We check & overview the ASUS Zenbook 17 Fold OLED pill / convertible laptop computer gadget
The ASUS Zenbook 17 Fold OLED is one more pioneering gadget from probably the most revolutionary laptop computer producer on the market, who’ve spoiled us this 12 months with new iterations of assorted fascinating designs just like the ASUS ROG Circulate X16, ASUS ROG Circulate Z13, and the ASUS Zenbook 14X OLED House Version.
The Zenbook 17 Fold OLED is the most important foldable OLED show gadget at present out there, and the Taiwanese firm has needed to overcome varied technical challenges as a way to make it a actuality. It will possibly swap between a 17.3-inch, 4:3 2560 x 1920 pill and a 12.5-inch, 3:2 1920 x 1280 laptop computer with removable keyboard, in addition to varied different partially folded configurations relying in your wants.
The distinctiveness of this pill/laptop computer available on the market does imply nevertheless that it fetches a really excessive value. The query is, is it well worth the cash? Let’s discover out.
ASUS Zenbook 17 Fold OLED
Graphics
Intel Iris Xe (iGPU)
Storage
1TB M.2 NVMe PCIe 4.0
Display Measurement
17.3″ / 12.5”
Specs & upgradability
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4:3 2560 x 1920 / 3:2 1920 x 1280
2x Thunderbolt 4 (65W energy supply), 1x 3.5mm Combo Audio Jack
Execs
- distinctive foldable design
- OLED show with unbeatable distinction & blackpoint
- good peak brightness
- good sRGB & DCI-P3 colour accuracy & gamut
- good panel uniformity
- nice battery life
- nice construct high quality
- good aesthetic
- Helpful software program options & efficiencies
Cons
- display too smooth for many styluses
- underpowered i7-1250U CPU and Iris Xe iGPU
- extraordinarily costly contemplating the core parts
- not sufficient ports
- indifferent keyboard lacks angled stand
- central fold seen until seen straight on
ASUS made it clear that we weren’t allowed to take away the again of our overview copy to take a look on the internals, nevertheless, they did provide us with some photographs. Eradicating the again might be accomplished however requires the cautious elimination of the protecting leather-based binding part, and when you’re contemplating this we’d advise ready for a video to come back out displaying you precisely the best way to do it.
The 16GB LPDDR5 RAM that comes with each gadget is soldered on, which sadly means upgrading the reminiscence will not be potential. The usual 1TB M.2 SSD can nevertheless be upgraded down the road, must you want, probably as much as one thing as excessive as 8TB from what we collect. The gadget comes with a WiFi 6E card.
The best CPU possibility out there is the Intel Core i7-1250U, a twelfth gen U-Collection processor designed particularly for convertible thin-and-light laptops and tablets. Given it’s restricted to solely 2 Efficiency cores and eight effectivity cores, don’t count on a lot in the best way of processing energy in comparison with highly effective gadgets just like the Circulate X16, Circulate Z13, and Zenbook 14X OLED, which include ‘full-size’ laptop computer CPUs. It could have been good to see no less than a extra performance-focused P-series ultralight twelfth gen CPU (which include extra cores and better energy allocation than the U-series), and this loadout is considerably disappointing. Unsurprisingly for a pill, there is no such thing as a devoted graphics card, and the GPU is an built-in Intel Iris Xe mannequin.
Software program options & OS
The ASUS Zenbook 17 Fold OLED makes use of Home windows 11 and you may make the most of the entire gestures widespread to different Home windows 11 touchscreen gadgets.
Like all pill, reorientating the display mechanically rotates the window between panorama/portrait mode. Hovering your cursor over any maximize/restore down icon when you’ve got a window open offers you the choice to separate the display 50-50, 70-30, 50-25-25, or 25-25-25-25, which may be very helpful if you’re manipulating home windows in your show.
