If the ZenBook 3 was Asus’ shot at Apple’s MacBook, their new Transformer 2-in-1s are definitely shots at Microsoft’s Surface and Surface Pro. It is crafted from aerospace-grade aluminum alloy, a premium material that is 50% stronger than the standard alloy used in laptops. It is powered by an Intel Core i7 processor (seventh-generation) coupled with up to 16GB of RAM and 1TB PCIe SSD. A slim bezel design provides an 82% screen-to-body ratio for the maximum display size with the minimum footprint. As a tablet, it’s even lighter than the ZenBook 3 at 1.75 pounds, and thinner at 8.35 mm thick. Its detachable ergonomic keyboard has 1.5mm key travel and an integrated palm rest for a comfortable typing experience. Asus gives no hardware detail on this machine, but it does have Windows Hello support, WiFi, and comes in several colors.
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Oddly, the Transformer 3 is offered only in Icicle Gold and Glacier Gray, while the Sleeve Keyboard comes in Stone, Charcoal, Taupe and Amber. When it’s time to recharge, fast-charge technology brings ZenBook 3’s battery up to 60% capacity in just 49 minutes. The Transformer 3 starts at $799 (AUD $1,115 or 545) compared to the $999 (AUD$1,395 and 683) of the base model of the Pro.
If you don’t need all this power, there is a non-Pro version of the Transformer 3 available as well.
The Transformer 3 Pro features a metal, “stepless” hinge on the back which lets you position the device at viewing angles up to 170 degrees. That display covers 121% of the sRGB color space and the machine has dual front speakers. In addition to a Thunderbolt 3-compatible USB Type-C port (Thunderbolt 3 speeds channeled through a USB Type-C connector), there’s one HDMI port, one regular-sized USB 3.0 port, a Micro SD card slot, and an audio jack.
ASUS Transformer 3 Pro is expandable with a range of accessories. ASUS Audio Pod is an entertainment accessory that includes four powerful speakers to deliver incredible 360* virtual 5.1-channel surround sound and with rich, defined bass. This means that the hybrid can be connected to the ROG XG Station 2 just like its bigger brother. ASUS Transformer 3 weighs 695g and is 6.9mm thin. ASUS Transformer MiniASUS Transformer Mini has an integrated kickstand with a patented stepless Smart Hinge design that opens up to 170°, letting users adjust the display to nearly any viewing angle.
The display is a 12.6-inch 2880 x 1920 resolution unit with 275ppi.
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ASUS Transformer 3 is equipped with four high-quality speakers with audio by Harman Kardon for enjoying optimum audio quality. The laptop supports dual external 4K UHD displays. It has built-in fingerprint reader and Windows Hello lets users sign in to and unlock ASUS Transformer 3 quickly and securely without having to type their password or PIN. Furthermore, Asus says Transformer 3 Pro will have support for Virtual Reality as well. The device could be connected to ROG XG Station 2 external graphics dock with the help of Thunderbolt 3 port which opens all desktop-grade features for it with an enhanced support for NVIDIA GeForce GTX 980 GPU graphics with VR integration.
