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Asus Infinity TF700 vs TF300 – the Transformer Pads compared

By Andrei Girbea , updated on June 4, 2014

Asus makes some of the most popular Android tablets out there, part of their Transformer Pad line. Their latest releases, the mainstream Pad TF300 and the premium Infinity TF700, are some of the best in their classes right now.

But many of you looking to buy an Android slate this year will eventually compare the two in order to decide which one is better for what you need from a tablet.

To put it bluntly, the Asus Transformer Infinity 700 outmatches the Pad 300 at pretty much every aspect, but it’s also significantly more expensive. And while it lacks the style and some of the extra features of the premium version, for most users the TF300 will just get the job done.

I actually reviewed both tablets here on the site, and you can check out the test via these links: the one for the TF300 and the one for the Infinity TF700.

In this post we’re going to compare the two and tell you a bunch of things about each of this tablet’s particularities. And by the time you reach the end, hopefully you’ll know enough about their similarities and differences so you’ll be able to make an informed decision on which one to buy.

The 2012 Asus Transformers compared: TF300 vs Infinity TF700

The 2012 Asus Transformers compared: TF300 vs Infinity TF700

The specs

First though, a quick comparison between the specs of these two.


Asus Transformer Pad Infinity TF700Asus Transformer Pad TF300
Screen10.1 inch, 1920 x 1200 px, 16:10, IPS+, with Gorilla Glass10.1 inch, 1280 x 800 px, 16:10, IPS, without Gorilla Glass
HardwareNvidia Tegra 3 T33 1.6 GHz quad-core CPU, 12-Core GPUNvidia Tegra 3 T30L 1.3 GHz quad-core CPU, 12-Core GPU
Memory1 GB RAM1 GB RAM
Storage16/32/64GB16/32/64GB
Connectivity
Wireless N, Bluetooth, GPS, 3G/4G-LTE (some versions)Wireless N, Bluetooth, 3G (some versions)
Sensorsaccelerometer, compass, gyroscop, light sensoraccelerometer, compass, gyroscop, light sensor
Portsmicro-HDMI, proprietary docking port, microSD card reader, 3.5 mm jackmicro-HDMI, proprietary docking port, microSD card reader, 3.5 mm jack
Cameras8 MPx back camera with Flash, 2 MPx front camera8 MPx back camera without Flash, 1.3 MPx front camera
Battery25 Wh22 Wh
OSAndroid 4.0 IceCream SandwichAndroid 4.0 IceCream Sandwich
Size263 × 180.8 × 8.5 mm (10.35 x 7.12 x 0.33 inches)263 × 180.8 × 9.9mm (10.35 x 7.12 x 0.39 inches)
Weight586 g (1.3 pounds)635 g (1.4 pounds)
OthersAsus SonicMaster speaker; available in two colors; optional docking station with keyboard, USB, SD cardAsus SonicMaster speaker; available in three colors; optional docking station with keyboard, USB, SD card

Video review

And there’s a video review that will take you through the important aspects.

Design and exterior

From starters you’ll notice that the Asus Transformer Infinity is sleeker and more stylish than the TF300 Pad. While the first is covered in metal, the latter offers a plastic body, both with a circular textured finishing.

Plastic on the TF300, metal on the TF700

Plastic on the TF300, metal on the TF700

The TF700 will be available in Amethyst Gray and Champagne Gold, while the TF300 is already available in more ordinary White, Red or Blue.

The Infinity feels more solid in hand, as the Pad’s plastic case does bend and squeak when grabbed a bit tighter.

The TF700 is also lighter and slimmer, but not by a lot. In practice, you won’t really feel the difference, although I’m sure we’d all pick the more compact option if it wasn’t for the other criteria as well.

The TF300 is slightly thicker and heavier

The TF300 is slightly thicker and heavier

Ports and connectivity options

The two tablets are basically the same in terms of ports and connectivity options.

Both offer a micro HDMI and a micro SD card reader on the body, plus the standard charging port. Both offer Wireless N and Bluetooth, but the antennas on the TF700 seem to be better, as the Infinity gets better results in our Wireless Speed tests and also manages to handle the connection better in difficult conditions (50 feet away from the router, with multiple walls between).

Both offer the same ports

Both offer the same ports

GPS is also present on the two, but once again the TF700 is by far the first to catch Full Signal.

Finally, both tablets will come with cellular enabled versions, but only the TF700 will be available in a 4G/LTE version as well, while the TF300 only sticks to 3G speeds.