The first proprietary software program on the ASUS Zenbook 17 Fold OLED is MyASUS, which incorporates quite a lot of helpful options, as follows:
- Battery Well being Charging: choices to restrict the battery cost most to extend its lifespan.
- Fan Profile: Efficiency mode / Commonplace mode / Whisper mode.
- AI Noise-Canceling Microphone: Off / Primary reception optimization / Single presenter convention name / Multi-presenter convention name.
- AI Noise-Canceling Speaker: Filter out all sounds besides human voices from the laptop computer speaker.
- ASUS OLED Care: An array of choices to enhance the lifespan of the show amongst different issues, together with Pixel refresh / Pixel shift / Robotically cover Home windows taskbar in desktop mode / Home windows taskbar transparency impact.
- OLED Flicker-Free Dimming: A slider from 1-100 permitting you to guard your eyes at low brightness ranges from potential flickering results.
- Splendid: Gamma/colour temperature presets and sliders, letting you view a extra vivid picture or improve Blue Mild Eye Care, relying in your necessities.
- Colour Gamut: Offers an possibility of 4 colour gamut show profiles to change between: Native (Default vivid colours) / sRGB (Commonplace net content material colours) / DCI-P3 (Commonplace cinema colours) / Show P3 (Wider true-to-life colours).
- Tru2Life: A video enhancement know-how just like high-end TVs – optimizes the sharpness and distinction of video footage.
- Goal Mode: dims the brightness of all non-active home windows to save lots of battery and enhance show longevity.
- Webcam impact: Off / Lightning Optimization / Background Blurring / Eye Monitoring / Movement Monitoring
- WiFI Rangeboost Sensor: Dynamically adjusts sign power for optimum WiFi protection.
- Operate Key lock
- AdaptiveLock: Solely out there when the gadget is in laptop computer mode, this makes use of the HD InfraRed digicam to detect if you’re sat in entrance of or trying on the show to dim/lock the display for safety and battery saving functions: Stroll-Away Lock (mechanically locks your pc if you stroll away from it) / Wake on Return (mechanically wakes the pc up if you method it) / Look-Away Display Dimming (mechanically adjusts your brightness relying on the place you’re dealing with).
Design aesthetics
The ASUS Zenbook 17 Fold OLED is a smart-looking gadget. When folded up, the outside of the pill is half coated by a pretend leather-based wrap-around with a darkish greyish blue colour, which serves to guard the hinge mechanism and incorporates the kickstand. This binding makes the gadget resemble a pleasant workplace binder/pocket book, as does the fake leather-based protecting journey case it comes with (with magnetized flap).
The uncovered part of the highest/entrance of the folded pill has a satisfying reflective floor, with a darkish metallic tint, and an odd optical phantasm impact that makes it look barely concave from sure angles. The Starfleet-esque ASUS triangle brand can also be current on this part, and the entire thing appears very tasteful and positively workplace appropriate. The metallic floor does entice quite a lot of smudges although, as is typical for this type of materials in different gadgets.
Once you open up the Zenbook 17 Fold, the inside bezel of the gadget has an uncommon smooth matte rubberized really feel, nearly feeling like suede material. It’s a reasonably mid-sized bezel, however in comparison with the dimensions of the show it appears pretty unobtrusive.
The wrist relaxation space of the keyboard across the trackpad is fabricated from the identical fake leather-based because the binding of the pill, with the plastic keys and trackpad being of a barely darker shade.
There isn’t a RGB on the pill, and in addition to the show itself, the one gentle supply comes from the small energy/charging lights of the pill and removable keyboard.
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Measurement, construct high quality & ergonomics
The size of the ASUS Zenbook 17 Fold OLED are as follows:
unfolded: 378.5 x 287.6 x 8.7~12.9 mm
folded: 287.6 x 189.3 x 17.4~34.4 mm
Wanting on the weight now:
tablet: 1.60kg / 3.53lb , pill & keyboard: 2.00kg / 4.4lb
The Zenbook 17 Fold OLED isn’t precisely gentle in comparison with gadgets just like the Floor Professional or iPad, however we wouldn’t name it heavy both, and it’s fairly spectacular how transportable it’s and the way properly all of it suits collectively (keyboard included) – simply transportable in a small bag.
