ASUS Transformer Prime HD: Release Date Revealed, Set to Rival Laptops

ASUS unveiled its new Transformer Prime HD TF700T at CES 2012, boasting an ultra-high-resolution screen that is set to rival some laptops, but Transformer Prime enthusiasts need to hold tight as the tablet won't be released until June.

It was only two months ago that ASUS launched its powerful Transformer Prime Eee Pad TF201, becoming the first tablet to herald the NVIDIA Tegra 3 quad-core processor. But ASUS enthusiasts are already looking forward to the next model of the tablet, after the Eee Pad was released with some shortcomings, including poor GPS performance and a locked bootloader.

The new TF700 tablet, which is being dubbed the Transformer Prime HD, blew fans away during the recent 2012 Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. Its 1920×1200 HD resolution beats many laptop displays and doubles that of its predecessor, which comes with 1,280x800-pixels.

The TF700 model will come out in June at the earliest and no pricing details have been announced, ASUS wrote in their UK blog. The rumored price for the new model is $600 for 32 GB and $700 for 64 GB, CNET reported from CES.

The new model also comes with an upgraded 2-megapixel camera that can be used for HD video chat. Most of the tablet's glitches have been addressed, changing its back-panel design to increase the performance of GPS, Bluetooth and Wi-Fi.

Meanwhile, ASUS recently launched a software update for the Eee Pad that claimed to boost GPS performance, but many customers continue to report problems about the scope of GPS coverage.

The Eee Pad Transformer Prime TF201 is ultra-thin at 8.3mm and weighs only 586g and comes with state-of-the-art SonicMaster Audio technology, an HD 8MP rear auto-focus camera with LED flash and an 18-hour battery-left when combined with the mobile dock. It seems the TF700T is an effort to address some of the design flaws that prevented the Eee Pad from reaching its full potential.

The mobile dock for Transformer Primes allows the tablet to transform into a notebook form, equipped with a keyboard and battery charger. The TF700T will ship with Android's Ice Cream Sandwich software.

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