Tech Times previously reported on an alleged release from Verizon, in the form of Asus ZenPad Z8, and it looks like speculations have been on point.
The leak featured a couple of expected specifications from the Asus tablet, as well as its budget-friendly price ranging from $250 to $300. Purportedly, the Asus ZenPad Z8 will have an 8-inch display which supports a resolution of 2,048 x 1,536 pixels. An 8-megapixel rear camera was seen on the device, with a 1.8-megapixel front camera.
In this previous report, the Zenpad Z8 will supposedly run on the latest Android Marshmallow OS out of the box, powered by a hexa-core Snapdragon 650 processor which offers 2 GB of RAM. Storage capacities were speculated to be around 16 GB with the option to expand it further using a microSD card.
The tablet was anticipated to be released alongside Asus' announcement of its ZenFone 3 lineup on May 30, though, there have been no details regarding its immediate release until today, as the device was finally posted on Verizon's online store.
Final specifications include its 7.9-inch screen, which is close enough to the reported 8-inch screen, and it's 2-megapixel front camera, an upgrade from the previous 1.8-megapixel camera reported. Its expandable microSD slot can support storage capacities of up to 128 GB.
Most of the leaked predictions have been right, with the addition of an Adreno 510 GPU integrated on the tablet's Snapdragon chipset. This GPU is powerful enough to support 4K videos as well as Vulkan-based game application programming interfaces (APIs). The tablet's display also features a 178-degree viewing angle, which can be further optimized with the built-in Asus VisualMaster technology.
The Asus ZenPad Z8 comes equipped with a 4,680 mAh battery capacity that should be able to last a day's worth of usage, or up to 13 hours, according to the company. Paired with the tablet's dual front speakers, users will be able to enjoy optimal video viewing experiences or game-related activities without worrying about its battery life until the end of the day where its USB Type-C port will come into play. This charging port also supports connections for external storage, monitors and other peripherals.
All of the Asus tablet specifications can compete with Apple's iPad Mini 4, the former device priced at $10.41 per month for 24 months, $149.99 for a two-year contract, or a one-time deal of $249.99 without contract, while the latter device carries a starting price tag of $399. Furthermore, the cellular-ready ZenPad Z8 ships at the same prices while the iPad Mini 4 variant starts at $529.
A full list of specifications can be accessed through the Asus ZenPad Z8's product page on Verizon Wireless, where the tablet can be preordered as well. Shipments are expected to start on June 23.
