Asus Fonepad 7 FE375CXG review: Talk-worthy

Asus Fonepad 7 FE375CXG retail package

The Fonepad 7 FE375CXG came in a standard retail box, which contains the device, an A/C adapter and a microUSB cable. Pretty standard equipment for a compact tablet, so no worries but headphones would've definitely made sense in a tablet capable of making and receiving calls.

Asus Fonepad 7 FE375CXG retail box

Design and handling

The Fonepad 7 FE375CXG looks a lot like previous models in the series and isn't much different from the Memo Pads either. The choice of paint jobs is pretty similar too, Gold replacing the blue option of the previous generation.

What's instantly noticeable about the Fonepad 7 FE375CXG are the front stereo speakers. Those have inevitably added a bit of space top and bottom of the screen. The tablet is still reasonably compact, but the screen to surface ratio is hardly spectacular.

At 194.3 x 108.9 x 9.8mm, the Fonepad 7 weighs a hefty 300g. The footprint is acceptable, especially considering it's a very affordable device. After all, it was never meant to fit in pockets so the added thickness and weight won't matter in a bag or backpack.

Asus Fonepad 7 FE375CXG

The tablet is made of mostly matte plastic, a dark brushed ASUS logo looking good on white over at the back. A slim silver frame around the front goes well with the silver grilles of the front stereo speakers.

The silver frame and grilles

The rear looks nice in white, no gloss whatsoever but not enough grip either. It's not a big deal in a compact and overall comfortable to hold seven-incher. 299g of weight are perfectly acceptable and being a centimeter thick, the device can be held firmly in single and double-handed use.

Handling the Asus Fonepad 7 FE375CXG

The Asus Fonepad 7 FE375CXG is an easy one to slip in a bag and carry around without hassle. Compact 7" tablets are the outdoor type and dual-SIM support means this particular one doesn't belong in the living room. Those calls are always better taken with headphones, of course.

Controls

The front of the Asus Fonepad 7 FE375CXG features a pair of stereo speakers either side of a 7" HD display. The top speaker doubles as an earpiece, flanked by a couple of sensors and the VGA front cam.

Stereo speakers are welcome

There are no keys below the display, just the second speaker grille and an ASUS logo.

The Fonepad 7 only has two physical controls - the volume rocker and the power/lock key - placed almost at the back of the right-hand side. They are big enough and the location actually makes sense when you're simply holding the device. If you need to press them all at once or in combination (while snapping screenshots) there's a greater risk of letting the device slip out of your hands.

The right side has the only two controls

On the left there is a huge plastic cap covering the two micro-SIM compartments and the microSD slot. All three of them are hot-swappable.

The three slots on the left

The microUSB port is at the top of the Fonepad 7, while 3.5mm audio jack and the microphone are over at the bottom.

The microUSB at the top • the audio port and the mic at the bottom

The 2MP fixed-focus camera lens is the only thing of note at the back.

The 2MP rear camera