The Asus Transformer Prime was the
breakout device showing how a tablet and a keyboard could be fused together in
a decent package.
Price: $900
Website: www.amazon.com
Ratings: 4/5
However, the Taiwanese brand couldn’t leave
the design alone, coming back with an upgraded device that offers a 1080p
Gorilla Glass 2 screen (compared to the 720p option of the previous model) and
a new chassis, complete with an overhaul on button placement.
Asus
Transformer Pad Infinity
To the naked eye, there’s little difference
between the two - the enhanced clarity of the display is visible when browsing
the internet, as text looks absolutely razor sharp. It’s not in the same league
as the new iPad, but it’s still excellent.
The other major enhancement is under the
hood - the Wi-Fi and GPS sensors, which were notably poor on the original
Prime, have been much upgraded for the Infinity. Its Wi-Fi range now beats most
other tablets we’ve had on test.
Slicker interface
Android 4.0 adds a new level of
functionality from the Honeycomb platform found on previous models. This brings
with it a host of fancy upgrades, such a slicker multi-tasking interface and
faster internet browser.
Given Asus developed the flagship device
for the next version of Android (4.1 Jelly Bean) there’s a good chance the
Transformer Pad Infinity could be getting an update in the near future as well,
meaning an even faster Ul and better notifications.
Gaming is another key area that’s well
represented on the tablet. Not only are you getting a super powerful,
multi-core GPU but also access to the Nvidia Tegra Zone portal, which points
out the most intensive games for your tablet. However, some games are more
suited to the phone rather than the tablet, as tilt control can be tricky to
manage - although the enhanced graphical output means web pages load with more
snap.
The
Asus Transformer Prime was dubbed one of the top tablets on the market, so any
additional technology chucked in there is only going to improve the experience.
The keyboard dock that comes in the box is
an excellent accessory - one that marks the Transformer Pad range out from the
rest of the market, and takes the fight to the iPad 3 by bringing a new option
to the tablet owner.
However, there is one problem: the keyboard
isn’t heavy enough. It sounds odd to want more weight to a portable device, but
the Pad Infinity is not easy to type on as the screen makes it want to tip
backwards.
The Asus Transformer Prime was dubbed one
of the top tablets on the market, so any additional technology chucked in there
is only going to improve the experience. However, the price-tag is a fair chunk
heavier than we would have expected.
Despite the excellent functionality, smooth
Ul and added keyboard, it’s still an expensive tablet when you consider the
Google Nexus 7 is around a third of the price with the same GPU and a more
advanced OS.
Qwerty
fun: The keyboard offers extra ports such as full SD
The Asus Transformer Pad Infinity is still
one of our favorite tablets for most usage cases, however - just make sure you
get your hands on a decent case to protect your investment.
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Pros
·
Improved Wi-Fi and GPS sensors
·
Formidable gaming machine
Cons
·
Keyboard isn’t heavy enough
·
It’s a bit too expensive
Dimensions
·
Height: 180.8mm
·
Width: 263mm
·
Depth: 8.5mm
·
Screen size: 10.1-inch
·
Weight: 598g
Specification
·
Supplier: www.amazon.com
·
OS: Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich)
·
Processor: Nvidia
Tegra 3 1.6GHz
·
RAM: 1GB
·
Storage: 32GB
·
Expansion: microSD, SD (on keyboard dock)
·
Rear camera: 8MP
·
Front camera: 2MP
·
Screen type: LED
·
Screen resolution: 1,900x1,200
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