Asus MeMO Pad ME181C Review

The MeMO Pad ME181C is the tweener in Asus’ trio of new Intel-powered Android tablets. But while the 7-inch MeMO Pad 7 and larger 10-inch Transformer Pad TF103C offer nothing new in their respective categories, the ME181C is one of the most affordable 8-inch Android tablets at $199 (16GB). And it doesn’t make a ton of compromises to reach that price point. It’s not direct competition for the $400 Galaxy Tab S 8.4, but it is a better value than the $270 Galaxy Tab 4 8.0. Our Editors’ Choice small-screen tablet remains the Google Nexus 7 ($99.99 at Amazon)(Opens in a new window) , which has a much sharper display and pure Android experience, but if screen real estate is a major priority, the ME181C is an affordable, larger option.    

The ME181C and MeMO Pad 7 ($119.99 at Amazon)(Opens in a new window)  are very similar. There’s just the size difference, and the $50 increase in price for the 8-inch tablet. The display, performance, camera, and Android software are identical between the two, so check out the MeMO Pad 7 review for a full rundown on those features. We tested each tablet separately, so I’ll focus mainly on the design differences and battery life, and compare the ME181C to its same-size peers.

Design and Battery Life
At 8.3 by 4.9 by 0.3 inches (HWD) and 11.2 ounces, the ME181C is about the same size as the Galaxy Tab 4 8.0. That’s a good thing, as both tablets are thin, light, and easy to handle. The plastic back of the ME181C has a textured, rubberized feel that provides a little extra grip. The Volume and Power buttons are still situated in an awkward position like on the MeMO Pad 7; they’re on the back panel instead of flush with the edge. The micro USB port and 3.5mm headphone jack sit on the top edge, while the microSD card slot is left uncovered on the left side.

The 8-inch, 1,280-by-800-pixel IPS LCD is framed by surprisingly narrow bezels for an affordable device. The display looks about average with good maximum brightness, but pales in comparison with the Galaxy Tab S 8.4’s stunning 2,560-by-1,600-pixel AMOLED display.

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See How We Test Tablets

In our battery rundown test, which loops a video with screen brightness set to max and Wi-Fi on, the ME181C’s 3,950mAh battery lasted for 6 hours, 58 minutes of continuous playback, or about half an hour less than the Nexus 7 did on the same test; both results are fine, if not outstanding.

Conclusions
The Asus MeMO Pad ME181C doesn’t face nearly as much competition as its 7- and 10-inch siblings, the MeMO Pad 7 and Transformer Pad TF103C. Instead, it goes toe-to-toe with the Samsung Galaxy Tab 4 8.0 ($69.00 at Amazon)(Opens in a new window) , but matches nearly every feature while costing $80 less. That’s significant savings with essentially no disadvantage, unless the Tab 4 8.0’s IR-blaster is a must-have feature for you. It can’t come close to matching the Galaxy Tab S 8.4 ($599.99 at Samsung)(Opens in a new window) , but that tablet commands double the price at $400.

The ME181C is a great affordable option in the in-between 8-inch realm, but if you can deal with less screen real estate, the Google Nexus 7 is a superior option, thanks to the latter’s full HD display and pure Android software.