ASUS Eee Pad Transformer Prime - Ultra Thin, Ultra Powerful (Updated!)
Building on the success of its first Transformer, ASUS announced the world's first quad-core Android tablet, the Eee Pad Transformer Prime. Can its blazing fast processor and sleek 8.3mm metallic spun finish design bring ASUS to greater heights? Let's find out.
** Updated on 3rd February 2012 **
The original article published on 26th December 2011 has been updated with performance results from an updated Android 4.0 equipped ASUS Eee Pad Transformer Price. If you've read this article previously, head straight to the updated performance and battery life sections.
ASUS' Prime Time
The first mention of quad-core Android tablets arriving by end of the year was made by NVIDIA's CEO and President Jen-Hsun Huang during an interview in September. While he prided the company for being the first chipset maker to deliver a mobile quad-core processor, he kept everybody guessing as to which Android vendor would be the first to bring a quad-core tablet to the market.
ASUS came on the radar scope when Lambda Tek Component Shop revealed an unnamed device with the model number TF201-1I020A on its listing. It was reported to have a Tegra 3 processor, 1GB of RAM, 32GB of storage capacity and a 10.1-inch display. Weeks later, ASUS Chairman Jonney Shih unveiled the Eee Pad Transformer Prime at the AsiaD Conference, where he proudly showed off a refined design that boasts an ultra thin 8.3mm thin profile. With Acer and Lenovo launching their quad-core tablets in early 2012, ASUS has an early head start in the market with the Eee Pad Transformer Prime. Read on to find out what ASUS has packed in its new tablet: -
Key highlights of the ASUS Eee Pad Transformer Prime (Wi-Fi)
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Design Aspects
Primed to be a worthy sequel to the original Transformer, the Transformer Prime needs more than a processor upgrade to make its debut. It would be an understatement to claim that ASUS "merely" redesigned the slate. It seems that ASUS gave the Transformer Prime a complete design overhaul to stay fresh, and more importantly, a step or two ahead of the competition.
The Transformer Prime may sport the same display size (10.1-inch) as its predecessor, but under the hood, it comes with new features that will blow the competition away.
Notice the differences in dimensions of the two Transformers. The Transformer Prime measures 263 x 180.8mm while the Transformer measures 271 x 177mm
ASUS managed to shave off more than 4mm of thickness on the Eee Pad Transformer Prime. The difference is apparent when you hold the 8.3mm thin Transformer Prime in one hand and the 12.98mm thick Transformer on the other.
From left to right: The volume controls, micro HDMI port and microSD card reader.
On the top left hand corner of the ASUS Eee Pad Transformer Prime is the Power button. There is more than enough space available for ASUS to design a larger button but unfortunately it wasn't made us such. There is also a tiny LED indicator on the button itself which lights up when you charge the tablet.
The 3.5mm audio output jack is situated on the right side of the ASUS Eee pad Transformer Prime.
You will find the two latches flanking the proprietary connector at the bottom. As there is no microUSB port present, you can only charge the tablet via the proprietary cable or via its optional keyboard dock station which doubles as an external battery pack. The two latches secure the Transformer Prime to the keyboard docking station, which we will share more in the following page.
Similar to its Zenbook, the Eee Pad Transformer Prime comes with a metallic spun finish on its back that is aesthetically pleasing. In contrast to the plastic shells of some tablets, the Eee Pad Transformer Prime is very well-built.The use of aluminium gives the slate a very solid feel in the hands. It also minimizes the issue of fingerprints and smudges that plagues some tablets.
Overall, ASUS did a great job with the design of the Eee Pad Transformer Prime. The choice of using aluminum not only makes the Transformer Prime lighter (586g), it also gives the device a very solid feel. Although the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 is the lightest (565g) among the 10.1-inch tablets, we are willingly to overlook the extra bulk and opt for a better designed tablet like the Transformer Prime. Having said that, you will feel right at home using the Transformer Prime in one hand although two-handed operation will obviously be more comfortable.
The major gripe we had with the Transformer Prime is its glossy display which is a fingerprint and smudge magnet. We found ourselves taking a cleaning cloth to wipe the display after a few minutes of usage. You may want to consider getting a screen protector to minimize the problem.
Prime, Transform & Roll Out
The concept of a keyboard docking station is nothing new today. We have seen how one is able to transform a tablet to a netbook within seconds in the ASUS Eee Pad Transformer. The keyboard docking station of the Transformer wowed us with its additional two full sized USB ports, one SD card slot and decent typing experience. How does the new keyboard docking station differ?
