Introduction
From the makers of the Nexus 7, which pretty much got Android back in the tablet game, a convertible 10.1" slate is ready to step out of the living room and shake off the stay-at-home, only-good-for-media-consumption image of ten-inchers.
Fourth generation into it, the Transformer Pad lineup aims to offer a solution for both home and office. ASUS is unafraid to see Android as an environment where actual work can be done, and challenge the likes of the Microsoft Surface and the Lumia 2520.
Asus Transformer Pad TF701T official photos
Meet the ASUS Transformer Pad TF701T, the Android tablet that's not afraid to take anything you throw at it. Don't be afraid to come closer, it won't bite. But make no mistake about it, the Transformer Pad is one tough tablet and we're not just saying that because of its aluminum build.
See what we're on about.
Key features- 10.1" LED-backlit IGZO Super IPS LCD capacitive touchscreen with a resolution of 2560 x 1600 pixels, 16M colors, 300ppi pixel density
- Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean out of the box
- 1.9 GHz quad-core Cortex-A15 CPU, 72-core ULP GeForce GPU, 2GB of RAM, Nvidia Tegra 4 T40X chipset
- Docking station with a full QWERTY keyboard, 4170 mAh battery
- 5 MP autofocus camera with face detection, f/2.4 aperture; 1080p video recording @ 30fps
- 1.2MP front-facing camera
- 32/64GB internal storage, microSD card slot in tablet; full-size SDXC in dock
- Dual-band Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n support
- GPS with A-GPS connectivity
- Bluetooth v3.0
- microUSB port with USB host, charging
- Accelerometer, gyroscope and proximity sensor
- Standard 3.5 mm audio jack
- Built-in stereo speakers
- 7,820 mAh battery
- Thin and light construction; solid build quality
- Dimensions: 263 x 180.8 x 8.9mm, 585g
- Dock dimensions: 263 x 180.8 x 7mm, 570g
Main disadvantages
- No 3G, LTE
- Mobile dock feels a bit flimsy
- Bigger and heavier than its rivals
- Proprietary 32-pin connector
- Disappointing audio quality
Mouthwatering specs and premium build quality are just a part of the story. Remember, this is a Transformer, so its mobile dock is a major element of the experience. Happily, ASUS have paid due attention to this part of the equation. It does not have the aluminum finish of the actual tablet, but we don't mind as it certainly helps keep both weight and price in check.
ASUS has partnered with Sharp to catch up with Samsung and Apple and put forward a high-resolution display of its own. The 2560 x 1600 IPS screen of the Transformer Pad is going after the Samsung Note 10.1 2014 edition and the Apple iPad 4.
With the Tegra 4 chipset featuring a quad-core Cortex-A15 CPU, the Transformer Pad has the processing power and future-proofing covered. The latest and greatest from Nvidia is eager to make up for lost time and this latest Transformer is its perfect playground.
ASUS Transformer Pad TF701T live photos
There's more than meets the eye with the ASUS Transformer Pad and we've yet to delve into what this slate is really capable of. Not before a proper warm-up though - follow us on our usual hardware tour.
Retail package
The ASUS Transformer Pad TF701T comes in a single box (unlike some other hybrid devices of the company) and only has the essential accessories. The wonderful news is the dock/keyboard is part of the standard bundle. You'll find an AC adapter as well, and a detachable cable ending on a proprietary 36-pin connector.
ASUS Transformer Pad retail package
The usual documentation is there too but no headphones to speak of, or any other accessories like a carrying sleeve for example. Now, we're pushing it really, about that last bit.
Design and build quality
The ASUS Transformer Pad itself doesn't seem to have been changed at all compared to its predecessor - the Transformer Pad Infinity 700 - at least visually. Internally, it's a whole different story, which we're going to deal with later on.
At 263 x 180.8 x 8.9 mm, the Transformer Pad is 0.5mm thicker than the model it replaces. Not that this is a deal breaker, in fact it's not even noticeable.
ASUS has managed to make the Transformer Pad lighter than the outgoing model by 13 grams (585 vs. 598g), which is hardly a difference you can feel in real life. And since the competition hasn't been sitting still, the Transformer Pad is notably heavier and thicker than the Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 2014 edition and the Sony Xperia Tablet Z, not to mention the iPad Air.
The bezels are fairly thick
Asus went for Gorilla Glass 2 as their protection of choice for the gorgeous 10.1" IGZO IPS display. It's not as tough as the latest generation Gorilla Glass 3, but it's nice to know that scratches and light damage aren't not on the Transformer Pad's list of fears.
The screen bezels are fairly generous, which isn't such a bad thing after all, considering you'll need as good a grip as possible on a slate of 10-inch diagonal. However, we found that the front gets really messy after some usage, as there's no oleophobic coating to prevent this from happening.
The back of the tablet is immune to this as it is made of aluminum and is really nice to both hold and look at. It's a brushed aluminum finish which is further accented by the company's trademark spun metal finish and the ASUS logo sitting proudly in the middle. Aluminum at the back allows for even heat dissipation.
The spun metal finish looks the part
Another benefit of using aluminum is that the Transformer Pad feels extremely solid. There's no squeaking, bending or twisting even when using the tablet with one hand.
But the ASUS Transformer Pad isn't picture perfect. It's the bottom of the device that gets most of our gripes. There, we find holes for docking with the keyboard station, which are fairly large and easily collect dust. Not to mention the ASUS 36-pin proprietary port used for charging and data transfers.
The hinge locks are fairly large
These are small caveats though that can't take away from the Transformer Pad being a handsome tablet with plenty of personality.
Controls
Above the big 10.1" screen of the slate is a 1.2MP front-facing camera that can record 1080p video @ 30 fps, just like the main camera.