The ASUS Zenbook 17 Fold OLED can be utilized in a wide range of alternative ways. Utilizing the language of ASUS themselves there may be Laptop computer mode (when the keyboard attaches the ‘backside’ half of the show with a satisfying click on, and the display output mechanically converts to the brand new 3:2 1920 x 1280 half display), Pill Mode (the gadget in its fullsized, unfolded state), or ‘PC Mode’ (primarily simply pill mode however stood up on the stand and with the removable keyboard in entrance of it, mimicking the shape issue of a desktop monitor and keyboard, although with the {hardware} behind the show). You may also prepare it stood up in E book Mode – curved barely alongside the bend of the central crease – although this has considerably much less utility.
When the kickstand is absolutely opened up the pill leans again at a few 40 diploma angle. The stand might be introduced nearer to the laptop computer, making the display stand extra upright (i.e. nearer to a vertical place), although relying on the angle you’ve got it at it’s not at all times secure when you occur to knock the gadget.
General the construct high quality is great, like nearly all ASUS gadgets. The plain weak space (the bend in the course of the display) nonetheless manages to really feel comparatively sturdy, and ASUS claims it’s good for about 30,000 folds, which it equates to in all probability 5 years use when you’re opening and shutting it about fifteen occasions per day. In fact, that is troublesome to inform in a overview copy, and we’ll have to attend and see how patrons report again on sturdiness over the approaching years.
The one draw back in construct high quality phrases is the softness of the display itself. As we are going to focus on later, the fabric ASUS have had to make use of for the foldable OLED panel they’ve used is simply too smooth for use with most styluses, which suggests it will likely be very straightforward to scratch and harm. It is a machine that may require dealing with with care, notably given its very excessive asking value.
Keyboard & trackpad
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The Asus Fold bluetooth Keyboard is particularly designed for ASUS Zenbook Fold gadgets, and has the magnetic clip-on function already mentioned above.
The operate keys alongside the highest of the keyboard embrace a button to allow/disable the touchpad, to mission the display to a different gadget (with PC display solely, Duplicate, Lengthen, or Second Display solely choices), a Bluetooth settings shortcut, two shortcut buttons you possibly can bind to completely different Bluetooth gadgets, a Snipping Instrument shortcut, and a MyASUS shortcut.
The Bluetooth shortcuts are notably helpful, as you possibly can pair the keyboard with one thing like your sensible TV say, and simply swap between utilizing it in your Zenbook 17 FOLD and your tv with the contact of a button, then again once more.
The keyboard is sweet to make use of when magnetically connected to the gadget, feels good to sort on, however is certainly missing some type of retractable stand/ft to angle it upwards when disconnected, as typing absolutely flat feels a bit uncomfortable after some time.
The trackpad feels good and has a satisfying click on however we had some points with it. In a single occasion although we’d paired the keyboard to the pill the trackpad stopped functioning briefly. After a good bit of pairing and unpairing and turning on and off once more it labored as soon as extra. We additionally observed that the responsiveness of the trackpad probably appeared to dip out and in as its battery cost bought decrease, although this might have been another situation regarding the Bluetooth connection.
Alternatively, you may as well use the on-screen keyboard with Home windows 11, when you desire touchpad performance.
Can you employ a stylus on the ASUS Zenbook 17 Fold OLED?
The official line from ASUS is that the foldable OLED show they’ve used is simply too smooth for use along with a stylus, which is a giant disappointment in our eyes as this considerably reduces the potential performance of this gadget for graphic artists and the like.
