Asus PadFone Infinity Combines Smartphone, Tablet Functions: MWC

The device runs Google’s Android 4.2 operating system and sports a Qualcomm Snapdragon 600 quad-core processor.

BARCELONA, Spain — Computer maker Asus introduced the PadFone Infinity, an LTE-equipped smartphone with a metallic design and a 5-inch full-HD display that becomes a 10.1-inch tablet when docked to its companion PadFone Infinity Station.

The device runs Google’s Android 4.2 operating system and sports a Qualcomm Snapdragon 600 quad-core processor that delivers up to 19 hours of 3G talk time, which increases to up to 40 hours when docked into the PadFone Infinity station. The station also has sufficient battery capacity to fully recharge the docked PadFone Infinity up to three times. The device also boasts 64GB of storage and a 13-megapixel camera with an f/2.0 5-element lens.

In addition, a dedicated image signal-processor enhances low-light image quality and enables the PadFone Infinity to capture up to 100 sequential photos at 8 frames-per-second, while simultaneously recording 1080p full-HD video. The device can also output 1080p full-HD video through its micro-USB-compatible MyDP interface.

Data and settings on the PadFone Infinity are available on the PadFone Infinity Station upon docking, and running apps are reformatted to fit the larger display. Updated and exclusive applications include SuperNote 3.1 for note taking, Story for creating photo albums and Asus Echo for voice control of the PadFone Infinity.

Detailed price and availability information will be announced closer to the U.K. launch date. Asus has no plans to market the device in America, but the company said the combined price of the PadFone Infinity and Infinity Station will be about $1,200.

"PadFone Infinity is the latest evolution of our PadFone line," Asus Chairman Jonney Shih said in a statement. "It combines incredible design with an uncompromised user experience derived from our Design Thinking philosophy."

Asus went tablet crazy at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in January, unveiling a Windows 8 tablet called the VivoTab. The Taiwanese company packed its slate with a 10.1-inch touch-screen, an Intel Atom Z2760 dual-core processor and a near-field communication (NFC) chip.

The company also debuted the Asus Transformer AIO, an 18.5-inch hybrid all-in-one (AiO) that can double as a big Windows 8 tablet and run Android. When detached from its base, the Transformer AiO's Intel-powered internals (i3 to i7 processors) beam the Windows 8 experience to users wirelessly. The display portion, with its built-in Nvidia quad-core Tegra 3 processor, can run Android natively.