Asus has managed to make the Transformer brand one of the top names among Android tablets, and now they’ve got a new model, the Asus Transformer TF300.
Unfortunately it’s not the rumored 7″ model for under $250 that everyone has been waiting for, but it’s still an interesting tablet nonetheless.
The Transformer TF300 is an upgraded version of the original Asus Transformer TF101; it’s not an upgraded version of the Transformer Prime, Asus’s premium tablet—that will be updated with the Transformer Infinity later this year.
The Asus Transformer TF300 has a 10″ 1280 x 800 IPS display, a 1.2GHz Tegra 3 quad-core processor, 1GB of RAM, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 3.0, micro HDMI port, microSD card slot, 10 hour battery life, headphone jack, SonicMaster stereo speakers, and two built-in cameras—1.2MP front and 8MP rear.
According to preliminary reports, there will be a 16GB model for $379, but it isn’t listed for sale anywhere yet. The 32GB model is listed on a number of websites for $399, including Amazon and B&H.
Like its Transformer brethren, the TF300 has the option for a keyboard dock accessory, which has a full QWERTY keyboard, a multi-touch touchpad, two full-size USB ports, SD card reader, and adds 5 hours of battery life.
The Transformer TF300 runs Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich and comes with Adobe Flash and Google apps pre-installed, as well as Asus’s suite of included apps—Polaris Office, SuperNote, ASUS Launcher, ASUS WebStorage, MyLibrary, MyNet, MyCloud, File Manager, ASUS Sync, App Locker, App Backup, MyBackup, and others.
I’m tempted to get rid my original Transformer and upgrade to the TF300, but I don’t know. Not much has changed, really. The new design of the TF300 is the biggest change, and it has a better rear camera and a better processor, a 1.2GHz quad-core Tegra 3 versus the TF101’s 1.0GHz dual-core Tegra 2 processor. The screen is the same, the operating system is the same. The general functionality is the same. Think I might wait for the Transformer Infinity instead.
Keep your cash for the Transformer Infinity. It will have a 1920×1200 screen and a 1.5 GHz quad core. Its software should be all ironed out as well.
I can’t wait for your review of the Samsung Galaxy Tab 2. That one has adequate hardware but it may distinguish itself by its extra software and customer support.
I think that’s exactly what I’m going to do, wait for the Infinity. But I don’t know about reviewing the Galaxy Tab 2. I can’t really afford to review very many of the high-end tablets anymore because the big sites get all the search love for them. I was considering it, though, since I’ve never reviewed any Samsung tablets before and they are at the top of the Android tablet feeding chain.
Well Nathan, we like your little website here and also your informative reviews and videos!
Maybe us reader’s should be more vocal and share your site on FB and Google+….
I think a review of the Sampson would be nice 🙂
I just ordered me one of these. So far almost every tablet I have owned has been a Samsung. Samsung’s stuff is great, I am just getting tired of waiting for them to really jump in with a quadcore, ICS, high resolution tablet or something along those lines.
The-ebook-reader.com is the best eBook reader/tablet review site on the web!
Thanks for the positive energy and support guys!
Considering the glowing user reviews everywhere, I must have received a bad unit. Mine has a couple dead pixels, excessive light bleed, serious operating hiccups (the homescreen itself crashed twice in the first hour of usage). I could easily go on. I am attempting to return it and just take a refund. I will either wait for the Infinity or see if Samsung announces something worth waiting for.
Nathan, I have a question. Is that rumor of $250 7″ tablet still going around? I am looking for a really good 7″ tablet and that might just be the one.
They released the Nexus 7 with a Google partnership, but Asus still hasn’t released one of their own. There are still some rumors floating around to suggest that’s still a possibility.
I like the Nexus 7, probably buy that if it had a rear camera. That is a feature I want and need.