Dockable 4.7-inch smartphone boasts speedy 13MP camera
UPDATE: Asus has confirmed that the Padfone 2 will be available in the UK from early 2013, with more details like pricing and availability to be announced before the end of this year.
We never saw the original Asus Padfone here in the UK. We were kind of gutted too, as this slick smartphone could be slotted into a dock, transforming it into a tablet if you fancied a larger screen for your movies, browsing or whatever. Thankfully Asus has just unveiled the Padfone 2 in China, and we're hopeful that this slightly larger follow-up will make it over here.
With a 4.7-inch screen, the Padfone 2 isn't a tiddler, and the 720p resolution (312 PPI) means your films, photos and games should appear supremely crisp. Nor is the Padfone 2 lacking in power, with a quad-core 1.5GHz processor on board, making it as zippy as the Samsung Galaxy S III.
A 13-megapixel camera can shoot around six photos per second and record Full HD video, while the front-facing 1.2-megapixel camera can be used to Skype your buddies.
Early hands-ons with the Padfone 2 have been positive, with the phone apparently lodging firmly in the tablet chassis and not falling out even with excessive shaking. We're looking forward to abusing our own review sample soon, and will bring you more news when we have it.