Docking stations

You get matching docking stations for the two tablets and they are pretty much the same, with an SD card-reader, a full-size USB port, a keyboard, a trackpad and a battery inside.

Yes, the Infinity’s docking is slimmer and lighter, while it packs a more comfortable and better finished keyboard and a bigger battery. It’s also made from metal, while it’s TF300 suited counterpart is made from plastic. But that doesn’t make the TF300’s docking less useful.

In both cases the docking units sell for about $150, with the TF300 docking being able for a bit less online.

Asus offers matching docking stations for the two Transformers

Asus offers matching docking stations for the two Transformers

Screen

Here’s where the Asus Transformer Pad Infinity TF700 clearly outmatches the TF300, as it features an IPS+ 600 nits Full HD 1920 x 1200 display. In comparison, the IPS HD Ready 1280 x 720 px screen on the TF300 just seems from a different league.

The Full HD IPS+ screen on the Infinity TF700 outmatches the standard IPS HD-Ready panel on the TF300

The Full HD IPS+ screen on the Infinity TF700 outmatches the standard IPS HD-Ready panel on the TF300

The contrast and brightness levels are better on the TF700’s display and the colors seem more real as well. It’s not that the screen on the TF300 is bad, not at all. It’s in fact an above average display, but the one on the Infinity is just superior in every way.

And there are two more differences. First, on the TF300 Pad, the screen is protected by a layer of hardened glass, but it’s not the tough Gorilla Glass offered by the premium Infinity Transformer.

And second, the TF300’s screen is a bit more reflective, thus will be more difficult to use in direct light, that’s because the distance between the outer protective surface and the actual display’s panel is smaller on the TF700.

The FHD screen comes in handy when reading texts

The FHD screen comes in handy when reading texts

Hardware and performances

Both tablets are built on Nvidia Tegra 3 platforms, with 1 GB of memory and run Android 4.0 IceCream Sandwich operating systems. However, the Tegra T33 we get on the TF300 is clocked higher than the Tegra T30L on the TF300 and as a result, the Asus Transformer Pad Infinity manages to get better scores in most synthetic tests, as you can see below.


Asus Transformer Pad Infinity TF700Asus Transformer Pad TF300
Quadrant4718 pts4254 pts
Antutu12078 pts9988 pts
CF-Bench – Overall score4674 pts12024 pts
Nenamark 159.9 fps60.2
Nenamark 239.9 fps53.3
Sunspider 0.9.11773 ms1950 ms
BrowserMark127330 pts105826

However, you should be aware that the Asus TF700 I’ve tested was a prelease version with still immature software. Thus, as Asus releases a better optimized version of Android 4.0 for their premium Infinity, I expect this one to become even faster.

Software and everyday experience

Of course, how the two devices perform during everyday use it’s actually a lot more important than some numbers scored in synthetic tests. And for the moment, the TF300 is just snappier and smoother than the Asus TF700. But like I said, that’s probably a software issue that will get solved by the time this slate hits the stores.

In terms of apps, both tablets are packed with the same bundle, including a couple of nice pieces of software complimentary offered by Asus, like Polaris Office for instance. Of course, the Asus TF700 has a potential advantage: apps can look way better on the higher resolution display, but for the moment there are little to no apps optimized for it. And that includes most of the core apps as well.

There's Android 4.0 running on both these tablets

There’s Android 4.0 running on both these tablets

So for the moment, the HD display will be greatly appreciated when dealing with texts: browsing, reading books, magazines, social feeds, in which case the writing will look a lot smoother and cleaner. And that’s for sure a great aspect, but it might not be enough for customers to actually want to but the more expensive Infinity TF700. Of course, the issue will be addressed in time, but it will for sure take longer than an early adopter might want.

You should also be aware that the Asus Transformer Infinity 700 runs hotter than the TF300. The back aluminum shell can get a bit too warm, especially when you’re setting the display towards maximum brightness levels. But that was in fact to be expected from a powerful machine in such a compact body and as log as you’ll stick a leather jacket on your Infinity, you’ll have no issue with the extra heat whatsoever.

Cameras

You get slightly better cameras on the Asus Transformer Infinity Pad and and the resulted images and clips are a bit better as well. You also get an LED Flash on the back on the premium version, which will help with low-light shots.

In the end though, none of the two can actually shoot amazing stills or videos. But that’s not an issue, tablets are not meant for such activities anyway. Have a look at the pics below so you’ll know what to expect from the two.

