Asus unveils second-generation PadFone 2

On Tuesday, October 16 Asus unveiled the PadFone 2, the successor to the company's original smartphone/tablet device, the PadFone.

The-Asus-PadFone-2-Photo-AFP

On Tuesday, October 16 Asus unveiled the PadFone 2, the successor to the company's original smartphone/tablet device, the PadFone.

The PadFone 2, like the original PadFone, combines a smartphone with a docking station, or PadFone Station Slate that serves as a tablet when the phone is attached to it.

The second-generation PadFone 2 boasts a bigger display than its predecessor, clocking in at 4.7 inches with a 720p IPS display. The PadFone 2 also boasts 1.5GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 Pro quad-core processor, 2GB RAM, a 1.2-megapixel front camera, and a whopping 13MP rear-facing camera which supports 1080p at 30fps, 720p at 60fps and is apparently capable of up to 100 continuous shots at full resolution. The device also has NFC capabilities and comes with 50GB of Asus's WebStorage which is valid for two years but comes in place of MicroSD card expansion.

The docking slate, which serves as a tablet when the smartphone is attached, boasts a 10.1-inch 1,280 x 800 IPS display, a slimmed down 5,000mAh battery, features a 13 pin (as opposed to the previous 40 pin) connector and weighs in at 514g (without phone).

The PadFone 2 will ship running Ice Cream Sandwich, but a Jelly Bean update is believed to be in the works.

The device is available in 16,32 and 64GB models, and will be launched throughout Europe and most of Asia in late December, with further release dates in the pipe line. Reports put the price at €799 for the 32 GB PadFone 2 with the PadFone station and €899 for the 64 GB version.