Gaming Performance - 3DMark

We tested the ASUS ZenPad 7.0's gaming performance using 3DMark, using the Ice Storm Extreme test.

Without a doubt, the ASUS ZenPad 7.0 tablet is not really meant for 3D gaming. The ASUS ZenFone 2, in comparison, was more than 2.5X faster. Needless to say, the Samsung Galaxy S6 is even faster.

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Overall Performance - AnTuTu Benchmark

AnTuTu is a nice benchmark for testing various performance aspects of Android devices.

With the exception of 2D graphics, the ASUS ZenPad 7.0 falls far short of the ASUS ZenFone 2 and the Samsung Galaxy S6 in performance. Take a look at how the ZenPad 7.0 compares against a selection of other Android devices.

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Our Opinion

The ASUS ZenPad 7.0 is a cheap and cheerful mini-tablet. Powered by the low-cost Intel Atom x3 chip, it is never going to win any speed race. If you are looking for a mobile gaming machine, then this is not what you are looking for.

The ZenPad 7.0 is targeted at consumers who want an affordable mini tablet and don't need a stylus. In fact, it was obviously designed to lure away potential buyers of the Samsung Galaxy Tab A 8.0 tablet. If you don't need the Tab A's S Pen, then the ZenPad 7.0 will probably be a better deal. After all, the ZenPad 7.0 boasts higher-resolution display and camera as well as a faster GPU at a significantly lower price point.

The ASUS Tru2Life display is really sharp and vivid - a real delight to use. Thanks to the integrated ARM Mali-450 MP4 GPU, the ZenPad 7.0 is as fast as ASUS ZenFone 2 and the Samsung Galaxy S6 in 2D graphics and video playback capabilities.

The 8 MP PixelMaster camera, on the other hand, was a disappointment. Despite its higher resolution, it could not record 1080p video, and the 720p videos it recorded suffered from exposure issues. Its photographic capabilities were similarly marred by poor exposure control. It should be possible for ASUS to improve the camera's firmware to better manage exposure, so we look forward to an update to fix this problem.

Despite its flaws, the ZenPad 7.0 is a delightful tablet to use, and it is rather well-built for its price point. ASUS even went to the effort of giving it user-swappable back covers, called ZenCases. ASUS now offers 6 different ZenCase colours as well as an Audio Cover upgrade and a Power Case for those who need longer battery life.

We would recommend this tablet for those who want a small 7-8" tablet but do not require a stylus. The ASUS ZenPad 7.0 is best used for surfing the Internet, email and messaging, video playback, office applications and light games.

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Lowest Prices

If you are interested in purchasing the ASUS ZenPad 7.0 outside of Malaysia, try Amazon.com.

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