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Review Asus Transformer Pad TF701T Tablet

All-inclusive. Asus continuously refreshes its Transformer Pad series. The new Transformer Pad TF701T is a high-resolution 10-inch tablet that is supposed to compete with notebooks. It is equipped with a powerful Tegra 4 SoC clocked at 1.9 GHz, 32 GB flash storage and an IPS display, so the review unit might also be interesting for business customers.

For the original German review, see here.

A high-resolution 10-inch IPS display with 2560x1600 pixels, a powerful Nvidia Tegra 4 SoC with a clock of 1.9 GHz that is supported by a generous 2 GB of RAM, either 32 or 64 GB internal flash storage and a keyboard dock with an additional battery – Asus did not save any money and equipped the tablet with impressive hardware. The Transformer Pad TF701T 32 GB from the manufacturer Asus offers everything money can buy and is currently available for around 500 Euros (~$696). You can also get the Transformer Pad TF701T without the keyboard dock for 50 Euros (~$69) less. Asus did not yet announce whether the 64 GB version will be available in Germany.  

We were completely convinced by the predecessor Asus Transformer Pad TF700T, but can the redesigned flagship tablet get a great score once again?

Our comparison includes several tablets that are direct rivals of the Transformer Pad TF701T. For example: Apple iPad AirGigaset QV1030HP Slate 8 Pro 7600eg or Samsung Galaxy Tab Pro 10.1, which was refreshed just a while ago. 

Case

Glass cover for the display vs. plastic keyboard
Glass cover for the display vs. plastic keyboard
The case is made of polycarbonate and aluminum, respectively.
The case is made of polycarbonate and aluminum, respectively.

The case of the Asus Transformer Pad TF701T is primarily made of sturdy aluminum. The display is protected by a dirt-repellant layer of Corning's Gorilla Glass, which improves the gliding capabilities as well. The result is a very good torsion resistance.

A thin polycarbonate strip at the top of the back cover ensures a decent WLAN signal that is not affected by the aluminum back cover. The overall build quality is decent, consistent gaps and well-integrated ports support this impression. 

With dimensions of 263 x 180.8 mm and a height of 8.9 mm (18.9 mm with the keyboard dock), the Transformer Pad TF701T is one of the biggest devices within the comparison. Compared to the predecessor Transformer Pad TF700T, the review device is 14 mm thinner and now weighs 584 grams. Some competitors are noticeably lighter, only the Gigaset QV1030 is heavier. The keyboard dock is made of polycarbonate and weighs another 578 grams. The build quality is once again very good, although the keyboard dock is not quite as torsion-resistant. The overall weight of 1162 grams is comparable to some subnotebooks, for instance the Apple MacBook Air 11, but our review unit should be superior in terms of battery runtimes thanks to the additional battery of the dock. 

As usual for tablets, the maintainability and upgradability are very limited: You cannot open the tablet, only the internal storage can be upgraded by micro SD cards (up to 128 GB) in the device itself or memory sticks and SD cards at the dock.

Connectivity

The Transformer Pad TF701T is powered by an Nvidia Tegra 4 SoC with a clock of 1.9 GHz including a GeForce GPU, all of which is supported by 2 GB memory. The CPU is excellent in its class, but the display even goes one step further. The 10.1-inch IPS display has a very high resolution of 2560x1600 pixels and even surpasses the Retina display of the Apple iPad Air.

Our review unit has 32 GB internal storage – it can be expanded up to 128 GB via micro SD or SD cards. Furthermore, the review unit has a micro HDMI port for external displays and one USB 3.0 port at the keyboard dock. Unfortunately, the tablet itself does not have a micro USB port, so you will have to use the provided cable with the proprietary connector.

Top: power button
Top: power button
Left side: 3.5 mm stereo jack, micro HDMI, micro SD, volume rocker
Left side: 3.5 mm stereo jack, micro HDMI, micro SD, volume rocker
Bottom: data/power connector and docking ports
Bottom: data/power connector and docking ports
Right side: microphone, speakers
Right side: microphone, speakers
Android 4.3 Jelly Bean
Android 4.3 Jelly Bean
Floating Apps
Floating Apps

Software

The Asus Transformer Pad TF701T is shipped with Android 4.3 Jelly Bean, and an update to version 4.4 KitKat was not yet announced. Similar to the predecessor Transformer TF700T, Asus once again uses a customized user interface, which is just a slightly modified version of stock Android.

