Sign up for a new account or log in here:
also @ TechSpot: AMD A4-5000 Review: the affordable ultraportable APU
We've seen countless attempts at hybridizing tablets and notebooks, but few manufacturers have taken that consolidation to the next step by using a smartphone as a primary computing device that attaches to various accessories that transform the handset into a tablet or laptop. In fact, besides the Motorola Atrix, Asus has made the only memorable attempt in the last year with its first-generation PadFone.
The PadFone was unveiled last spring (check out this video for a few laughs), and although it made a decent impression on reviewers, most folks agreed that the device felt a little unpolished. The package was a tad heavy at about two pounds, the docking mechanism wasn't exactly seamless, the handset's chips were a little sluggish in tablet "mode" and there were some synchronization issues with apps.
It's only been a few months since the first device hit shelves, but Asus has already prepared a follow-up that is lighter, faster and more refined than its predecessor. The PadFone 2's smartphone touts a 4.7-inch Super IPS+ 1280x720 display, a quad-core 1.5GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon S4, 2GB of RAM, and a 2140mAh battery that supplies up 13 hours of browsing over Wi-Fi and 16 hours of talk time.
Meanwhile, the tablet dock provides a 10.1-inch 1280x800 IPS display and a 5000mAh battery for up to 36 hours of talk time (the handset charges when docked and you can use a headset to make calls while it's attached to the tablet). Alone, the phone weighs 135g and that jumps to 649g (1.43lbs) when combined with the slate, or less than the current-gen iPad. Here's a comparison of both PadFones:
| PadFone 1 Phone | PadFone 2 Phone | PadFone 1 Dock | PadFone 2 Dock | |
| Display | 4.3" 96x540 Super AMOLED | 4.7" 1280x720 Super IPS+ | 10.1" 1280x800 TFT | 10.1" 1280x800 IPS |
| Processor | Dual-Core 1.5GHz Snapdragon S4 | Quad-Core 1.5GHz Snapdragon S4 | N/A | N/A |
| Memory | 1GB of RAM | 2GB of RAM | N/A | N/A |
| Storage | 16 to 64GB eMMc Flash, 32GB of cloud storage | 16/32/64GB integrated storage, 50GB of cloud storage | N/A | N/A |
| Battery | 1520mAh/8hrs 3G talk | 2140mAh/16hrs 3G talk | 6600mAh | 5000mAh |
| Camera | VGA (640x480) front, 8MP LED flash back | 1.2MP front, 13MP (1080p@30fps) back | 1.3MP front | ?? |
| Wireless | 2G, 3G, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth | Adds NFC and LTE | N/A | N/A |
| Other | microSD, e-compass, gyroscope, light/motion sensor etc. | Drops the microSD expansion slot | micro-USB, micro-HDMI, phone/GPS antennas, speakers, 3.5mm audio jack | ?? |
| Size | 128x65.4x9.2mm, 129g | 137.9x69x9mm, 135g | 273x176.9x13.55mm, 854g w/ phone | 649g w/ phone (today's 3G iPad is 662g) |
Obviously we're still missing a few details about the PadFone 2 dock's camera and connectivity, but it's probably fairly similar to the original design. Of note, the table doesn't list one of the PadFone 2's greatest improvements, the new docking mechanism, which is said to have been in development for several years and simplifies the process of attaching or removing the PadFone to the tablet. Once you pop the handset in, hands-on reports say it takes about a second for the slate to become functional.
Comparison of PadFone 1 & 2 docking methods
Interestingly, word has it that the PadFone 2 won't necessarily directly replace the PadFone. Although it clearly iterates on the original design, the updated model may be offered alongside the older model. Information is spotty, obviously, but it seems that the PadFone 1 has an optional keyboard to transform the tablet into a laptop, while the PadFone 2 may not have this accessory. The PadFone 2 bundle will launch in Europe and Asia by December for €800 (32GB) and €900 (64GB). US availability is unknown.
Related Products from Product Finder
Motorola Atrix 4G
The Motorola Atrix 4G is an Android 2.2 smartphone with a dual-core 1Ghz processor, 1GB of RAM, 16GB of storage, a 4-inch "qHD" (960 x 540) display, a fingerprint recognizer, a big 1930 mAh battery and 0.4-inch thick body.
Motorola Atrix 2
Read expert reviews, pros & cons, and product information about Motorola Atrix 2. There are 25 reviews available so far.
Apple iPad
The Apple iPad (3rd-gen) includes a Retina Display operating at a resolution of 2,048 x 1,536. Powering the new iPad is a dual-core A5X processor with quad-core graphics, it also gets upgraded optics in the form of a 5MP backside illuminated sensor that features a 5-element lens, IR filter and ISP built into the A5X chip. Apple claims The new iPad is good for 10 hours of battery life and nine hours when using 4G LTE.
Asus Eee Pad Transformer Prime TF201
The Asus Eee Pad Transformer Prime sports a very high-resolution 1920 x 1200 pixel 10.1-inch Full HD display, it is powered by either a quad-core NVIDIA Tegra 3 or dual-core Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 processors depending on configuration. It runs Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich and has an optional keyboard dock like the other Transformer tablets from Asus.
User Comments: 8
Got something to say? Post a comment-
I wonder how people use thi... I mean THESE things. So normally you have a phone, and you can dock it in to your pad for extended battery life and bigger screen? In what situations would this be suitable... ?
I love the idea, but I am thinking... how da heck do you use it?
-
I smell lawsuit with Asus using word "Pad".
-
Apple stole the word "pad" from IBM. Remember ThinkPad which first came 1992.
-
I guess how do you use it when you want to turn your phone into a tablet, IMHO this is more practical rather than having both phone and tablet that are running on the same platform, because, with padfone you simply transform your phone into a tablet and vice versa
-
I wonder how people use thi... I mean THESE things. So normally you have a phone, and you can dock it in to your pad for extended battery life and bigger screen? In what situations would this be suitable... ?
I love the idea, but I am thinking... how da heck do you use it?
Sincerely, you make no sense. How do you use it? As a phone when its off of dock. Then you use it as a tablet when its on the dock. If you don't know how to use a phone or a tablet, then thats a different problem. In what situation will being a tablet be suitable? How about viewing video content? Maybe playing a game. Or use for reading ebooks. Is that really hard to perceive?
-
captainawesome said:
Haha that video. worst presentation ever.
-
1 person liked this |
I think Kotex used the word pad before Apple.
-
captainawesome said:I think Kotex used the word pad before Apple.
hahahaha.
Most Popular
| Trending | Featured |
Subscribe to TechSpot
Get free exclusive content, learn about new features and breaking tech news.