First, some Asus Infinity 700 shots.

And then, some shot with the Asus pad 300.

Battery life

There’s a slightly bigger battery on the Asus TF700, which features a 25 Wh battery, as opposed to the 22 Wh one on the cheaper TF300. But in the end, since the Infinity is faster and has a brighter screen, the Transformer Pad TF300 offers marginally better battery life on a charge.

Both will last for about 7-8 hours during everyday use and a bit more for watching videos. The TF300 can even get to 10 hours of 720p looping with the screen dimmed at 30%.

In both cases the docking stations will provide extra life, about 4-5 hours in each case, and the battery inside the docking will actually automatically charge the tablet when the two are connected.

Prices and availability

Here’s where the Asus TF300 wins, as it starts at $379 for the 16 GB version, while the 32 GB Wi-Fi only model goes for $399.

In comparison, the Asus TF700 starts at $499 for the same 16 GB Wi-fi only version and you’ll have to pay 50 bucks extra for the 32 GB and 100 bucks more for the 64 GB options.

The TF300 is considerably cheaper than the Infinity TF700

The TF300 is considerably cheaper than the Infinity TF700

Wrap up

In the end, it’s pretty obvious that the Asus Transformer Pad Infinity TF700 is the better tablet here, and by quite a significant margin. However, with Android lacking proper apps that will truly benefit from its extra power and Full HD display, I feel like this comparison ends in a tie, at least for the time being. As time passes by and the issues will be addressed, the scales should lean towards the Infinity Pad.

But for the moment, the two devices are actually very close. The Asus Transformer Pad 300 is way cheaper than the TF700, offers slightly better battery life and right now offers a more consistent experience in daily use, with less occasional hiccups and sluggishness.

The Asus Transformer Pad Infinity 700 on the other hand is sleeker, thinner, better looking, faster and offers a better display. For the moment, the speed and the apps aren’t yet where they should be, but don’t forget that we’re talking about a tablet that was just officially announced today (June 24th 2012), while the TF300 has been available in stores for a couple of months now and had time to maturate.

Both the Asus Transformers are top picks in their classes

Both the Asus Transformers are top picks in their classes

If you’re reading this comparison a couple of months from now, than the conclusion is pretty simple. If you want a good Android tablet for a decent price, the Asus TF300 Pad will do the job. If you want more, the best Android tablet money can buy these days and don’t care that much about the budget, than go for the Asus Infinity TF700 and you won’t be disappointed.

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Andrei Girbea, Editor-in-Chief at TLBHD.com. This project was born as part of my search for capable mini-laptops that I could easily lug around to work, and still provide the performance that I'd need on a daily basis. I'm primarily using such ultracompact devices and have been testing them since 2006.

14 Comments

  1. David

    July 21, 2012 at 5:10 pm

    I just thought I’d mention one reason for the 300 being smoother or less sluggish is the fact that the processor is working harder on the 700 due to having to render a higher pixel rate 1920×1200 vs 1280×800 on the 300 though only slightly more noticeable while playing games.

  2. Marsha Higginbotham

    September 5, 2012 at 3:54 am

    Will the keyboard for the 300T work with the 700T?

    • Andrei Girbea

      September 10, 2012 at 6:57 pm

      it will work but it won’t fight tight. The tablet will be loose, cause the tf300T is thicker than the t700t, thus the docking latch is thicker as well. So i wouldn’t recommend combining the two

  3. Manuel

    November 28, 2012 at 7:52 am

    It is now the end of November 2012, does your review of these two tablets remain the same or has there been an inprovement in the user expierence on the TF 700? How do you think the TF 700 holds up against the new NEXUS 10″ tablet?, Taking into consideration the prices and specs of the NEXUS 10″ tablet, do you think the TF700 is worth getting?

    Thanks,
    Manuel

    • Andrei Girbea

      November 29, 2012 at 1:28 am

      The TF700 has gotten a lot more stable, but the issues surrounding the apps are still there. The Ipad has gotten better too, with the ipad 4.

      Anyway, since the Nexus 10 is cheaper than the TF700, I’d probably go with that one if you need just the tablet. The Infinity is however still the better looking devices, has access to nvidia’s tegrazone for games and such stuff, comes with the very useful docking station and offers better battery life. So it really depends on how much are these thing worth for you.

