ASUS PadFone 2 16GB

Zitat: We wish the tablet´s screen was brighter, but this is still an innovative and convenient alternative to carrying both a smartphone and tablet

Zitat: Pro: + Reasonable screen + decent performance + decent camera in regular light + excellent battery life + ability to run tablet and smartphone off one data plan. Contra: - Tablet section build quality isn´t great - camera can´t handle low light - tablet section display is disappointing. The Padfone 2 is an interesting concept that does undeniably have some attractions. Chief of these is the ability for companies to save money offering their employees a work business phone and tablet while only paying for one data plan. However, this initial promise is let down by the tablet´s hefty £600 price. By pricing the device so high, Asus has diminished the Padfone´s affordability, such that for the same price businesses or employees could buy a Nexus 10 or Nexus 7 tablet plus a Nexus 4 smartphone - standalone products that offer equal, if not slightly superior performance. Add to this the looming promise of Asus´ higher-end Padfone Infinity and we have to question the long term benefit of shelling out for the Padfone 2. µ

Zitat: The Good: + Good smartphone performance + excellent docking system + clever software tweaks The Bad: - You compromise on both halves of the package - especially on the tablet device The Asus Padfone 2 is somewhat niche. It´s well executed, but with conventional smartphone/tablet options at the same price, it has to fit your life perfectly to be considered.

Zitat: The good: + Here’s how it works: all the software and processing power is in the phone, which behaves like a normal Android 4.1 smartphone. Slot it into the accompanying tablet though, and all your apps and websites pop open on a larger 10.1-inch display - you can then send text messages and even take calls through the speakerphone. Better yet, the tablet has an extra battery inside it for all day use. Now, the first PadFone had some problems - not least how fiddly it was to pop the flap at the back open and slap the phone inside. The good news is that Asus has all but eliminated these issues with the PadFone 2, which uses a simple slot in the back to hold the phone. It’s a bit thick in the middle, but there’s not really any avoiding that - it has to house a 9mm thick phone, after all. As a phone, it’s pretty decent - the 4.7-inch HD screen is sharp, and the quad-core 1.5GHz processor handles all the latest apps and games smoothly, and since it acts as the camera for the slate too, the solid thirteen megapixel sensor might just make it the best tablet camera ever. As a tablet, it’s impressive too: the firm plastic frame is easy to hold and use, and clutter free. That’s also courtesy of Asus’ software - it looks like untarnished Android, but the Taiwanese tech giant’s had to do a lot of work under the hood to make it work as two different screen resolutions so seamlessly. Everything’s been well thought out, from the ability to field calls in tablet mode, right down to the battery life - you can see how much is left in both parts, have the tablet charge up the phone, or held back in reserve. It’s very smart, and it makes sense - over the course of a few days, it became second nature to carry it about, keeping the tablet section of the PadFone 2 in the bag for use on the sofa in the evening, or on the train home. The bad: - The Asus PadFone 2 is well executed, but it still lacks a few tech specs to match its rivals. The phone lacks the svelte beauty of rivals like the HTC One, the tablet display’s 1280x800 resolution looks a bit grainy next to a super sharp iPad 4 or Google Nexus 10, and it doesn’t run the latest Android 4.2 out of the box - though to Asus’ credit it’s been very swift with updates in the past. The bigger problem however is simply the concept: if you don’t fancy lugging a separate tablet around with you, or having to field calls through it if someone calls you while the phone is docked, or having a tablet with a slot at the back for an entire phone, you’re simply never going to enjoy the PadFone. If you can overlook all that though, you’ll have a blast. A lot of readers have also asked about battery life - and with a total of 6,140mAh of battery split between the phone and the tablet, powering the tablet, it lasts for several movies on end, much like other high end Android tablets, and the full fat iPad. Here’s the thing about it though: since it’s a phone at its core, you have to think about it battery life in the same way. It’s not like an iPad, which you can leave on standby for even weeks on end - it’s a phone pulling down email and Twitter updates around the clock, and while the tablet’s extra juice means you can always get through a day, you will ultimately need to charge it up every night to be safe. We have to admit, we had reservations about the PadFone concept - it just seems a bit impractical. Yet given the constraints, Asus has made it work as well as it possibly could - and if you’re the sort prepared to buy a phone SIM-free rather than on contract, its £599 pricetag isn’t extortionate, especially if you compare it to the price of an iPhone and an iPad. It’s one for Android fans and bleeding edge tech chasers only, sure - but if you fall into either camp you’ll likely fall in love with the PadFone 2.

Zitat: Pro: + Crisp + bright + colourful display + Connecting to tablet dock is simple and offers extra battery life + decent 13-megapixel snapper with plenty of features. Con: - Rather dear - Wobbly back when handset is docked - back panel is plasticky. The Asus Padfone 2 proves to be a powerful smartphone with plenty of desirable features, as well as a useful tablet dock when you want a bigger screen and extra battery life.