1280x800 pixels, which is on par with the contenders. Only Acer's Iconia Tab 8 A1-840FHD has a Full HD resolution. The image convinces with high sharpness and crisp colors. The average brightness of 352.6 cd/m² is at the front in the field of contenders, and only Asus' Memo Pad HD 7 ME176C is marginally brighter. A maximum of 376 cd/m² is also a top rate in comparison.

355
cd/m²
355
cd/m²
324
cd/m²
368
cd/m²
376
cd/m²
325
cd/m²
373
cd/m²
368
cd/m²
329
cd/m²
Distribution of brightness
tested with X-Rite i1Pro 2
Maximum: 376 cd/m² (Nits) Average: 352.6 cd/m²
Brightness Distribution: 86 %
Center on Battery: 376 cd/m²
Contrast: 616:1 (Black: 0.61 cd/m²)
ΔE Color 3.67 | 0.5-29.43 Ø5
ΔE Greyscale 3.48 | 0.57-98 Ø5.3
Gamma: 2.3

The illumination of 66% is relatively homogeneous. Both the contrast of 616:1 and black level of 0.61 cd/m² are comparatively good although some contenders achieve a bit more.

Our assessments using the Color Management of CalMAN show a clear shift in red, but the DeltaE of 3.67 is very low. The color accuracy is generally quite decent. The grayscale only exhibits a minor yellowish cast in the brighter field. The low DeltaE of 3.48 and gamma of 2.3 confirm that. The average color temperature of 6910 K is close to the ideal value of 6500 K. The deficits are not visible in routine use; the screen's color reproduction is very good, particularly when considering the price.

ColorChecker
ColorChecker
Color Management
Color Management
Saturation Sweeps
Saturation Sweeps
Grayscale
Grayscale

The screen's maximum brightness of 376 cd/m² is sufficient for outdoor use, but the highly reflective glass pane counteracts that a bit. Unrestricted outdoor use is nevertheless possible when direct light incidence is avoided.

The screen has very stable viewing angles owing to IPS technology. Content first brightens up slightly in untypical, extremely acute viewing angles; color deviations stay within tolerable limits.

Outdoors in direct sunlight...
Outdoors in direct sunlight...
...and partial shade.
...and partial shade.
Viewing angles
Viewing angles

Performance

Asus installs a quad-core SoC from Intel dubbed Intel Atom Z3560 in its Fonepad 7 FE375CG. The chip clocks with up to 1.83 GHz, and the integrated PowerVR G6430 GPU takes care of graphics calculations. Both are supported by a 1 GB dual-channel LPDDR3-1600 working memory. The SoC in Asus' Fonepad 7 impresses with premium-range performance for a budget price. It runs current apps without problems.

Our synthetic benchmark tests confirm that. Asus' Fonepad 7 shows its strengths in most benchmarks and outperforms the competition. This is particularly evident in 3DMark 2013 where HP's Slate 7 6100en VoiceTab lags behind by as much as 87%. Acer's Iconia Tab 8 cannot keep up in the AnTuTu Benchmark v5. The review sample sometimes scores with twice the performance in Geekbench 3, and only Asus' Memo Pad HD 7 ME176C is on par. It looks similar in the PassMark Performance Test Mobile v1.

The AndroBench 3 storage test confirms that a very swift storage device is in the review sample. It surpasses the contenders in all exercises except for on one occasion in the 4 KB read test.

