Hold on to your hats ladies and gentlemen, sith is about to get serious on the Android tablet front. ASUS have just announced the next addition to the Transformer line of devices, the ASUS Transformer Prime — throw an ‘Optimus’ in there and we’d be good to go. The device looks amazing and the specs sheet backs up that idea completely.

  • 10.1-inch SuperIPS + display with Gorilla Glass
  • 1.3GHz quad-core NVIDIA Tegra 3 Processor with 12-core GPU
  • 1GB RAM
  • 32GB or 64GB internal storage with microSD card slot
  • microHDMI port
  • 8MP F2.4 rear shooter with continuous flash for video recording, 1.2MP front camera
  • 8.33mm thin
  • 586g (1.29 lbs.)
  • 12 hour battery life playing 720p video, 18 hours with keyboard dock
  • Metallic spun finish
  • Two available colors: Amethyst Gray and Champagne Gold (show below, respectively)
  • Android 3.2 – will be updated to Android 4.0 as soon as possible after release

Are you blown away yet? The Transformer Prime will be the first device to use NVIDIA’s new Tegra 3 CPU which is quad-core with 5 cores, seriously! You can learn more about the Tegra 3 CPU in the view below.

The release date is sometime in December in the US, so I imagine us Aussies won’t see it on our shores (officially) until early in the new year. Pricing is set at (in USD) $499 for the 32GB variant and $599 for the 64GB variant.

The keyboard dock that turns the device into a makeshift laptop adds 6 hours of battery life and will apparently cost USD$150, which will no doubt be doubled by the time it launches here. We’ll be sure to keep you updated on any Australian availability on the ASUS Transformer Prime.

Source: Android Central.
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Rob Byrnes

*drool*

Tegra 3

Who is looking forward to the Tegra 3? quad core processors now coming to smartphones in 2012. For all the latest info visit http://www.tegra3.org

Greg

Why will anything cost twice as much in Aus. as it does in the USA? Our $ is above theirs. It should be cheaper…

Vijay Alapati

it has only dock connector….the sdcard slot, and HDMI connector is only in the dock.

Poo

wrong

Aman

Great tablet…..

Samsung Stratosphere LTE 4G………….http://goo.gl/3gYhM

Olt

The bigger issue i see with a lot of Android tablets is the lack of dual-band wireless support (and the lack of detailing this in the specifications)… The original Transformer was only 2.4GHz, any idea if the Prime is dual band?

Vasko Bozinovski

Why is that an issue. The 5GHz wireless range is NOT commonplace. Simple.

dario67

I am out of the office until 21/11/2011. Note: This is an automated response to your message “[ausdroid] Re: ASUS announces the ASUS Transformer Prime, launches in December — Quad-core, 8.3mm thick, 12hr battery life” sent on 17/11/2011 8:55:43. This is the only notification you will receive while this person is away. _________________________________________________________________________________ This email contains confidential information intended only for the person named above and may be subject to legal privilege. If you are not the intended recipient, any disclosure, copying or use of this information is prohibited. The Department provides no guarantee that this communication is free of… Read more »

NXZ

Let’s hope Apple don’t end up sueing Asus as well for this design.

JeniSkunk

I would not at all be surprised to see such a look and feel lawsuit bought against honeycomb tablet manufacturers for infringing upon Apple’s successfool marketing of WiFi only tablets.

Beeza Geeza

HOT KIT IS HOT.

Unfortunately, I have vowed not to buy a tablet until they come with SDXC slots and can do 1080p/60.

Soon, my pretties. Soon.

Phillomath

My understanding is that SDXC support is purely a software limitation of supporting the FATX filesystem that they come formatted with by default. I’ve seen reports of people putting Micro SDXC in their Galaxy S II and it working fine.

Beeza Geeza

…really?!? Got a link??

Phillomath

Sorry about the late reply.
Here you go: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1278945

Dario

Any news whether the 3G version will be available ? Cannot believe the 1st gen transformer STILL had no 3G version available

Vasko Bozinovski

Umm Dario you’re smoking ROCKS… http://www.asus.com/Eee/Eee_Pad/Eee_Pad_Transformer_TF101G/#specifications

Read in there QUAD BAND GSM… HSPA… google before you talk.

Level380

Got any links to places to BUY IT!? I don’t see it sold by anyone is Australia yet. So the facts stand, No 3G transformer in Aus, I’m not knocking the device. I like it!

dario67

I am out of the office until 21/11/2011. Note: This is an automated response to your message “[ausdroid] Re: ASUS announces the ASUS Transformer Prime, launches in December — Quad-core, 8.3mm thick, 12hr battery life” sent on 17/11/2011 8:58:51. This is the only notification you will receive while this person is away. _________________________________________________________________________________ This email contains confidential information intended only for the person named above and may be subject to legal privilege. If you are not the intended recipient, any disclosure, copying or use of this information is prohibited. The Department provides no guarantee that this communication is free of… Read more »

dario67

I am out of the office until 21/11/2011. Note: This is an automated response to your message “[ausdroid] Re: ASUS announces the ASUS Transformer Prime, launches in December — Quad-core, 8.3mm thick, 12hr battery life” sent on 17/11/2011 8:56:24. This is the only notification you will receive while this person is away. _________________________________________________________________________________ This email contains confidential information intended only for the person named above and may be subject to legal privilege. If you are not the intended recipient, any disclosure, copying or use of this information is prohibited. The Department provides no guarantee that this communication is free of… Read more »

