ASUS Padfone Could Be Delayed Due To Qualcomm S4 Shortage
That rumored S4 shortage might have some truth to it after all. According to a tweet from ASUS Indonesia, a shortage of Qualcomm’s latest 4th generation Snapdragon processors is spelling trouble for the iPad destroying ASUS Padfone launching on time. The tablet/smartphone transforming hybrid was originally slated to launch in Taiwan at the end of April, followed closely by an Italian launch in May.
The tweet, which roughly translated by the folks at The Verge says that Qualcomm is still experiencing Snapdragon S4 shortages and “unfortunately” that just so happens to be the processor used in the Padfone. An ASUS spokesperson confirmed the tweet, stating that, “I believe [the shortage is] affecting all of Qualcomm’s customers.” We could only wonder if this strain has something to do with the worldwide launch of Samsung’s Galaxy S3, now rumored to be using the S4 here in the US.
Hopefully we’ll have word on the expected availability of the ASUS Padfone in a more official announcement in the coming weeks. How many of you have been saving your pennies for the smartphone/tablet hybrid and are disappointed by this news?
[EEEPC]