ASUS MeMO Pad Smart 10 Pro Reviews

Despite the modest price and reasonable performance, the Asus Memo Pad 10 is sorely lacking in star quality

The most impressive thing about the ASUS MeMO Pad Smart 10 is that it streets for around $280, yet it offers a 10.1-inch IPS display, Tegra 3 processor, and a thin and light design. It even looks like a premium tablet, plastic back notwithstanding. You don't get to that price point on a 10.1-inch slate without making some sacrifices, and the biggest one is screen resolution, which checks in at just 1280x800. If you want Full HD 1080p visuals, you'll need to utilize the mini-HDMI port It comes with Android 4.1 Jelly Bean right out of the box and can be updated to version 4.2, giving you the latest and greatest features Google's open source platform has to offer. That's a plus, however it seems most of what the MeMO has to offer is good and sometimes very good, but not great any single respect. The camera shoots decent photos, sound is sufficient for watching movies and playing games, and there's enough pixel pushing pep to get your game fix. However, it's still essentially a Nexus 7 in a 10.1-inch chassis. Considering the price, the MeMO Tab Smart 10 is a good buy for a first-time tablet owner, as a gift, or if you just prefer a larger size screen regardless of resolution. But if you're looking for a true premium experience, you'll have to dip a little deeper into your wallet for a Full HD 1080p (or greater) slate.

A tablet that's inexpensive, but good quality - it seems that's what Asus had in mind when they tasked their engineers with the design of the Memo Pad Smart 10. Overall, the manufacturer has succeeded: we like the very bright display with its vivid colors, the good battery life (which outclasses some of its competition), and the GPS sensor, which is rarely seen in this price range. The materials Asus uses, the sturdiness (or lack thereof) of the chassis, and the missing accessories make it clear that this is not a high-end tablet. Users wanting or needing a high resolution display, superior build quality, and a better webcam need to look elsewhere. Potential buyers who are aware of the fact that compromises are necessary when purchasing a lower-end device, are going to end up with a tablet which outclasses most of its direct competition and features a longer battery life, a better screen, and better sound.

In all fairness, the Asus MeMO Pad Smart 10 is a wonderful option if you’re on a tight budget for a 10” tablet; It has enough of a well-rounded performance to propel it over other comparable models, and the $300 price point that’s attached to it is absolutely dreamy for something that’s targeting the full-sized tablet segment of the market, which is undeniably competitive in many aspects. Frankly speaking, the MeMO Pad Smart 10 might not be blessed with the same notoriety as some of the other renowned models that Asus is known to concoct, but heck, it’s undoubtedly a good option for consumers who don’t want to shell out a whole lot on a very GOOD performing tablet.

What bothers me the most about the MemoPad is that it's forgettable. It's not all that smooth or fun to use. It only currently runs Jelly Bean 4.1.2. This isn't the most up-to-date hardware or software in the Android universe, and the price isn't all that rock-bottom. It all adds up to a product released with an odd sense of timing, as if it might disappear sooner than later to be replaced with a better version. If you're really looking for an Asus tablet right now, consider the keyboard-included Transformer Pad, instead. Or, spend up and get a Nexus 10. Or spend down and get a Nexus 7. Anyway, you get the picture.

The MeMo Pad ME301T isn’t designed to be the best tablet around — it’s designed to be one of the best available for a certain price, and it succeeds at at that. But if you can afford a $299 tablet you might able able to afford a $399 tablet… in which case you can get a whole lot more tablet for your money.