Asus PadFone 2 shown off in video ahead of launch
updated 12:49 am EDT, Mon October 15, 2012
October 16 launch on deck for PadFone 2
The long-rumored follow up to Asus' PadFone has shown up on camera, as a recently released video shows the versatile smartphone in action. The forthcoming device is set for an October 16 unveiling, but Asus CEO Jerry Chen showed off the PadFone 2 for Bloomberg India. The new PadFone sports a bigger HD screen than the original and reportedly has a bigger overall footprint as well as improved internals.
The PadFone 2 has a 13MP rear facing camera and a 4.7-inch HD display. It also has a quad-core processor and LTE compatibility, and it is rumored to be running Android 4.1 Jelly Bean.
In a change from the previous version, the PadFone 2 does away with the flip-cover design that covered the smartphone when it docked with its tablet extension. The smartphone now docks directly into the tablet and is visible while docked. Overall, the device is said to be noticeably slimmer and lighter than its predecessor.
Like the keyboard docks on Asus' Transformer tablets, the tablet extension for the PadFone 2 also has its own internal battery. The PadFone 2 is said to be able to make it through a full day on a single charge, but plugging it into the dock recharges the device, allowing it to reach up to two or three days in total. [images via @evleaks]
