Latest News:  asus padfone

The ASUS PadFone S brings a number of high-end features to the Malaysian market for just RM899. These tech specs and features include 4G LTE Cat4, an upgraded 13MP PixelMaster rear camera with dedicated ISP (image signal processor) chip, a 2.3GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 processor and a lot more. If you've been wondering what stuff it gets bundled with then do check out our unboxing video below. While we can safely say that there isn't any Qi wireless charger bundled in, there are some good additions which should make it a better overall experience.

ASUS Malaysia have announced that their much teased super smartphone, the ASUS PadFone S (PF500KL) is now available in Malaysia. The PadFone S offers a number of high-end features including a 2.3GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 processor, 4G LTE-A Cat4 connectivity, NFC, Qi wireless charging, a new ISP enabled 13MP PixelMaster camera and both shock and water resistance. All of these flagship features are available for just RM899 and it can slot into the 9-inch full HD 4G LTE tablet dock called the PadFone S Station which is separately priced at RM499. Both are available at authorized distributors around Malaysia and should offer an awesome all-on-one experience. The full tech specs and features list can be seen below along with some videos:

• ASUS Padfone S
• 2.3GHZ quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 processor
• 2GB RAM
• 16GB storage + 5GB ASUS Webstorage + microSD (up to 64GB)
• 5-inch display (IPS, 1920 x 1080 pixel resolution, 60ms touch response time)
• 13MP PixelMaster rear camera (autofocus) + 2MP front camera
• 143.4 x 72.5 x 10 mm | 150g
• supports 4G LTE Cat4, WiFi 802.11ac, Bluetooth 4.0, Miracast, NFC
• features dual front speakers, dual-SIM and GPS
• Android 4.4 KitKat
• 2300 mAh battery
• Available in black, gold, red and white
• RM899

With the announcement of Android 5.0 Lollipop, practically every Android user is asking, will my phone get that update? Well, ASUS ZenFone smartphone users and those who are going to get the ASUS PadFone S superphone will definitely get it sometime in April 2015, at least according to rumours in Taiwan. You may be asking why it is going to take such a long time, but we're thinking that this is due to having update all the ASUS ZenUI to fit the Android 5.0 Material Design. Hopefully, ASUS will also include all the latest camera modes like slow motion video recording or maybe a panorama shot for the front camera, but only time will tell. As usual of such rumours, do take this with a pinch of salt, but since most ASUS ZenFone smartphones here in Malaysia have already received their Android 4.4 KitKat updates, we assume ASUS will stay on track and deliver the next Android update too.

Revealed in a "one more thing" style yesterday, the ASUS Padfone S smartphone can slot into a 9-inch display tablet dock so you can get the best of both worlds with either a 5-inch display smartphone or a 9-inch display tablet. Both offer full HD 1080p pixel resolutions and the Padfone S definitely looks very premium with a brushed metal frame and rounded backside. According to ASUS Malaysia, the Padfone S has been drop tested from 150cm, which is about chest height and has IPX2 water resistance. In addition to these features, it also has tech specs which are top of the line but is only priced at just RM899 for the smartphone. The dock will be sold separately for RM499 and the Malaysia release date for the Padfone S is expected to be around 15 October 2014. We managed to get some hands-on time with the "Super Smartphone" from ASUS which you can see below:

• ASUS Padfone S
• 2.3GHZ quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 processor
• 2GB RAM
• xGB storage + 5GB ASUS Webstorage + microSD (up to 64GB)
• 5-inch display (IPS, 1920 x 1080 pixel resolution, 60ms touch response time)
• 13MP PixelMaster rear camera (autofocus) + 2MP front camera
• 143.4 x 72.5 x 10 mm | 150g
• supports 4G LTE Cat4, WiFi 802.11ac, Bluetooth 4.0, Miracast, NFC
• features dual front speakers, dual-SIM and GPS
• Android 4.4 KitKat
• 2300 mAh battery
• Available in black, gold, red and white
• RM899