Dario

People my point here is this, it has taken Asus 3 months (at least) to release the 3G version of the transformer, and now that they have released it they announce the prime. Note how long is it going to take then to release the 3G prime. I believe they have the best Android tablet, but if they can get their act together I could actually buy one of their products with a 3G radio !

dario67

I am out of the office until 21/11/2011. Note: This is an automated response to your message “[ausdroid] Re: ASUS announces the ASUS Transformer Prime, launches in December — Quad-core, 8.3mm thick, 12hr battery life” sent on 17/11/2011 12:19:16. This is the only notification you will receive while this person is away. _________________________________________________________________________________ This email contains confidential information intended only for the person named above and may be subject to legal privilege. If you are not the intended recipient, any disclosure, copying or use of this information is prohibited. The Department provides no guarantee that this communication is free of… Read more »

Anonymous

turn ur mob into a wifi hotspot, piggyback off that, problem solved. it’s the best tablet in the market, can’t friggin wait

Ryan

im SO excited for this! i havent made the plunge into tablets yet because of battery life, performance issues etc

but now as a uni student i think this its time for me to rest my laptop and pick this up.

cant wait for reviews and australian release…here’s hoping its $700AUD with dock (wishful thinking) 

do you know whether there is a USB port? also does the 10.1″ include the bezel or without the bezel? 

Anonymous

you can with our dollar shop online, some websites ship internationally if not use one of them usa shopping services, it’ll still work out cheaper then buying it here. betcha when it is released it’ll be at minimum $800aud, fuck that

JeniSkunk

When ICS is put on this tablet, will you be able to use it as a phone?

Buzz Moody

There might be hacks out there that enable this, but no, you won’t be able to use the dialer by default.

Level380

psstt its wifi only, so voip only 😉

Buzz Moody

In my world 3G is *everywhere*

Level380

Well sadly in ASUS world, they haven’t released a 3G version of the transformer yet, and still not hearing talk of any 3G prime loving either……..

Your world might have to adjust to mifi and wifi 😉

dario67

Cannot understand why they are being so slack with enabling 3G.  I would of been the first to buy the first gen transformer if it had 3G and same with the prime.  They are just shooting themselves in the foot.

Matt Booth

Who needs 3G and an additional data contract and cost in the days of tethering? Wifi tablet is sufficient

Brandon

I have to agree with Matt, you pay up to $130 extra up front and you end up paying more per megabite… unless you are a serious power user using the hotspot on your smartphone should do everything you need. Its just like carrying around a personal mifi except you acctually take your phone with you everywhere already.

Vasko Bozinovski

Heard of the TF101G? You all are stating what appear to be facts without any backup.

http://www.asus.com/Eee/Eee_Pad/Eee_Pad_Transformer_TF101G/#specifications

People should stop saying what’s not true. The Transformer tablet is an amazing device. I have the WIFI only version as I don’t need it to be 3G.

Level380

Got any links to places to BUY IT!? I don’t see it sold by anyone is Australia yet. So the facts stand, No 3G transformer in Aus, I’m not knocking the device. I like it!

dario67

I am out of the office until 21/11/2011. Note: This is an automated response to your message “[ausdroid] Re: ASUS announces the ASUS Transformer Prime, launches in December — Quad-core, 8.3mm thick, 12hr battery life” sent on 17/11/2011 8:58:44. This is the only notification you will receive while this person is away. _________________________________________________________________________________ This email contains confidential information intended only for the person named above and may be subject to legal privilege. If you are not the intended recipient, any disclosure, copying or use of this information is prohibited. The Department provides no guarantee that this communication is free of… Read more »

Level380

HAHAHA OUT OF OFFICE FAIL!!!!!!

dario67

I am out of the office until 21/11/2011. Note: This is an automated response to your message “[ausdroid] Re: ASUS announces the ASUS Transformer Prime, launches in December — Quad-core, 8.3mm thick, 12hr battery life” sent on 17/11/2011 10:10:59. This is the only notification you will receive while this person is away. _________________________________________________________________________________ This email contains confidential information intended only for the person named above and may be subject to legal privilege. If you are not the intended recipient, any disclosure, copying or use of this information is prohibited. The Department provides no guarantee that this communication is free of… Read more »

dario67

I am out of the office until 21/11/2011. Note: This is an automated response to your message “[ausdroid] Re: ASUS announces the ASUS Transformer Prime, launches in December — Quad-core, 8.3mm thick, 12hr battery life” sent on 17/11/2011 8:54:45. This is the only notification you will receive while this person is away. _________________________________________________________________________________ This email contains confidential information intended only for the person named above and may be subject to legal privilege. If you are not the intended recipient, any disclosure, copying or use of this information is prohibited. The Department provides no guarantee that this communication is free of… Read more »

Level380

no, this is a wifi only device…..

That said if you use some SIP/VOIP product then you maybe able to make calls etc.

JeniSkunk

About what I guessed would be the case as this iteration of the Transformer tablets looked like yet another Honeycomb tablet that cannot make/take phonecalls. So why the hell are they planning on wasting a PHONE OS on a tablet which cannot work as a phone?

Anonymous

transformer prime is wi-fi only

Geoff Fieldew

This is my next tablet, when it gets ICS.

Buzz Moody

The bezel is huge. That’s a no go for me.

jivemaster

You need a decent bezel in order to hold these things.