ASUS Eee Pad Transformer Prime TF201 Pro Reviews

Asus has carved a niche here – and if the added functionality appeals, it’s a winner

There is no doubt in my mind which tablet is better among these competitors. Apple’s iPad 3 is more attractive, a bit easier to handle, offers a significantly superior display and far better battery endurance. Using the iPad 3 is simply more enjoyable for all of these reasons. That’s not to say there aren’t reasons to buy the Prime, but they are few. You might want the Prime if you use your tablet outdoors. Some people might like the Prime’s lighter weight. And the Prime is of course more supportive of customization, so some users will prefer it for that fact alone. However, these points are ultimately trivial. The new iPad, taken as a whole, is clearly superior to the Transformer Prime. All the areas where the Prime can claim an advantage are only applicable to a niche. There is a price penalty that you pay for the new iPad’s advantages. You can purchase a 32GB Prime for the price of a 16GB iPad. That difference is worth consideration, but in my opinion the gap in price does not compensate for the Prime’s disadvantages. Not everyone will agree, and you will need to give a bit of thought to your own usage. Anyone who has a lot of media they might wish to store on their tablet may prefer the Prime's more affordable storage, though in my opinion the availability of cloud storage reduces any advantage provided by additional long-term memory. Some have called the iPad 3 an incremental upgrade. I disagree. As I think this comparison shows, the new iPad is substantially better than the next-best competitor. When judged relative to the competition the iPad 3 is the best product Apple makes and among the best consumer electronics products available today. Everyone else is still trying to catch up.

There’s good reason as to why many people regard these two titans as the two best tablets on the market right now. For starters, they are premium in every way, shape, and form – inside and out! Essentially, they epitomize everything that means to be cutting-edge because they share so many drool worthy elements, such as boasting killer industrial designs, lightning fast performances, and top-notch hardware specs. Simply, we have to admit that we’re both wowed and smitten by these stunning tablets. As always, pricing comes to mind, and for the base $500 price point for each respective tablet, they undeniably offer a whole lot of bang for the buck. To tell you the truth, you can’t go wrong with either, especially when they perform similarly to one another, but the biggest difference that most people will need to tackle, is simply, which platform to stick with. Frankly, these two are in a whole league of their own, and more importantly, they’ll be the benchmark to beat going forward for all other future devices. Just like two gods going at each other in the heavens, they’re immortal and cannot be defeated – so yes, they stand equally to one another. Therefore, we have to settle for the fact that neither one can actually claim victory seeing that they share the same pedestal. As a whole, you can’t go wrong with them, but as we’re mentioned numerous times already, it’s eventually going to come down to which platform is regarded in your eyes to be the favorable one.

Aside from the skinny dock, which is actually a bit of a step back from the Transformer 1 and wobbly GPS reception – but a patch is on the way – the Prime is an impressive bit of kit. The blazing fast hardware, superb screen, lightness, thinness and bang-up-to-date version of Android and decent price combine to make this the best Android tablet yet.

The Transformer Prime is quite an upgrade over the original, and Asus knows it. Rather than selling the new model at a discount like the old one, Asus is charging $500 for the base config. Of course, that system offers 32GB of internal storage—the $500 iPad 2 only gets you 16GB. The Prime has no shortage of advantages in other areas, too. In addition to a brighter, higher-resolution display, the Asus tablet boasts a built-in memory card slot and a tiny HDMI output. The Android operating system is less restrictive than iOS if you want to tinker, and the optional keyboard dock is second to none. While it may seem like an expensive accessory at $150, the keyboard dock is integral to the Transformer's appeal. The keys feel great, the touchpad offers mouse-like precision, and the full-sized USB port and SD card slot are truly valuable additions. Then there's the dock's battery, which adds another six hours to the tablet's already impressive run time. Good luck finding a tablet-and-keyboard combo that matches the Prime's capabilities at a lower price.

The ASUS Eee Pad Transformer Prime is a well-designed and well-built product that has been executed superbly. Not only does it look great it has a long list of impressive specifications and features. Its hybrid nature sets it apart from the competition and it all comes for a fairly reasonable price.

