Asus re-enters tablet market with the new 12.2-inch Pad

Asus is Back: Meet the All-New Asus Pad

For a while there, it looked like Asus had moved on from the tablet world to focus on laptops and gaming phones. But rumors of their return started swirling last month, and now it’s official. The company has just pulled the curtain back on the Asus Pad, a sleek 12.2-inch device that marks their big comeback to the tablet arena.

If you’re into high-quality screens, this one is going to catch your eye. Asus didn’t hold back, equipping the Pad with a 12.2-inch dual-layer OLED display. It features a smooth 144Hz refresh rate and a 3:2 aspect ratio, which is generally much better for productivity and web browsing than the standard widescreen format. With a resolution of 2,800 x 1,840 and 600 nits of brightness, it’s built to look sharp whether you’re streaming movies or working on the go.

Under the hood, Asus went with MediaTek’s Dimensity 8300 chipset. It’s paired with 8GB of LPDDR5X RAM and 256GB of UFS 3.1 storage. If you’re the type who likes to keep your entire media library offline, you’ll be happy to hear there’s a microSD card slot for easy expansion—a feature that’s becoming increasingly rare these days.

Built for Portability and Performance

Despite being a 12-inch device, the Asus Pad is surprisingly portable. It weighs in at 523 grams and is just 6.5mm thick. The build quality feels premium, too, featuring a magnesium-alloy chassis and a fiberglass rear panel to keep things sturdy yet light.

• Battery Life: A 9,000mAh battery keeps things running, supported by 45W fast charging.
• Audio: A quad-speaker setup with Dolby Atmos support for immersive sound.
• Software: It arrives running Android 16 right out of the gate.
• Connectivity: Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3, and a USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-C port.

When it comes to cameras, you’ll find a 13MP shooter on the back with an LED flash. For video calls and the occasional selfie, there’s a 5MP front-facing camera. While nobody buys a 12-inch tablet specifically for photography, these specs should more than handle document scanning and Zoom meetings.

Accessories and Availability

Asus is positioning this as a versatile tool for both work and play. The Asus Pad will support the Asus Pen 2.0 for those who like to sketch or take notes, and there’s an optional Bluetooth keyboard for those who want a laptop-like experience. Plus, Asus is actually including a protective case in the box, which is a nice touch that saves you an extra trip to the checkout counter.

As of now, we’re still waiting on the final word regarding pricing and exact release dates. However, seeing Asus back in the tablet game with such a high-spec OLED offering is definitely a win for consumers looking for alternatives to the usual suspects.