Mobile Technology

ASUS unveils Padfone 2 Android smartphone with tablet dock

ASUS unveils Padfone 2 Android smartphone with tablet dock
Asus today unveiled its Padfone 2, an update to its Android smartphone with tablet docking station
Asus today unveiled its Padfone 2, an update to its Android smartphone with tablet docking station
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The Padfone 2 weighs in at 135 g (4.8 oz)
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The Padfone 2 weighs in at 135 g (4.8 oz)
The Padfone 2 boasts a 13 megapixel rear camera
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The Padfone 2 boasts a 13 megapixel rear camera
The Padfone 2 is only 9 mm at its widest
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The Padfone 2 is only 9 mm at its widest
The Padfone 2 Station retains the same screen size and resolution: 10.1" at 1280x800, but has otherwise undergone a complete, slimmed down redesign
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The Padfone 2 Station retains the same screen size and resolution: 10.1" at 1280x800, but has otherwise undergone a complete, slimmed down redesign
The Padfone 2 sports a 4.7" 1280x720 display up from the 4.3" 960x540 display of the original
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The Padfone 2 sports a 4.7" 1280x720 display up from the 4.3" 960x540 display of the original
The Padfone 2 boasts a 13 megapixel rear camera
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The Padfone 2 boasts a 13 megapixel rear camera
A major cosmetic change is that there is now no cover to the phone when it is docked with the tablet
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A major cosmetic change is that there is now no cover to the phone when it is docked with the tablet
The combined weight of the the Padfone and Station is 649 g (22.9 oz), a touch less than a third gen iPad
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The combined weight of the the Padfone and Station is 649 g (22.9 oz), a touch less than a third gen iPad
It is now possible to dock the phone with a single step
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It is now possible to dock the phone with a single step
Asus today unveiled its Padfone 2, an update to its Android smartphone with tablet docking station
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Asus today unveiled its Padfone 2, an update to its Android smartphone with tablet docking station
View gallery - 10 images

Asus today unveiled the Padfone 2 at a press event in Milan. Asus Chairman Jonney Shih revealed a significant upgrade to its Padfone Android smartphone with tablet docking station. Though the phone has received a boost in screen size, it's thinner and lighter than its predecessor, and while a glance at the screen might lead one to think the tablet has remained the same, it turns out this is far from the case. Read on for details and an almost full specs run down.

Padfone 2

The Padfone 2 sports a 4.7" 1280x720 display up from the 4.3" 960x540 display of the original
The Padfone 2 sports a 4.7" 1280x720 display up from the 4.3" 960x540 display of the original

The Padfone 2 itself has grown, sporting a 4.7" 1280x720 display up from the 4.3" 960x540 display of the original. This is not at the expense of thickness or weight, since the Padfone 2 is only 9 mm at its widest, and weighs in at 135 g (4.8 oz). The Asus press release claims this is lighter, but its website quotes the original Padfone as weighing 129 g (4.6 oz) including the battery, but either way there's very little in it.

The phone is more capable, too, with a 1.5-GHz A15 quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 CPU, 2 GB of RAM, LTE support, and Android 4.0.3 Ice Cream Sandwich installed. The Padfone 2's 2140-mAh battery provides a claimed 16 hours 3G talk-time and 13 hours of Wi-Fi web use.

The phone comes equipped with a 13-megapixel camera can capture images in 6 shots-per-second bursts while simultaneously recording 1080p video at 30 fps or 720p at 60.

Here's the phone's full specs list:

