ASUS Transformer Pad Infinity (TF700T) Review
by Anand Lal Shimpi on June 25, 2012 3:00 AM ESTBattery Life
The Transformer Pad Infinity features an integrated 25Wh battery, similar to the original Prime. You can obviously extend battery life by docking the Infinity into the optional keyboard dock.
Without an increase in battery capacity, you can expect a drop in battery life compared to the Transformer Prime as there's a leakier SoC, faster DRAM, higher resolution panel and brighter backlight to drive. The drop isn't huge, but it's noticeable:
While the original Prime pulled just under 9.5 hours, the Infinity borders on 8 hours of continuous use on a single charge. It's very similar to the battery life from the original Eee Pad Transformer, and better than what you can get out of a TF Pad 300. Eight hours isn't bad by any means, but it's the price you pay for maintaining portability while driving up performance/display.
Video playback battery life is thankfully quite respectable on the Infinity. I haven't had time to run the Prime and TF Pad 300 through our new tablet video playback test but at over 10.25 hours there's really nothing to complain about here. You can watch a few movies on a single charge, which is great for anyone stuck on a long haul flight.
For our gaming battery life test I'm not sure just how comparable the iOS/Android numbers are because it's quite likely that the NVIDIA hardware is actually doing more work here. But the important takeaway is the significant drop in battery life compared to the TF Prime. What we're likely seeing here is the penalty of the leakier SoC combined with the higher speed memory and increased memory bandwidth demands. If you're gaming on the Infinity, just plan on having a charger handy.
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rickcain2320 - Monday, June 25, 2012 - link
And thus, Microsoft completely misunderstands the tablet market by even considering it could be a laptop.jmhart - Tuesday, June 26, 2012 - link
Too bad MS has yet to build an OS that bridges the PC/laptop gap yet. Maybe they'll pull it off with WinRT, but to date that haven't so their "understanding" means nothing.DeciusStrabo - Tuesday, June 26, 2012 - link
This might be the case some day, but WindowsRT won't be a laptop any more or less than the Transformer, thanks to internals being even weaker than this tablet shown here and its limitation to Metro (and Office Home version).Only Windows 8 Pro will be really trying to bridge the gap, and then you get the usual Ultrabook issues (fan noise, heat, shorter run time, weight). So while I would love a real tablet-laptop hybrid, I'm afraid it won't be before we see Broadwell released that this dream comes true. The best are compromises (either like the Transformer here at tablet with a keyboard attachment or like the Windows 8 Pro thin a Ultrabook with a touchscreen).
kpopat - Wednesday, June 27, 2012 - link
The question is, how will you type on the Surface tablet, if you do not have a table?(BTW - Reader of Anandtech since I think 2000 and this is the second or third times I have posted on this site - after a very long break :-D)
B3an - Monday, June 25, 2012 - link
And you dont seem to understand anything. Surface already looks vastly higher quality than this, and already has FAR more interest than any Android tablet will get. Many people dont want gimmicks, they want a real PC the size of a tablet thats actually useful."Plus how are you going to use the kickstand+touch cover on your lap?"
And what kind of stupid question is that?? You simply dont. But it's there when you need it, for things like actual work/typing.
When Surface is released and sells far more than any Android tablet i cant wait to laugh at people like you.
3DoubleD - Monday, June 25, 2012 - link
The question still stands though... how do you use a surface tablet on your lap with the softcover keyboard?You can't unless you brought a hard surface to prop it up on.
An ultraportable laptop/netbook/tablet that can't be used while traveling is probably the most useless thing I've ever heard of.
Spunjji - Monday, June 25, 2012 - link
Tray table? That's where I use my laptop on trains/planes/whatever...3DoubleD - Monday, June 25, 2012 - link
That works on planes, but what about when you are waiting to board a plane?Not all trains have the trays (I'd say most don't have them).
Bus? Car? Bench in a park?
I don't see the point of an ultra-portable that forces you to look for a tablet to use it!
The ASUS concept for the Transformer is by far the better design.
french toast - Monday, June 25, 2012 - link
You don't have to use the keyboard if you don't want to, perhaps on a plane you could use the tray? Use on screen keyboard? Or perhaps by a mini Bluetooth foldup keyboard? ..I think it's great to see some innovation going on, nothing will ever suit everyone..it can't..if you don't like it..don't buy it.
Despite that it looks like a high end device imo.
Belard - Tuesday, June 26, 2012 - link
You know 3DoubleD... you have some issues. We get it, you don't like or need mobile devices.I rarely use my notebook... but I do use it. It works in cars, hotels. its a portable computer. Nothing more. Go out of town, need to do articles, print reports, etc... notebook is easier to carry than a 25lb box!
I use my iPad more than my ThinkPad... I use it on the can, use on the sofa, use on the train... I can prop it or hold it in my hand... it gets about 8 hours of use... something my notebook CAN'T do.
What works for you, might not work for someone else.