Asus Transformer Prime unboxed, in the flesh!

Villman did not get back to me regarding my online order of the Asus Transformer Prime the other day. Fortunately, the good folks from Asus PH gave me a tip that Accent Micro still has units left and took the liberty to reserve one for me.

So yesterday afternoon, I shelled out Php32,995USD 562INR 47,665EUR 536CNY 4,095 to get the first Tegra 3, quad-core tablet in the Philippines. The package price includes the keyboard dock.

I am told by the sales guy that the units came only this week and are in very limited stocks only. It wasn’t even on display yet (I think mine was only the second unit they sold so far).

There’s no option for the tablet only package and the box already came with the keyboard dock.

Asus Transformer Prime TF 201 specs:
10.1â€³ Super IPS+ display @ 1280Ã—800 pixels
Gorilla Glass Display
NVidia Tegra 3 1.6 GHz quad-core processor
32GB and 64GB internal storage
1GB DDR2 RAM
1.2MP front-facing camera
8MP autofocus camera with LED flash
3.5mm mic & headphone combo jack
micro HDMI port
micro SD card slot
USB 2.0 port (dock)
SD Card slot (dock)
WiFi 802.11 b/g/n
Bluetooth 2.1 w/ EDR
up to 18 hours of battery life (w/ dock)
Google Android 4.0.3 Ice Cream Sandwich

The tablet has the genetic make-up of an ultrabook, albeit a smaller one and could have been easily mistaken for an Asus Zenbook.

[uds-billboard name=”primebillboard”]

What is most surprising with this batch is that they already run on Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich and according to Antutu and Quadrant Standard, the processors run at 1.6GHz each (not the 1.4GHz originally reported).

I also have the first Asus Transformer tablet with me and placed them side by side for a quick comparison. Even the USB charger is also the same as the old one.

The Transformer Prime looks much thinner than the Asus Transformer because the edges are tapered, just like the Zenbook. The keyboard has sunk a little bit and trackpad seems wider with the left and right clickers now integrated into it (not separated as it used to the with the first one). This could have help shave a few millimeters off of the thickness of the device.

Will post full review in a week so stay tuned for that.

Abe Olandres

Abe is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of YugaTech with over 20 years of experience in the technology industry. He is one of the pioneers of blogging in the country and considered by many as the Father of Tech Blogging in the Philippines. He is also a technology consultant, a tech columnist with several national publications, resource speaker and mentor/advisor to several start-up companies.

https://www.yugatech.com

36 Comments

dokieee says:

13 years ago

wow… ganda tablet… sana meron d2 sa Cagayan de Oro city.
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kevin says:

13 years ago

i’m sooo wanting that…that Manny Paquiao doll at the background! Is that him? Where can I buy one?
BTW, the tablet is also cool. =)
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Gentledog says:

13 years ago

Nice one Kevin. Hahaha
Name: IC DeaDPiPoL says:

13 years ago

we need a review of the Manny Pacquiao Doll too XD
kevin says:

13 years ago

totally agree. my review of that Pacquiao doll would probably include there words “viciously cute” hahaha

JC says:

13 years ago

Want!
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rod says:

13 years ago

Why are the back, home and multi-task icons still look like from that of Honeycomb?
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Haro says:

13 years ago

Referring at the box, are we? /facepalm
rod says:

13 years ago

referring to the second photo from the slideshow. facepalm yourself. =)

Jeff says:

13 years ago

I like this one. But they say that the Asus Transformer Prime TF201 is somewhat faulty, that’s why they made an upgraded version, the Transformer Prime TF700T. Let’s just wait for the review.
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apds says:

13 years ago

Yes its faulty and im stuck with my tf201.. been w me over a month and they wont replace it. Asus said theyll just repair it. You tube watching sucks,videos garbled, rebooting madness…its a heavy paper weight.im so frustrated with my unut and im screaming about it!

fyre says:

13 years ago

can you check if the wifi is as bad as some people are saying?
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yoda says:

13 years ago

The Prime is also reported to have issues when bluetooth and wifi is on simultaneously (e.g. wifi signal will drop significantly or disconnect while bluetooth streaming or transfer is on-going).

I would like to know if this is also present in the units that arrived here in the Philippines.
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Ray says:

13 years ago

The bluetooth + wifi fallout is really only noticeable when you have blazing fast internet speeds… I don’t think we will be that affected by it.

Nonoy says:

13 years ago

Nope the rumor about faulty wi-fi and bluetooth signal is not true. I had mine online for 48 hiurs and transferred files via bluetoothand upgraded to icecream, via wi-fi. This tab is a monster. Ice cream is beautiful and i can even type using swipe. One word: amazing!
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alainL says:

13 years ago

I’m posting this from my prime. There’s no problem with the WiFi so far.
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EM Espinoza says:

13 years ago

I called the two numbers of Villman (SM North Edsa) on Friday afternoon, no one answered. I called their Trinoma branch and they said stocks ran out since there were only 40 in all their branches.

I actually have a long story for my Transformer Prime “saga”. But in the end, I was able to purchase mine from Accent Micro in SM Baguio! Bought the only unit the arrived there!
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alainL says:

13 years ago

The guys in Villman must be getting those stock numbers from their arse. The store I went to said they had only 25 in all their branches.

Transformer Primes are really hard to get this early. Luckily, I got mine at Octagon SM Mall of Asia last Saturday. Just for the information of those who are still looking.