  • OS: Android 4.0.3 (Ice Cream Sandwich)
  • Dimensions: 137.9 x 69 x 9 mm (5.43 x 2.72 x 0.35 in)
  • Weight: 135 g (4.8 oz) (with battery)
  • CPU: Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 (8064 + 9215m) Quad Core Cortex A15 class CPU 1.5GHz
  • RAM: 2 GB LPDDR2 RAM
  • Storage: 16 GB/32 GB/64 GB eMMc Flash, and 50GB free ASUS Webstorage for 2 years
  • Wireless connectivity: WLAN 802.11 a/b/g/n, Bluetooth V4.0
  • Network: 3G WCDMA 900/2100; 2G: EDGE/GPRS/GSM 850/900/1800/1900; 4G: LTE 700/800/1800/2600
  • GPS: AGPS & GLONASS
  • Display: 4.7" 1280x720 HD Super IPS+ with Resistive touch panel and Scratch
  • Resistant Corning Gorilla Glass with HCLR Film
  • Battery: 2140 mAh Lithium
  • Battery life: standby time 352 hours (3G); talk time 16 hours(3G)
  • Camera: Front - 1.2 megapixel; Rear - 13 megapixel, Auto Focus, F2.4 Aperture, 5 -element lens
  • Video playback: MPEG4, H.264, H.263, WMV @ HD 1080p
  • Video recording: MPEG4 H.263 @ HD 1080p, H.264 Video Decode @ 720p Encode @ 1080p
  • Audio jack: 3.5 mm
  • Audio compatibility: MP3/WMV/3GP/AAC/AAC+
  • Messaging: SMS/MMS/IM/Email
  • Sensing: G-Sensor/E-Compass/Gyroscope/Proximity/Light Sensor
  • Padfone 2 Station

    The Padfone 2 Station retains the same screen size and resolution: 10.1" at 1280x800, but has otherwise undergone a complete, slimmed down redesign
    The Padfone 2 Station retains the same screen size and resolution: 10.1" at 1280x800, but has otherwise undergone a complete, slimmed down redesign

    The tablet, dubbed the Padfone 2 Station, retains the same screen size and resolution: 10.1" at 1280x800, but has otherwise undergone a complete, slimmed down redesign.

    Fully charged, the Station's 5000-mAh battery can recharge the Padfone 2 three times, or provide a claimed 36 hours of 3G talk-time with the phone docked.

    The Padfone 2 Stations's specs as available:

  • Dimensions: not given
  • Weight: 514 g (18.1 oz)
  • Display: 10.1inches, WXGA 1280x800, IPS with Capacitive touch panel, Scratch
  • Resistant Corning Gorilla Glass with HCLR Film
  • Battery: 19 Whr/5000 mAh Lithium
  • Camera: Front - 1 megapixel
  • Putting it all together

    A major cosmetic change is that there is now no cover to the phone when it is docked with the tablet
    A major cosmetic change is that there is now no cover to the phone when it is docked with the tablet

    A major cosmetic change is that there is now no cover over the phone when docked with the tablet. The configuration has swung through 90° so that the phone's length is perpendicular to the tablet rather than parallel. ASUS claims an "instant transition" when switching from smartphone to tablet use, and it is now possible to dock the phone with a single step.

    The combined weight of the the Padfone and Station is 649 g (22.9 oz), a touch less than a third gen iPad.

    Padfone 2 is set for release before the end of December in parts of Asia and Europe (see below). Launch dates for countries further afield are yet to be confirmed. The Padfone 2 will come in 16-, 32- and 64-GB versions and will be available in both black and white.

    Though we're yet to receive confirmation from Asus, multiple reports have the price for the Asia launch starting at TWD17,990 (US$615) for the 16 GB Padfone 2 (sans Station), reaching TWD21,901 ($750) for the 64 GB version. The Padfone 2 Station will be sold separately for TWD8,990 ($307).

    In Europe the Padfone 2 will ship with the Station. Pricing is said to start at €799 ($1,042) for the 32 GB option rising to €899 ($1,1723) for the 64GB version. A 16 GB release will follow.

    Full list of Asian countries set for a December launch: Hong Kong, India, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, U.A.E.

    Full list of European countries set for a December launch: Bulgaria, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Spain, Sweden

    Source: Asus

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    4 comments
    4 comments
    Chris__
    A resistive touch panel on the phone seems a bit odd, surely that is a mistake? (Although I notice it is listed like that on the Asus website.)
    It's also pretty disappointing to see a phone with such a high pixel density docking in a tablet with such a low resolution. It just makes the whole station thing seem like an afterthought, and certainly not a premium product. I can't see why you'd pay over $300 for it.
    Jason Hiser
    I want a transformer version!
    AB
    I guess the resistive touch panel may have been a print error and has been rectified on ASUS website as well. From the - single data plan - point of view, it does make some sense. I do not see the Padfone Station Dock that was included with Padfone though.
    Bill Adams
    Where & when will these be available? Its getting harder to get anything sent overseas APO wise!