Asus also installs useful software additions, for instance, its own password manager App Lock, a simple file manager or Polaris Office, YouTube and all important Google apps. You also get the option to launch some apps in the Floating App mode, some kind of multitasking for the browser, calculator and other apps.

GPS test
GPS test

Communication & GPS 

GPS in combination with aluminum cases usually results in problems. However, the predecessor Asus Transformer Pad TF700T had no issues with the GPS signal, and our review unit has no problems, either. We even got a signal indoors, but the accuracy of the Transformer Pad TF701T is even better outdoors. 

The wireless equipment with 802.11 a/b/g/n WLAN, Bluetooth 3.0+EDR as well as Miracast support is complete. A version with UMTS or LTE was not yet announced. The performance of the WLAN module is good; our review unit still had a decent signal through several walls and with a distance of around 10 meters from the router.

5 MP lens with AF
5 MP lens with AF

Cameras & Multimedia

The Transformer Pad TF701T has a 1.2 MP webcam (videos at 720p), a main camera with a resolution of 5 MP (videos at 1080p) and an auto focus. Asus waived the LED flash from the Transformer Pad Infinity TF700T, but that is not really a problem when you consider the bad performance. 

Due to the low resolution and the location, the webcam is only suited for video chats. Pictures look blurry and washed-out, and the colors heavily deviate from the original. 

However, the main camera takes decent snapshots – as long as the lighting conditions are okay. You will, however, have to live with slightly deviated colors, a low sharpness and visible picture noise. Similar to other tablet cameras, the picture quality depends on the lighting conditions.

Asus Transformer Pad TF701T webcam 1.2 MP
Asus Transformer Pad TF701T webcam 1.2 MP
Asus Transformer Pad TF701T main camera 5 MP
Asus Transformer Pad TF701T main camera 5 MP
Reference camera Nikon D3100 14MP
Reference camera Nikon D3100 14MP

Accessories

Our review unit has a keyboard dock, but it is also available without this useful accessory. In addition to an Audio Dock and other accessories, you can also get a protective cover called TransCover with an included stand for 39 Euros (~$54).

Warranty

Asus grants a warranty of 24 months for the Transformer Pad TF701T. An optional extension or upgrade is not available.

Input Devices & Handling

Sufficient room for typing...
Sufficient room for typing...
...even in portrait mode.
...even in portrait mode.

Operating the device with up to 10 fingers via touchscreen works intuitively and fast with Android 4.3 Jelly Bean. The virtual keyboard is conveniently sized thanks to the large 10-inch display and enables quick and accurate typing even in portrait mode. The touchscreen itself is very precise into the corners and executes inputs without delays. The gliding capabilities are very good thanks to a special coating. The integrated gyroscope works reliably and rotates the picture after a small delay.

Another alternative input device for the Transformer Pad TF701T is the optional QWERTY keyboard dock. It can convince us with large keys, decent stroke and sufficient key travel. The keyboard dock also has an integrated battery and additional ports. Contrary to the predecessor Transformer Pad TF700T, the dock is made of plastic and the whole construction is not really torsion-resistant. Otherwise, the two inputs are identical. Inputs are quick and accurate; there are also several special buttons, for instance, direct access to the WLAN settings or shortcuts for the browser, Bluetooth and screenshots. The touchpad is comparatively small but works very precisely.

The keyboard dock offers a...
The keyboard dock offers a...
...full QWERTY keyboard with some special keys.
...full QWERTY keyboard with some special keys.
Metal hooks keep the tablet in position, but there is still a little movement.
Metal hooks keep the tablet in position, but there is still a little movement.
The maximum opening angle is not very big, but sufficient.
The maximum opening angle is not very big, but sufficient.

Display

10.1-inch IPS display
10.1-inch IPS display

The highlight of the Asus Transformer Pad TF701T is the 10-inch IPS display with a high resolution of 2560x1600 pixels. It also has a decent luminance of up to 373 cd/m².