A good alternative to the iPad 2 if you type a lot, but it's not as polished as Apple's tablet

The Prime is an incredible piece of hardware. It has a marvelous display, form factor, the best camera on any tablet yet, and it’s new quad-core internal organ puts more graphics and gaming power in your hands than you’ll know what to do with (quite literally in fact, until the games start appearing). And then there’s also the added keyboard dock that adds even more battery life and really does transform the tablet into a highly-usable laptop. But a true laptop replacement isn't about raw power; it's about the productivity that power enables, and Honeycomb just isn't up to the task. The operating system hasn't been optimized for that ridiculous processor or that beautiful display, the app selection remains pitiable at best, and it's just not that intuitive to use. Asus may have produced a brilliant piece of engineering at a price that's competitive with the iPad, but Android hasn't yet matched iOS when it comes to unlocking all that potential. Android 4.0 (or even Windows 8, which we expect to run on this very sort of hardware) might just rectify some of these issues, but one thing is for sure: the laptop of the post-PC world needs the software to match it.

It is an impressive piece of hardware that Asus has developed with the Transformer TF201. Not only is the Transformer Prime extremely thin and made of aluminum, it is also the first device with the latest mobile quad core processor from Nvidia. The Tegra 3 is a good improvement of the precursor and offers more performance and a better energy management. But the tablet's highlight is the excellent IPS+ screen that remains stable in every viewing angle, is very bright and is therefore equipped for outdoor use like barely another tablet. Merely the lack of the painfully omitted UMTS module doesn't quite fit into the otherwise perfect picture of the hybrid. The keyboard dock is a useful expansion for the tablet, even if it doesn't completely make the Android device to a netbook. The additional battery and the physical keyboard are nevertheless useful additional features depending on the field of application. The scope of interfaces hasn't been improved compared with the predecessor. On the contrary, one USB port had to be left out for the sake of design.

The Galaxy Tab 10.1 has had a long run as the top-tier Android tablet in the 10-inch size, but that position has now properly been usurped. The original Transformer was a very good tablet and it successor steps up another notch. The Transformer Prime is thinner and lighter than the rest and, with 32GB of storage available for a dollar under $500, it's a better deal than most of the top-tier contenders. The dock, however, is a bit of a tougher sell. If you need crazy battery life on the road then it's definitely a good choice, even if you won't be relying on that cramped keyboard too often. In fact, the less you have to use that part the better, but it's still a perfectly usable way to enter URLs and it sure beats the pants off of any virtual, touchscreen text input method.

That GPS issue is a real shame, because pretty much everything else about the Asus Eee Pad Transformer Prime is smashing. Yes, you can get a laptop for the same money, but in our opinion you won’t find a better Android and keyboard combo.

All we can say at this point is WOW! Unquestionably, this is the tablet to own right now if you’re in the market of buying one, and trust us, you won’t be disappointed at all. First and foremost, we have to give Asus credit in taking the opportunity in delivering such a high-caliber tablet that’s no doubt a benchmarker in almost every category. From head to toe, attention to detail is seen throughout every aspect of the tablet, thus, culminating in one refined product that easily gives the iPad 2 a run for its money.

The main problem with the Prime in my testing proved to be battery life. It seems to have actually lost out in comparison to the original Tegra 2 powered tablet, which is an unfortuante turn of events. The Prime will last a very long time if do not tax its full compliment of processors or its WiFi - but if you do engage WiFi and start to tax Tegra 3's many cores, the battery doesn't last as long as the original. As such, the Prime finds itself in a similar place as the original Transformer. Yes, this is a very good tablet - and the best Android tablet for the money. However, the iPad 2 still appears to be the better choice. The OS is better, battery life is better, app selection is better, and performance is generally on par. The Prime is the closest any Android tablet has come to leaping the high bar set by the iPad 2, but it still can't top it - and it won't really have a chance of doing so unless battery life is improved and Android 4.0 is a major improvement over Honeycomb.

I suppose it's not a little ironic that what is easily the best Android tablet yet does not look a little bit like an iPad, but a lot like an iPad, and is being sued for trademark infringement—though not by Apple. If you want to be generous, you could say that Asus's Transformer Prime stands on the shoulders of giants. With spiked cleats.

