Transformer Prime Vs iPad: Has The Tablet King Finally Found His Match?

The iPad has enjoyed its success as the undisputed king of tablets since its launch. Apple created two devices, the iPad and the iPad 2, that could not match in popularity to any other tablet released after them. Not surprising since the iPad successfully integrated a simple user interface and many great apps.

The iPad’s operating system, iOS 5, looks great but is simpler than any other operating system. This is probably the reason why other tablets like the Galaxy Tab or the Xoom couldn’t outperform the iPad. Most users find Android tablets too complex.

However, the reign of the iPad could be threatened with a new Android device. ASUS brought everything it could in its newest tablet, the Transformer Prime. The Prime is a major update to the previous ASUS tablet, the Transformer. Is it the iPad killer we’ve been waiting for?

Comparing products to the iPad is nothing new. The device has become the barometer of every tablet that comes out. The one that came close to conquering the Apple tablet is Amazon’s Kindle Fire. However, its users discovered that it was not an iPad killer because it was in a class of its own. It was cheap, had limited functions, and is more suitable for reading books. So we started the search for suitable tablet comparisons again.

Then there was the Transformer Prime. It is the first tablet to have a quad-core processor. That means it is much faster than any other tablet on the market. The Prime’s GPU (Graphics Processing Unit) is impressive too, more impressive than the iPad 2. The Transformer Prime’s superior specs over the iPad gave way to another comparison: Transformer Prime vs iPad.

The Prime was a 10.1-inch tablet with a ridiculous screen resolution. The latest Android OS, Ice Cream Sandwich, looks spectacular on it. Of course, movies and photos look better on Transformer Prime too. Combine that with a very fast processor and superior GPU, and you have the best tablet experience you can ever have.

Despite its superior hardware and software armament, the Transformer Prime isn’t that expensive. It’s actually even cheaper than the iPad 2. The 32GB Wi-Fi and 3G model is priced at $ 499. In contrast, the same iPad 2 model is priced at $ 729.

Another advantage of the Transformer Prime is the battery life. It can last 12 hours of web use. In hindsight, the iPad 2 can only last ten hours. But that’s not all because connecting the Prime with its optional docking station can extend its life by up to 18 hours! The stand also “transforms” the Prime into a super slim laptop. It also adds additional ports like USB and SD card slots. The Prime itself contains an HDMI port and a microSD slot. Only one of these slots is present on the iPad 2.

All in all, the Transformer Prime is more impressive than the iPad 2. The only thing that remains to be seen is whether users will accept the Prime as the iPad killer. This comparison is more threatening to Apple than the Kindle Fire vs. Discussion on the iPad. But we’ll see if the Transformer Prime could really nip the iPad on its heels.