ASUS Transformer Mini Transformer Review (T103HAF)

On the air - a review of a representative of a rather rare class of gadgets, a compact transformer with a removable docking station.

Specifications

Processor : Intel Atom x5-z8300 quad-core (Cherry Trail family)

Operating system :
Windows 10 Home
Windows 10 Pro

RAM : up to 4 GB LPDDR3, 1600 MHz
Display : 10.1 "(16:10), 1280x800, 60% NTSC color coverage
Graphics : Intel HD Graphics
Audio : ASUS SonicMaster Technology
Data storage : 64/128 GB, memory card up to 128 GB
Webcam : 2 MP
Wireless :

• 802.11 AC
• Bluetooth V4.1
• 3G / LTE (optional)

Connectors :

1 x combo audio jack
1 x USB 3.0
1 x micro HDMI
1 x micro USB
1 x micro SD

Protection : TPM (Trusted Platform Module)

Dimensions : tablet - 261 x 172 x 10 mm (L x W x H), docking station 261 x 172 x 5.7 mm (D x W x H)

Weight : tablet - 620 g., Docking station - 250 g.

Appearance

The design of the Transformer Mini T103HAF is almost the same as the T102HA . The device itself is a small, fat tablet with quite strict forms by today's standards, without any smooth transitions, except for rounded corners.







The T102 had a round fingerprint sensor on top of the logo, while the T103 had virgin purity of the backside lines with almost nothing broken except for a small “seam” of the folding stand.

Under the cover is hidden slot for a micro SD memory card, you can increase the amount of data storage by 128 GB.



The stand leans back 170 degrees, so the device can be stably laid out on a table or on your knees with a slight slope.



At the bottom there are contacts and positioning holes for connecting the docking station.



On the right is a speaker grid, volume buttons and a micro HDMI connector.



And to the left is another speaker, micro USB, USB 3.0 and a combined audio jack.



Not far from the volume buttons on the upper end is the power button.



Plastic docking station outside is covered with velvety to the touch synthetic material.







On the side of the docking station there is an eyelet for the included ASUS Pen stylus. Please note that near the mount to the transformer, the docking station has a kind of “bending”, bend. Thanks to the built-in magnets, the docking station can be "spread out" horizontally or raised with a slight ergonomic tilt. So much easier to type a lot of text.









The keyboard unit is quite strongly sunk into the docking station, and on three sides a pronounced roller is formed.





The touchpad is also made slightly recessed, so that you can feel the orientation within its borders. This is very important, since the transformer is very compact, and the touchpad is also small.

Display

Transformer Mini T103HAF is equipped with a display with a diagonal of 10.1 inches, a maximum brightness of 400 cd / m2 and a resolution of 1280x800 - as in T102HA. And although in both cases IPS-matrices are used, however, the T103 has a wider color coverage: 60% NTSC instead of 45%. The display is touch-sensitive, and therefore the entire front part is covered with a glossy protective glass. In addition, input is supported using the bundled active stylus, equipped with two buttons and recognizing up to 1024 degrees of depression (in this instance, the stylus "played", so I attach a photo from another review ).

Sound

Another difference T103 from T102 is the support of proprietary technology ASUS SonicMaster. In particular, two 5-magnetic loudspeakers with quite decent volume and sound quality are used here. It seems to me that any T103 smartphone will give a head start in terms of “external” sound.

Performance

The transformer is based on the Intel Atom x5-z8300 quad-core processor (Cherry Trail family). RAM 2 or 4 GB LPDDR3. The data storage uses built-in flash memory with a capacity of 64 or 128 GB.



And in addition, you can insert a micro SD memory card for another 128 GB. As the video subsystem, an integrated graphics chip Intel HD Graphics is used, which uses the main RAM for its work.



Another difference between the T103HAF and the T102HA is the optional presence of a 3G / LTE module. Unfortunately, in my copy it was not, so it was not possible to test.

Since the transformer is actually a tablet with a removable keyboard, and besides with a diagonal of only 10 inches, the layout is very dense, and there are no hot components — there is no room for an active cooling system, the transformer is cooled passively. This is the reason for the choice of the “cold”, but not the fastest iron, primarily the processor. Nevertheless, T103HAF runs briskly under Windows 10, flips through sites with lots of ryushes and ribbons without problems, reproduces Full HD video without brakes (although there is no sense in this at a resolution of 1280x800). The cloud version of Photoshop worked fine, 25-megapixel photos were edited "with a bang."

Conclusion

The ASUS Transformer Mini (T103HAF) is a “every day” compact computer that fits in any bag, including a children's backpack. Unpretentious and reliable docking station is removed in one motion, and the transformer turns into a tablet with a full-fledged "desktop" OS. There are no moving parts in the device - fans or hard drives - this increases reliability. The removable docking station and stand, which flips to a large angle, allow you to use the T103 anywhere, putting it on the table, on your knees, on your backpack, on the lawn, or just holding it up. Someone stylus will be useful not only for its intended purpose - to draw and mark on various layouts and schemes - but also to control the gadget itself. Although I did not have any difficulties in the tablet mode, I always got buttons and icons, but if I need to select and copy / cut / paste pieces of text, then it would be more convenient with the stylus. In addition, the "electronic marker" is convenient for entertaining children: you can open a blank page or upload an image for coloring, and let them do it.