The new keyboard docking station is not compatible with the original Transformer due to the difference in the latch sizes.
You connect the keyboard docking station via the 30pin connector in the center (red box) and the two latches (blue boxes). The slider switch (yellow box) allows you to lock or remove the tablet from the docking station.
Sacrifices had to be made when you want functionality in a slimmer design. The new keyboard docking station may be thinner but you only have one full sized USB port (right) instead of two. Fortunately, ASUS retains the SD card reader which you will find handy when transferring files on the move.
You can charge both the ASUS Eee Pad Transformer Prime and keyboard docking station via the 30pin connector located on its left side.
We found the keyboard docking station to be relatively easy to carry around. Weighing at 537g, it is about 50g lighter than the Transformer Prime tablet. When combined with the Transformer Prime, the entire package weighs 1.123kg which is reasonable for a light notebook.
The chiclet keyboard may look good but when put into daily use, we found the keys to be small and shallow. The tactile feedback could have been better. Nevertheless, typing on a physical keyboard is still better than touch typing on the screen. The presence of a touch screen renders the trackpad unnecessary most of the time even though it offers two finger scrolling. The trackpad suffices for basic navigation although we prefer using the touch screen.
Like its predecessor, the Transformer Prime transforms into a netbook form factor if the situation calls for it.
When the first netbook arrived on the market three years ago, consumers were raving about its portability. Fast forward to today, the ASUS Eee Pad Transformer represents the next standard in mobile computing. It provides comparable, if not better battery performance than the MSI Wind U100 netbook (right) in a slimmer and more portable form factor.
Although the keyboard docking station of the ASUS Eee Pad Transformer Prime is thinner, the overall user experience is similar to the Transformer. The keyboard offers a wide range of function keys such as Home button, screenshot, brightness controls and volume controls. These keys save you time and effort navigating the menus or pressing the physical or onscreen buttons.
We could not say the same for the trackpad though. Its size is a little too small for meaningful navigation and one would rather use a mouse or rely on the touch screen for navigation. Moreover, you are unable to adjust the sensitivity of the trackpad (which by default, is tad too sensitive). The cursor tends to move accidentally when typing, which can be irritating for some. Fortunately, you can disable the trackpad via a shortcut on the keyboard (fourth key from the left on the top row).
If you plan to use the tablet for work or bringing it around for lectures and meetings, the optional keyboard docking station will be a necessary purchase. It not only provides a decent level of productivity, it also doubles as an external battery pack to boost the Transformer Prime's usable time. When you dock the Transformer Prime into the station, the tablet will draw power from the battery of the dock first before depleting its own. Another power saving feature is that the screen will turn off automatically when you close it in the netbook form factor. However, we encountered occasions where this feature malfunctioned. For example, we were playing a video on YouTube with the speakers turned on. When we closed the tablet in its netbook form factor, the video continued to play. We were unable to replicate the same issue if there was nothing running. Hence, as a precaution, we recommend checking that the display is turned off in case the power saving feature malfunctions and depletes the battery of the keyboard dock.
Apart from the occasional glitch, you can see that the ASUS Eee Pad Transformer Prime is cleverly designed.
First Android 4.0 Tablet in the Mass Market
When Google first released the source code for Android 4.0, we thought ASUS would be the first tablet to sport the new OS in a tablet form factor. Little did we know that a Chinese manufacturer managed to sneak past ASUS in coming up with the world's first Android 4.0 tablet. Despite that, it is comforting to know that the ASUS Eee Pad Transformer Prime can easily blow this tablet out of the water with its hardware prowess.
Meanwhile, ASUS can safely claim another title for bringing the first Android 4.0 tablet to the mass market. Although the review unit featured in this article runs on Android Honeycomb 3.2, ASUS Singapore confirmed that the Eee Pad Transformer Prime will run on Android 4.0 out of the box when it is available in early January 2012. If you want to see Android 4.0 in action on the Eee Pad Transformer Prime, you can watch a video released by NVIDIA showcasing an early build of Android 4.0 on the ASUS Eee Pad Transformer here.
For now, we have to stick with Android 3.2 on the review unit of the ASUS Eee Pad Transformer Prime. When it is available in early January 2012, it will be powered by Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich.
The familiar Honeycomb user interface greets you when browsing through the tablet.