In a direct comparison, the Transformer Pad TF701T can only beat the Gigaset QV1030 and HP Slate 8 Pro and cannot keep up with the Samsung Galaxy Tab Pro 10.1 or the Apple iPad Air. The Transformer Pad TF700T is also significantly brighter with 563 cd/m², but the luminance of the review unit is subjectively more than sufficient. The brightness distribution of 82% is only superior to the Samsung Galaxy Tab Pro 10.1, but the human eye cannot see any deviations. 

The picture is very sharp and can convince us: Pictures, videos and fonts are very sharp, and you almost get a vivid impression.

331
cd/m²
342
cd/m²
336
cd/m²
357
cd/m²
361
cd/m²
325
cd/m²
373
cd/m²
328
cd/m²
304
cd/m²
Distribution of brightness
tested with X-Rite i1Pro 2
Maximum: 373 cd/m² (Nits) Average: 339.7 cd/m²
Brightness Distribution: 82 %
Center on Battery: 361 cd/m²
Contrast: 1003:1 (Black: 0.36 cd/m²)
ΔE Color 4.44 | 0.5-29.43 Ø5
ΔE Greyscale 2.75 | 0.57-98 Ø5.3
Gamma: 2.52
Color temperature and enhancement...
Color temperature and enhancement...
...can be adjusted in the app Splendid.
...can be adjusted in the app Splendid.

We use the colorimeter X-Rite i1Pro 2 and the software CalMAN 5 to test the colors and the grayscale. Our review unit shows a good grayscale performance with an average DeltaE value of 2.75. Gamma curve and color temperature of 6819 are also okay. The color calibration is decent ex-works, although the deviation of magenta is clearly too high; blue is slightly deviated as well. The saturation shows a clear deviation for blue colors. Subjectively, you can hardly see these deviations, but picture enthusiasts won't be completely satisfied with the panel.

Asus also installs the app Splendid, where you can change the color temperature and color enhancement. However, the default setting is already the best compromise and results in subjectively rich colors and a good contrast.

CalMAN Color Management
CalMAN Color Management
CalMAN ColorChecker
CalMAN ColorChecker
CalMAN Grayscale
CalMAN Grayscale
CalMAN Saturation Sweeps
CalMAN Saturation Sweeps

The great black value of 0.36 cd/m² as well as the high contrast of 1003:1 are important factors for the great picture performance. Blacks are rich, even in darker passages.

Outdoor use
Outdoor use

Similar to the Transformer Pad TF700T, our review unit also has an additional feature for an increased brightness, which is called Outdoor mode. This is Asus' attempt to compensate for the highly reflective display surface and that works pretty well. This means you can use the tablet outdoors, although direct sunlight still creates annoying reflections.

Viewing angles
Viewing angles

As expected for an IPS display, the viewing-angle stability is very good. Asus is able to maintain the high level of the predecessor Transformer Pad TF701T. Even very impractical extreme viewing angles of almost 180 degrees do not change the color presentation. We can only determine a slight brightness and contrast reduction.

Performance

CPU-Z
CPU-Z

Asus' flagship Transformer Pad TF701T is clearly a high-end device with an Nvidia Tegra 4 SoC clocked at 1.9 GHz, which is faster than the competition, an integrated GeForce GPU as well as a high-resolution IPS display. The CPU is currently one of the fastest chips on the market.

Similar to every other reviewed tablet, the test sample has to face our benchmarks, so we can assess the performance objectively. Let's start with the synthetic benchmarks. 

The system performance is very high, which is supported by the high AnTuTu Benchmark v4 result of 32,335 points. Only the Wi-Fi version of the Samsung Galaxy Tab Pro 10.1 can beat our review unit. Linpack shows a better performance for the contenders, although only the Apple iPad Air and Samsung Galaxy Tab Pro 10.1 can manage a clear lead. Smartbench 2012 also shows the good performance of the SoC; only the Samsung Galaxy Tab Pro 10.1 is better.

Our next section covers the graphics performance. GFXBench 2.7 shows that both the Apple iPad Air and Samsung Galaxy Tab Pro 10.1 are once again ahead, but the Gigaset QV1030 falls behind. The Transformer Pad TF701T can show a really good performance in 3DMark Ice Storm and is faster than the rivals in almost every test – even in the very demanding Extreme scenario. Only Apple's iPad Air can take the lead in the standard GPU test. 