      As for the difference in screen res, you’re not really going to see the difference, as both devices can display very sharp content

  4. laura

    December 4, 2012 at 12:39 pm

    looking to buy a tablet for xmas (tablet newbie here) and interested in buying one of these transformers .. obviously I like the specs of the tf700 however I have found it hard to come by in the UK. I can only see it on amazon with keyboard for around £700 whereas I can get the TF300 with keyboard on PC World for £380.
    Is the TF700 really worth the extra cash? If I opt for the cheaper 300 will i be disappointed?

  5. Yeen

    March 3, 2013 at 10:36 am

    I recently bought the TF700T – 64GB Wifi only, and I am seeing some serious lag doing normal scrolling on a PDF via Polaris. Thought the machine would be able to handle something as basic a task as this. I’ve updated all my software, so wondering if you no of any performance issues on the Infinity… As everyone else seems to be raving about it. Thanks.

    • Andrei Girbea

      March 3, 2013 at 10:37 pm

      Yeen, it’s running JellyBean, right? I’ve noticed some lag and performance issues too after updating the tablet to jellybean but I don’t know how those could be fixed

    • reen

      March 31, 2013 at 1:54 am

      Polaris is not a pdf reader, try smartq reader

  6. Rob

    April 4, 2013 at 8:24 am

    I have both the Nexus 10 and the ASUS 700tf and have been experimenting with both tablets since December 2012 (3 months). I love the Nexus 10, but like others, I think the design is lacking. I like tablets with the straight lines and compact margins (the Nexus has a curved wall case and seems to be bulky next to the ASUS products.)

    Both tablets are top-notch for visual due to the increased IPS screen resolution. Of course the Nexus is, IMO, the best, and compares in visual quality to Apple’s Retnia display.

    Big disappointment – After comparing both the Nexus 10 and ASUS tf700 for 3 months, I have come to realize my total frustration with the horrible sluggishness of the ASUS tf 700. As others have written, it take a LOT of power to obtain ‘great’ graphics, and the result is a very slow system response. I have had times where my system has been so slow to change windows, I’ve had to hard-boot my tablet. I’m finding that I am doing cold-boots at least 5 times per day. (The Nexus 10 does work better, but it too is sluggish compared to my old and faithful Leveno 1822 and Motorola XOOM tabets (both quad core with 1200 x 800 resolution.)

    There are some wonderful sales this week on the ASUS 300 32gb with keyboard, and I am planning on purchasing the ASUS 300 so that I can enjoy my android tablet experience.

    I’ve called ASUS many times regarding the sluggish 700 tablets, and I have been told that changes are coming, but IMO other tablet manufactures are responding better to consumer questions. The Nexus 7, Nexus 10, just received the android 4.2 upgrade, and even my old faithful Motorola XOOM is now running 4.1.

    Will an upgrade to 4.1 or 4.2 help speed up the graphics of the ASUS 700tf? I am guessing yes, but really, I have so many tablets (toys) and I have come to realize I want to spend time watching movies, reading e-books, and being social… as opposed to having to constantly reboot a tablet just for the great screen quality.

    Oh, the ASUS also does not buffer well when streaming live video (yes, I have a turbo high speed network via road runner, so no network access problems). My older, faithful, dual core tablets just work better for my use. Perhaps time will help, but right now I am selling my highly desired ASUS 700tf… and moving back to dual core processing (well, until the laggy high resolution android bugs are all worked out) !

    Stay safe and be blessed.

  7. Dave

    April 17, 2013 at 5:38 am

    Hey Mike,

    I heard of the lag issues with the tf700 with the jellybean update but does the same hold true for the tf300?

    I am on the fence and not sure which to buy. In my area, I can get the tf300 for about $350 and the tf700 is $400 (both are 32gb versions).

    At this price point, which one would you recommend?

    Thanks,
    Dave

    • Andrei Girbea

      April 17, 2013 at 5:51 pm

      Sry Dave, I haven’t tested the TF300 with JellyBean, so I can’t tell you much about that.

      ON your question, I would probably get the TF700 in those conditions. The High Res screen is in my opinion alone worth those $50 extra.

      If you want a budget pick and you don’t need the docking, you should also look at the MemoPad Smart that should sell for around $300 .

      • Dave

        April 18, 2013 at 1:40 am

        Thanks Mike. I think I’ll get the tf700 now. I thought about the MeMo pad but it only comes in a 16 gb configuration.

  8. Philip

    January 5, 2014 at 4:37 am

    Hello, i have Asus T300. Can i use t100 to t700 keyboard fine?

    i know about the fit with t300 to t700 keyboard

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