Although the Eee Pad Transformer Prime runs on Android 3.2, ASUS did made some changes to the user interface to pump up its usability. Among the few changes we saw on the tablet are:
You can now toggle additional the following shortcuts - Bluetooth, Silent Mode, Auto-Sync, GPS, Super IPS+ control and the three different power modes in the Notifications Panel.
ASUS throws in a set of its own customization settings where you can activate Super IPS+, a setting which sets the screen brightness to a high level for outdoor usage. You also can enable or disable screenshot. Featured only in the Transformer Prime is the Performance section, where you toggle between three power modes (Balanced Mode, Normal Mode and Power Saving Mode). We will explain these modes in detail in the Battery Performance section.
Similar to Lenovo's implementation on its K1 and ThinkPad Tablet, you can now close and quit apps from the multitasking menu. A handy feature that is missing on most Honeycomb tablets.
ASUS adds yet another useful app called SuperNote. It is a fingertip note taker that allows you to scribble notes using your fingers.
You can insert photos, videos or text on a document in SuperNote. If you prefer your notes to be neat and tidy, you can opt to type your notes in via the physical keyboard. In general, SuperNote is an useful app for those who want to take notes on the go.
** Updated on 3rd February 2012 **
Taste of Quad-Core Power
Being the first quad-core tablet in our labs, we were naturally very eager to test out the speed demon within the ASUS Eee Pad Transformer Prime. The significant features of the NVIDIA Tegra 3 quad-core processor are covered extensively here, hence we shall waste no time to put the Transformer Prime against the top tablets today which include the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 and Apple iPad 2. Its predecessor, the Eee Pad Transformer is also compared to see if there are any meaningful performance gains.
The following benchmarks were used for raw performance evaluation:
- Quadrant evaluates the CPU, memory, I/O and 3D graphics performance. This is an Android OS based test.
- Smartbench 2011 is a multi-core friendly benchmark application that includes both the Productivity and Games indices for a more complete gauge of the overall performance of Android tablets.
- SunSpider Javascript benchmark measures the browsing performance of the tablet.
Device | ASUS Eee Pad Transformer Prime | ASUS Eee Pad Transformer | Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 | Apple iPad 2 |
CPU | NVIDIA Tegra 3 quad-core 1.3GHz | NVIDIA Tegra 2 dual-core 1GHz | NVIDIA Tegra 2 dual-core 1GHz | Apple A5 dual-core 1GHz |
GPU | 12-core GeForce | ULPGeForce | ULP GeForce | PowerVR SGX 543MP2 |
RAM | 1GB | 1GB | 1GB | 512MB |
OS | Google Android 3.2 / Google Android 4.0 | Google Android 3.0 | Google Android 3.1 | Apple iOS 4.3 |
Unfortunately, we ran into problems conducting both the Quadrant and Smartbench 2011 benchmarks on the ASUS Eee Pad Transformer Prime. Both benchmarks reflected scores that were significantly lower than dual-core mobile devices (including smartphones), which we felt were not true representations of the performance of the Transformer Prime.
One possible reason we could think of is that the Android Honeycomb operating system is not optimized for use with Tegra 3 quad-core processor. This led to the rather dismal performance of the ASUS Eee Pad Transformer Prime in the Quadrant and Smartbench 2011 benchmarks. Nevertheless, we managed to run SunSpider benchmark on the Transformer Prime and the results are as shown below:
The performance boost is evident in the SunSpider Javascript benchmark where the ASUS Eee Pad Transformer Prime garnered a convincing lead over the other tablets. As NVIDIA has claimed, the Tegra 3 quad-core processor is able to carry out parallel processing, allocate multiple Web scripts and deliver speedier execution of Javascript heavy pages through its four cores. Statistics aside, we found the web browsing experience on the Transformer Prime to be great during normal usage conditions. It loaded our website faster than the Transformer by a mere two to three seconds, which can be considered insignificant for mainstream consumers.
Despite the lack of the Quadrant and Smartbench 2011 benchmark figures to verify its performance, our observations should suffice. Generally, the user experience was fluid and smooth. The ASUS Eee Pad Transformer Prime could handle pretty much anything we threw at it from multitasking to loading of apps. However, we did encountered some slight setbacks occasionally such as the browser app crashing on us when loading YouTube videos. Another puzzling aspect is the length of time taken for the Transformer Prime to boot up. We reckon that the time taken is long enough for anyone to head off for a quick toilet break.
