Asus unveils PadFone 2 Android smartphone/tablet hybrid

[Matthew DeCarlo]

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.

Permalink to story.

https://www.techspot.com/news/50516-asus-unveils-padfone-2-android-smartphone-tablet-hybrid.html

 

[dawei1993]

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?

 

[Guest]

I smell lawsuit with Asus using word "Pad".

 

[Guest]

Apple stole the word "pad" from IBM. Remember ThinkPad which first came 1992.

 

[Razer]

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

 

[Scshadow]

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]

Haha that video. worst presentation ever.

 

[Guest]

I think Kotex used the word pad before Apple.

 

[captainawesome]

I think Kotex used the word pad before Apple.

hahahaha.