Asus PadFone User Reviews

jhattara posted on 15 Oct 2012, 15:41

9

Asus PadFone - Best Gadget Ever

jhattara has owned it for less than year before publishing this review

Asus PadFone is still a unique device with no real competition from other manufacturers. The build quality on the phone is matched by almost none and the rippled plastic cover on the back makes the phone almost stick to your hand. Micro HDMI and micro USB ports on the side make connecting the device extremely easy. Although the screen on the phone might seem small when compared to other flagship Android phones it's plenty enough and this small negative is offset by the fact that you have that 10" tablet screen lying around.

The PadStation is a bit on the heavy side but still light enough to hold with one hand. The extended battery makes the device last for a full day through even most abusive days and it lasts easily for days when not in heavy use. PadFone slides easily into the PadStation, but requires a bit of force to remove. This might take couple of days of getting used to. Dynamic switching works like a charm with most of the applications, although graphically heavy application, such as most games, require restart after switching from phone to tablet or vice versa. Although the Play store doesn't offer tablet applications due to settings in the market people have reported that tablet only apps work fine.

The bluetooth capable stylus gets only 8 points as a stylus but has proven to be an invaluable and attractive addition to the device. By my experience it is the single most interesting feature to those not familiar with the device. The speaker needs some aiming to get...  

Asus PadFone is still a unique device with no real competition from other manufacturers. The build quality on the phone is matched by almost none and the rippled plastic cover on the back makes the phone almost stick to your hand. Micro HDMI and micro USB ports on the side make connecting the device extremely easy. Although the screen on the phone might seem small when compared to other flagship Android phones it's plenty enough and this small negative is offset by the fact that you have that 10" tablet screen lying around.

The PadStation is a bit on the heavy side but still light enough to hold with one hand. The extended battery makes the device last for a full day through even most abusive days and it lasts easily for days when not in heavy use. PadFone slides easily into the PadStation, but requires a bit of force to remove. This might take couple of days of getting used to. Dynamic switching works like a charm with most of the applications, although graphically heavy application, such as most games, require restart after switching from phone to tablet or vice versa. Although the Play store doesn't offer tablet applications due to settings in the market people have reported that tablet only apps work fine.

The bluetooth capable stylus gets only 8 points as a stylus but has proven to be an invaluable and attractive addition to the device. By my experience it is the single most interesting feature to those not familiar with the device. The speaker needs some aiming to get in a correct position but once you get used to it the audio quality is as good as on any phone.

In the end the PadFone is a bargain. You just can't get a comparable set of high-end phone, good tablet and decent nettop with the amount of cash you need to get your hands on this.

Build quality 9/10 Although the detachable back cover of the phone feels really flimsy when detached, it's very solid when attached. Finishing of the keyboard dock is also excellent but the PadStation has received some negative input about badly glued screen. Mine is also slightly protruding from the left side.

Reception 8/10 Not quite the quality of Nokia and WiFi disconnects occasionally.

Call quality 10/10 Nothing to complain here.

Internet 10/10 Nothing to complain here.

Multimedia 9/10 The stock player has some deficiencies with file formats but works really smoothly.

Camera 8/10 Pretty standard phone quality. Nothing too spectacular, but then again, what would you expect from a device with a minuscule lens and fixed optics.

UI speed 9/10 Some occasional lagging, but nothing that would really disturb you.

Everyday usage 10/10 Ever since I got the PadFone I've almost completely left my laptop unused outside work. PadFone fullfills pretty much all the aspect of everyday computing needs.

Text input 9/10 English swype works like a charm but at least some other languages are unusable with swype. Regular typing it is then.

Display 10/10 Didn't expect this to be usable in direct sunlight but both phone and tablet are really excellent in this aspect. Of course the resolution and brightness could be slightly better, but hey, you can't get everything.

Battery 10/10 Never fails to last a whole day even when in almost constant use. Good for 10 hours of active use.

Pros

• Very low cost for a phone, tablet and netbook combined
• 3-in-1 to fulfill all your needs
• Screen brightness and contrast
• Pen stylus attracts interest and makes people smile
• Just the perfect size
• On-screen buttons
• No need to sync phone and tablet

Cons

• Weight of PadStation
• WiFi not fully stable
• PadStation build quality
• No tablet only apps due to Play store settings