Asus at CES 2021: meet the ZenBook, VivoBook, ExpertBook and Chromebook
14.1.2021
Translation: Megan Cornish
Asus headed to this year's CES event with new notebooks and accessories to launch. This includes laptops with AMD 5000 series mobile processors, but also second screens and TUF gaming laptops with new Intel CPUs.
Following on from gaming brand ROG presenting its line-up, its parent company is also showing off new hardware at CES 2021. Asus is staging the new ZenBook, VivoBook, ExpertBook and Chromebook alongside a range of accessories. New TUF gaming notebooks with H35 Intel processors are also on the agenda. Here's a taster for you.
ZenBook Pro Duo 15 OLED
The Asus ZenBook Pro Duo 15 OLED features a UHD OLED HDR touchscreen and the same 3840 pixel and OLED secondary touch display raised by 9.5 degrees, which Asus calls Asus ScreenPad Plus. Together, the screens make sure the Asus ZenBook Pro Duo 15 OLED delivers crisp, contrast-rich colours.
The two displays are convincing arguments – the notebook doesn't just look great; it's also likely to help you accelerate your workflow. What’s more, the main display is certified for VESA DisplayHDR True Black 500 and Pantone Validated. And you can also work on the ScreenPad Plus with the added stylus, which offers 4096 pressure sensitivity.
Under the hood, there's a latest-generation Intel Core i9 processor and an Nvidia GeForce RTX 3070 notebook graphics card. Connectivity options include two USB-C ports with support for Thunderbolt 3 and Wi-Fi 6. 1 TB PCIe 3.0 X 4 SSD and 32 GB DDR4 RAM are also likely to be able to handle high requirements. Cooling is covered by the ROG Active Aerodynamic System Plus (AAS+), whose additional air intakes under the second screen of the ZenBook Pro Duo 15 OLED – and the ZenBook Duo 14 below – should ensure up to 49 per cent better airflow.
Notebooks
Used
CHF2050.– currently CHF2899.– new
ASUS ZenBook Pro Duo OLED
15.60", Intel Core i7-10870H, 16 GB, 1000 GB, CH
ZenBook Duo 14
The ZenBook Duo 14 is the Pro Duo 15 OLED's little sister at 14 inches and 1.7 cm thickness. It also has ScreenPad Plus with support for stylus input, which is raised by seven degrees and works seamlessly with the main display. The main display is Pantone Validated and should cover 100 per cent of the sRGB colour space. It has full HD resloution and brightness of up to 400 cd/m².
11th generation Intel Core processors should boost the small notebook's performance. The graphics are provided by either Intel SoC-integrated Iris Xe graphics or an optional Nvidia GeForce MX450 graphics card. Accessories can be connected via two Thunderbolt 4-compatible USB-C ports with support for Power Delivery and DisplayPort.
There are also new ZenBooks without a second display: the ZenBook 14 with AMD processors up to the Ryzen 7 5800H. And the ZenBook 13 OLED, which weighs just 1.14 kilograms, has a HDR-compatible full HD OLED display and AMD Ryzen 5000U processors with a TDP of 15 watts.
If and when these products are coming to our shop is still to be confirmed.
VivoBook S14/S15
The Asus VivoBook is available as a 14-inch or 15.5-inch version. It's a slim notebook with the option of a new AMD 5000U processor or an 11th generation Intel CPU. The model has up to 16 GB RAM and 1 TB SSD. The design's colour-contrasting enter button and choice of case colours Resolute Red, Gaia Green, Dreamy White and Indie Black makes for a fresh, young vibe – an indication of the target consumer.
The immersive NanoEdge Display – which sounds good in marketing terms and probably delivers full HD resolution – has a screen-to-body ratio of 86 per cent. The VivoBook is also available with Asus NumberPad 2.0 and a fingerprint sensor as optional extras.
The 15-inch version of the VivoBook is available in our shop:
ExpertBook B9
Mainly aimed at business consumers, the light, 14-inch ExpertBook B9 is available weighing 880 or 1005 grams. Depending on the version, the battery has a capacity of 22 or 66 Wh.
The business notebook is described as robust, offers Intel vPro, is equipped with 11th generation Intel Core i7 processors and uses Iris Xe graphics. It can be configured with up to two 2 TB SSDs in RAID 0 or RAID 1 mode to ensure enough storage outside of the cloud. The device also has an infrared camera, a Kensington NanoSaver lock and an optional Trusted Platform Module 2.0 chip.
Chromebook Flip CM5
If you'd rather use Chrome OS than Windows and prefer AMD to an Intel CPU, the Chromebook Flip CM5 is right up your alley.
The foldable 15.6-inch notebook may not have the latest-generation Ryzen processor, but its Ryzen 5 3500C CPU should still make for an undisturbed Chrome experience. It has 16 GB DDR4 storage, a 512 GB SSD and a 57 Wh battery, which claims to offer up to 10 hours of autonomy. The Chromebook's minimal design with orange WASD keycaps is likely to attract fans of cloud gaming, which is made possible thanks to Nvidia GeForce NOW und Google Stadia.
If and when this product is coming to our shop is still to be confirmed.
TUF Dash F15
The TUF Dash F15 is set to enable classic gaming outside the cloud.
The Dash F15 is being released with Intel's new Tiger Lake H35 processors. There are three of them and all are available as options:
Either an Nvidia GeForce RTX 3060 or 3070 graphics card, up to 16 GB DDR4 RAM and up to 1 TB SSD should all add to the seamless gaming experience. The 15.6-inch full HD IPS display comes with three options, which all have Adaptive Sync and either 60, 144 or 240 hertz.
Connectivity-wise, there's a 3.5 mm headphone jack, a HDMI 2.0b port, three USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type A ports, a LAN port and one USB 4 Type C port with support for Power Delivery and Thunderbolt 4.
We expect to be able to provide details about the availability and price of Dash 15 notebooks in the coming weeks.
ProArt Display PA148CTV
The ProArt Display PA148CTV is a portable 14-inch full HD IPS monitor primarily designed for content creators.
It serves as a normal second display or to improve the efficiency of processes with corresponding Asus tools by means of shortcuts and programmable hotkeys. More specifically, there are virtual control panels with dials, sliders and keys for Adobe Photoshop, After Effects, Premiere or Lightroom Classic. It's also a product for creatives. But if you want to draw on it with a stylus, you're out of luck. That won't work. But it does have 10-point multitouch.
The image on the display offers 100 per cent sRGB and Rec. 709 colour space coverage and is Calman Verified. Precalibration ensures delta E≦2 colour accuracy. And there's also a physical wheel – an «Asus Dial» – on the back of the display. This can be used to configure other settings in Adode programmes or control Microsoft Surface Dial features. Display settings can be selected in an OSD. The device can be connected via two USB-C ports and a micro HDMI port.
If and when this product is coming to our shop is still to be confirmed.
Martin Jud
Senior Editor
martin.jud@digitecgalaxus.chI find my muse in everything. When I don’t, I draw inspiration from daydreaming. After all, if you dream, you don’t sleep through life.
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