ASUS has tried to make its mark in the tablet marketplace using a series of Transformer-branded convertible tablets, but its PadFone – which was unveiled in February and made available just a few months ago – seemed to take a different tack. Instead of a tablet plus keyboard combination, this device was a three-in-one device: a smartphone that docks into a tablet with an optional keyboard attachment.
Intriguingly, the successor to the PadFone, the predictably-named PadFone 2, was just announced by the Taiwanese manufacturer. While the original model was a mid-range smartphone with an interesting accessory, the PadFone 2 aims quite a bit higher, and demands a place at the flagship handset table.
Its 4.7-inch 720p Super IPS+ display, quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 Pro chipset, 2GB RAM, and 13-megapixel f/2.4 camera may just about earn it its place at that table. The PadFone 2 does come out of the box with Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich, but an upgrade to Android 4.1 Jelly Bean has been promised.
The phone comes with a 2140mAh battery and should be compatible with WCDMA 900/2100MHz and LTE 800/1200/2600MHz networks for the international model. No microSD card support is available, but the device does come with either 64GB or 50GB of free cloud storage via ASUS’ WebStorage service.
This smartphone is compatible with a new slimmer and lighter PadFone Station, which is a 10.1-inch tablet with a 1280 x 800 resolution. This accessory comes with a 5000mAh battery that’s smaller than its predecessor, but helps cut down weight to a combined 649-g. A keyboard dock has been promised, but no timeframe has been given.
Buyers in Taiwan could have the PadFone 2 in their hands as early as next week for a contract-free price of around $610 to $750 (phone only) or $720 to $860 (bundled with the PadFone Station). Consumers in Europe and various Asian markets could expect the new smartphone/tablet combination in December.
Source : gadgetinsiders