3DMark
1280x720 offscreen Ice Storm Unlimited Score (sort by value)
Asus Fonepad 7 FE375CG
18085 Points
Asus Memo Pad HD 7 ME176C
12762 Points -29%
Acer Iconia Tab 8
16915 Points -6%
HP Slate 7 6100en VoiceTab
2798 Points -85%
1280x720 offscreen Ice Storm Unlimited Graphics Score (sort by value)
Asus Fonepad 7 FE375CG
18258 Points
Asus Memo Pad HD 7 ME176C
11835 Points -35%
Acer Iconia Tab 8
16455 Points -10%
HP Slate 7 6100en VoiceTab
2377 Points -87%
1280x720 offscreen Ice Storm Unlimited Physics (sort by value)
Asus Fonepad 7 FE375CG
17504 Points
Asus Memo Pad HD 7 ME176C
17581 Points 0%
Acer Iconia Tab 8
18752 Points +7%
HP Slate 7 6100en VoiceTab
7357 Points -58%
AnTuTu v5 - Total Score (sort by value)
Asus Fonepad 7 FE375CG
44781 Points
Acer Iconia Tab 8
36659 Points -18%
Geekbench 3
32 Bit Multi-Core Score (sort by value)
Asus Fonepad 7 FE375CG
2203 Points
Asus Fonepad ME372CG
1053 Points -52%
Asus Memo Pad HD 7 ME176C
2397 Points +9%
HP Slate 7 6100en VoiceTab
1036 Points -53%
32 Bit Single-Core Score (sort by value)
Asus Fonepad 7 FE375CG
747 Points
Asus Fonepad ME372CG
448 Points -40%
Asus Memo Pad HD 7 ME176C
763 Points +2%
HP Slate 7 6100en VoiceTab
326 Points -56%
PassMark PerformanceTest Mobile V1
System (sort by value)
Asus Fonepad 7 FE375CG
4501 Points
Asus Fonepad ME372CG
3034 Points -33%
Asus Memo Pad HD 7 ME176C
4266 Points -5%
Acer Iconia Tab 8
5260 Points +17%
HP Slate 7 6100en VoiceTab
1779 Points -60%
CPU Tests (sort by value)
Asus Fonepad 7 FE375CG
27166 Points
Asus Fonepad ME372CG
9159 Points -66%
Asus Memo Pad HD 7 ME176C
27859 Points +3%
Acer Iconia Tab 8
27325 Points +1%
HP Slate 7 6100en VoiceTab
6010 Points -78%
Disk Tests (sort by value)
Asus Fonepad 7 FE375CG
9849 Points
Asus Fonepad ME372CG
4129 Points -58%
Asus Memo Pad HD 7 ME176C
15219 Points +55%
Acer Iconia Tab 8
17567 Points +78%
HP Slate 7 6100en VoiceTab
3924 Points -60%
Memory Tests (sort by value)
Asus Fonepad 7 FE375CG
5270 Points
Asus Fonepad ME372CG
3698 Points -30%
Asus Memo Pad HD 7 ME176C
5062 Points -4%
Acer Iconia Tab 8
5577 Points +6%
HP Slate 7 6100en VoiceTab
884 Points -83%
2D Graphics Tests (sort by value)
Asus Fonepad 7 FE375CG
4047 Points
Asus Fonepad ME372CG
2664 Points -34%
Asus Memo Pad HD 7 ME176C
3864 Points -5%
Acer Iconia Tab 8
3822 Points -6%
HP Slate 7 6100en VoiceTab
1845 Points -54%
3D Graphics Tests (sort by value)
Asus Fonepad 7 FE375CG
1184 Points
Asus Fonepad ME372CG
982 Points -17%
Asus Memo Pad HD 7 ME176C
1058 Points -11%
Acer Iconia Tab 8
1488 Points +26%
HP Slate 7 6100en VoiceTab
727 Points -39%
AndroBench 3-5
Random Write 4KB (sort by value)
Asus Fonepad 7 FE375CG
1.28 MB/s
Asus Fonepad ME372CG
0.57 MB/s -55%
Asus Memo Pad HD 7 ME176C
1.17 MB/s -9%
Acer Iconia Tab 8
0.58 MB/s -55%
HP Slate 7 6100en VoiceTab
1.12 MB/s -12%
Random Read 4KB (sort by value)
Asus Fonepad 7 FE375CG
13.9 MB/s
Asus Fonepad ME372CG
10.6 MB/s -24%
Asus Memo Pad HD 7 ME176C
16 MB/s +15%
Acer Iconia Tab 8
8.54 MB/s -39%
HP Slate 7 6100en VoiceTab
9.94 MB/s -28%
Sequential Write 256KB (sort by value)
Asus Fonepad 7 FE375CG
22.3 MB/s
Asus Fonepad ME372CG
10.75 MB/s -52%
Asus Memo Pad HD 7 ME176C
18.29 MB/s -18%
Acer Iconia Tab 8
12.23 MB/s -45%
HP Slate 7 6100en VoiceTab
14.04 MB/s -37%
Sequential Read 256KB (sort by value)
Asus Fonepad 7 FE375CG
115 MB/s
Asus Fonepad ME372CG
50 MB/s -57%
Asus Memo Pad HD 7 ME176C
93.3 MB/s -19%
Acer Iconia Tab 8
100.4 MB/s -13%
HP Slate 7 6100en VoiceTab
47.97 MB/s -58%

