In April, Asus released their Padfone 2 series. It is a 4.7 inch phone that can double as a 10.1 inch tablet. This month, Asus comes up with the other side of the story - the Asus Fonepad. The device is basically a 7-inch Android table featuring a cellular connection. It is a one big smartphone.

Understanding the specs of the FonePad will help differentiate whether it is just better off as a tablet or it can double as a smartphone effectively. Asus has already been producing one of its best tablets to date, the Google Nexus 7 - and it is also 7 inches.

The FonePad is just like a relative of the Nexus 7. Only, the front-facing camera is more on the right to give away for the speakers. A brushed aluminum back replaced the dotted plastic rear. Even with the evident changes, the FonePad appears and feels the same as the Nexus. Users can find the power and volume controls in the same places.

The new Asus device weighs 316 grams. It is slightly lighter than its Google counterpart. It is also smaller but from afar, they could not look more like twins. The similarities in construction and appearance also extend to the quality. Asus FonePad can survive as much as the Nexus 7.

Connectivity, on the other hand, is better on the other FonePad. A microSD card reader combines the headphone hack and microUSB port. There is also a microSIM slot to allow users to choose their network. A rubberized plastic over at the back of the FonePad hide everything mentioned.

Users can add up to 32GB extra storage based on their preferences.

More similarities appear in terms of screen quality and sound. The Asus FonePad has a 1280 x 800 LED-backlit IPS panel. This is one of the best 7-inch display offerings this year. The colors appear vibrant giving users great viewing experience. The screen is wide enough to view photos, web pages and videos properly. HD videos and games seem punch but they still look natural.

Consumers have the option to configure the screen using the pre-installed Asus Splendid app. Some other settings can make a difference unless the viewer has more specific viewing options. The glass is not fingerprint proof but there are lot worse tablets around. Sound quality is clear enough to mimic a TV experience. The FonePad is not designed to produce the best depth of sound but it does its job whenever the user needs to hear something.

It may be similar to Nexus 7 in many ways but for a mobile communications device, it is an ideal choice.