ASUS Transformer Pad Infinity (TF700T) Review
by Anand Lal Shimpi on June 25, 2012 3:00 AM ESTWiFi & GPS Performance
With the Transformer Prime ASUS moved to an all-aluminum construction but did little to focus on maintaining RF performance. The Transformer Pad 300 addressed WiFi and GPS performance by moving back to an all-plastic chassis, but as the high end in ASUS' Transformer stack aluminum was a necessity for the Infinity. The compromise is simple: a strip of similarly colored plastic across the top of the tablet, behind the WiFi and GPS antennas.
The plastic strip on the TF Pad Infinity (left) vs. the truly all-aluminum TF Prime (right)
I performed a number of WiFi performance tests and am pleased to say that overall wireless performance appears to be much better than any previous Transformer tablet. I managed nearly 40Mbps in the best case scenario, but more importantly I was able to maintain 3 - 4x the transfer speeds of the TF Prime at further distances from the access point. I would say the Infinity's WiFi performance is now on par with that of the iPad, and is seemingly better at 2.4GHz.
| WiFi Performance Comparison | ||||||
| Distance from AP | 3 feet | 20 feet (Different Room) | 50 feet (Different Room/Floor) | 80 feet (Different Room) | ||
| ASUS TF Prime (2.4GHz) | 26.9 Mbps | 9.85 Mbps | 13.5 Mbps | 2.20 Mbps | ||
| ASUS TF Pad 300 (2.4GHz) | 26.5 Mbps | 21.8 Mbps | 20.7 Mbps | 21.3 Mbps | ||
| ASUS TF Pad Infinity (2.4GHz) | 39.2 Mbps | 34.0 Mbps | 34.3 Mbps | 10.8 Mbps | ||
| ASUS Transformer (2.4GHz) | 21.8 Mbps | 17.6 Mbps | 18.8 Mbps | 15.0 Mbps | ||
| Apple iPad 2 (2.4GHz) | 35.1 Mbps | 29.9 Mbps | 26.9 Mbps | 10.6 Mbps | ||
| Apple iPad 3 (2.4GHz) | 35.1 Mbps | 29.9 Mbps | 27.9 Mbps | 9.98 Mbps | ||
| Apple iPad 2 (5GHz) | 36.7 Mbps | 36.7 Mbps | 36.7 Mbps | 11.9 Mbps | ||
| Apple iPad 3 (5GHz) | 36.7 Mbps | 36.7 Mbps | 36.7 Mbps | 11.7 Mbps | ||
ASUS still doesn't support 5GHz unfortunately with the Transformer Pad Infinity, so expect problems in situations with a bunch of 2.4GHz spectrum crowding.
GPS performance also benefits from the RF improvements to the Infinity. Although GPS locks are still not as consistently quick as I'd like them to be, the Infinity is generally able to get a signal lock quicker than even the Transformer Pad 300 - even in adverse conditions. While the Transformer Prime can't get a lock indoors or even in some situations in a car, the Infinity manages to do so in about 12 seconds. The shot below is what I saw after 12 seconds of searching for a lock:
To get something comparable from even the TF Pad 300 took well over a minute. I suspect the improvements to the Infinity go beyond simple chassis work based on its behavior.