Confirming rumours and appearances at the recent Computex 2014, ASUS have officially announced the ASUS PadFone S and an ASUS ZenFone 5 with 4G LTE capabilities. A refresh of the earlier released ASUS PadFone X, the ASUS PadFone S now offers a new Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 processor, wireless charging and a splash-proof coating. It still retains the same sleek features of a 5-inch smartphone and 9-inch tablet dock along with Android 4.4 KitKat. The 4G LTE ASUS ZenFone 5 on the other hand gets a different processor altogether. Unlike other ZenFone smartphones, this version is running a 1.2GHZ Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 processor, 2GB RAM, 8GB storage, 5-inch display with 720p pixel resolution 8MP PixelMaster rear camera and 2110 mAh battery. It will come with support for 4G LTE and Android 4.4 KitKat right out of the box. Both the PadFone S and 4G LTE ZenFone 5 are set for release in Taiwan for now, with the PadFone S going for about $500 (RM1588) while the 4G LTE ZenFone 5 is going for $234 (RM743). No news on Malaysia release dates or pricing but we expect the 4G LTE ZenFone 5 to come soon so stay tuned for more information.

ASUS recently released a new update for PadFone 2 users. The last update for ASUS PadFone 2 owners was way back in 2012 so this comes as a very welcome update for the owners of this still premium device. ASUS have since come out with the instructions to update your PadFone 2 which you can see below:

1. Go to http://www.asus.com/Tablets_Mobile/PadFone2/HelpDesk_Download/
2. Select the Driver & Tools tab
3. Select Android from Select OS
4. Select Firmware
5. Select Version WWE V11.8.3.3 and wait for it to download and update

ASUS has recently announced the global release for the ASUS PadFone X, which was earlier tied to AT&T in the US. Looking much like a PadFone Infinity, the PadFone X has tech specs which include a 5-inch smartphone combo with an 8.9-inch tablet. Other tech specs for the PadFone X include a 2.3GHz quad-core Snapdragon 800 processor, 2GB of RAM, full HD display resolution, microSD support, a 13MP rear camera, 2MP front camera, 1MP front camera for the tablet and 2300 mAh battery. The tablet gets a 4990 mAh battery while the smartphone can also support certain 3G and 4G LTE bands.

Now this is a rumour we really want to be true as leaked images and documents for an ASUS PadFone attached to a keyboard dock seem to indicate that we may soon get keyboard functionality with the next ASUS PadFone. The ASUS PadFone combines a smartphone with a tablet and initially came out with a keyboard dock, but this feature was not included in recent PadFone devices. Tech specs for the ASUS Mobile Dock Keyboard include a 450 mAh battery pack, bluetooth connectivity, a built-in trackpad and a full QWERTY keyboard with what appear to be island-style keys. Unfortunately, the dock does not offer any extended battery features or an extra SD card, but these features could come in future versions of the ASUS Mobile Dock Keyboard. No news how much it would cost or any specific Malaysia release dates, but we assume you'll see it with the next ASUS PadFone release. While the returning keyboard dock is great news, we'd be even more thrilled if ASUS would just go and make keyboard docks for all of their tablet range including the ASUS FonePad and MeMo Pad tablets.

ASUS originally made the announcement for other ASUS FonePad 7 versions at MWC 2014, with the dual-SIM version being one of them. It should appear in Malaysia very soon for RM699. While the overall look and feel is the same, certain other tech specs and features are also different as this dual-SIM version carries a 1.2GHZ Intel Atom Z2520 processor (the earlier ASUS FonePad 7 had a 1.6GHZ Intel Atom Z2560 processor). Storage for the dual-SIM version has also been cut down to 8GB.

Joining the other ASUS PadFones is the new ASUS PadFone Infinity Lite which was recently announced in Taiwan. The PadFone Infinity Lite looks to follow the same look and feel as the ASUS PadFone Infinity 2 back in 2013 but there are differences in terms of tech specs and of course pricing. The PadFone Infinity Lite will be packing a lower-end but still good 1.7GHz quad-core Snapdragon 600 processor, 2GB of RAM, 32GB of storage, a 5-inch display with 1080 x 1920 pixel resolution, a 13MP rear camera and a 2400 mAh battery. The tablet dock has tech specs which include a 10.1-inch display with 1920 x 1080 pixel resolution along with a larger 5000 mAh battery. Availability is restricted to Taiwan for now but we could see some Malaysia release dates soon. Pricing is reasonable at 13990 TWD (RM1525) for the smartphone and 7000 TWD (RM763) for the tablet dock.