The Android 4.0 Update
** Updated on 3rd Feb 2012: This segment of the article has been added to consolidate the Android 4.0 OS based test results.
We have since updated the above test with a new set of results based on the Transformer Prime's performance with Android 4.0. Our results did match up to what Google offered in its Android Developer page, with our 1948.8ms score that's somewhat identical to Google's 1963ms. What did come as a surprise to us, is the lower Sunspider score we got out of the Android 3.2 Transformer Prime. Unfortunately, we aren't able to provide you with any concrete reasons for this outcome.
Fortunately, though the numbers for its Android 4.0 variant is slightly higher than the Honeycomb version, the Transformer Prime's Sunspider score is still lower than its competitors, namely the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 and Apple iPad 2. The browser experience during our time with the Android 4.0.3-powered Transformer Prime proved to be much better than its Android 3.2 variant. There were noticeable speed improvements and the overall user experience was evidently better.
The overall performance of ICS on the Transformer Prime is an improvement from the Honeycomb tablets we have reviewed in 2011, including the Android 3.2 version of the Transformer Prime. We also managed to get Quadrant and Smartbench working on the updated Android 4.0 Transformer Prime, with the following results shown:
As apparent and expected, the Quadrant and Smartbench scores are reflecting higher numbers on the quad-core Transformer Prime. Do remember that the benchmarks are not a definitive measure of the tablet's performance, but when it comes to the actual user experience, the general feel is that of an improved and faster interface. Almost everything is snappier such as the home screen transitions and animations. We encountered no lags or system crashes even when we had multiple apps running in the background. Swiping to quit apps and remove notifications felt effortless as well.
A Multimedia Junkie's Toy
It seems that having the best processor in the market is not the only objective for ASUS. The Eee Pad Transformer, by any measure, is a multimedia heavyweight that is able to provide an experience comparable to that of conventional laptops.
First, ASUS packs an ultra bright Super IPS+ panel for its 10.1-inch display (1280 x 800 pixels) which can deliver up to 600nits of brightness. In addition, the display is reinforced with the hardy Corning Gorilla Glass to minimize scratches. As seen on the original Transformer, the IPS display is able to deliver crisper, more accurate color range and wide viewing angles up to 178 degrees. Top it off with the new Super IPS+ panel and you get one of the brightest displays ever on a tablet.
By default, the Super IPS+ mode is disabled. To enable it, you have to go to the Notifications Panel or Settings. ASUS is thoughtful to include a word of caution in the Settings menu that enabling the Super IPS+ mode can boost screen visibility in outdoor environments, but will consume more battery juice. From our day to day usage of the Transformer Prime, we rarely felt the need to enable the Super IPS+ mode. Viewing experience on the ASUS Eee Pad Transformer is quite good except for the terrible fingerprint smudges.
The next key feature of the ASUS Eee Pad Transformer Prime is its single stereo speaker unit enhanced by SonicMaster technology. ASUS claims that the speaker utilizes the most precise processing protocols and CODECs to deliver an enjoyable audio experience. Upon testing it, we have to admit that we were fairly impressed; not only was it loud (considering that it is a single speaker), the sound quality is actually very good. The only drawback is its placement on the rear right of the Transformer Prime. If you hold the device in your right hand (landscape mode), you're most likely to cover it with your hand muffling the audio.
The last multimedia aspect we would like to cover is its imaging capability, which as you might have known by now, tablets generally don't really fare well. However, ASUS is going to change that perception by equipping the Transformer Prime with a 8-megapixel rear camera with a large F2.4 aperture lens and CMOS sensor. The large aperture lens allows one to have sufficient light exposure and depth of field effect when taking photographs.
On paper, the ASUS Eee Pad Transformer has the best camera among tablets today with its 8-megapixel rear camera with CMOS sensor and F2.4 aperture lens.
Without a doubt, the camera produces excellent image quality. We are pleased with the amount of details captured. Colors are accurate and contrast is good. Below, we've close-up shots for comparison.
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Even while ASUS has been preaching to the media of its new tablet's imaging capabilities, we were still caught off guard as we really didn't expect our hands-on trials to be this good. Tablet makers have consistently missed the mark for the past year and we are really glad that ASUS is the first to devote attention to it. It will be interesting to see what the rest of the competition has to offer to compete with the ASUS Eee Pad Transformer Prime.
