While the PadFone is one of ASUS' more unique and somewhat strange product lines, it has found itself a dedicated cult following among both tech savvy individuals and professionals alike. Following up on the heels of its predecessors is the PadFone mini, which is expected to be unveiled on December 11.
The PadFone form factor is instantly recognizable to say the least. The system is comprised of a PadFone smartphone and a PadFone Station. While the phone itself can be used independently, users can dock the phone into a cradle on the PadFone Station to turn it into a tablet. This removes a lot of the hassles concerning using multiple devices such as syncing data and apps. Once you dock the phone into the PadFone station, you can access all of the data and applications stored in your smart phone without the need for any type of syncing.
Per Engadget, ASUS is primed and ready to announce the new PadFone Mini based on a listing the company made at the GSF (Global Certification Forum), and has sent out invitation for the launch event, which will be held in Taipei.
Spec-wise, the new PadFone Mini will come preinstalled with Android 4.3 Jelly Bean. However, chances are very good that the new PadFone will receive a 4.4 KitKat update in the future. Additional specifications include a quad core Snapdragon 400 CPU and a display resolution of 960x540 pixels. While initial speculations point to an accompanying 7-inch PadFone Station, the GSF listings also indicate the possibility of an even larger docking accessory.
While no details are available as of yet regarding the pricing for the upcoming PadFone Mini, the new product will likely target people who are looking to save money on purchasing one device instead of a separate smartphone and a tablet. That said, it will probably be a relatively affordable device since Asus already has the PadFone Infinity line to cater to the high-end section of the market. Aside from the PadFone Mini, Asus will likely release a number of other products early next year including a new MemoFoneHD and quite possibly, Google's next Nexus tablet.