Legend

 
Asus Fonepad 7 FE375CG Intel Atom Z3560, PowerVR G6430, 16 GB eMMC Flash
 
Asus Fonepad ME372CG Intel Atom Z2560, PowerVR SGX544MP2, 16 GB SSD
 
Asus Memo Pad HD 7 ME176C Intel Atom Z3745, Intel HD Graphics (Bay Trail), 16 GB eMMC Flash
 
Acer Iconia Tab 8 Intel Atom Z3745, Intel HD Graphics (Bay Trail), 16 GB SSD
 
HP Slate 7 6100en VoiceTab Marvell PXA1088, Vivante GC1000+ Dual-Core, 16 GB eMMC Flash

The browser-based benchmarks using the Android browser showed mixed results in the category comparison. The review sample still scored in Peacekeeper and WebXPRT 2013 and mostly outperformed its contenders. However, it had to let its rival pass in Mozilla Kraken 1.1 and SunSpider 1.0 and dropped behind. Only Asus' Fonepad 7 is consistently on par with Asus' Memo Pad HD 7 ME176C. We would recommend using a faster browser, such as the preloaded Google Chrome, in routine use for a dramatically better performance. Browsing with fast page setups is then subjectively really fun.

Octane V2 - Total Score (sort by value)
Asus Fonepad 7 FE375CG
5055 Points
Asus Memo Pad HD 7 ME176C
5189 Points +3%
Acer Iconia Tab 8
6510 Points +29%
HP Slate 7 6100en VoiceTab
1155 Points -77%
Mozilla Kraken 1.1 - Total (sort by value)
Asus Fonepad 7 FE375CG
5830 ms *
Asus Fonepad ME372CG
12537 ms * -115%
Asus Memo Pad HD 7 ME176C
5837 ms * -0%
Acer Iconia Tab 8
6009 ms * -3%
HP Slate 7 6100en VoiceTab
23776 ms * -308%
Sunspider - 1.0 Total Score (sort by value)
Asus Fonepad 7 FE375CG
661 ms *
Asus Fonepad ME372CG
1078 ms * -63%
Asus Memo Pad HD 7 ME176C
601 ms * +9%
Acer Iconia Tab 8
700 ms * -6%
HP Slate 7 6100en VoiceTab
1555 ms * -135%
Peacekeeper - --- (sort by value)
Asus Fonepad 7 FE375CG
956 Points
Asus Fonepad ME372CG
601 Points -37%
Asus Memo Pad HD 7 ME176C
1005 Points +5%
Acer Iconia Tab 8
920 Points -4%
HP Slate 7 6100en VoiceTab
490 Points -49%
WebXPRT 2013 - Overall (sort by value)
Asus Fonepad 7 FE375CG
483 Points
Asus Fonepad ME372CG
237 Points -51%
Asus Memo Pad HD 7 ME176C
382 Points -21%
Acer Iconia Tab 8
485 Points 0%

* ... smaller is better

Games

The SoC's integrated PowerVR G6430 GPU comes from Imagination Technologies and offers a compelling 3D performance. Even high-requirement Android games, like Dead Trigger 2, run smoothly in high settings. The Epic Citadel graphics benchmark also shows an impressive performance. The controls using the touchscreen, position sensor and accelerometer convince with accurate and swift implementation. Full HD videos are no problem for the hardware either.

