Asus Transformer Book V Is a Phone, Tablet and Laptop

Today Asus introduced the Transformer Book V, a three-in-one device that works in five different modes. The product was one of several new offerings the company showcased to kick off Computex this week in Taipei, and while there were some promising gems among the bunch, the Transformer Book V was one of the more interesting twists and turns.

To put it simply, the product includes a 5-inch smartphone that fits into a docking slot in a 12.5-inch tablet, which docks into a keyboard, turning it into a laptop. The smartphone and tablet can run independently. The phone runs Android, while the tablet runs both Windows 8.1 and Android 4.4 (switching with a simple tap on the screen). The laptop can also run both and has a special key that switches modes. Hence, the five modes. Note: the tablet and laptop are only running Android from the phone.

The obvious upsides include the flexibility to change modes depending on task and the choice of operating systems. The potential downside: you've got to buy into Asus at every device level. There are a few missing details, like price and availability, which we'll try to get some clarity on and update later. Our colleagues at Laptop Mag got some more hands-on time and a closer look at the product, and you can read some of those details here.