Tegra 3

Nvidia claims the Tegra 3 processor provides up to three times the graphics performance of Tegra 2 and up to 61 percent lower power consumption, yielding 12 hours of battery life for HD video playback. The Tegra 3 processor shuts down its four performance-tuned cores and uses its “companion core” when users are listening to music, playing back video or updating background data. When Web browsing, multitasking and gaming, the Tegra 3 processor disables the companion core and kicks its performance cores into high gear.

The Transformer Prime display has Super IPS+ panel in 178 degree wide-view angle with 600 nits brilliant luminance. Translation: The screen displays a really crisp, clear and bright picture that can be watched by multiple viewers at once in a room.

Nvidia and Asus show off just how crisp the screen is in the game “Shadowgun.” Nvidia said the Tegra 3 processor provides an experience comparable to that of a game console, including full game-controller support, enabling consumers to play games on their tablet or smartphone, or connect to big screen HDTVs. The 12-core Nvidia GeForce GPU offers dynamic lighting, physical effects and high resolution environments. Developers take note here.

The front of the device has a 1.2 megapixel camera to enable video chat.

The Transformer Prime is available in two colors: amethyst gray or champagne gold colors.

Consumers may purchase the optional keyboard dock for $149.

SonicMaster audio technology offers great sound.

Looks like a notebook, doesn’t it? Asus and Nvidia promise 18 hours of battery life when docked and charged, 12 hours without the dock, which should give the iPad a run for its money. There are also USB and SD card ports.

While the slate launches with Honeycomb 3.2, Asus promises the ICS bump next month in time for Christmas shopping.

Check out some the Transformer Prime specifications in detail.

Asus is also preloading the Prime with ASUS launcher, @Vibe Music, ASUS WebStorage, MyLibrary, MyNet, MyCloud, File manager, ASUS sync, SuperNote, App Locker, App Backup, Tegra Zone, and Polaris Office.