Battery and Portability Performance
** Updated on 3rd Feb 2012: Article has been updated with Android 4.0 OS based test results
The last but perhaps the most anticipated benchmark is the battery performance section. The first Transformer left us wanting more with its decent battery performance and we are eager to see if its successor could make up for it. For this benchmark, we compare the ASUS Eee Pad Transformer with the ASUS Eee Pad Transformer, Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 and Apple iPad 2. The keyboard docks are not used so that all tablets can be compared equally. Our standard battery test includes the following:
- Looping a 720p video with screen brightness and volume at 100% (We did not enable the Super IPS+ mode)
- Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity turned on
- Constant data streaming through email and Twitter.
As mentioned earlier in our article, the ASUS Eee Pad Transformer has three power profiles that you can toggle with. Below is a brief explanation of what each profile means:
- Normal mode: Sets the CPU to run up to 1.4GHz with only a single core active or 1.3GHz in multi-core mode. This is the setting we used for our battery test below.
- Balanced mode: It is the default setting where the CPU speed is limited to 1.2GHz
- Power saving mode: As the name suggests, this profile restricts the CPU to 1GHz in single or dual-core mode, 700MHz when three cores are active and 600MHz when all four cores are used.
Specifications/Device | ASUS Eee Pad Transformer Prime | ASUS Eee Pad Transformer | Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 | Apple iPad 2 |
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ASUS sprung yet another surprise on us when the Eee Pad Transformer clocked a battery mileage of about 7 hours. This is almost one and a half times longer than its predecessor, the Transformer. It also outlasted the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 by more than a hour and a half. Although the ASUS Eee Pad Transformer Prime is still unable to unseat the Apple iPad 2 from its throne, it is respectable for an Android tablet to pull off such amazing battery life.
We attributed its good battery performance to NVIDIA's implementation of the new Variable Symmetric Multiprocessing (vSMP) technology in its Tegra 3 processor. The quad-core processor with its fifth companion core is able to consume up to 61% less power (according to NVIDIA). We also felt that ASUS did something right this time by optimizing power management on the Transformer Prime. Furthermore, you could potentially get more out of the tablet by using its other power profiles or adding on the keyboard dock.
Next up is the Portability Index where we assess mobile devices on how well they balance battery life with their physical size to get an idea how portable they really are. The ratio is derived from dividing the battery life (in hours) to its weight (in kg) multiplied by the volume (in m3). Therefore, a device with a long battery life, lighter weight and volume will perform better in this index. Basically, the higher the index, the better it is and the more worthwhile the device becomes for extended usage.
With the best battery performance of all Android tablets, the lightweight and ultra portable ASUS Eee Pad Transformer Prime is able to stay ahead of the competition by a huge margin in the Portability Index. In fact, it's so good that it's able to narrow the gap with the champ, the Apple iPad 2. Credits goes to ASUS for this achievement.
Editor's note: we have since updated our tests results for the Transformer Prime with Google Android 4.0 loaded onto it. The above charts reflect the findings from our tests, which were conducted with the same test parameters. Considering that a slight dive of eight minutes in the battery performance is insignificant, we concluded that Android 4.0 has no impact on the battery life of the device. We also found no differences in the battery longevity during our day to day usage of the Android 4.0-powered Transformer Prime.
As our battery test above simulates fairly stressful usage conditions, you can expect better battery mileage out of the ASUS Eee Pad Transformer Prime for more casual usage. in fact, it was able to last us more than a day with frequent gaming, web surfing, emailing and social networking thrown in to the mix.
If you take into account the keyboard docking station, the ASUS Eee Pad Transformer can easily last you two days on a single charge. Official statement by ASUS puts the combined battery mileage at up to 18 hours, which is based on their own lab test conditions when using the power saving mode, running 720p videos continuously, brightness set at 60nits, default volume with headphones.
** Updated on 3rd February 2012 **
Leading the Era of Quad-Core Mobile Devices
Technology is advancing so rapidly this year that consumers hardly have any time to think what hit them. Dual-core tablets are on the rampage this year and now a tablet powered by a quad-core processor has arrived. Did the ASUS Eee Pad Transformer Prime live up to the media hype? Well, it does in most aspects elegantly.
Now that ASUS has taken the charge with the first quad-core tablet in the market, it remains to be seen how other Android vendors plan to match the Eee Pad Transformer Prime. For now, the ASUS Eee Pad Transformer Prime is possibly the best Android tablet anybody can get when it arrives in early January 2012.
