ASUS Transformer Pad Infinity (TF700T) Review
by Anand Lal Shimpi on June 25, 2012 3:00 AM ESTThe Display
At 1920 x 1200 with a 10.1-inch diagonal, the Transformer Pad Infinity's Super IPS+ panel works out to a hefty 224 pixels per inch. That's shy of the iPad's 264 PPI but still a tremendous improvement over the 149 PPI of the previous generation Transformers. 1920 x 1200 is a fully supported resolution under Ice Cream Sandwich, so there's no funniness that has to happen in order to support the new display. It's still a 16:10 aspect ratio, but with a 1.5x increase in the horizontal and vertical dimensions.
The effect on the display is subtle but present. Text looks sharper, icons look clearer, everything just gets better. The browser uses the added resolution to make smaller text more legible when zoomed out on web pages:
Macro shot of AnandTech.com on the Transformer Prime, 10.1-inch 1280 x 800
Macro shot of AnandTech.com on the Transformer Pad Infinity, 10.1-inch 1920 x 1080
High resolution photos look good on the display as well, but the effect is a bit more subtle than I would have expected. It's really text that benefits the most in my opinion.
In going to the higher resolution panel, ASUS hasn't improved color gamut or accuracy. Things are a tad better compared to the TF Prime but not appreciably so. White point is kept at around 7500K across the brightness range.
Where ASUS does deliver is in contrast ratio and brightness. In its default state the Transformer Pad Infinity can deliver, at max brightness, 460 nits. Similar to the Transformer Prime, ASUS offers a Super IPS+ mode for outdoor viewing that drives the panel and backlight to just under 700 nits.
Black levels suffer a bit at the Super IPS+ setting, but otherwise the panel is actually a bit better than what ASUS used in the Transformer Prime. The result is a contrast ratio of over 1300:1, or 1135:1 in Super IPS+ mode.
The brightness and contrast improvements are appreciated as is the increased pixel density. It would have been nice to see an improvement in color gamut and color accuracy with the Transformer Pad Infinity. Let's hope ASUS is saving the best for its Windows 8 tablets later this year.
Facebook
Twitter
RSS
112 Comments
View All Comments
smartypnt4 - Monday, June 25, 2012 - link
So, I understand that you can only do so much in one review, but come on...Where are your physical impressions of the device? I understand that the exterior is virtually identical to the Transformer Prime, but still. It'd be nice to even get a "go see the Tranformer Prime review for my detailed impressions on build quality, etc." Where are the battery life figures with the dock? I know it takes a lot of time to test everything, but you waited much longer after all the other review sites to post your iPad 3 and rMBP review. If you don't have a problem waiting on the Apple products, why rush this one out as soon as the NDA lifts?
Sorry if it sounds like I'm whining. I just want the same kind of coverage devoted to Android's new flagship tablet as I saw with the new Macbook Pro or that I saw in the iPad 3 review. Both of those had reviews that were twice as long. Granted, the rMBP (love that acronym you used btw) was a very large upgrade, but the iPad 3 didn't differ appreciably from the iPad 2 in any area other than the screen, similarly to how the Infinity differs from the Prime.
Other than not covering the build quality aspect, though, great review! I really want to see one of these things in action and compare it to my iPad 3 and see how it stacks up. I know the pixel density isn't on par with the iPad, but I'm getting rather tired of the iOS UI on a tablet. I wish I could have some good widgets.
bryanb - Monday, June 25, 2012 - link
Why is Windows and Microsoft mentioned so much in the article? This article should have been reviewing the updated Transformer Prime running Android.Please keep the Microsoft fanboy rants in their own articles so that we can ignore them easier.
sprockkets - Monday, June 25, 2012 - link
TF Prime is taken off market or is going to be cheaper, then will the other plastic body ones be cheaper???Possum - Monday, June 25, 2012 - link
Did ASUS change anything with the way their tablets are assembled and filtered through QC? I went through one Transformer Prime and three Transformer TF300's, and all had horrible backlight bleed issues.fic2 - Monday, June 25, 2012 - link
Is it just me that doesn't really see the use in a rear facing camera? Holding up a big tablet (compared to a phone or actual camera) to take a picture is kind of awkward. I just don't really see the need for my tablet or laptop to have a camera other than for skype, etc.Tujan - Monday, June 25, 2012 - link
How did the Internet (Browser) benches get Benched. By which Internet connectivity type being utilized ?- Wi-fi
- Tethered Phone
- Some other
There was not any USB port said on the Tablet . Unless I missed this spec. somewhere. I have not seen any HDMI Wimax (via Internet Service Provider). In order to run a wireless connection.
Is this intended to be marketed this way. A localized Internet device via wi-fi etc. Certainly looks intentional w/o a USB connector.
Did not see a processor percentage for use of HDMI to external Display/HDTV either.
Tujan - Monday, June 25, 2012 - link
P.S. Idea being is this being marketed to that you/me/us/we .. can go "shopping" for wi-fi spots ?Ryan Smith - Monday, June 25, 2012 - link
All of the browser benchmarks were over WiFi.sonelone - Monday, June 25, 2012 - link
Please review the N56VZ next. It is a very capable laptop and offers Macbook Pro level performance at $1300.Godofmosquitos - Tuesday, June 26, 2012 - link
Any word on when the Infinity Pad we're actually waiting for will arrive? I ofc mean the 3G version of this device, sporting Qualcomm's S4 Krait instead of Tegra 3, likely sporting both better performance and much better battery life than what we see here...