Dead Trigger 2
Dead Trigger 2
Full HD video
Full HD video
Epic Citadel
Ultra High Quality (sort by value)
Asus Fonepad 7 FE375CG
59.2 fps
Asus Memo Pad HD 7 ME176C
54.5 fps -8%
Asus Fonepad ME372CG
46.3 fps -22%
Acer Iconia Tab 8
39.8 fps -33%
HP Slate 7 6100en VoiceTab
15.3 fps -74%
High Quality (sort by value)
Asus Fonepad 7 FE375CG
59.5 fps
Asus Memo Pad HD 7 ME176C
59.5 fps 0%
Asus Fonepad ME372CG
58.7 fps -1%
Acer Iconia Tab 8
59.2 fps -1%
HP Slate 7 6100en VoiceTab
32.6 fps -45%
High Performance (sort by value)
Asus Fonepad 7 FE375CG
59.8 fps
Asus Memo Pad HD 7 ME176C
59.8 fps 0%
Asus Fonepad ME372CG
59.1 fps -1%
Acer Iconia Tab 8
59.5 fps -1%
HP Slate 7 6100en VoiceTab
35.1 fps -41%

Emissions

Temperature

The surface temperatures in routine use never surpassed a tolerable level. An average of 30 °C was achieved in idle mode. We measured a maximum of 34.8 °C on the top side. The surfaces reached an average of 31.6 to 33.4 °C under permanent full load. The casing reached its maximum of 40.1 °C in a spot on the surface in the area of the SoC. The power supply heated up to a hot 46.8 °C during load and should thus definitely be positioned openly.

Max. Load
 38.5 °C
101 F
31.8 °C
89 F
29 °C
84 F
 
 40.1 °C
104 F
31.8 °C
89 F
29.6 °C
85 F
 
 38.3 °C
101 F
31.7 °C
89 F
29.5 °C
85 F
 
Maximum: 40.1 °C = 104 F
Average: 33.4 °C = 92 F
27.9 °C
82 F
30.3 °C
87 F
35.9 °C
97 F
28.8 °C
84 F
30.8 °C
87 F
37 °C
99 F
28.2 °C
83 F
31 °C
88 F
34.6 °C
94 F
Maximum: 37 °C = 99 F
Average: 31.6 °C = 89 F
Power Supply (max.)  46.8 °C = 116 F | Room Temperature 22.7 °C = 73 F | Voltcraft IR-350
(±) The average temperature for the upper side under maximal load is 33.4 °C / 92 F, compared to the average of 30 °C / 86 F for the devices in the class Tablet.
(±) The maximum temperature on the upper side is 40.1 °C / 104 F, compared to the average of 33.8 °C / 93 F, ranging from 20.7 to 53.2 °C for the class Tablet.
(+) The bottom heats up to a maximum of 37 °C / 99 F, compared to the average of 33.3 °C / 92 F
(+) In idle usage, the average temperature for the upper side is 30.3 °C / 87 F, compared to the device average of 30 °C / 86 F.

Speakers

Front-sided speaker
Front-sided speaker

The speaker is located on the front and produces a decent sound with a good maximum volume. As typical for the category, slight shortcomings, such as the underlying treble-heaviness, are noticed particularly in higher volumes. The 3.5 mm jack convinces with a low-noise sound and high maximum volume.

Energy Management

Power Consumption

The power consumption of Asus' Fonepad 7 FE375CG proves to be quite low with idle rates from 0.7 to 2.4 watts and 5.6 watts during load. Only Asus' Memo Pad HD 7 ME176C consumes considerably less in the comparison group. Acer's Iconia Tab 8 has a significantly bigger power hunger.

Power Consumption
Off / Standbydarklight 0 / 0.1 Watt
Idledarkmidlight 0.7 / 1.9 / 2.4 Watt
Load midlight 3.9 / 5.6 Watt
 color bar
Key: min: dark, med: mid, max: light        Voltcraft VC 940
Currently we use the Metrahit Energy, a professional single phase power quality and energy measurement digital multimeter, for our measurements. Find out more about it here. All of our test methods can be found here.

Battery Runtime

Asus' Fonepad 7 FE375CG has a non-removable 15-watt battery and should achieve up to 690 hours of runtime according to the manufacturer. The energy-efficient SoC consumes relatively little, but the bright IPS screen demands a lot of power. Nevertheless, the review sample proved to be enduring in our runtime tests.

We recorded 4.5 hours during full load via the Stability Test app using maximum brightness. In comparison, the tablet is on par with its rivals, and only HP's Slate 7 6100en VoiceTab lags behind clearly. All contenders have almost the same battery capacity.

