ASUS has announced a trio of new high-end ZenBook laptops that feature thin and light designs and the latest high-performance hardware. The company said the updated ZenBook range is meant to “push the boundaries” of mobile computing by offering support for the latest hardware features and Windows 10 capabilities.
The products were unveiled by ASUS during a press event today ahead of the Computex 2017 computer show in Taipei, Taiwan, tomorrow. The additions include updated versions of the company’s popular ZenBook Pro and ZenBook Deluxe flagship laptops and a new ZenBook Flip S Convertible.
ZenBook 3 Deluxe
The ZenBook 3 Deluxe features Intel’s latest seventh-generation Core i7-7500U processor, up to 16GB of RAM and up to 1TB of storage. It has a 14-inch display but a chassis not significantly bigger than a typical 13-inch laptop due to the inclusion of ASUS’ NanoEdge bezel-less display tech. It weighs just 1.1kg and is 12.9mm thick.
As with all of ASUS’ new launches today, the ZenBook 3 Deluxe comes with Windows 10 and includes a fingerprint sensor to enable biometric authentication with Windows Hello. This lets you log in faster and more securely, protecting your data and adding convenience.
ASUS has also included two USB Type-C ports that include support for the Thunderbolt 3 standard. This allows the ZenBook 3 to be connected to two 4K monitors simultaneously. Alternatively, it can transfer data to an external hard drive at a rate of 4Gbps.
ZenBook Pro
The ZenBook Pro is the most powerful laptop ASUS has unveiled today. It’s aimed firmly at professional users and gamers who are looking for a performance-first powerhouse. Its seventh-generation Intel Core i7 processor is paired with a NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Ti graphics card, which offers smooth gameplay on high settings in most recent games.
The 15.6-inch display has a 4K resolution. The lid and body are made entirely from aluminum and feature diamond-cut silver edges and a spun-metal finish. ASUS has illuminated its logo on the back and embossed the ZenBook name below the display in a style that mimics Apple’s MacBook.
The ZenBook Pro also features the endurance to survive an entire day of demanding computing. The typical user will get up to 14 hours of runtime from a single charge. While this could end up being substantially lower if used heavily for gaming, the figure is still impressive for the performance that the ZenBook Pro offers.
ZenBook Flip S
The third and final new ZenBook is the convertible Flip S. ASUS claims it is the world’s thinnest convertible laptop with a girth of just 10.9mm. Because this doesn’t allow much room for cooling, ASUS has had to create an entirely new mechanism that relies on a liquid-crystal-polymer fan impeller that’s only 0.3mm thick.
This innovative approach to cooling is required because the Flip S also comes with performance-focused hardware. It uses the same Intel Core i7 processor found in the ZenBook 3 Deluxe and has a 4K display. The panel supports active stylus technology to enable seamless handwriting in notetaking apps with the ASUS Pen and Windows Ink.
As with the other ZenBooks, the Flip S comes with a Windows Hello fingerprint sensor for added security. ASUS has had to engineer another new approach to ensure it’s useful in both the tablet and laptop modes. It’s one of the smallest fingerprint sensors included on an ASUS laptop, measuring in at 16 x 3.6mm.
“A new definition”
ASUS is claiming the new ZenBook family offers a rethinking of what a laptop should enable and achieve. The company said the revised range “goes to the edge of beyond” by offering such a wide range of features. Across the three options, ASUS offers active stylus technology, biometric security, 4K gaming, an all-day battery life, and a subtle MacBook-rivalling design.
“ASUS has been at the forefront of delivering new technology and experiences for many years,” Gregory Bryant , Intel Corporate Vice President of Client Computing, said at ASUS’ launch. “Its stunning line-up of new ZenBook and VivoBook PCs, all powered by 7th generation Intel Core processors, give people a choice of thin-and-light PCs that merge high performance with style.”
Pricing for the new laptops will start at $1,199 for the ZenBook 3 Deluxe, $1,299 for the ZenBook Pro, and $1,099 for the ZenBook Flip S. All three devices will be available starting this summer in several regions worldwide.
As well as the updated ZenBook range, ASUS also launched two new VivoBook laptops today. The VivoBook Pro 15 and S15 both feature 15.6-inch displays and Intel Core i7 processors. They’ll retail at $799 and $499 respectively and be launched with the ZenBooks in the next few months.
[Featured Image by ASUS ]