We could not launch the GFXBench 3.0 due to the missing OpenGL-ES-3.0 support, and Geekbench 3 also crashed repeatedly.

AnTuTu v4 - Total Score (sort by value)
Asus Transformer Pad TF701T
32335 Points
Gigaset QV1030
30913 Points -4%
HP Slate 8 Pro 7600eg
31905 Points -1%
Samsung Galaxy Tab Pro 10.1 WiFi-Version
34217 Points +6%
GFXBench (DX / GLBenchmark) 2.7
1920x1080 T-Rex Offscreen (sort by value)
Asus Transformer Pad TF701T
19.3 fps
Gigaset QV1030
18 fps -7%
Samsung Galaxy Tab Pro 10.1 WiFi-Version
22.9 fps +19%
Apple iPad Air 1 2013
27 fps +40%
T-Rex Onscreen (sort by value)
Asus Transformer Pad TF701T
12.4 fps
Gigaset QV1030
12 fps -3%
Samsung Galaxy Tab Pro 10.1 WiFi-Version
13.9 fps +12%
Apple iPad Air 1 2013
21 fps +69%
Linpack Android / IOS - Multi Thread (sort by value)
Asus Transformer Pad TF701T
500 MFLOPS
HP Slate 8 Pro 7600eg
532 MFLOPS +6%
Samsung Galaxy Tab Pro 10.1 WiFi-Version
649 MFLOPS +30%
Apple iPad Air 1 2013
977 MFLOPS +95%
Asus Asus Transformer Pad Infinity TF700T
106.8 MFLOPS -79%
Smartbench 2012 - Productivity Index (sort by value)
Asus Transformer Pad TF701T
6437 points
HP Slate 8 Pro 7600eg
5944 points -8%
Samsung Galaxy Tab Pro 10.1 WiFi-Version
7103 points +10%
Asus Asus Transformer Pad Infinity TF700T
3935 points -39%
3DMark
1280x720 offscreen Ice Storm Unlimited Physics (sort by value)
Asus Transformer Pad TF701T
15217 Points
Gigaset QV1030
12807 Points -16%
HP Slate 8 Pro 7600eg
15245 Points 0%
Samsung Galaxy Tab Pro 10.1 WiFi-Version
13903 Points -9%
Apple iPad Air 1 2013
8520 Points -44%
1280x720 offscreen Ice Storm Unlimited Graphics Score (sort by value)
Asus Transformer Pad TF701T
14904 Points
Gigaset QV1030
13881 Points -7%
HP Slate 8 Pro 7600eg
13866 Points -7%
Samsung Galaxy Tab Pro 10.1 WiFi-Version
13283 Points -11%
Apple iPad Air 1 2013
18868 Points +27%
1280x720 offscreen Ice Storm Unlimited Score (sort by value)
Asus Transformer Pad TF701T
14972 Points
Gigaset QV1030
13627 Points -9%
HP Slate 8 Pro 7600eg
14150 Points -5%
Samsung Galaxy Tab Pro 10.1 WiFi-Version
13416 Points -10%
Apple iPad Air 1 2013
14858 Points -1%
1920x1080 Ice Storm Extreme Physics (sort by value)
Asus Transformer Pad TF701T
14232 Points
Gigaset QV1030
13438 Points -6%
HP Slate 8 Pro 7600eg
13682 Points -4%
Samsung Galaxy Tab Pro 10.1 WiFi-Version
14151 Points -1%
1920x1080 Ice Storm Extreme Graphics (sort by value)
Asus Transformer Pad TF701T
8925 Points
Gigaset QV1030
8466 Points -5%
HP Slate 8 Pro 7600eg
8842 Points -1%
Samsung Galaxy Tab Pro 10.1 WiFi-Version
8509 Points -5%
1920x1080 Ice Storm Extreme Score (sort by value)
Asus Transformer Pad TF701T
9731 Points
Gigaset QV1030
9224 Points -5%
HP Slate 8 Pro 7600eg
9596 Points -1%
Samsung Galaxy Tab Pro 10.1 WiFi-Version
9336 Points -4%