The practical browsing test via Wi-Fi using an adapted brightness of 70% (150 cd/m²) ran for 8.5 hours. The former Asus Fonepad ME372CG still comes closest to that with approximately 8 hours. Asus' Fonepad 7 achieves an impressive maximum of 15.5 hours using minimum screen brightness and disabled communication modules (Wi-Fi on) in energy-saving mode. Thus, the review sample outclasses all its rivals, who need an external power source much earlier. Only Asus' Fonepad ME372CG lasts longer here. This performance means a workday without recharging is easily possible with Asus' Fonepad 7.

Battery Runtime
Idle (without WLAN, min brightness)
15h 30min
WiFi Surfing
8h 33min
Big Buck Bunny H.264 1080p
8h 55min
Load (maximum brightness)
4h 30min

Verdict

In review: Asus Fonepad 7 FE375CG
In review: Asus Fonepad 7 FE375CG

Asus offers a well-designed mid-range tablet with a very attractive value-for-money ratio with its Fonepad 7 FE375CG. The installed Intel Atom Z3560 quad-core SoC alongside the integrated PowerVR G6430 GPU results in a strong team with a very satisfying performance in apps, games and multimedia applications. The bright and viewing-angle stable IPS touchscreen with good color reproduction responds promptly to every input. That makes using Android 4.4.2 KitKat really fun. Beyond that, the decent Wi-Fi reception, well-implemented dual-SIM support, and stable quad-band UMTS/3G reliably establish contact with the outside world.

Admittedly, the buyer has to inevitably make minor compromises in this price range. The casing could be higher quality and more stylish, and it is made of plastic. The 7-inch screen has a sufficient resolution of 1280x800 pixels, but some contenders already use the Full HD resolution in this price range. It is still tolerable that the battery is non-removable especially seeing the long runtimes. We also like the solid, well-built chassis. Using the device for a whole workday is possible almost without restrictions. The good primary camera and the speaker's acceptable sound are also positives. That lets us forgive the Fonepad 7 for the webcam's below-average presentation. An unintelligible drawback: The rear-facing camera does not have an LED flash for illuminating dark objects.

Overall, we still come to a positive verdict because there are clearly more pros than cons, which makes Asus' Fonepad 7 FE375CG a good deal in the 200 Euros (~$254) price range.

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In review: Asus Fonepad 7 FE375CG. Test model courtesy of Asus.
In review: Asus Fonepad 7 FE375CG. Test model courtesy of Asus.

Specifications

Asus Fonepad 7 FE375CG (Fonepad Series)
Processor
Intel Atom Z3560 4 x 1.833 GHz, Moorefield, Quad-Core, 64bit
Graphics adapter
PowerVR G6430, Core: 533 MHz
Memory
1024 MB 
Display
7.00 inch 16:10, 1280 x 800 pixel, capacitive touchscreen, IPS LCD, glossy: yes
Storage
16 GB eMMC Flash, 16 GB 
, 11 GB free
Connections
1 USB 2.0, Audio Connections: 3.5 mm jack, Card Reader: micro-SD (max. 64 GB), Sensors: GPS, GLONASS & AGPS; gravity, proximity, light, and Hall sensors; e-compass, Miracast, dual-SIM (micro-SIM) support
Networking
802.11 b/g/n (b/g/n = Wi-Fi 4/), Bluetooth 4.0, HSPA+ (uplink: 5.76 Mbps / downlink: 42 Mbps); 3G: WCDMA (850, 900, 1900, 2100 MHz); 2G: EDGE/GSM (850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz)
Size
height x width x depth (in mm): 9.8 x 194.3 x 108.9 ( = 0.39 x 7.65 x 4.29 in)
Battery
15 Wh Lithium-Polymer, Battery runtime (according to manufacturer): 11.5 h
Operating System
Android 4.4 KitKat
Camera
Webcam: front: 2 MP; primary camera: 5 MP, auto-focus (720p video recordings)
Additional features
Speakers: front-sided stereo speakers with SonicMaster technology, Keyboard: virtual, Keyboard Light: yes, 24 Months Warranty
Weight
299 g ( = 10.55 oz / 0.66 pounds), Power Supply: 55 g ( = 1.94 oz / 0.12 pounds)

 