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Tchamber - Monday, June 25, 2012 - link
I had problems browsing with the ipad, too. The difference is that on my TFP the browser rights itself rather than having to close it and open again. Multitasking is easier too, no double tapping anything. Sure ICS could be polished up a bit, but as far as capability its at least on par with IOS. IPad still has performance edge and battery, but thats getting smaller all the time.sawilson - Monday, June 25, 2012 - link
iOS is a lot less stable than ICS. You don't have to take my world for it. Crittercism did the research. Safari is the buggiest piece of sh*t I've used in my life on iOS, and it's a damn shame because it's one of the finest browsers I've used when on OSX. It's shame apple can't just get OSX working on the ipad. Then it would be worth it.DeciusStrabo - Tuesday, June 26, 2012 - link
I would say they are about the same for me. Maybe, maybe Android is a bit more stable, but I would attribute this to the fine gentlemen and -women working at CM9. Neither is annoying with the crashes, so I'd say they are both perfectly usable.sprockkets - Monday, June 25, 2012 - link
Put Chrome on it - for whatever reason the browser on Asus' tablets is not up to par. Why when every other ICS browser works fine is beyond me...Belard - Tuesday, June 26, 2012 - link
Get OPERA for Android then... much better than the built in browser.Belard - Tuesday, June 26, 2012 - link
OOPS! Even for my Samsung galaxy phone, the Opera browser is excellent. I get tabbed browsing, better entry for text fields.lilmoe - Monday, June 25, 2012 - link
I actually HATE Apple products myself. But Anand is anything but a fanboy... I know a fanboy when i see one. Engadget, TB, and other websites "tech websites" have lots of them.Anyway. While I seriously hate admitting this. "Currently", the only tablet worth buying if the user is concerned about "user experience" and fluidity is in fact the iPad. I personally think the iPad 2,4 is the best deal out there; i could care less for higher "non-standard" resolutions.
But Anand threw a bomb at the end of his article here. The transformer line needs a much more fluid and "functional" OS. That being, Windows 8. I agree. Windows 8 ARM/x86 tablets are going to show us a whole new dimension in computing and fluidity. Be prepared to see most Anandtech authors being called Windows/Microsoft fanboys by the end of the year.
BabelHuber - Monday, June 25, 2012 - link
AFAIK Windows 8 RT is locked, like the iPad is.This means e.g. no sideloading of Apps, you have to rely on Microsoft's App store.
I even haven't rooted my TF Prime since I haven't seen a need so far.
Of course you can jailbreak the iPad, probably you will be able to do so with Windows RT devices. BUT what disadvantages do you get? On Android I have none, except of voiding my warranty.
The TF series consists of real PCs, meaning that PERSONAL is a part of it since I can do whatever I see fit with my device.
A part of this are standard interfaces like HDMI, SD cards and USB. I wouldn't want to miss this.
So the bottom line is: Until I haven't seen detailled tests of WIndows RT tablets, it remains to be seen whether Windows RT will be 'better' at all.
As a sindenote: WIth WIndows Surface, MS is directly competing with its OEMs. It remains to be seen how OEMs will react.
Samsung and HTC already made it clear that they prefer Android over WIndows Phone for smartphones. The tablet race is still open, Microsoft has no user base whatsoever.
xype - Monday, June 25, 2012 - link
The thing is that tablets for most people are appliances. The group that actually wants a PC in a tablet form factor is not that large. The group that couldn’t care less as long as they don’t have to spend time tinkering with the device is much, much larger.Of course an argument can be made that iOS can be jailbroken (and Windows RT will probably be, too), and there certainly is a group of people out there who prefers an Apple device with the "openess" they expect from a PC.
And that’s all ok! Android is a perfect fit for the "tinkerers" and thanks to Apple setting expectations pretty high, they’ll get a great tablet/phone user experience to boot, as Android needs to stay competitive with iOS. It’s like the mythical "Linux on the Desktop", but with more apps. :oP
Windows 8/RT’s impact remains to be seen. Their approach certainly is novel and if Microsoft can manage to get enough developers on board, they might end up with a real alternative. I’m only afraid they will end up being too schizophrenic for that, trying to do it all and ending up doing nothing well enough for people to give a shit.
BabelHuber - Monday, June 25, 2012 - link
I did not talk about 'tinkering'. Tinkering for me means installing Custom ROMs, overclocking, replacing system files etc.Everybody who is able to download a program for Windows/ OS X and install it can do this also with Android.
No need for rooting, no need for tinkering. Just downloading a file, going to the file browser and selecting the downloaded file is very easy.
If an OS does not provide this, it is not a full OS, but a restricted one.