Legend

 
Asus Transformer Pad TF701T Nvidia Tegra 4, NVIDIA GeForce Tegra 4, 32 GB eMMC Flash
 
Gigaset QV1030 Nvidia Tegra 4, NVIDIA GeForce Tegra 4, 16 GB eMMC Flash
 
HP Slate 8 Pro 7600eg Nvidia Tegra 4, NVIDIA GeForce Tegra 4, 16 GB eMMC Flash
 
Samsung Galaxy Tab Pro 10.1 WiFi-Version Samsung Exynos 5420 Octa, ARM Mali-T628 MP6, 16 GB eMMC Flash
 
Apple iPad Air 1 2013 Apple A7, PowerVR G6430, 16 GB eMMC Flash
 
Asus Asus Transformer Pad Infinity TF700T NVIDIA Tegra 3, NVIDIA GeForce ULP (Tegra 3), 64 GB SSD

The Transformer Pad TF701T leaves a mixed impression in the browser benchmarks. Especially the top device Apple iPad Air shows what's possible. Otherwise, it can only beat the Samsung Galaxy Tab Pro 10.1 in some tests but falls behind the other rivals. The only exception is the SunSpider benchmark, where our review can beat all rivals except for the Apple iPad Air.

AndroBench 3 determines a good performance of the internal storage inside the Transformer Pad TF701T, only Apple's iPad Air is faster.

Browsermark - --- (sort by value)
Asus Transformer Pad TF701T
3030 points
Gigaset QV1030
3144 points +4%
HP Slate 8 Pro 7600eg
3241 points +7%
Samsung Galaxy Tab Pro 10.1 WiFi-Version
2157 points -29%
Apple iPad Air 1 2013
3603 points +19%
Mozilla Kraken 1.0 - Total (sort by value)
Asus Transformer Pad TF701T
9114 ms *
Samsung Galaxy Tab Pro 10.1 WiFi-Version
12708 ms * -39%
Apple iPad Air 1 2013
7824 ms * +14%
Mozilla Kraken 1.1 - Total (sort by value)
Asus Transformer Pad TF701T
6172 ms *
HP Slate 8 Pro 7600eg
5363 ms * +13%
Samsung Galaxy Tab Pro 10.1 WiFi-Version
7949 ms * -29%
Apple iPad Air 1 2013
5584 ms * +10%
Octane V2 - Total Score (sort by value)
Asus Transformer Pad TF701T
4354 Points
Gigaset QV1030
5191 Points +19%
HP Slate 8 Pro 7600eg
4901 Points +13%
Samsung Galaxy Tab Pro 10.1 WiFi-Version
4076 Points -6%
Apple iPad Air 1 2013
5113 Points +17%
Sunspider - 1.0 Total Score (sort by value)
Asus Transformer Pad TF701T
513 ms *
Gigaset QV1030
754 ms * -47%
HP Slate 8 Pro 7600eg
613 ms * -19%
Apple iPad Air 1 2013
385.5 ms * +25%
AndroBench 3-5
Random Write 4KB (sort by value)
Asus Transformer Pad TF701T
0.75 MB/s
Gigaset QV1030
0.49 MB/s -35%
HP Slate 8 Pro 7600eg
0.77 MB/s +3%
Samsung Galaxy Tab Pro 10.1 WiFi-Version
1.5 MB/s +100%
Random Read 4KB (sort by value)
Asus Transformer Pad TF701T
8.91 MB/s
Gigaset QV1030
4.11 MB/s -54%
HP Slate 8 Pro 7600eg
5.74 MB/s -36%
Samsung Galaxy Tab Pro 10.1 WiFi-Version
10.93 MB/s +23%
Sequential Write 256KB (sort by value)
Asus Transformer Pad TF701T
15.33 MB/s
Gigaset QV1030
11.08 MB/s -28%
HP Slate 8 Pro 7600eg
9.79 MB/s -36%
Samsung Galaxy Tab Pro 10.1 WiFi-Version
15.9 MB/s +4%
Sequential Read 256KB (sort by value)
Asus Transformer Pad TF701T
72.5 MB/s
Gigaset QV1030
45.84 MB/s -37%
HP Slate 8 Pro 7600eg
71.2 MB/s -2%
Samsung Galaxy Tab Pro 10.1 WiFi-Version
90.5 MB/s +25%

* ... smaller is better

Games

It is almost a tradition for Asus to use Nvidia products. Our review unit is powered by a combination of Nvidia Tegra 4 and an integrated GeForce ULP graphics chip – and the result is more than acceptable. It does not matter if you play Dead Trigger 2, The Walking Dead or Angry Birds Go! – there is currently no game that can really stress the tablet and the situation is probably not going to change for a while. QFHD/4K video playback is no problem, either. 