In review: Asus Fonepad 7 FE375CG.
In review: Asus Fonepad 7 FE375CG.
The tablet is made of white polycarbonate, and...
The tablet is made of white polycarbonate, and...
...it stands out with an all-over good build and...
...it stands out with an all-over good build and...
...evenly spaced gaps.
...evenly spaced gaps.
The bezel's silver rim is also plastic.
The bezel's silver rim is also plastic.
The matte-white back cannot be removed, and the battery is non-removable.
The matte-white back cannot be removed, and the battery is non-removable.
The SIM and micro-SD slots can be accessed...
The SIM and micro-SD slots can be accessed...
...through a narrow flap that is not mounted very stably after it is opened.
...through a narrow flap that is not mounted very stably after it is opened.
The screen is based on IPS technology, and...
The screen is based on IPS technology, and...
...it has an HD resolution of 1280x800 pixels.
...it has an HD resolution of 1280x800 pixels.
It excels with a good color reproduction.
It excels with a good color reproduction.
Asus' Fonepad 7 FE375CG is powered by...
Asus' Fonepad 7 FE375CG is powered by...
...an energy-efficient Intel Atom quad-core SoC.
...an energy-efficient Intel Atom quad-core SoC.
Asus preloads a few...
Asus preloads a few...
...useful apps.
...useful apps.
The Android 4.4.2 KitKat operating system has been treated to the adapted ZenUI user interface - including quick settings via swiping in the screen's upper right area.
The Android 4.4.2 KitKat operating system has been treated to the adapted ZenUI user interface - including quick settings via swiping in the screen's upper right area.
In addition to the white version of our review sample,...
In addition to the white version of our review sample,...
...Asus' Fonepad 7 FE375CG is also available in black, gold and red.
...Asus' Fonepad 7 FE375CG is also available in black, gold and red.
The tablet's application performance is awesome - particularly in this price range.
The tablet's application performance is awesome - particularly in this price range.
Not so much the webcam. Though it has a relatively high resolution of 2 MP, it is not suitable for more than occasional videoconferencing.
Not so much the webcam. Though it has a relatively high resolution of 2 MP, it is not suitable for more than occasional videoconferencing.
Our verdict about the 5 MP primary camera is considerably better.
Our verdict about the 5 MP primary camera is considerably better.
Unfortunately, there is no LED flash for illuminating dark objects.
Unfortunately, there is no LED flash for illuminating dark objects.
The stock Android browser is not very satisfactory. Our tip: The preloaded and significantly stronger Google Chrome functions better.
The stock Android browser is not very satisfactory. Our tip: The preloaded and significantly stronger Google Chrome functions better.
The physical buttons work accurately and present a good pressure point alongside a pleasant key drop.
The physical buttons work accurately and present a good pressure point alongside a pleasant key drop.
Unfortunately, the Android system keys were not incorporated into the casing's quite wide bezel and reduce the displayed image.
Unfortunately, the Android system keys were not incorporated into the casing's quite wide bezel and reduce the displayed image.

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Pros

+IPS screen with high viewing angle stability
+Good color reproduction
+Screen's surface good gliding properties
+Immaculate build
+Solid casing
+Long battery runtimes
+Dual-SIM feature
+Latest Android 4.4.2 KitKat
+Acceptable sound
+Decent primary camera
 

Cons

-No Full HD resolution
-Abysmal webcam
-No LED flash

Shortcut

What we like

Dual-SIM support, the latest Android 4.4.2 KitKat, and the energy-efficient yet strong SoC.

What we'd like to see

A Full HD resolution and a removable battery.

What surprises us

IPS is apparently becoming standard in the 200 Euros (~$254) price range.

The competition

Acer Iconia Tab 8 A1-840FHD 

Asus Fonepad ME372CG 

Asus Memo Pad HD 7 ME176C

HP Slate 7 6100en VoiceTab

Rating

Asus Fonepad 7 FE375CG - 09/19/2014 v4(old)
Michael Moser

Chassis
83%
Keyboard
70 / 80 → 88%
Pointing Device
85%
Connectivity
50 / 65 → 77%
Weight
86 / 40-88 → 96%
Battery
92%
Display
84%
Games Performance
65 / 68 → 96%
Application Performance
48 / 76 → 63%
Temperature
88%
Noise
100%
Audio
59 / 91 → 65%
Camera
58 / 85 → 68%
Average
74%
86%
Tablet - Weighted Average
Michael Moser, 2014-09-25 (Update: 2018-05-15)