Asus VivoTab RT TF600T review

Microsoft risked irking its PC partners with the release of the Surface, but going by the VivoTab RT TF600T, Asus isn’t bothered in the slightest. Instead, the Taiwanese manufacturer has let its hardware speak for itself. Taking the hybrid design pioneered by its Android-powered Transformer tablets, and adding Windows RT, it takes the fight to Microsoft’s own-brand tablet with gusto.

At a glance, you’d barely be able to tell the VivoTab RT from its Android-powered cousins. Apart from a subtle tweak to the Mobile Dock’s hinge, and the capacitive Windows Start button on the tablet’s screen surround, it’s practically identical to its Transformer-branded stablemates, with the same gorgeous brushed-metal finish.

That’s no bad thing. Compared to Microsoft’s Surface, the tablet part of the VivoTab RT is an absolute featherweight. Asus has opted for a 10.1in form factor, half an inch smaller than that of the Surface, and the result is a tablet that, at 530g, weighs 20% less than its rival. We’ve only one complaint: after the diamond-grade toughness of the Microsoft Surface, the Asus hardware feels noticeably more flexible – but that’s being really picky.

Top of the docks

The tablet and optional Mobile Dock are a winning combination. The tablet slots home into the Mobile Dock base with a pleasing thunk, and a haptic buzz reassures that it’s locked safely in place. With the dock attached, the VivoTab RT weighs in at 1.07kg, only 107g more than the Surface with its optional Type Cover.

The transformation from lightweight tablet to fully functional netbook is seamless. The keyboard’s keys have a crisp action and a satisfying amount of travel, and while the layout is still a touch cramped, we’re pleased to see that Asus hasn’t had to shrink the cursor keys to unusable proportions. The buttonless touchpad generally works well, too, with two-fingered dabs bringing up the right-click context menu and two-fingered swipes smoothly scrolling you through menus and web pages. The only niggle is pinch-to-zoom gestures are juddery – it’s better to reach out and use the touchscreen itself.

The 10.1in display feels small after Microsoft Surface’s 10.6in unit, but it shares the same 1,366 x 768 pixel resolution and quality is noticeably improved. The display oozes with intense, saturated colour, and with a maximum brightness of 466cd/m2 and a contrast ratio of 932:1, the Super IPS+ panel puts in a superb all-round performance.

Internally, the core hardware is no different from the Microsoft Surface. It has a 1.2GHz Nvidia Tegra 3 quad-core processor, delivering practically identical performance. A result of 1,004ms in the SunSpider browser benchmark puts the VivoTab RT just in front, but further testing with the native Windows RT benchmarking app, Speed Test Pro, sees both tablets draw level. Transfer rates on the internal solid-state storage were almost identical. Both tablets recorded CPU and GPU test results within 2% of each other.

Indeed, any performance issues we noticed aren’t peculiar to Asus’s implementation of Windows RT. On both the VivoTab and Surface, apps can take their time to launch, and multitasking slows things down even further.

Stamina

Battery-life testing initially hands the win to Microsoft’s Surface. Where Surface lasts over nine hours in our video rundown benchmark, the VivoTab RT lasted 6hrs 53mins. Add the Mobile Dock, however, and the secondary battery inside swells battery life to 12hrs 33mins. It’s worth mentioning, too, that the Surface’s permanently enabled dynamic contrast queers the pitch somewhat in this test, as the screen dims automatically during bright scenes.

Asus can be taken to task on the connectivity front, though. The one USB 2 port is relegated to the Mobile Dock, and on the tablet itself there’s a microSD slot, micro-HDMI port and a 3.5mm headphone jack. Given that part of the appeal of Windows RT is the ability to use legacy USB devices, the lack of a USB port on the tablet itself all but forces prospective purchasers to buy the Mobile Dock.

Then there’s the presence of only single-band 802.11n wireless versus the dual-band radio of the Surface. Still, Bluetooth 4 and GPS make amends, as do the front 2-megapixel and rear 8 megapixel cameras. Photos are vastly crisper and less noisy than those of produced by the Surface, and the front-facing camera provides more than enough detail for video conferencing and Skype.

Verdict

With the 64GB tablet coming in at £549 on its own (the 32GB isn’t widely available yet), and the Mobile Dock an extra £115, the VivoTab RT doesn’t come cheap. Granted, that’s about the same price as the Surface and optional Type Cover, but it’s still a high price to pay for what often feels like little more than a swanky, premium netbook.

The limiting factor is Microsoft’s cut-down OS: Windows RT’s appeal is hobbled both by its inability to run x86 software and its current lack of top-tier apps. While the pre-installed presence of Office is a nice bonus, it’s just not enough to justify the premium price over comparable Android and iOS tablets, both of which are served by a far more comprehensive range of apps.

Ultimately, Asus’ VivoTab RT gets the hardware side of things almost spot on: it’s gorgeous, lightweight and beautifully designed. But until the software starts to deliver on its promises, lovely hardware just isn’t enough.

Detail
Warranty	2 yr return to base
Physical
Dimensions	263 x 171 x 9mm (WDH)
Weight	530.000kg
Display
Screen size	10.1in
Resolution screen horizontal	1,366
Resolution screen vertical	768
Display type	Multitouch, capacitive
Panel technology	IPS
Core specifications
CPU frequency, MHz	1.2GHz
Integrated memory	64.0GB
RAM capacity	2.00GB
Camera
Camera megapixel rating	8.0mp
Focus type	Autofocus
Built-in flash?	no
Front-facing camera?	yes
Video capture?	yes
Other
WiFi standard	802.11bgn
Bluetooth support	yes
Integrated GPS	yes
Upstream USB ports	1
HDMI output?	yes
Software
Mobile operating system	Windows RT