The new Android 4.0-powered Transformer Pad TF300T is a plastic-bodied tablet with a 10.1" 1280x800 IPS display aimed squarely at mainstream mobile enthusiasts on a budget. Inheriting
the overall design of its predecessor, the more expensive
aluminum-bodied
Transformer Prime TF201, Asus' Transformer Pad TF300T is probably best described as a version of the company's
original Transformer TF101, updated with Nvidia’s Tegra 3 SoC (hence the T at the end of model number).
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| Transformer Pad TF300T |
Case construction of the cost-reduced Asus Transformer Pad TF300T
consists of a sturdy ABS plastic shell (similar to the original
Transformer TF101 tablet) available in red, white, and blue color
options. In keeping with its mainstream-oriented design, the Transformer
Pad features a slightly lower-clocked version of Nividia's Tegra 3, the platform used to power Asus' flagship Transformer Prime TF201.
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| Transformer Pad TF300T |
Physically, the Transformer Pad TF300T resembles Asus' Transformer
Prime TF201, featuring nearly identical attributes aside from its weight
and thickness. At 1.39 pounds, the new ABS-cased TF300T is about
one-tenth of a pound heavier than the aluminum TF201, but it also weighs
about one-tenth of a pound less than the TF101 it replaces.
The Transformer Pad's heft puts it in the middle of the pack, based on the table above. After spending significant time with Apple's iPad 3, we're convinced that 1.4 pounds is a meaningful threshold. Tablets
that cross it are noticeably less comfortable to hold for extended
periods of time. Although the plastic TF300T is lighter than the iPad 3, we still feel spoiled after having just reviewed Asus' lighter flagship tablet last week.
Employing a plastic shell introduces certain dimensional changes
compared to the TF201 we liked so much, though. Additional curvature in
the ABS frame makes the TF300T slightly thicker than the TF201, but a
fraction of an inch thinner than the original Transformer TF101. This
extra thickness translates to a tablet that's easier to grasp, even if
it imparts a chunkier profile compared to the svelte Transformer Prime
TF201.
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| Transformer Prime |
The Transformer Pad TF300T’s layout is similar to its predecessors,
employing ports and buttons located in the same places, which facilitate
a smooth transition for users familiar with other Asus Tablets.
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| Transformer Prime Tf300T |
While it's true that Asus' Transformer family shares a common design
heritage, the TF300T takes a number of cues from the higher-end TF201.
Trace your fingers over the TF300T’s micro-texture outer case finish,
for instance, and you discover the same circular weave pattern we
pointed out
in last week's story, except that it's molded in plastic instead of etched into aluminum.
Aside from utilizing ABS plastic instead of aluminum, the Transformer
Pad TF300T has several other features worth highlighting, including:
- Nvidia's Tegra 3 SoC with LPDDR3
- Android ICS 4.0 operating system
- An improved rear-facing 8 MP camera with a fast F2.2 lens aperture
- Asus SonicMaster audio
- 8 GB of Asus WebStorage (for life)
- Polaris Office 3.0, SuperNote 1.5, App Locker, App Backup, MyLibrary, MyNet, and MyCloud
Bundled software is an important part of a tablet's user experience. However, the brief time we had with the Transformer Pad
TF300T before the launch forces our focus on the hardware at the expense
of the bundled software, which we might cover at a later date.
