Asus Transformer Pad Infinity TF700T review

HARD WEARING

On this Wi-Fi only version of the tablet you get the now-familiar Nvidia Tegra 3 chipset, or so we thought. Looking a little more carefully reveals that this version of the quad-core chip runs at 1.6GHz rather than the more typical 1.3GHz.

It felt fast in use, launching applications quickly, but in our SunSpider JavaScipt benchmark it didn’t pick up any extra marks, with a score of 1,856ms. We’re not entirely convinced that you’ll appreciate the extra speed in any practical way, though it’s nice to know it’s there. The 3G version of the Transformer Infinity uses a totally different Qualcomm chipset, and so we can’t comment on that based on this review sample.

The Nvidia chipset’s additional low-power processing core helps with low-intensity tasks, such as our continuous playback video test. Here the Transformer Infinity lasted for just shy of ten hours on its 6,757mAh battery. That’s pretty typical for a tablet these days, but it can be boosted massively by adding the keyboard dock.

DOCK LEAVES

We’ve covered Transformer keyboard docks numerous times before and this one is no different. The tablet clips into place on the back of the keyboard, and the pairing looks like a netbook. The keyboard itself is still pretty spongy-feeling, though they’ve ironed out all the software quirks now and it’s far better than jabbing at the onscreen keyboard. Speaking of jabbing, the hybrid device is rather unstable. A harsh prod at the screen will cause the whole thing to tip backwards or at least rock back and forth.

The Transformer is a pretty clever idea, but if you’re looking for a hybrid device then it may be worth waiting till later in the year, when the launch of Windows 8 will bring with it plenty of new contenders

The built-in 5,270mAh battery in the keyboard dock provided an additional six hours and 48 minutes of battery life. This is routed into the tablet’s battery when that is low, so that the tablet should always have the maximum possible charge for standalone use. The dock also provides a full-sized SD card slot (great for photographers) and a USB port for connecting other storage devices.

Asus informed us that the dock and 64GB version of the tablet will be sold as a bundle for £600 from later this month. This is pretty steep for an Android tablet, even when it can also masquerade as a laptop with an incredible combined battery life.

CONCLUSION

If you’re looking for a posh Android tablet then the Asus Transformer Pad Infinity TF700T is our new top pick. At £450 it’s £70 more than its immediate competition from Acer, but that device has some niggles, while this tablet comes with a brighter screen, a metal body and a faster processor, plus we’re almost certain it will receive an Android 4.1 update first.

If you’re more agnostic about your choice between Apple and Android, however, then the iPad is still a better bet. Any hardware differences aside, the Apple device has a far larger selection of apps designed not only for tablets, but also to make full use of its high-resolution display.