Pros
The ASUS Eee Pad Transformer Prime is second to none when it comes to design and build quality. Encased in a stunning aluminum body with metallic spun finish, the Transformer Prime trumps almost every other Android tablet aesthetically and is comparable with the Apple iPad 2. Thanks to the properties of aluminum, the 586g Transformer Prime is very portable to tote around and yet provides a very assuring feel in the hands. You will also have no problems with fingerprints or dirt soiling the looks of the Transformer Prime as they do not show up easily on its metallic frame.
With more people carrying their tablets around, it is a blessing that ASUS continues to harden the displays on its tablets with Corning Gorilla Glass. What can be more heartbreaking than seeing a small scratch on your newly purchased Eee Pad Transformer Prime, right? Taking a similar naming convention as Samsung, ASUS unveiled the Super IPS+ panel on the Transformer Prime, giving it a record breaking brightness of 600nits. While it is unnecessary in most situations, it will come handy when viewing content in outdoor environments.
The 8-megapixel rear camera on the ASUS Eee Pad Transformer Prime scores a hit with us as it produces the best image quality among all the tablets we have tested so far. The quality is comparable to many of the top-end smartphones today in the market although it is odd to be seen using a tablet to take photos. We appreciate that ASUS invested its efforts in bumping up the camera performance on the Transformer Prime. This will certainly induce competitors to come up with comparable or even better camera specs, which ultimately benefits consumers.
Another key milestone achieved by the ASUS Eee Pad Transformer Prime is its battery stamina. By leveraging on NVIDIA's implementation of vSMP technology, ASUS is able to maximize the battery life on the Transformer Prime to over seven hours in our strenuous battery testing regiment - the best showing by an Android tablet so far. We suppose ASUS also played some part by optimizing power management on the device.
Last but not least, the optional keyboard docking station is a necessity for those who want to work on the tablet wherever they go. Even though the keys are flat and shallow, they still offer a decent and comfortable typing experience - far better than an onscreen keyboard. An additional bonus is its battery pack that can last you a further six hours over what the tablet can endure on its own.
Cons
Being the first to introduce a quad-core processor in a mobile device doesn't mean that you will have the fastest tablet in the market. While the ASUS Eee Pad Transformer Prime has the Tegra 3 quad-core processor to boast, its actual performance left a lot to be desired. The user experience was generally fine except that we encountered some unusual and unexpected lags from the device time to time. A likely explanation for these observations could be that the Android Honeycomb platform is not optimized for use with Tegra 3 quad-core processor. Simply put, the operating system may be the one holding the Transformer Prime back from maximizing the full potential of the quad-core processor. Another aspect which bothered us is the booting up process which is slightly longer than usual. We'll have to reassess these aspects when the commercial models are available for us to test with the Android 4.0 OS.
While fingerprints and smudges on the screen are a common problem faced by most tablets these days, the problem is especially irritating on the ASUS Eee Pad Transformer Prime. We could not help but wipe the display ever so often as we could not tolerate the soiled look after a few minutes of touchscreen usage.
ASUS is not resting on its laurels. It continues to deliver more innovative products such as the Zenbook Ultrabook (left) and Eee Pad Transformer Prime (right). The barely one-year-old Transformer (center) is a good testament of the above statement.
Pricing and Availability
The ASUS Eee Pad Transformer Prime is available now in two sales packages:
- Tablet with keyboard docking station for S$899 (usual price: S$1098)
- Tablet for S$759 (usual price: S$899)
With such competitive pricing, it is hard not to recommend to anyone who is looking for the best Android tablet in the market at the moment. To put things into perspective, the Transformer Prime costs almost the same as the one-year-old Transformer (S$898 with keyboard docking station). The Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 32GB (Wi-Fi) and Sony Tablet S 32GB (Wi-Fi) may be priced lower at S$798 but you lose the extra functionality afforded by the keyboard docking station and up to six hours of extra battery stamina.
** Updated on 3rd February 2012: Our closing thoughts with the Android 4.0 OS
The ASUS Eee Pad Transformer Prime with Android 4.0 seems to be a perfect match for each other. We did not experience the occasional lags on the device that were reported when it was running Android 3.2. Even the boot up process is much faster now. The overall user experience is beyond any doubt, a step above all other Android tablets and closes the gap with the Apple iPads. We enjoyed using the Transformer Prime loaded with Android 4.0, especially the improved multitasking, home screen folder support and enhanced lock screen functionality.
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