ASUS Announces PadFone mini

Las Vegas, USA, 6 January, 2014 — ASUS today announced PadFone mini, a beautiful 4-inch smartphone that transforms effortlessly into an elegant 7-inch tablet. PadFone mini comfortably fits the palm for an instantly expanded view on a glorious 1280 x 800-pixel display — even better than HD.

This latest addition to the hugely popular ASUS PadFone family is powered by an Intel® Atom™ Z2560 processor, has 8GB of internal storage and a micro SD card slot that enables storage to be upgraded by up to 64GB.

With exclusive ASUS DynamicDisplay technology to automatically resize apps for the different display sizes, a brilliant 8-megapixel (8MP) main camera and 2MP front-facing snapper for selfies, and finished with the resplendent concentric-circle design detail that’s become an iconic part of the ASUS brand, PadFone mini is an outstanding smartphone that is also a lightweight handheld tablet — and with five brilliant colour choices on offer, there’s a model to please everyone.

PadFone mini even supports dual SIMs, so users have the freedom to maintain two distinct phone numbers, or separate data and phone lines, without requiring two handsets — superb connectivity that’s also incredibly convenient. The device also benefits from ZenUI, a sublime new user interface that’s exclusive to ASUS smart devices — and proof that the most advanced tools and features can be both easy to use and beautiful to behold.

PadFone mini is the first device to bring together the convenience of a 4-inch smartphone with the power and versatility of a 7-inch handheld tablet — and that means a tablet that can be held and used comfortably with just one hand. PadFone mini saves the hassle of having to carry two permanently-separated devices and, with a combined weight of just 376g, it allows consumers to jettison unnecessary bulk. Simply, PadFone mini is much lighter than many other smartphone-and-tablet combinations.

PadFone mini is also gloriously slim, with the smartphone’s gently-curved design tapering to just 6.3mm at its thinnest edge — and the smartphone itself weighs just 116g. With diamond-cut edges and a spun-metal finish, it also looks beautiful. A soft-touch ceramic coating ensures comfort and great durability.

Both the 4-inch (800 x 480-pixel) and 7-inch (1280 x 800-pixel) displays use IPS+ (in-plane switching) technology for fantastically clear and sharp images that also offer great viewing angles. To ensure a seamless experience when switching between smartphone and tablet modes, PadFone mini’s exclusive DynamicDisplay technology ensures that apps are correctly — and instantly — resized for the appropriate screen size.

Inside PadFone mini is an Intel Atom Z2560 processor that runs at 1.6GHz to deliver all the performance need to run both smartphone and tablet apps without slowdown — so PadFone mini is ultra-responsive at all times.

Despite the refined looks, slim dimensions, low weight and incredible processing power, ASUS engineers managed to equip PadFone mini with a total battery capacity of 3,270mAh (12.8Wh) — for talk and tablet time that just keeps on going. The tablet even charges the PadFone mini smartphone when docked, virtually eliminating worries about finding a mains outlet during the day.

PadFone mini’s main camera couples an 8MP Sony® BSI (backside-illumination) sensor and wide-aperture f/2.0 five-element lens with exclusive ASUS PixelMaster technology to capture digital photographs that more than match those snapped by many dedicated digital cameras.

PixelMaster’s Low-Light Mode measures the available light and intelligently adjusts the pixel size to increase light sensitivity by up to 400% — and that means PadFone mini has the ability to snap great low-lights shots even without the built-in flash.

PixelMaster also includes many other brilliantly easy-to-use options that further enhance PadFone mini’s digital photography prowess, including HDR (High Dynamic Range), PanoSphere, Smart Remove and All Smiles — the latter ensuring that all subjects look their best by intelligently choosing the best shots from a series of captured facial expressions. PixelMaster also has a Turbo Shot mode that lets users capture multiple still shots in just one second.

PadFone mini also captures smooth high-definition (1080p) video footage — and users even have the ability to capture still photographs while shooting video.

ASUS engineers wanted to make PadFone mini as easy to use as it is powerful and versatile — so they designed ZenUI. This brand-new interface is exclusive to ASUS smart devices, including PadFone mini. With simplified icons and menus, five gorgeous device-matching color themes, and a clever What’s Next feature that helps users keep track of their lives, ZenUI is the irresistible front end of these irresistible new devices.

ASUS has also added enhanced Android apps to PadFone mini, so users are able to make the most of the convergent device’s vast array of features. With the email app, for example, ASUS has added the ability to read messages by thread — making it much easier to keep track of conversations. In the web browser, Smart Reader Mode automatically adjusts the background tone to reduce eye-strain, while ASUS Collage lets users create engaging photo stories that can be easily shared online.

ASUS PadFone mini will be available worldwide from Q2, 2014. Pricing and availability in Singapore will be announced at a later date.