The Asus Transformer Prime tablet went official today with the price set at $499 and packing a Tegra 3 quad core CPU under the hood. The tablet will officially launch in December here in the states and then it will hit the UK in January. Sadly, the launch will be without Ice Cream Sandwich onboard, which was rumored to be the reason the tablet was delayed from the original November launch.

As you peruse the specs of the tablet, you might be wondering about a 3G version and hoping that is going to be offered. Asus has confirmed to sister site SlashGear that there will be no 3G version of the Transformer Prime offered at launch. The 3G tablet will presumably follow a few months behind the WiFi only version as Asus did with the original Transformer.

Asus told SlashGear that they “might” release the 3G version later. The confirmation also came that the Transformer Prime will be coming to the US in 64GB and 32GB versions. In the UK, only the 32GB version will be offered. That optional keyboard dock will sell for $149. The 32GB version will sell for $499 in the US with the 64GB going for $599.

[via SlashGear]

26 COMMENTS

  1. What?! Offering 64gb in the states, but not in Europe? What kind of bullshit is that, and what happened to fairness in the world? Also.. why can’t people understand that they should be able to release things at the same time, worldwide? I hate this planet.

    • But why? I don’t even know why they would offer a 64 GB version. I mean, the engineering that goes into ensuring everything works for two (one) version of a product does not even compare to just buying a ever larger SD card. Btw., the price diff of the 32-64 GB versions > 32 GB SD card, atleast in the DK

  2. useless without 3g/4g/lte why would I want to tether to a phone to access internet on the go.  The cost to to make these things 3g compatible is only a couple of dollars. 

    • You’re overlooking certification costs and mobile carrier testing. Unfortunately, for Asus they don’t have the same mobile relationships as do say Samsung or Apple. Certification is complicated, because every country/region has their own rules. For example, FCC in the US. Plus even with 3G, what about areas of the world that have 4G/LTE or Wimax. Suddenly, your production line of two tablets becomes 4 or more. So while it’s frustrating for some not to have a model with built-in 3G, I can understand why the focus is on Wi-fi only models for now.

  3. This is a great site post. Thank you very much for the wonderful insight
    and we really appreciate the time you took to write this. thanks again. 

  4. who are the guys working & designing for Asus? how can you suggest a product like this without 3G (@ the minimum). Very bad strategy. please wake up & release 3G+WiFi version

  5. Was going to update my TF101, but without 3G… forget it, what’s the point of having a mobile internet device without mobile internet. common Asus, get with the program!  

  6. Disapointed .. no 3G no prime … I was expecting for this because of the promised 3G

    HUGE FLAW in a otherwise great tablet.

  7. i have been waiting for roughly  6months for a 3G /4G version.This is ridiculous.Aluminium spun case can suck on eggs.. gimme my 3G ASUS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  8. People People!!! Your forgetting something you can do! >:D I’ve been doing this every since i got the ASUS Transformer Prime. >:P My Mobile Device has a Wifi Hotstop setting enabled up to 5 devices. 😛 Sooo… if your up to date on ur phones the Prime pretty much is a portable device people… >o>

  9. Asus what are you doing? Asus is wasting their opportunity of becoming the best tablet in the world. The first asus transformer has both wifi/3G, and I don’t understand the idea of wifi only & 3G only. When I heard that the asus infinity has wifi only & 3G only models, I said asus have blown it AGAIN!! Please I’m using the opportunity to appeal to asus, for them to give us a recent wifi/3G tablet. I can’t continue waiting …..

  10. Asus what are you doing? Asus is wasting their opportunity of becoming the best tablet in the world. The first asus transformer has both wifi/3G, and I don’t understand the idea of wifi only & 3G only. When I heard that the asus infinity has wifi only & 3G only models, I said asus have blown it AGAIN!! Please I’m using the opportunity to appeal to asus, for them to give us a recent wifi/3G tablet. I can’t continue waiting …..

  11. Ok, so I’ve had to put up with a 2nd-rate way of using my Asus Transformer in Australia by having to use my iPhone as a hotspot – but found I wasn’t able to use my phone as a hotspot when travelling overseas on a local UK SIM card – so it was a waste of time even taking my wifi only Transformer O/S with me! C’mon Asus, time to get with it & bring out a 3G version like all the other half-decent companies seem to be able to do!

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.