Asus may have created the ultimate Surface Pro 4 clone
BERLIN -- At this point, practically every major computer maker has cloned the Surface Pro, further validating Microsoft's 2-in-1 tablet-laptop vision.
Following in the footsteps of Acer, Samsung and Huawei, is Asus' own Surface Pro-like mobile computer called the Transformer 3 Pro.
The 8.35mm-thick Windows 10 tablet is made of durable magnesium alloy and features a 12.6-inch 3K-resolution display (2,880 x 1,920) with ultra-wide viewing angles.
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Asus boasts several display technologies that are supposed to help with eye health, including the "Eye-care" mode, which supposedly reduces the amount of blue light emitted. Studies have shown the blue light from computer and mobile displays is harmful to eyes and leads to increased tiredness.
The kickstand extends back 155 degrees for various levels of typing "lapability". A keyboard clips into place just like on the Surface Pro. And its screen works with a stylus.
Though the Transformer 3 Pro is thin, it's no lightweight. It's powered by 6th-gen Intel Core processors, 16GB of RAM and up, configurable with up to 1TB of fast PCIe SSD storage. Asus says it'll last a full day, but stopped at providing specific hour breakdowns. On the plus side, the battery can be fast charged to 60 percent in about 50 minutes.
The Intel HD 540 graphics aren't powerful enough for any real gaming, but Asus has that all figured out. Gamers attach an ROG XG 2 external graphics dock via Thunderbolt to supercharge the Transformer 3 Pro's performance. The dock supports graphics cards up to NVIDIA's GTX 1080 for 4K and VR.
Port-wise, the 2-in-1 has one Thunderbolt 3 USB-C port, a full-sized HDMI for connecting to external displays, a full-sized USB 3.0 port, a headphone jack and a microSD card slot.
And let's not forget the cameras on the tablet: dual 13-megapixel cameras on the front and back. The front camera supports Windows Hello, which lets users log in with their faces.
Harmon Kardan 360-degree sound shooting from four speaker grilles along the Transformer 3 Pro's sides round out the impressive spec list.
The Transformer 3 Pro starts at $999.
Topics Windows
Raymond Wong is Mashable's Senior Tech Correspondent. He reviews gadgets and tech toys and analyzes the tech industry. Raymond's also a bit of a camera geek, gamer, and fine chocolate lover. Before arriving at Mashable, he was the Deputy Editor of NBC Universal's tech publication DVICE. His writing has appeared on G4TV, BGR, Yahoo and Ubergizmo, to name a few. You can follow Raymond on Twitter @raywongy or Instagram @sourlemons.
