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Asus Transformer Pad 300 Review
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In the Android sphere, the Asus Transformer Prime is regarded by many as the best tablet, mainly because it flaunts some cutting-edge hardware and a killer industrial design. Well, if you prefer something a bit more easy on the wallet, you won’t need to look that far – that’s because the Asus Transformer Pad 300 catches our eyes with its $399.99 price point. With the $100 difference in price over its renowned sibling, we’re not getting a tablet that’s skimping out on the goods, as the Transformer Pad 300 still features a mighty quad-core processor under the hood.
Design:
For the most part, the Asus Transformer Pad 300 doesn’t deviate from previous offerings, as it continues to employ the same design principles akin to Asus’ line of tablets. Overall, it looks almost exactly like the Transformer Prime, but it utilizes a lower quality textured plastic casing (available in blue, red, and white). Although it manages to retain a very similar streamlined construction (0.39” thick), its weight has been bumped up to 635 grams. Despite its all-too conventional appearance, we’re comforted by its comfortable feel in the hand and solid construction.
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The Asus Transformer Pad 300 has a comfortable feel in the hand and solid construction | ||
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Tucked in its usual spot above the display, a 1.3-megapixel front-facing camera is there for all our self-portrait snapshots and video chatting sessions.
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Front-facing camera |
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Power button and secondary microphone (top) | 3.5mm jack (right) | Proprietary charging power and dock connection slots (bottom) | Microphone, HDMI port, and volume key (left) |
The sides of the Asus Transformer Pad 300 | |||
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Back | Rear camera |
Display:
After being mesmerized by the stunning displays found with the new iPad (3) and Asus Transformer Prime, we find ourselves just being content with the one on the Transformer Pad 300. Specifically, it features a 10.1” WXGA (1280 x 800) IPS display, which is actually the same one used by the original Eee Pad Transformer. By today’s standards, its resolution is common amongst 10-inch sized tablets – thus, allowing us to make out fine text with little issues. Moreover, since it’s an IPS panel that we’re talking about, it exhibits all the pleasing qualities we expect to find, like having good viewing angles, a high-contrast appearance, and neutral looking colors.
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Viewing angles | ||
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27 Comments
1. PackMan posted on 30 Apr 2012, 05:52 3 0
What about the front facing camera? I don't care about rear end camera on a tablet.
5. Joshing4fun posted on 30 Apr 2012, 06:11 1 0
Agreed. Nobody carries their tablet around to take pics.
6. neutralguy posted on 30 Apr 2012, 06:16 0 3
Oh god. Please read carefully, there's a 1.3 MP front facing camera for video chat. -.-
8. nnaatthhaannx2 posted on 30 Apr 2012, 06:28 2 0
He's talking about the quality and pic samlples.
Not the fact that it is 1.3MP, that doesn't tell you much of anything.
16. PackMan posted on 30 Apr 2012, 07:53 0 0
Usually these front facing cameras are horrible. Grainy, low quality, washed out colors etc etc. However, i have never seen a tablet review comparing front cameras.
25. c.hack posted on 06 May 2012, 03:18 0 0
Wrong. Its a great way to take a pic and immediately post to ebay or craigslist.
Its also a great way to record your team play if you're a coach and provide feedback. Same goes for lots of other activities that benefit from feedback.
However, you do need a decent camera, which Asus lacks.
10. deacz posted on 30 Apr 2012, 06:32 3 3
I would rather have this one than my Prime, the prime has s**tty wifi because of the "Quality metal finnish"
Plastic's ftw DO YOU HEAR ME PHONE ARENA?
15. sorcio46 posted on 30 Apr 2012, 07:51 0 0
LOL man i have a Prime too, but without problems in the Wi-Fi signal, is only a bit worst than my smartphone.
27. sgtdisturbed47 posted on 0 0
I doubt I would ever use the camera on a tablet. If I want to take a picture using both hands, I have my Nikon DSLR for that.
I think hardware companies toss in a camera as a fluff feature, and not as a piece of serious hardware.
As for front-facing, most are lackluster. You can only do so much with 1.3 MP. Not much of an image there to process.
2. nyamo posted on 30 Apr 2012, 06:05 0 0
i want to know more about the browser. did they just use the stock one? what about a 3rd party like chrome beta
9. nnaatthhaannx2 posted on 30 Apr 2012, 06:28 2 0
When PA tests, they use the stock android browser.
18. gp284 posted on 30 Apr 2012, 08:54 1 0
i think he means that would the same problem still be there if they used a third party browser.
20. nnaatthhaannx2 posted on 30 Apr 2012, 15:59 0 0
I own both an Android phone and tablet, and I find that not many of the 3rd party browsers preform darastically better than the stock one.
I think that only Opera Mobile provides an experience that is much better than the stock. They others are better (or worse) in some ways, but I find it is just easiest to use the stock browser for most tasks.
3. x7black7x posted on 30 Apr 2012, 06:07 1 0
its a great tab and i expect something like that only when i hear the name of the company asus
asus = android tablets
samsung = android phones
apple = iphones ( obviously )
nokia = windows phone
4. RORYREVOLUTION posted on 30 Apr 2012, 06:08 1 0
The web browser experience is an on going issue with many ICS quad core devices. The One X also suffers the same issue as well.
7. neutralguy posted on 30 Apr 2012, 06:23 0 0
when will asus produce a 7" tablet with powerful hardwares. I want to buy an asus tablet due to quality and speed and also a 7" display. I don't want a too big display, 7" is enough for me. But I'm stuck with samsung galaxy tab 2 7".
11. TrainFromUkraine posted on 30 Apr 2012, 07:02 0 0
I would really like to see wi-fi and GPS tested and compared to Transformer Prime
14. sorcio46 posted on 30 Apr 2012, 07:49 0 0
Me too, about the GPS is not necessary, in most Prime units it simply doesn't work.
12. kshell1 posted on 30 Apr 2012, 07:03 2 0
Why does phone arena always downgrade a tab for the rear facing camera? It makes no sense to me unless phonearena loves to "stand out" by taking pics with a tab while looking like a douche
26. c.hack posted on 06 May 2012, 03:23 1 1
Lots of people are using 5 1/2 inch Samsung Notes for phones without even realizing they look like tools.
And I've seen a handful of people using tablets to take pics and videos. If they have a decent camera it actually makes sense because you can view and edit right on the tablet. If only they would put a decent camera into an android tablet.
