ASUS PadFone details emerge

by Alistair Lowe on 27 February 2012, 12:37

Tags: ASUSTeK (TPE:2357)

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ASUS has now launched its website advertising the PadFone, the child of the firm's unique phone/tablet hybrid concept and, as with many hybrids found throughout nature, the PadFone is an equally strange but impressively spec'd product.

Firstly, the tablet looks like an original TF101 Transformer, with a hump on its back; however this does mean that owners of original TF101 keyboards will more than likely be able to re-purpose their equipment and reduce expenditure should they chose to invest in the PadFone. What's even more wacky is that the device comes with a capacitive stylus that, when receiving a call, doubles as a wireless handset; looks like the PadFone isn't the only hybrid in this product.

The phone component itself is well equipped and features a Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 8260A dual-core 1.5GHz processor with an Adreno 225 GPU, similar to the HTC One S, supporting 21Mbps 3G. Impressively the phone also comes equipped with a 4.3 inch qHD 960 x 540 Super AMOLED display.

 

 

Full specifications are as follows:

CPU 1.5GHz Dual-Core Qualcomm MSM8260A Snapdragon
GPU Adreno 225
Internal Storage 16/32/64GB eMMC
Other Storage MicroSD
Camera 8MP f/2.2 auto-focus with flash + VGA front-facing
Connectivity WiFi b/g/n, 3.5mm Ear Jack
Display 4.3 inch 960 x 540 qHD Super AMOLED Plus
Dimensions 128 x 65.4 x 9.2mm, 129g
Battery 1520mAh


 

We don't yet have full details of the tablet's connectivity and capabilities, however, one of the more impressive features of the PadFone concept is its ability to provide extra power to the phone when docked and, provide it does, offering five times the battery life and, if you so dare to connect the keyboard module, the phone will receive a nine-fold boost.

Learning some lessons from the original Transformer release, ASUS will include a travel sleeve, which conceals a spare SIM-card holder, stylus holder and a cleaning cloth. Hop on over to the ASUS website for a series of YouTube videos demonstrating the PadFone's features.

 



HEXUS Forums :: 10 Comments

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It kind of looks ridiculous and yet a good idea all rolled into one. Very curious!
Would like to see this kind of design but where the phone also acts as the trackpad in the keyboard rather than secreted into the tablet.
Very intrigued to see what this is like in the flesh
Firstly, the tablet looks like an original TF101 Transformer, with a hump on its back; however this does mean that owners of original TF101 keyboards will more than likely be able to re-purpose their equipment and reduce expenditure should they chose to invest in the PadFone. What's even more wacky is that the device comes with a capacitive stylus that, when receiving a call, doubles as a wireless headset; looks like the PadFone isn't the only hybrid in this product.
So, have I got this right and the PadFone doesn't come with a keyboard, but can use the TF101's? If that's the case, then PF just went to the #2 slot on my buy list, (still behind the Galaxy S3 for the moment)

I'm still confused as to how a stylus - which looks like a pen - is supposed to be used as a headset. What are you supposed to do - stick the “pen” behind your ear like a carpenters pencil? The alternative would be to stick the “pen” in your ear which strikes me as ridiculous-looking and downright uncomfortable!
EDIT: looked at the videos on the Asus site, and the stylus/headset is used like the pen/communicators in “The Man From U.N.C.L.E.” - which makes sense, although it's not really a “headset”, more like a “handset”.
ajones
Would like to see this kind of design but where the phone also acts as the trackpad in the keyboard rather than secreted into the tablet.
That's a deliberate piece of design on Asus' part - remember PadFone is a phone+tablet, what you're looking for is a phone+netbook I guess.
ajones
Would like to see this kind of design but where the phone also acts as the trackpad in the keyboard rather than secreted into the tablet.

I don't really think that would work. That would make the touchpad huge and would render the phone's camera useless. Might work for smaller phones though if the camera wasn't an issue.
As it is you can still use the phone's camera & flash while it's docked.