All physical controls and ports of the Transformer Pad are located on its sides.
The Power/Lock is in the top left corner, in landscape. It has a tiny LED, which gets lit when the tablet is being charged.
The Power/Lock key is easily accessible
The volume rocker is located on the short side, just off the power key. Below it is the microSD card slot, as well as the microHDMI port and the 3.5mm headphone jack.
The microHDMI port is a cool addition
The bottom features a 36-pin proprietary ASUS connector in the middle, a hinge hole on either side to attach the keyboard dock.
The hinge holes for docking with the keyboard station
On the right side you'll also find the mic that picks up the audio when recording video. Other than this, the right side is blank.
The microphone hole
Mobile dock
The ASUS Transformer Pad's mobile dock accessory is an integral part of the Transformer line experience. It's been around since the inception of the slate and turns the 10.1" tablet into an Android-powered ultrabook.
It sports a full-size QWERTY keyboard, additional connectivity ports and its own power source. The dock itself is made entirely out of plastic, which may not feel as premium as the slate, but it's still solidly made.
The ASUS Transformer Pad docked to the Mobile dock
The keyboard itself is of the Chiclet variety and is quite comfortable to type on, albeit a bit cramped. That's understandable, though, considering the little space ASUS had to work with. The keys are square, with reasonable spacing. Keys have low stroke but more than decent feedback. The only thing that might be a problem is the keyboard size (in laptop terms), but given the available space Asus actually did an excellent job here. And once you get used to it, you'll enjoy very decent typing speed.
However, as we found out, the dock does give in a bit in the center when you apply pressure. It's not the end of the world by any means, but it takes away some of the high-end vibe of the whole package.
The full QWERTY keyboard on the Mobile dock is excellent
Anyway, below the keyboard, there's a not too-small trackpad with no mouse buttons. It's slightly recessed from the surrounding surface, to provide proper touch orientation.
A two-finger tap acts as a right-click. Other gestures include two finger top and side scrolling as well as pinch-to-zoom. Those are more comfortable on the large 10.1" touchscreen, but it's nice of ASUS to double them on the trackpad as well.
The docking latch protrudes a tiny bit at the back of the dock. It's very strong; closing and opening it feels sturdy and solidly put together. The latch has two hooks that hold the tablet into place quite firmly. In fact, they hold the Transformer Pad so securely, that even turning it upside down isn't a problem as it almost feels glued to the docking station. It's actually locked and you need to undo the clamp to release the tablet from the keyboard.
At the bottom of the Mobile dock there are four tiny rubber feet to make sure it doesn't slip. On the right hand side we find a full-size USB 3.0 port and an SD Card reader.
The left side holds only the ASUS proprietary 36-pin connector port used for charging and data transfers.
Display
The ASUS Transformer Pad TF701T flaunts an excellent 10.1" IGZO IPS LCD display. The company has partnered with Sharp who supply their IGZO panel for the Transformer Pad. Thanks to the IGZO technology, the slate boasts a resolution of 2560 x 1600 pixels resulting in a pixel density of 300ppi.
The 10.1" IPS LCD display of the ASUS Transformer Pad
Simply put - it's a screen to behold. The Transformer Pad is among the very few tablets that rock a resolution this high. Everything looks extremely sharp and crisp, while colors are vivid. CONTRAST
| Display test | 50% brightness | 100% brightness | ||||
| Black, cd/m2 | White, cd/m2 | Black, cd/m2 | White, cd/m2 | |||
| ASUS Transformer Pad TF701T | 0.40 | 450 | 1125 | 0.71 | 755 | 1119 |
| Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 2014 | 0.27 | 221 | 831 | 0.53 | 440 | 821 |
| Google Nexus 10 | 0.26 | 223 | 859 | 0.50 | 443 | 878 |
| Sony Xperia Tablet Z | - | - | - | 0.53 | 531 | 996 |
| Sony Xperia Tablet S | 0.35 | 334 | 947 | 0.67 | 526 | 783 |
| Samsung Galaxy Note 3 | 0 | 149 | ∞ | 0 | 379 | ∞ |
| Apple iPad mini | 0.25 | 208 | 838 | 0.51 | 458 | 812 |
| Apple iPad 3 | 0.21 | 167 | 809 | 0.6 | 477 | 779 |
| Apple iPad 4 | 0.21 | 163 | 797 | 0.63 | 476 | 762 |
| Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.7 | 0 | 200 | ∞ | 0 | 328 | ∞ |
| Asus Google Nexus 7 | 0.25 | 244 | 954 | 0.36 | 327 | 908 |
| Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 | 0.27 | 223 | 832 | 0.49 | 406 | 821 |
| Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 | 0.31 | 257 | 826 | 0.55 | 502 | 915 |
| Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.0 Plus | 0.17 | 196 | 1141 | 0.34 | 424 | 1236 |
There's very little color and contrast loss when the slate is viewed from extreme angles. However, it's quite bright at 400 nits, which shows when you get the tablet outside the comfort of the living room. On a bright and sunny day you won't experience any issues working with the Transformer Pad.
Here's the Transformer Pad's display matrix up close:
You can find all about our display testing routines here
Battery
The ASUS Transformer Pad TF701T is equipped with a 7820mAh Li-Po battery. By ASUS estimates, the tablet is expected to last up to 13 hours of continuous usage. Add the dock to the equation and ASUS reckons a total of 17 hours.
We ran our traditional battery tests on the Transformer Pad and we got a total of 10:07 hours of movie watching and 9:43 hours of web browsing. That's pretty impressive compared to the Galaxy Note 10.1 2014 edition, which got 9:02 hours of movie playing and just 7:39 hours of web browsing.
gsmarena