ASUS delays Transformer Pad Infinity, raises price
- — 04 July, 2012 09:56
ASUS Transformer Pad Infinity: will now cost $999 in Australia
ASUS has admitted it is uncertain exactly when its flagship Transformer Pad Infinity TF700T Android tablet will officially release in Australia, while the device will retail at a higher price than initially expected.
The Transformer Pad Infinity, the company's flagship Android tablet for 2012, was expected to hit Australian retail shelves early this month, but an ASUS spokesperson has told PC World Australia that the "release date is now very up in the air" and isn't likely to be seen on shelves until August at the earliest.
"The release date is now very up in the air," the ASUS spokesperson said. "We don’t have an exact on shelf date, and if there are no more hiccups at factory level we are expecting the stock to arrive mid to late July to our distributors, then usually a week or two on shelf. At this stage, that's the most accurate timing we can give you."
In addition to the stock delay, the Transformer Pad Infinity will command a higher recommended retail price in Australia than initially expected. The tablet was expected to retail for $899, but will now sell for $100 more than that at $999. This retail price includes the keyboard dock bundled into the sales package, an accessory that is sold as an add-on option in other markets.
"Originally it [the price] was supposed to be $899 but this has changed to $999 for the 64GB with dock," the ASUS spokesperson explained. "It will release with 64GB only, with the possibility of 32GB depending on market demand."
ASUS initially stated the 32GB model, slated for release in some other international markets, would not be sold Down Under at all.
Despite the delay and the higher price, ASUS still has no plans to launch a 3G model of the Transformer Pad Infinity in Australia. Globally, the company will sell 3G and 4G LTE models of the device. Both of these versions use a 1.5GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 Krait dual-core processor instead of the Tegra 3 quad-core chip that powers the Wi-Fi only model.
The Transformer Pad Infinity is a follow-up to the Eee Pad Transformer Prime tablet, which was released in Australia earlier this year. The Infinity is an almost identical tablet to its predecessor but boasts an improved screen and a higher resolution front camera.
The key feature of the Transformer Pad Infinity is the 10.1in super IPS+ screen with an impressive 1920x1200 resolution. In comparison, almost all current 10in Android tablets use a 1280x800 resolution display panel.
The Infinity's included keyboard dock adds an extra six hours of battery life to the device's stand-alone 10 hour battery life when connected, therefore producing a total battery life of up to 16 hours.
Australian models of the 64GB Wi-Fi-only ASUS Transformer Infinity TF700T will be available in "champagne gold" and "amethyst grey" colours.
Is $999 too much for the ASUS Transformer Pad Infinity? Will you be buying one? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
Related content
• Exclusive: ASUS Transformer Pad Infinity to sell for $899 in 'early July'
• ASUS Transformer Pad Infinity TF700T
• ASUS Eee Pad Transformer Prime review
• ASUS Transformer Pad TF300T review
• ASUS launches cheaper Transformer tablet
Comments
Wrong1029
1
Is this for australia or the whole world?
Jedi
2
Well I do think the price creep is a concern. I am still probably going to buy it, but the question is whether to buy locally or import. I'm not sure I even want the dock and originally planned on getting a 3G model rather than just wifi...
Kent
3
This does not affect the US release date however, correct?
Ross Catanzariti
4
Hi all,
These changes in price and release date are only for Australian models.
The US pricing has not changed from what I understand. $499USD for the 32GB model, $599USD for the 64GB model and $150USD for the keyboard dock.
Charlie
5
Well looks like ASUS is slowly losing the advantage it had over the IPAD. Also it would be cheaper to buy online from Overseas, sorry ASUS but looks like you are getting too cocky
Ken
6
I have been patiently waiting to get this as my first tablet but this news just doesn't cut for me any more. All the hype and then to blow the delvery date sounds more and more like BB.
junkyardnut
7
How come nobody is clamoring for 40" tablets... This will make you feel like Mini-Me! (picking pinky nail in teeth)
junkyardnut
8
You can add solar cells on back of 40" tablets and it can charge in less than 5 minutes!!
junkyardnut
9
you can mount 40" tablet on top of the handlebar on your electric bike and go 20 mph! using the tablet as your windshield! make it curved and aerodynamic! Dont play F16 jet fighter games while riding 1!
TomBombadillio
10
This is Just not on. I was waiting for the Infinity to come out but this changes everything. Why is Asus being so restrictive when it comes to the Australian market? I wanted the 32GB tablet with no docking station. Thats not goint to happen now and they have boosted the price to something absurd. I will definitely be looking at getting it from overseas now and just hope that Asus wont muck with the US release date and price. This is not the way to be competitive. This could also be a ploy to get people talking about it. So when they do release it for a lower price more people will buy it. Hope thats the case.
