Asus Announces Transformer Book Chi Line of x86 2-in-1s
by Ryan Smith on January 5, 2015 5:00 PM EST
With CES press conference Monday in full swing today, Asus has announced the latest generation of the company’s ongoing Transformer line of computers. Dubbed the Transformer Book Chi, Asus’s latest family of transformers are a collection of 2-in-1 detachable computers designed to bridge the gap between ultrabooks and tablets, allowing the conversion between the two by adding/removing a detachable keyboard from the main tablet body.
| Asus Transformer Book Chi | |||||
| T300 | T100 | T90 | |||
| Screen Size | 12.5" IPS 2560x1440 or 1920x1080 |
10.1" IPS 1920x1200 |
8.9" IPS 1280x800 |
||
| Processor | Intel Core M 5Y10/5Y71 | Intel Atom Z3775 | Intel ATom Z3775 | ||
| Dimensons (Tablet) | 317.8mm x 191.6mm x 7.6mm | 265mm x 174.5mm x 7.2mm | 241mm x 137.5mm x 7.5mm | ||
| Mass (Tablet) | 0.72Kg | 0.57Kg | 0.4Kg | ||
| Price | $699 (1080p) $799 (1440p) |
$399 | $299 | ||
Built around x86 and Windows, the Chi family will come in three sizes. The largest and flagship of the Chis is the T300, which at 12.5” sits between traditional ultrabooks and large format tablets. The T300 is based around Intel’s Core-M 5Y10 (or 5Y71) processor with either 4GB or 8GB of RAM and a 128GB SSD standard. Asus is using full-sRGB IPS panels throughout the entire Chi ineup, and the T300 will be available with either a 1080p or 1440p display.
Meanwhile the T100 brings the Chi down to 10.1”, and in terms of size trends closer to a 10” tablet with an attachable keyboard. Driving the T100 is an Atom Z3775, one of Intel’s quad-core Bay Trail parts. Paired up with the T100 is a 1920x1200 display – going from 16:9 on the T300 to 16:10 here – and like the rest of the Chi family is a full-sRGB IPS display. Rounding out the package is either 32GB or 64GB of eMMC NAND for storage.
Finally, the smallest member of the Chi family is the 8.9” T90, which is a smaller scale version of the T100. Besides trading in the T100’s larger display for a 1280x800 full-sRGB IPS display, the specifications between the T90 are largely similar. T90 is powered by the same Atom Z3775 and comes with either 32GB or 64GB of eMMC.
All the 2-in-1s are expected soon. The T300 will start at $699 for the 1080p version an $799 for the 1440p, while the T100 will start at $399, and the T90 at $299.
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jgstew - Monday, January 5, 2015 - link
Product page: http://www.asus.com/Notebooks_Ultrabooks/ASUS_Tran...miles_russell - Thursday, February 12, 2015 - link
Unfortunately the Asus Transformer Book Chi ranks rather poorly among top rankings (see ranking http://www.7laptoptop.tk/ for example...)Drumsticks - Monday, January 5, 2015 - link
Wait, $800 for a 1440p display, 128GB SSD, and Core M? Isn't this like... awesome, or am I missing something? The keyboard must obviously come separate. What's the battery life and RAM rated for?North01 - Monday, January 5, 2015 - link
The keyboard dock is included.IntelUser2000 - Monday, January 5, 2015 - link
8 hour battery and 4GB or 8GB RAM.Personally I'd take the 1080p version since 1440p is not really practical. Active Stylus is good news. Core M devices have so far beeen da suck but at least the prices of the Chi T300 justifies it.
Drumsticks - Monday, January 5, 2015 - link
Oh that rocks. Plus, with the keyboard dock included, that's even better.Can you get the 1080P model with more RAM/Storage? If so, I'd be inclined to agree. And active stylus - even better. Seems like a pretty good Surface Pro 3 competitor.
Anonymous1a - Monday, January 5, 2015 - link
Actually, I don't think it supports an active digitiser. As for the low price, I believe it's partially because of the Core M parts. While it is technically still a Core processor, compared to last-gen low voltage processors, these guys are actually worse off and I suppose that's why the prices are coming down: the Yoga 3 was heavily criticised for worse performance than its predecessor.Wolfpup - Tuesday, January 6, 2015 - link
That's interesting...so presumably the predecessor was using a 15 watt 22nm part and the new one was a 4.5 watt 14nm part.Well, the ULV Broadwell parts are finally about here, though if the 4.5 watt version still outperforms 22nm/second gen Atom, which I assume it does, then it's still pretty cool for what it is.
REAVER117 - Wednesday, January 7, 2015 - link
Any competent reviewer would realize that they are comparing an Intel U part against a Y, two totally different power envelopes. And Intel hasn't changed pricing of Broadwell, they would be foolish to do so after only releasing a single CPU.Impulses - Tuesday, January 6, 2015 - link
16:9 is kinda weak tho, Surface Pro is still a more usable (and faster) machine, not bad for the price tho. I kinda wish they made a $500 in between model with Atom but a larger display, or does Intel still sandbag what device sizes Atom can fit into?