Gaming on the Transformer Pad TF701T is really enjoyable. The experience really benefits from the exact touchscreen control as well as the position sensor and accelerometer.

4K/QFHD videos are no problem.
4K/QFHD videos are no problem.
Angry Birds Go!
Angry Birds Go!
Dead Trigger 2
Dead Trigger 2
The Walking Dead
The Walking Dead
Epic Citadel
Epic Citadel

Emissions

Temperature

The surface temperatures of the review unit are exemplary. We can only measure up to 37.5 °C at some spots, even after our stress test with maximum load for the CPU and GPU after a couple of hours. Our measurement device shows an average temperature or around 32 °C, and the device does not exceed the 30 °C mark during idle. The temperatures of the power adaptor are uncritical as well.

Max. Load
 34.8 °C
95 F
33.1 °C
92 F
29.6 °C
85 F
 
 31.5 °C
89 F
31.2 °C
88 F
29 °C
84 F
 
 31.2 °C
88 F
31.4 °C
89 F
29.8 °C
86 F
 
Maximum: 34.8 °C = 95 F
Average: 31.3 °C = 88 F
30.7 °C
87 F
36.9 °C
98 F
37.5 °C
100 F
30.2 °C
86 F
30.7 °C
87 F
34.4 °C
94 F
29.5 °C
85 F
31.5 °C
89 F
31.8 °C
89 F
Maximum: 37.5 °C = 100 F
Average: 32.6 °C = 91 F
Power Supply (max.)  42.8 °C = 109 F | Room Temperature 21.7 °C = 71 F | Voltcraft IR-350
(+) The average temperature for the upper side under maximal load is 31.3 °C / 88 F, compared to the average of 30 °C / 86 F for the devices in the class Tablet.
(+) The maximum temperature on the upper side is 34.8 °C / 95 F, compared to the average of 33.8 °C / 93 F, ranging from 20.7 to 53.2 °C for the class Tablet.
(+) The bottom heats up to a maximum of 37.5 °C / 100 F, compared to the average of 33.3 °C / 92 F
(+) In idle usage, the average temperature for the upper side is 28.1 °C / 83 F, compared to the device average of 30 °C / 86 F.

Speakers

Asus promises "Supreme Sound with the SonicMaster technology" from the dual speakers. However, a look at the back of the case only reveals one speaker grille. This obviously means there is no stereo effect. It still sounds comparatively good but cannot keep up with devices with speakers at the front, for example, the Nvidia Tegra Note 7. Music playback is not really enjoyable because of the pretty thin sound, but it is still sufficient for the occasional YouTube video. 

However, the sound via HDMI or the 3.5 mm stereo jack is really good with a high maximum volume – at least if you have adequate speakers or headphones.

Energy Management

Power Consumption

Asus now uses the less frugal Tegra 4 SoC and equipped the Transformer Pad TF701T with a larger lithium-polymer battery compared to the predecessor (25 Wh) to compensate for the higher consumption. The review unit has a 31 Wh battery, but there is also an additional 16 Wh battery in the optional keyboard dock. The overall battery capacity is therefore 47 Wh – not bad and it even surpasses some subnotebooks. 

The power consumption of our review unit is decent when you consider the performance and the large display. It actually consumes less than the rivals during idle, but the situation changes under load, where the TF701T consumes slightly more than other Tegra 4 tablets.

Power Consumption
Off / Standbydarklight 0.2 / 0.2 Watt
Idledarkmidlight 1.6 / 3.6 / 3.8 Watt
Load midlight 11.3 / 16.6 Watt
 color bar
Key: min: dark, med: mid, max: light        Voltcraft VC 940
Currently we use the Metrahit Energy, a professional single phase power quality and energy measurement digital multimeter, for our measurements. Find out more about it here. All of our test methods can be found here.

