What you need to know
- The ZenBook Pro, ZenBook Flip S and ZenBook 14 are all being refreshed for late 2020.
- 11th Gen Intel processors, OLED displays and Thunderbolt 4 all feature throughout the new machines.
- This includes ASUS' first laptop verified for the Intel Evo program.
As Intel's next batch of laptop hardware emerges into the market ASUS is one of the first companies to announce a raft of new hardware, including some which support the new 11th Gen chips.
Announced today are new versions of the ZenBook Pro, the ZenBook S, the ZenBook Flip S and the ZenBook 14. All are using Intel 11th Gen CPUs and all are equally stunning to look at in their own right. There's a fair bit to look at, but here's what's new.
ASUS ZenBook Pro 15
The ZenBook Pro 15 sits atop the new releases and builds upon a laptop that has offered compelling hardware for pros and creators in the past and turns it up another notch. One of the headline new features is the 4K UHD OLED display with full DCI-P3 color support.
It's fair to say I've been critical of some displays ASUS has used in the past, so I'm particularly impressed by the inclusion of this one on the new ZenBook Pro 15. The display boasts an 88% screen-to-body ratio, and as you open the laptop ASUS' ErgoLift hinge, seen on other recent laptops, it raises the keyboard slightly for a more comfortable typing experience.
Because this is a pro-class laptop, it's not made the jump to Intel's 11th Gen CPUs, instead using the still fairly recent 10th Gen H-Series chips in both Core i5 and Core i7 variants. That's paired with the NVIDIA GTX 1650 Ti GPU, up to a 1TB PCIe SSD and 16GB of RAM.
Also impressive is the whopping 96Wh battery inside, and connectivity is suitably good for this kind of laptop, with Thunderbolt 4, USB 3.2, HDMI and an SD card reader all on tap. Windows Hello is also supported, and Wi-Fi 6 should ensure the best wireless connections.
The ZenBook Pro 15 also has ASUS' latest ScreenPad in its touchpad, and ASUS has put some work into redesigning the user experience here to be more smartphone-like. It's still perhaps a niche feature, but it's well executed and it'll be interesting to see how well the latest version operates in day-to-day use.
The ZenBook Pro 15 is scheduled to be available from November with UK pricing starting at £1,700.
ASUS ZenBook Flip S
ASUS' flagship convertible laptop, the ZenBook Flip S, is being refreshed with the latest 11th Gen Intel processors and is possibly the most impressive of the new launches overall. It's ASUS' first Intel Evo program certified laptop and also gets a 4K UHD OLED display with full DCI-P3 color support.
The display could well be the best we've ever seen on an ASUS laptop, with PANTONE validation, and DisplayHDR 500 True Black certification. It's also TÜV Rheinland-certified for eye care and supports ASUS' active pen with 4096 levels of pressure sensitivity.
It packs all of the latest and greatest inside, too, going up to an 11th Gen Intel Core i7 with Xe graphics, paired with 16GB of RAM, up to a 1TB PCIe SSD and has the new Thunderbolt 4 included as standard.
ASUS is boasting up to 15 hours battery life from the new ZenBook Flip S and combined with that display, the all-new Intel Xe graphics and pen support this is one exciting laptop.
The ZenBook Flip S is set to launch in November with UK pricing starting at £1,800.
ASUS ZenBook 14
The ZenBook 14 doesn't have the same fancy OLED display as the Flip S and ZenBook Pro, but it's no slouch, with 92% screen-to-body ratio thanks to its insanely skinny bezels. It, too, has the latest revision of the ScreenPad embedded in its touchpad and the ErgoLift hinge that raises the keyboard slightly to a more comfortable typing position.
Inside it will be using Intel 11th Gen processors, though ASUS hasn't specified exactly which, but given the pairing with the NVIDIA MX450 dedicated GPU, you would assume a Core i7 is on the cards. And like the Flip S you'll be getting Thunderbolt 4 here as well.
The ZenBook 14 is set to go on sale from November with UK prices starting at £1,400.
These are the standouts from the new range of ZenBook laptops from ASUS, but there are some others worth highlighting. The new ZenBook S, announced earlier this week looks set to get an update in Q1 2021 to Intel 11th Gen hardware, for one.
The ZenBook Flip 13 and ZenBook 14 are also being updated with Intel 11th Gen and Thunderbolt 4 among their respective specs. The VivoBook line will also get some love with the S14 and S15 getting Intel 11th Gen CPUS with Xe graphics.
All but the ZenBook S update should be available from November, with the VivoBook S14 the most attractively priced starting at £700.