@junkyardnut: You can stick your 40" tablet where the sun dont shine and hope your daddy doesnt find it when he comes to give you your daily service. If you have nothing worthwhile to contribute then make it something funny. You clearly are not funny nor are you witty. So stop wasting air.
Natster
11
It seems Australia gets treated like the redneck poor cousin. Let's limit their choice and make it more expensive. Way to engender brand loyalty you muppets. Of course I'll still buy one, but I'll just do it on a trip to the States next month. Not sure if this compounds the problem, but at least I'll get the choice (and service) I clearly deserve ;)
Oh and Tom. Take your meds.
rohan
12
ok i had it up to my neck with this transformer infinity...im going to go with google nexus 7. thats the best value for money.
i want to do things according to logic....i no more want the BEST. i want the best value for money.
Tracey
13
I was hanging out for this (going to buy for myself as a birthday present) NOW I will be looking at something else. $999 you have to be KIDDING ME...I can get a pretty good netbook or (kills me to say it) an IPAD for less than that!!!!
ASUS you have blown it... 3G or 4G ... I hadn't decided on that so that isn't a bother but I do think it rude that they a) don't give us a choice and b) why $400 dearer than the US (low volume, taxes and freight DOES NOT account for that difference!!!)
briand
14
I've had it with these promises from ASUS. The same thing happened with the Transformer Prime. I, like others, had been hanging out for the Infinity 3G to be released in Australia, but now I'm either going to import or, if the stock woes eventuate (which is almost a given with ASUS) I will invest my time and interest in something else. Who has the patience to wait 8 months from the announcement of a product to purchase it?
Ben
15
$999 for a tablet? Sorry that is just a step too far. Will source one of these overseas. Another punish for the australian retail sector.
Boom
16
Have been hanging out for this but not anymore. Import it is. Anyone got a US source they can recommend for this tab?
Matt
17
I've been waiting for this since January, but now it's unaffordable. I'll buy something closer to $600US
SteveK
18
I also give up. I have waited (too) patiently for this device. Now I will seek an alternative tablet in the $500 range. I already have an iPAD, but dislike Apple's control, but perhaps I'll re-think that strategy. ASUS, you do this and you have messed up.
Elias
19
Like everyone else, I saved my money and waited for it's release. Now that it's so expensive and delayed for who knows how long....
Yep, lost me as a customer.
Phil
20
Do a search "Asus Infinity buy" and you'll see you can pre-order them in Australia from several suppliers for less than $870 :)
didi
21
This is absolutely ridiculous. I really liked the Infinity and was feeling guilty about paying such a high price @ $899, but now I would just feel ripped of if I bought this tablet. I hope Asus realises that the $899 price tag was already expensive enough.
Joe
22
Well they can forget it. Asus just lost my business. This WAS going to be my first Tablet purchase but I WILL NOT pay that ridiculous price tag for a tablet. I'll settle for the smaller Nexus 7 or dare I say it, and Ipad before I pay that. Especially since they already told us 599.99 for the 64gb model.
Edward
23
Asus are fleecing Australians. The price is probably set by the local sales team. The best way to send a message to ASUS is to not buy their products and by protesting their strategy of ripping us off on every website/forum.
Roger
24
Buying from the US at $499 looks like the best option but what happens if it breaks. Will ASUS Australia honour the warranty ?
Peter
25
Freight costs are insignificant. The main cost difference is GST. If you can buy one of these in the US for $499 then you should be able buy one here for about $550.
We are being fleeced and the ACCC should take ASUS to task.
We should not reward brands that deliberately and specifically fleece Australians by buying their products.
Peter
26
They are fleecing us in two ways. By loading up the config so that we are forced to buy more hardware than we need and by jacking up the prices.
Australia will continue to be dominated by the IPAD while this sort of rubbish continues.
John
27
What a rip off, I to have been holding on to my money waiting for this. It was to be my fist table, really dont know what to do now, how can they get away with ripping people of like this
John
28
What a rip off, I to have been holding on to my money waiting for this. It was to be my fist table, really dont know what to do now, how can they get away with ripping people of like this
Arjun
29
Well I feel bad for you guys but the difference in price is more in the range of $300 I think. You will have a package deal of tablet+keydock with 64 GB memory only. So the US price for this is $750. So basically $300 more. I'd just go for an ultrabook. The only reason I see them raising prices in Australia is if the government is passing some tax on them and they in turn are passing it on to you. Just buy it over the net from abroad and even with the 10% tax works out cheaper lol