Asus Transformer Prime review

During our all-day testing with the keyboard connected to the dock, we found that the Prime lasted over 15 hours. This was with the display brightness turned to the maximum and using the Balanced power mode. We used the device heavily for internet browsing via Wi-Fi, word processing and downloading apps. We also streamed one hour of video via Netflix and watched a two-hour movie before bed.

By switching to Power Saving mode and turning the brightness down even further, the Transformer Prime is more than capable of getting close to the touted 18-hour mark.

Suitability for business
With the majority of businesses still relying heavily on Windows applications, it would be misleading to say that the Prime can fulfill all the needs of an enterprise user. Programs like Microsoft Office are not available and we were unable to make full use of our content management system when loading in this review, and had no choice but to start using a Windows machine.

However, there is plenty on offer for tech-savvy business users who are willing to make compromises. The Prime comes preloaded with Polaris Office, so it is possible to create and edit documents on the move. The app supports traditional keyboard shortcut commands such as ctrl+c and ctrl+v, but we weren't able to get the delete function to work in this app.

Thankfully, you can also access Google Docs through the browser, a program that is increasingly being used by SMBs instead of Microsoft Word. However, we did find there were little niggles, with not all words registering and the spell-checker function not allowing us to correct misspelt words. You also need an internet connection to use Google Docs, which doesn't make it ideal for use when on the move. If you plan on creating content regularly we advise you to invest in a paid-for app such as QuickOffice.

With a price tag of £499, the Prime is very competitively priced considering the specifications on offer and the fact it is bundled with a keyboard dock. We consider it better value than the equivalent 32GB Wi-Fi-only iPad 2, which costs £479. Although the Prime does not offer the same functionality as a Windows ultrabook or MacBook Air, these devices are almost double the price as they start at around the £850 mark.

The Prime excels when it comes to battery life and multimedia capabilities and is hands down the best Android tablet on the market. Although we would consider it primarily as a content consumption unit, the Prime will be a valuable companion on long business trips and for taking notes during meetings or events.