Asus Transformer Pad TF103 review

The Asus Transformer Pad TF103 moves away from the old premium market these products used to focus on, but with a wealth of affordable, and high powered, Android slates now available it has some serious competition.

It's like Asus is trying to cling on to the now defunct Netbook sector with its Transformer Pad series, and I think demand for devices like the TF103 has all but disappeared. This makes it a bit of a hard sell.

We liked

The physicality and build quality of the Asus Transformer Pad TF103 feels far less plasticky and flimsy than you'd expect of an inexpensive product, especially one that comes in two halves.

As a tablet it's a perfectly good device for browsing, reading, playing basic games and watching movies.

Spend a little extra on the keyboard dock, however, and you'll get an excellent add-on that gives you a great deal of extra versatility that's well worth the money.

We disliked

The occasional twitches, glitches and slowdowns that afflict browsing with the TF103 are a disappointment, as is the merely passable camera performance.

The battery life isn't a deal breaker, but I did find myself keeping a nervous eye on the indicator, something I rarely do with other devices.

Final verdict

Although it's far from a powerhouse, I was extremely pleased with the TF103. Its failings are minor, while its best points are striking: a big, bright screen, decent sound and the versatility offered by the removable keyboard, all for a very reasonable price.

That said, unless you're desperate to get a keyboard with your tablet, there are better keyboard-less offerings on the market.