Asus Transformer 3 Pro Takes Aim at Microsoft's Surface
It seems like every major PC has come out with a 2-in-1 made specifically to take on the Surface Pro, except Asus. But with the new Transformer 3 Pro, Asus is taking clear shots at Microsoft's category-defining 2-in-1 with a system that seems to do almost everything a Surface can do, but just a bit better.
Featuring your choice of an Intel Core i5 or i7 CPU, a 12.6-inch 2880 x 1920 display, the 8.33mm-thick Transformer 3 Pro comes with components that either equal or slightly edge out what you get on a similarly configured Surface Pro 4. The device also features three ports: HDMI, USB-C with Thunderbolt 3 and a traditional USB 3.0 connector.
Update: After reaching out to Asus, we've confirmed that the Transformer 3 Pro's folding keyboard comes included in the system's $999 starting price.
MORE: Best 2-in-1s (Laptop/Tablet Hybrids)
Asus also claims that the Transformer 3 Pro's display features an sRGB color range that's 22 percent wider than the SP4. With speakers that are reported to be four times louder than the Surface's, the Transformer Pro 3 should deliver a superior audio and visual experience.
When I got a chance to check out Asus' new flagship 2-in-1 at its press event in Taiwan, it was quite clear that the company didn't even try to hide where it drew its inspiration from. In fact, I bet if you switch out the Asus logo for a Windows one, even a lot of tech savvy people would have a hard time figuring out which is which.
Like the Surface Pro, the Transformer 3 Pro features an adjustable kickstand in back, and along the bottom, there's a magnetic connector for attaching a backlit folding keyboard that feels remarkably close to Microsoft's Type cover. The Transformer Pro 3 even has a stylus with the same 1,024 levels of pressure sensitivity as the SP4, so there's not much difference in the way the two PCs handle drawing and sketching.
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Where the Surface Pro 4 beats the Transformer 3 Pro is in weight, as a Core i5 SP4 weighs 786 grams versus the Asus' weight of 795 grams.
One of the big questions that remains is if the Transformer 3 Pro's starting price includes its folding keyboard. Because if it doesn't, then the Surface Pro 4 will also hold an advantage in price, as a Core i5 SP4 currently goes for $849 versus the $999 starting price of the Transformer Pro 3.
The other thing that I really want to know is whether, in Asus' quest to one-up the Surface, the company made the mistake of using a battery that's too small. If so, then all the time Asus spent refining the Surface's design will have been for naught, but we're going to have to wait for a full review to find out.
The Transformer 3 Pro proves that imitation really is a form of flattery, and if this 2-in-1 can bring some subtle improvements to what's currently the best detachable on the market, Asus will have a winner on its hands.