Battery Runtime

The predecessor Transformer Pad TF700T set the bar very high in this section. As a result, our expectations for the TF701T were pretty high as well, especially when you consider the larger 31 Wh battery. We were not disappointed.

The maximum runtime is determined with a reading script at minimum display brightness and with activated energy-saving features, and the review unit can completely convince us: 15:42 hours is a phenomenal result. Our practical WLAN test with an adjusted brightness of 150 cd/m² uses a script that automatically refreshes websites. The tablet managed a good runtime of 6.5 hours. Still, all the rivals run longer, Samsung's Galaxy Tab Pro 10.1 in particular is a marathon runner. Maximum load, which is simulated by the app Stability Test with maximum brightness, drains the battery in 3:47 hours. A very good result – only the Apple iPad Air is a bit more enduring.

If these runtimes are not sufficient, you can use the keyboard dock. We determined the WLAN runtime with the additional battery capacity, and the result was 12:16 hours. A long business day without a socket is therefore no problem.

Battery Runtime
Idle (without WLAN, min brightness)
15h 42min
WiFi Surfing
6h 30min
Load (maximum brightness)
3h 47min

Verdict

In Review: Asus Transformer Pad TF701T
In Review: Asus Transformer Pad TF701T

Let's get to the verdict. We really like the Asus Transformer Pad TF701T: Asus offers a convincing package with its new 10-inch flagship device, which cannot beat the great Apple iPad Air or the Samsung Galaxy Pro 10.1, but it can definitely keep up with the competition.

One highlight is certainly the fast Nvidia Tegra 4 SoC that ensures high performance for applications and games – even QFHD/4K video playback is no problem for the tablet. The high-resolution IPS display with wide viewing angles and a subjectively very good picture as well as brightness can also convince us. The accurate touchscreen is a joy to use and works reliably and fast. We also like the nice aluminum case and the good build quality. The internal 32 GB storage offers a net capacity of 25 GB for the user, but it can be quickly expanded via (micro) SD cards or USB.

The provided keyboard dock is a real enrichment for the tablet since it improves the already very good battery runtimes as well as the handling and offers additional ports. You can currently buy the review unit for around 480 Euros (~$668) – a very fair price for the tablet. 

There is not much to criticize. There is still no word about a UMTS or even LTE version, which is unfortunate for a flagship device. It does at least support the WLAN standards 802.11 a/b/g/n. We are not really thrilled by the cameras, either: Dark environments in particular result in bad pictures. 

Because of the many positive aspects we can fully recommend the tablet. The Transformer Pad TF701T with the keyboard dock might also be an interesting choice for business users.

The Asus Transformer Pad TF701T is now available with keyboard dock for $549
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In Review: Asus Transformer Pad TF701T. Test model courtesy of Asus
In Review: Asus Transformer Pad TF701T. Test model courtesy of Asus
The Asus Transformer Pad TF701T is now available with keyboard dock for $549

Specifications

Asus Transformer Pad TF701T (Eee Pad Transformer Series)
Processor
Nvidia Tegra 4 4 x 1.9 GHz, Wayne (Cortex A15)
Graphics adapter
Memory
2048 MB 
Display
10.10 inch 16:9, 2560 x 1600 pixel, 10 fingers multitouch, IPS, LED background illumination, glossy: yes
Storage
32 GB eMMC Flash, 32 GB 
, 25.27 GB free
Connections
1 USB 3.0 / 3.1 Gen1, 1 HDMI, 1 Docking Station Port, Audio Connections: 3.5 mm stereo jack, Card Reader: micro SDXC (up to GB), SD at the keyboard dock, Sensors: G sensor, Ambient light sensor, E-compass sensor, Gyroscope
Networking
802.11a/b/g/n (a/b/g/n = Wi-Fi 4/), Bluetooth 3.0 EDR
Size
height x width x depth (in mm): 8.9 x 263 x 180.8 ( = 0.35 x 10.35 x 7.12 in)
Battery
31 Wh Lithium-Polymer, Plus keyboard dock: 16 Wh, Battery runtime (according to manufacturer): 17 h
Operating System
Android 4.3
Camera
Webcam: 1.2 MP webcam (720p video recording), 5 MP main camera with auto focus (1080p video recording)
Additional features
Speakers: Premium speakers with Sonicmaster technology, Keyboard: Virtual keyboard, Keyboard dock, Keyboard Light: no, 24 Months Warranty, Miracast support
Weight
584 g ( = 20.6 oz / 1.29 pounds), Power Supply: 63 g ( = 2.22 oz / 0.14 pounds)
Price
500 Euro

