ASUS Announces Transformer 3 Pro: 2-in-1 with Core i5/i7
by Ryan Smith on May 30, 2016 8:01 AM EST- Posted in
- Computex_2016
- Asus
- Notebooks
- 2-in-1
Not to be outdone on the subject of 2-in-1s today, ASUS has announced a second 2-in-1 to complement the newly announced Transformer 3. Dubbed the Transformer 3 Pro, this portable is a more direct competitor to Microsoft’s popular Surface Pro lineup.
| ASUS Transformer 3 Series | ||||||
| Transformer 3 | Transformer 3 Pro | |||||
| Processor | Core M? (Kaby Lake) | Core i5/Core i7 (Skylake) | ||||
| Memory | Up To 8GB LPDDR3 | Up To 16GB LPDDR3 | ||||
| Display | 12.6" 2880x1920 | |||||
| Storage | Up To 512GB | Up To 1TB, PCIe x4 | ||||
| Connectivity | USB Type-C, 3.1 Gen 2 w/Thunderbolt 3 3.5mm Audio Jack |
USB Type-C, 3.1 Gen 2 w/Thunderbolt 3 HDMI USB Typa-A, 3.0 MicroSD 3.5mm Audio Jack |
||||
| Dimensions | ? x ? x 6.9mm | 299 x 210 x 8.35 mm | ||||
| Pricing | Starting At $799 | Starting At $999 | ||||
Although the standard Transformer 3 is not necessary a budget option, of the two Transformers it is the cheaper one, utilizing what’s likely a Core M processor and having all-around weaker specifications. However for users that need more processing power (Core i5/i7), more storage (Up to 1TB, PCIe), more RAM (up to 16GB), and more connectivity (HDMI, USB Type-A, MicroSD) the Pro offers all of this in a slightly thicker form factor. The Transformer 3 Pro also brings over the rest of the feature set offered by the base Transformer 3, including a USB Type-C port with Thunderbolt 3 connectivity, and a 12.6" 2880x1920 screen.
The higher specifications – particularly the use of an Intel Core i5 or i7 processor – puts it in direct competition with Microsoft’s Surface Pro. And at 8.35mm thick, I’m curious how the cooling system on the Pro compares to what Microsoft has done, as putting a 15W CPU in such a thin form factor is by no means an easy feat.
Finally, like its Core M based sibling, ASUS has not yet announced a shipping date for the Transformer 3 Pro. But a starting price has been announced, with the Pro starting at $999.
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KPOM - Monday, May 30, 2016 - link
Not to parrot ASUS's CEO too much, but the Zenbook is a prestige device. They wanted to be able to say that they created a notebook thinner, lighter, and more powerful than the MacBook at a similar price with similar looks and build quality. They will probably sell more of the Transformer than the Zenbook 3.jsntech - Monday, May 30, 2016 - link
And another 3:2 aspect display...sweet!I'm sure it's too much to hope for, but *please* let this tiny trend of 'taller', more-useful-for-majority-of-uses displays keep growing.
KPOM - Monday, May 30, 2016 - link
But then they went ahead and put 16:9 into the Zenbook, even though the MacBook uses 16:10. I'm not sure I understand why.Spectrophobic - Monday, May 30, 2016 - link
I think I'll prefer a 1920x1080 panel over 2880x1920. Not having to bother with scaling a big plus for me.I think squarer aspect ratios make more sense on laptops though, as on tablets you can just change orientation to fit your needs.
Impulses - Tuesday, May 31, 2016 - link
Not necessarily, at 10"+ a long 16:10 (let alone 16:9) tablet can become kind of unwieldy and top heavy in portrait orientation...Lolimaster - Tuesday, May 31, 2016 - link
And if you check photos or read comic/manga 16:10 or even worse 16:9 look absolutely horrible in a vertical position.3:2 should be the only aspect ratio for PC ecosystem and 16:10, 21:9 for niche segments (editing),
Movie and TV industry should also adopt 16:10 and ban for good this horrible 16:9
Lolimaster - Tuesday, May 31, 2016 - link
3:2 --> 1,5 ratio is +0.17 from a 4:3, +0.08 from actual A3 paper (1.42~) and -0.1 from 16:10Spectrophobic - Tuesday, May 31, 2016 - link
...and give pretty much every TV pillarboxing?Spectrophobic - Tuesday, May 31, 2016 - link
Ehhh, not really. I'm fine with the SP2.jnfbatista - Tuesday, May 31, 2016 - link
I would love to see one of these paired up with a Razer Core.