The ZenBook S is available in a new Burgundy Red color. (Image Source: ASUS)
ASUS has announced the ZenBook S UX391, a 13.3-inch ultrabook that is designed to hold up under the rigors of daily use. It’s also super thin and light, so you can take it out on the road with you.
The ZenBook S measures just 12.9mm thick and weighs a mere kilogram, but its lithe body also manages to hold a 50Wh lithium-polymer battery that ASUS says can give you 13.5 hours of battery life.
However, its diminutive size doesn’t mean that its frail, and the ZenBook’s S all-metal frame ensures that it’s still plenty tough. According to ASUS, the laptop was built to meet military MIL-STD-810G durability standards, which involves surviving a series of endurance tests in trying conditions.
Here’s an overview of its specifications:
- 13.3-inch 1,920 x 1,080-pixel IPS display
- Intel Core i5-8250U/Core i7-8550U
- 8GB/16GB RAM
- 256GB/512GB/1TB SSD
In addition, the notebook can also be configured with a higher resolution 3,840 x 2,160-pixel touchscreen panel.
The notebook has been designed to meet military standards for durability.
ASUS has done something different with the hinge as well, and the ZenBook S now features ASUS’ ErgoLift hinge, where the display hinge automatically raises the keyboard to a more natural typing angle. ASUS says the steeper angle also helps push more air underneath the chassis to enable to laptop to stay cool.
The ZenBook S will be available in Deep Dive Blue or a brand new Burgundy Red color.
The Burgundy Red color also sports ASUS' signature pattern of concentric circles on the lid.
Separately, ASUS also announced some new mid-range VivoBook laptops. These are more focused on providing solid features at a more affordable price, and ASUS is trying to keep things interesting this time around with bright color-block designs.
It introduced new versions of the VivoBook S14 and S15, in addition to a new S13 model. They’re available in Firmament Green, Star Grey, Silver Blue, Gun Metal, and Icicle Gold, and some even have different textured finishes.
The new laptops come in bold new colors.
For instance, the Firmament Green color has a unique woven finish, while the Icicle Gold favors a brushed metal look.
The new VivoBooks are also the first to use ASUS’ new three-sided NanoEdge design, which features even narrower bezels than before. The VivoBook S15 now boasts an 86 per cent screen-to-body ratio, while the S14 and S13 sit at 84 and 89 per cent respectively.
The VivoBook S15 boasts impressively thin bezels for a mid-range notebook.
This is a nice bit of premium design on a mid-range notebook, and the new VivoBooks – with the exception of the S13 – also use ASUS’ ErgoLift hinge for better ergonomics when typing.
The S13, S14, and S15 can be equipped with up to an 8th-generation Intel Core i7 processor, 16GB of RAM, and an optional NVIDIA GeForce MX150. The S15 will also take up to a 512GB SSD and a 2TB HDD.
Finally, they also come with fast charging technology that can get you up to 60 per cent in under 50 minutes.
I'll update once I have news on local price and availability.
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