Asus Launches $149 MeMO Pad HD 7 Tablet

On Thursday Asus launched its $149 answer to the Nexus 7 tablet, the MeMO Pad HD 7. As the name indicates, it's a 7-inch Android tablet similar to the one it created for Google last year. For the price, it hits Google where it hurts, improving in some areas that have been major complaints about the Nexus 7 since its 2012 debut.

So what's similar? Both sport a 7-inch IPS screen with a 1280 x 800 resolution, a quad-core SoC clocked at 1.2 GHz, 1 GB of RAM, 16 GB of internal storage, and a 1.2MP camera mounted on the front. The newer MeMO tablet is slightly thicker than the Nexus 7, measuring 10.8 mm compared to 10.45 mm seen with Google's tablet.

And this is where the differences start. The new Asus tablet adds a microSD card slot for adding up to 32 GB of additional storage. This is ideal for pushing photos and video captured by the camera off the tablet's internal storage. This tablet also has a 5MP camera on the back so users can actually take pictures like they do on a smartphone.

The changes don't stop there. The new Asus tablet packs Bluetooth 4.0, whereas Google's Nexus 7 uses Bluetooth 3.0. Both solutions have a micro USB port, but there's no indication that the MeMO supports USB OTG like the Nexus 7, allowing users to attach a mouse, keyboard or external drives directly to the device. The new MeMo also comes in blue, white, pink, green and gray, whereas the Nexus 7 is offered in black only.

As for wireless connectivity, both sets of specs show support for Wireless N, but Google's Nexus 7 only supports the 2.4 GHz band – the MeMO specs don't specify if it supports single or dual-band (2.4 GHz, 5 GHz) connectivity. There's also no indication that the new MeMo tablet has NFS like Google's solution, but it provides a better battery: up to 10 hours compared to 8 hours on the Nexus 7.

"Asus MeMO Pad HD 7 has an optional protective TransCover with microfiber interior," the company said. "TransCover folds into a stand to prop up the tablet at the perfect angles for watching video and typing with the on-screen keyboard. TransCover is available in blue, pink, white and black for the MeMO Pad HD 7. The Persona Cover for the MeMO Pad HD 7 is also available. Available in black, pink and green, this is a snug-fit case that protects the tablet from everyday bumps and scrapes."

For consumers looking for a great 7-inch Android tablet, the new MeMO Pad HD 7 seems to be the ticket. As shown above, there are a few differences between this model and the one it made for Google, but you can't beat the price for what's packed under the screen. Don't expect a "pure" Google experience though; that can only be found on the Nexus 7.