Only available with its dock for now, but this is certainly the best Android tablet money can buy

The best Android tablet yet, boasting excellence all round, but it isn’t perfect

Asus’ Tranformer Prime is a thing of beauty. Despite being easily as thin and light as most rivals, this aluminium-clad tablet is far more powerful thanks to its quad-core Tegra 3 internals. This also means that smooth 1080p video playback on a tablet and console-quality gaming on Android are finally realities, and the Prime shows them off on the best tablet screen we’ve yet seen. The keyboard dock is the icing on a very tasty cake, and though there are a few concessions compared to the original Transformer’s dock, it’s still an amazing add-on that not only makes the Prime one of the most versatile devices on the market, but also one of the longest-lasting. Quite simply, the Prime is the best Android tablet available and arguably the best tablet per se.

To put it simply, the ASUS Transformer Prime is easily the best Android tablet and is possibly the best tablet, period. It depends mainly on your own taste and usage model. By itself, the Transformer Prime is a superbly designed and powerful tablet with an excellent display, application processor and overall user experience. However, with the optional laptop dock, the Prime turns itself into an ultra-mobile productivity machine that can play HD video for 18hrs – try that with a laptop. This means that Asus customers won’t have to worry about battery life anymore. Now, it is really up to you to decide if Android 3.2 has the apps that you need to get things done. I think that most productivity and entertainment tasks are covered (email, web, popular book/video/radio apps…). If after doing your homework, you decide that Android works, then the ASUS Transformer Prime will provide a world-class Android experience. According to Asus, the Transformer Prime is expected to be available on the week of December 19. There are too many possible usage models than I can cover in this review, but if you have a question, leave a comment (scroll down) and I’ll be happy to answer as soon as I can. If you found this review useful, share it, like it, Google+ it. We’re here to help

There's a nagging sense with the Asus Eee Pad Transformer Prime that holds us back from declaring a sweeping victory compared to the Apple iPad 2 and the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1. Overall, when you consider the specs, we know the Asus Eee Pad Transformer Prime is the better tablet. For hardcore tech enthusiasts, this is the tablet you want, because it has the latest next-gen processor and supports true HD movie recording and playback. For the masses, and just for the overall top spot in the tablet market, the Asus Eee Pad Transformer Prime can't compete with the iPad 2 for app selection and quality. And we have to give the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 the nod for a superior screen. That's hugely important: the screen is what you look at all day. The Asus Eee Pad Transformer Prime is faster than any tablet, and matches the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 and the Apple iPad 2 for size and weight. But we can't quite declare the Asus Eee Pad Transformer Prime the winner overall. The iPad 2 still has that honour. For Android tablets, we'll say that the faster, lighter Asus Eee Pad Transformer Prime ties with the excellent-screened Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1.

The Asus Transformer Prime is the best full-featured Android tablet yet. Its refined design makes it just as sexy as the iPad 2 or Galaxy Tab 10.1, and the laundry list of thoughtful features, coupled with great video playback and camera performance, deliver an impressive device that more than holds its own against any tablet, including the iPad 2. While games performance is somewhat of a mixed bag, most of what we've seen is impressive and, in most cases, is just as good as the best of what the iPad 2 has produced. However, it will take some time before developers really dig into the Prime's quad-core guts to produce something that truly blows us away. The Prime will be available mid-December 2011 at $500 for the 32GB version and $600 for the 64GB version. The dock/keyboard clocks in at $150.

The ASUS Transformer Prime is without a doubt the finest Android tablet to date, and barring those with an addiction to having what they call the “widest” or “finest” app collection in the land, I’ve got no qualms with calling this the highest quality slate on the market today. Of course the app production ecosystem for the iPad 2 is stronger – people still see it as an easier place to make cash. With Android it’s still not so easy to make a winning application, especially one that’s supported by a market that has a real vetting process. But lo and behold, those of you who are developers of games specifically, you’ve got NVIDIA to work with, and not only do they give developers wanting to work with them the resources they need to make their game optimized for their processors, they promote the heck out of your games by giving them to us to test out.

The Asus eee Pad Transformer Prime is the best Honeycomb tablet available, but the Honeycomb OS just lacks the tablet-optimized apps to compete with the iPad.