The new tablet is a good bargain and it’s very fast
Price: US$ 379
Ratings: 4/5
TF300 is a bit
thicker and heavier than Transformer Prime, and its standard IPS display is setback
With the latest 10-inch tablet, Transformer Pad TF300 (379
USD, 16GB; 399 USD, 32GB), Asus avoids upgrading design and major hardware,
instead of progressive improvements. TF300 is a cheaper version of Eee Pad
Transformer Prime (499 USD, 4 stars). Inside, you can find the quad-core Nvidia
Tegra 3 processor that made the Prime the fastest Android device having come
our labs; but absenting some Prime’s main features like the aluminum back and
Super IPS+ display. However, the price is 100 USD lower to make up. TF300 is
one of the fastest tablets at present, but it doesn’t take the place of new
iPad (499 USD, 4.5 stars). Furthermore, stable performance, the latest Android
OS, and specific docking keyboard make TF300 to an attractive choice.
Less change
The obvious difference between Transformer Pad TF300 and
Transformer Prime is rough plastic back. At 10.4x7.1x0.38 inches and 1.39 pounds,
TF300 is a bit thicker and heavier than Prime. A power/dock connector sits
along the bottom edge; a micro USB port and microSD slot can be found on the
left panel; a standard-size 3.5mm headphone jack on the right, and power button
is on up.
The standard IPS display replaces for Super IPS+ display of
Prime, and this is a significant difference. The 1280-by-800 resolution
remains, but the TF300’s maximum screen brightness at 300 nits compared to 600 nits
of Prime. TF300’s screen is enough bright but lightly dimmer than iPad 2’s
screen (399 USD, 4.5 stars). The viewing angle is good, but the colors in TF300
are cooler than in Prime. However, it also has a high-quality display with its
resolution is higher than iPad 2’s.
The TF300 uses an 8-megapixel camera in back side, with a
bit larger aperture than Prime’s – f/2.2 instead of f/2.4. There is no LED
flash on TF300, but the 1.2-megapixel camera in back side is similar on both
models. The tablet connects with 802.11n Wi-Fi network and supports Bluetooth
3.0.
The TF300’s optional dock keyboard costs 149 USD including a
16.5Wh battery, a full-size USB port, and SD card slot. The comfortable keys, multi-touch
trackpad and you have got specific function keys for the tablet. If you are
considering the TF300 for productivity, you will want to pay up the extra for
dock.
Fast speed and sharp image
Prime and TF300 are still the only available tablets with
the latest high-end quad-core processor. Although the CPU speed clock is
decreased from 1.3GHz to 1.2GHz in TF300, its quad-core Nvidia Tegra 3 still shined
in our tests. At the highest setting, TF300 is just few less than Prime but it
still brings the impressive results compared to any Android tablets. During
regular use, both of the tablets have the same feeling, excellent with games
and power-source apps.
The TF300 comes with Google’s latest mobile OS Ice Cream
Sandwich. The Android 4.0 is a big step forward, but there are the same
problems: lack of optimized Android apps of tablets, as well as not have easy
way to find them in Google Play.
The photos taken by TF300’s back-side camera look good, with
little image noise and most of sharp detail. Some nicer textures still look
little pale, but that is typical of tablet’s camera. The TF300 also makes the
1080p video, and while outdoor videos are smooth and sharp, indoor videos are
grainy and choppy.
Still the high-end Android tablet
The Transformer Prime was a top tablets last year, and TF300
achieved that position, but that seems as a temporary replacement while we are
waiting for Infinity Prime with its 1080p high-resolution display. At 379 USD
for 16GB model, together with the fastest processor right now, the latest
Android version, and an add-on dock keyboard, the Asus is certainly one of the best
non-Apple tablets today, but we are waiting for an Android tablet that can
surpass the iPad.
Asus Transformer Pad TF300
Advantage
Cheap
Come with Android 4.0 OS, quad-core Tegra 3 processor
A useful optional dock keyboard
Improved camera
Disadvantage
Little dim camera
Android still lacks of applications that easy to find for
tablet.
