Asus Transformer Pad 300 Set For April 22 Release: 5 Upcoming Tablets Expected To Battle Against Pad 300

On the second day of the Mobile World Congress 2012, held in Barcelona in February, tablet manufacturer Asus unveiled a budget-priced Android tablet -- Asus Transformer Pad 300. When the tech enthusiasts appreciated the official launch of the first 4G LTE tablet by the company, they had no clue about the release date and price tag of the new device.

However, lately, the manufacturer has wrapped off the new table for the market purchase and has informed that the Transformer Pad 300 will be available from April 22 this year. This report has been confirmed by PCWorld after speaking to the spokesperson of the company.

Further, the report mentioned that the official refused to share any word on the pricing of the tablet. However, spokesperson mentioned that prices would be revealed April 22. But at the same time, the retailer like BJs and Office Depot are showing a price of $399 for the model with 32GB of storage and 1GB of memory and are consequently taking pre-orders as well.

Asus Transformer Pad 300 is an Android OS powered LTE-capable tablet which has been introduced equipped with all the high-end specifications and an up-to-date solid hardware under the hood.

The tablet runs on the latest Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich OS and will sport a 10.1-inch IPS display with 1280 x 800 pixels of resolution. Further, Transformer Pad 300 is powered by Nvidia quad-core Tegra 3 processor and is equipped with an 8 megapixel rear-facing camera with f/2/2 aperture and 5 element lens.

It is also equipped with 1GB of RAM and has 16GB of internal memory storage with an option of memory expansion support up to 32GB. Of course, the tablet's USPs are 4G LTE connectivity and Docking port support which makes its quite different from other tablet offerings in the market. Additional features of the tablet include micro USB 2.0, SonicMaster and other basic features. It has a dimension of 263 x 180.8 x 9.9mm and weighs around 635 grams. Further, Asus Transformer Pad 300 comes loaded with Li-Ion 22Whr Standard Battery which will offer the users up to 8.5 hours of battery life with Dock support.

As far as the current records are concerned, Apple is soaring high with the launch of its New iPad in the market. The device is flying off the shelves, as soon as they are getting stacked up, and the market analysts believe that there is no competition for this newly unveiled ultra HD device.

However, reports indicate the launch of many other mid-priced tablets. Top notch wireless communication vendors including Amazon, Apple, Nokia and others are creating a buzz in the industry and are anticipated to saturate the table market with their powerful line-up devices. Here are top 5 who are going to give a head to head competition to Asus Transformer Pad 300.

Amazon's New Kindle Fire

Amazon, the second highest selling tablet maker, is working on three new models of its Kindle Fire tablets. One of them is reportedly a high resolution one. There are reports that the high resolution tablet may be able to give a tough fight to all the expensive tablets, including the new iPad 3.

Rumor has it that Amazon is in serious discussions with many Chinese and Taiwanese component manufacturers to produce components for its Kindle Fire 2. Reports suggest that the company is in talk with several component manufacturers, including Quanta, Hon Hai, Prime View and Chimei Innolux to build its new Kindle Fires.

Reports are rife that suggest that the company is working on launching higher versions of 7-inch tablets with much more improved resolution of 1280 x 800 pixels display at 215ppi. Along with better 7-inch tablet, the company is working on an 8.9-inch Amazon tablet. As Amazon has already made huge impact on the tablet market, no one can brush aside the company's plans of flooding the market with better tablets at affordable at price tags. Amazon's new Kindle Fire, set to be launched in the third quarter, is expected to be priced around $199-299.

Google Nexus Tablet

According to a earlier reports, Google is planning to launch a 7-inch tablet this year. It's said to be built by Asus and will cost around $199. If this device is indeed the same tablet shown at the CES, it will certainly be an attractive proposition. Also, there were reports floating that Google will cooperate with Asustek Computer to launch a 7-inch inexpensive tablet PC in May or June. However, recently new reports have confirmed that the tablet will come around July.

Apple's iPad Mini

Rumors got rife that the Cupertino-based company was planning to make a 7-inch tablet which could be named iPad Mini to dent into the segment of low cost tablet. However, latest Macotakara reports suggest that the Apple is developing a mysterious device with a 5-inch high resolution (Retina) display. The device is believed to have a resolution of 1,600 X960 pixels, or 1,280 X960 pixels and is expected to hit the market sometime in 2013. According to reports, Apple is working with the Asian LCD suppliers to prepare the new product.

The Computer World earlier reported that the so-called iPad Mini could be priced as low as $299. Analysts, who spoke to the Computer World, were quoted as saying that the smaller tablet would crush the opposition.

Nokia's Window Tablet

The Finnish phone manufacturer has been in news recently for its plans to launch a Windows 8 tablet. According to a Reuters report, Marko Ahtisaari, design chief of Nokia, confirmed in an interview with Finnish magazine Kauppalehti Optio that he had been supposedly spending one-third of his time on the creation of a tablet.

Nokia's Windows 8 tablet is reported to flaunt a 10-inch screen display and would be powered by dual-core processor. This Windows 8 would be launched later this year. It has been reported that Nokia is planning to produce two million units of the device and the tablet will be approximately released in Q4 2012.

Samsung Espresso 10 and Espresso 7

After stunning the Android fans with the recently announced Galaxy Note 10.1, the company has next plans to release at least two additional tablets. Frandroid, a French blog, has reported that the Korean tech giant is gearing up to introduce two new entries in the tablet market -- Samsung Espresso 7 and Espresso 10. These tablets have just been spotted in a document highlighting the upcoming Samsung TVs.

Apparently, these two unheard-of tablets will be compatible with the Samsung Smart View application that allows users to view images or watch movies on bigger screens directly from their mobile devices. Further, as of now, there are no technical details on either of them, but the document mentions that both will be powered by Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich.

In addition, at least one of these tablets - may be, the Samsung Espresso 10 - will be launched in June 2012.