 

The scope of delivery is pretty average – except for the keyboard dock.
The scope of delivery is pretty average – except for the keyboard dock.
In combination with the keyboard dock, the Transformer Pad TF701T can compete with some subnotebooks.
In combination with the keyboard dock, the Transformer Pad TF701T can compete with some subnotebooks.
The display hinge keeps the display well in position, but the latter can move quite a bit.
The display hinge keeps the display well in position, but the latter can move quite a bit.
Aluminum case with concentric circles: ...
Aluminum case with concentric circles: ...
...Asus ZEN-design at its best.
...Asus ZEN-design at its best.
The back cover of the Asus TF701T is slightly rounded towards the edges.
The back cover of the Asus TF701T is slightly rounded towards the edges.
It also accommodates the speakers.
It also accommodates the speakers.
The build quality is on a very high level.
The build quality is on a very high level.
Sophisticated port layout with sufficient spacing.
Sophisticated port layout with sufficient spacing.
10-inches, multitouch and IPS technology.
10-inches, multitouch and IPS technology.
Subjectively, the display can convince us, despite some drawbacks in regard to the measurements.
Subjectively, the display can convince us, despite some drawbacks in regard to the measurements.
We can see a slight glowing, which is typical for IPS displays.
We can see a slight glowing, which is typical for IPS displays.
No deviations on a plain white background.
No deviations on a plain white background.
In combination with the corresponding apps and the keyboard dock,...
In combination with the corresponding apps and the keyboard dock,...
...the Asus TF701T becomes a serious machine for web-browsing and working.
...the Asus TF701T becomes a serious machine for web-browsing and working.
Underneath the large IPS display...
Underneath the large IPS display...
...works a fast Tegra 4 SoC from Nvidia.
...works a fast Tegra 4 SoC from Nvidia.
It offers sufficient performance for all kinds of tasks.
It offers sufficient performance for all kinds of tasks.
The display bezel could be smaller.
The display bezel could be smaller.
The whole device is pretty thick with the keyboard dock...
The whole device is pretty thick with the keyboard dock...
...and weighs 1162 grams.
...and weighs 1162 grams.
However, you get...
However, you get...
...additional ports and an additional battery in return.
...additional ports and an additional battery in return.
Fast USB 3.0 is also available and can be used for accessories like memory sticks or keyboards.
Fast USB 3.0 is also available and can be used for accessories like memory sticks or keyboards.

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Pros

+Battery Runtime
+Application performance
+Gaming performance
+Bright and high-contrast display
+High viewing angle stability
+Ports
+Build quality
+Keyboard dock
 

Cons

-Mediocre cameras
-No LTE or UMTS available

Shortcut

What we like

The high application performance, the good IPS display and the keyboard dock.

What we miss

A micro USB port at the tablet itself.

What surprises us

The battery runtimes with the additional battery from the keyboard dock.

The competition

Apple iPad Air

Gigaset QV1030

HP Slate 8 Pro 7600eg

Samsung Galaxy Tab Pro 10.1

Rating

Asus Transformer Pad TF701T - 04/29/2014 v4(old)
Michael Moser

Chassis
91%
Keyboard
77 / 80 → 96%
Pointing Device
89%
Connectivity
51 / 65 → 78%
Weight
82 / 40-88 → 88%
Battery
91%
Display
87%
Games Performance
60 / 68 → 88%
Application Performance
50 / 76 → 66%
Temperature
92%
Noise
100%
Audio
68 / 91 → 75%
Camera
56 / 85 → 66%
Average
76%
87%
Tablet - Weighted Average
Michael Moser, 2014-05- 6 (Update: 2018-05-15)