ASUS Transformer Prime Review
I finally managed to get my hands on the ASUS Transformer Prime. Been using it for a while now, and I have to say, this is most definitely the best Android tablet to date. Probably the best tablet to date. Before you start thinking this review is biased, I do want to point out that there are a few quirks with this tablet as well, and I will outline them below in the full review. However, on the whole, definitely the best Android tablet to date. Finally the Samsung 10.1 has been dethroned! All hail the new king: ASUS Transformer Prime.
From my previous posts and the press, you are probably already familiar with the specs on this device. However, just in case you missed anything, the ASUS Transformer Prime is the world’s first quad-core processor tablet. Pretty crazy stuff. It’s the first tablet using NVIDIA’s new Tegra 3 processor. This baby has 4 CPU cores and 12 GPU cores, it’s just a monster. In addition, the Prime has been redesigned to be much thinner, measuring in at only 8.3mm (or 0.33 inches). This redesign makes it the thinnest tablet on the market, beating both the iPad 2 and Samsung Galaxy 10.1!
The screen has also been upgraded to a Super IPS+ display with Corning Gorilla Glass protection. It’s called Super IPS+ because ASUS significantly increased the brightness output of this tablet, to 600nits. This is extremely bright and fantastic for outdoor reading. Even though ASUS claims this is much brighter than the competitor’s displays, in real life I only noticed slight improvement. Nonetheless, it’s a great improvement since the last generation and is definitely outdoors readable.
The ASUS Transformer Prime also has an upgraded 8.0MP back-facing camera with auto-focus and LED flash. ASUS really put some work into this camera; it’s a great shooter. I’m pretty sure this is one of the best, if not the best, camera on tablets currently. The aperture is f2.4 in size, compared to the usual f2.8 (smaller the better), which captures more light even in darker conditions. Finally, you have 1GB RAM, with 32GB/64GB storage options. Starting price is $499 USD for the 32GB version, and $599 for the 64GB version. This is a pretty nice setup, since most other tablets only start of with 16GB of storage for $499.
ASUS Transformer Prime Construction
The first thing you’ll notice about the ASUS Transformer Prime, once you have it in your hands, is how awesome it feels. ASUS really went in length to make this tablet feel like a premium piece of technology. The entire tablet, as well as the mobile keyboard dock, is very sturdy and well built. It just feels like you are using something expensive and premium. The metallic spun finish is a nice touch, and really makes this tablet stand out from the crowd. Some people said the spun finish on the back, especially on the silver version (ASUS calls it Champagne Gold), looks like a pot in your kitchen. I can definitely see where they are coming from, but for me, this thing looks nothing like a kitchen appliance.
The finish ASUS used on the Transformer Prime makes it surprisingly scratch-resistant. The metal is definitely more scratch-resistant compared to the iPad 2. The latching mechanism between the tablet and the mobile keyboard dock has also been improved compared to the first generation Transformer. It works much better and the connection gives a satisfying click. However, it is still very hard to fold the dock latch down if the tablet isn’t connected.
One peculiar issue is that the ASUS Transformer Prime is top heavy. Since all of the processors and components are in the tablet, when this thing is docked it’s very easy to flip it over. When docked and used like a laptop, you definitely don’t want to put this near the edge of the table. One slight bump can cause your ASUS Transformer Prime to topple over.
ASUS Transformer Prime Display
As mentioned above, the Super IPS+ display is very bright. Just like the first generation Transformer, the Prime’s screen is protected by Corning Gorilla Glass – a very strong glass that’s resistant to just about anything. Throwing the Transformer Prime into your bag with your keys or whatever other junk you have in there should not be an issue…though of course, try not to abuse it if you can. The viewing angle of the screen is by far the best I’ve seen on any tablet thus far. ASUS advertises a 178-degree viewing angle display, and they aren’t exaggerating. There is very little color or contrast loss even when viewed at an angle…pretty awesome when multiple people are looking at the same screen.
ASUS advertises the new screen as fingerprint-resistant. They claim that they used some special coating or treatment on the screen to prevent fingerprint grease. However from using it for a couple of weeks, I would say this is just a marketing gimmick. My fingerprints were all over the screen, just like with all the other tablets. I am sure ASUS applied some kind of coating though, because I can clean off my fingerprint easier than I can compared to other tablet screens. However, it’s not really “resistant” per say.
ASUS Transformer Prime Camera
There is a 1.2MP camera on the front of the tablet for video chatting. Nothing exciting here, just standard equipment. The 8.0MP camera on the back, however, has an f2.4 aperture for increased light capturing. ASUS claims it has a 30% better color enhancement compared to the competitors. While I can’t say the exact percentage, the image quality is certainly better than any other tablets I’ve seen to date.
Keep in mind, this still doesn’t compare to some of the cameras from smartphones, such as the beast the iPhone 4S is equipped with. But I can say that the ASUS Transformer Prime has the best 8.0MP shooter for a tablet. 1080p video recording? Silky smooth.
ASUS Transformer Prime Sound
I demoed the speaker on the ASUS Transformer Prime to a few people, and everyone was amazed at how good the sound quality is, considering this is coming from a tablet. It really has the best tablet speaker on the market right now. ASUS’ investment in its SonicMaster sound technology has definitely paid off, as the sound is both loud and clear. While the Transformer Prime isn’t going to be powering your next disco, it certainly has enough oomf for a small house party.
The only complaint I have is there is just one single speaker on the right side of the tablet. So while holding it in normal usage, the sound is only going to be coming out of one side. Not a big deal, but takes sometime to adjust to.
ASUS Transformer Prime Mobile Dock
Just like the original Transformer, the ASUS Transformer Prime also has an optional mobile dock accessory; this is actually what gives the “Transformer” name. The mobile dock sells separately for $149 USD, making it a fairly pricy accessory. However, the mobile dock will add around 6 hours of extra battery life and provide a 95% full-sized keyboard. There is also an USB port and a SD card slot on the dock for added expandability.
I’m actually typing this review on the ASUS Transformer Prime with the mobile dock right now, and I have to say the keyboard is a little bit cramped. Also, the travel distance of each key press is fairly short, which makes for a pretty weird typing experience at the beginning. The keyboard from the original Transformer definitely is more tactile, but that is expected since the Transformer Prime is much slimmer. Fortunately, after using this keyboard for a week, I am fully adapted and can crank out pretty close to my max typing speed. Not bad.
The track pad is small, but precise and responsive. One annoyance is that you have to disable the track pad (can be done with the press of a button) when typing, because when hitting the space bar, your right hand thumb will invariably brush against the track pad. This causes your cursor to jump all over the map and makes normal typing almost impossible. Not a deal breaker, just a minor annoyance.
Transformer Prime Software
Not much to say here. The ASUS Transformer Prime is launching with Android Honeycomb, but will upgrade to Ice Cream Sandwich in early 2012. Even on Honeycomb, the experience is very smooth.
ASUS Transformer Prime Battery Life
Based on my tests with moderate usage, the tablet itself has a battery life around 10 hours. When combined with the mobile dock, that increases to 16 hours. Fairly close to what ASUS is advertising.
Transformer Prime Conclusion
Like I said at the beginning of this review, the ASUS Transformer Prime is really the best Android tablet on the market right now, and I would argue the best tablet, period. Despite the minor annoyances mentioned above, ASUS presents an attractive package with super performance, generous storage, and premium design. Things should only get better when Ice Cream Sandwich arrives.
You can get yours from Amazon.com. I definitely recommend the ASUS Transformer Prime.