You could possibly probably get away with utilizing a softer, capacitative stylus, nevertheless ASUS particularly requested we didn’t check it with one, so we can’t know for certain whether or not that is the case.
Hopefully, as ASUS (or a competitor) develop this know-how additional, we’ll see foldable OLED gadgets down the road the place stylus use is possible.
Webcam & microphone
The Zenbook 17 Fold OLED has a 5MP digicam of about the identical high quality as a Microsoft Floor Professional X (although worse than that of an iPad Professional). It’s able to as much as 1080p 16:9 30FPS video recording, or 4.9MP 4:3 2560 x 1920 / 3.7MP 16:9 2560 x 1440 images.
For some cause in our check the 16:9 video was caught in portrait when the gadget was in laptop computer mode, solely switching to panorama when it was turned on its aspect. We hope this can be resolved in a future software program replace, because the portrait view while in laptop computer mode doesn’t take advantage of sense. The change in orientation to the 17.3” 4:3 display does additionally appear to cut back the effectiveness of the microphone pickup considerably, so it’s clearly positioned to be greatest utilized in laptop computer mode.
Each the webcam and microphone had been of a very good high quality once we examined them. There was an audible hiss/hum picked up on the usual microphone mode, however once we enabled Single presenter convention name mode below the AI noise-canceling settings inside MyASUS, this was fully eliminated.
Along with the primary 5MP digicam there may be additionally the HD Infrared digicam and colour sensor, which permit for Home windows Hi there safety features, in addition to the AdaptiveLock options already mentioned above (below Software program). The colour sensor additionally permits for computerized colour temperature modifications on the show, relying on the ambient gentle of your environment.
Ports & sockets
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Ports and sockets are restricted to a 3.5mm audio combo jack and two Thunderbolt 4 USB-C ports (each with as much as 65W charging help and show output). One of many USB-C ports lies on the underside proper aspect of the show when it’s in laptop computer mode, the second is on the highest left of the highest bezel.
That is greater than you get with an iPad or iPad Professional, although these are significantly cheaper gadgets. Contemplating the value level of the Zenbook 17 Fold OLED we’d have preferred to have seen a USB-A 3.2 port (as might be discovered on the ASUS ROG Circulate Z13) and probably even a mini-SD card reader, which might be discovered on 14-inch laptop computer gadgets just like the ASUS Zenbook 14X OLED House Version. You do no less than get a USB-A to USB-C adapter (feminine to male) is included that will help you use any USB-A peripherals you may need.
Audio
ASUS is among the higher Home windows laptop computer producers relating to audio high quality, and the audio system of the Zenbook 17 Fold OLED are no less than nearly as good as these of a Microsoft Floor Professional. There are speaker grills positioned on the highest edge, left edge, and entrance edge dealing with the consumer when the Zenbook 17 Fold is positioned into laptop computer mode. The restrictions of the pill chassis do imply they don’t match as much as different (extra laptop-like) ASUS choices just like the ROG Circulate X16 although: there’s even much less bass replication, the sound is a little more muffled, and audio high quality suffers extra at excessive volumes. Nonetheless, the max quantity is fairly excessive for a pill.
The audio system of the ASUS Zenbook 17 Fold OLED will not be fairly nearly as good as these of an iPad Professional 2021 say, which is unsurprising given Apple’s dominance relating to the audio high quality of their transportable gadgets.
Battery life
We carried out our traditional battery check on the Zenbook 17 Fold OLED in each Pill mode (absolutely unfolded) and in Laptop computer mode with the removable keyboard connected to the gadget.
Inside MyASUS we set the fan pace profile to Whisper mode, with AI Noise-Canceling and Tru2Life video sharpening each turned off. Goal Mode (which dims the brightness of any window in your display that isn’t at present lively, saving energy and enhancing the longevity of your show) is a setting that may positively enhance your battery life in real-world use, nevertheless given our check is carried out with solely single lively home windows open anyway, we disabled it.
Equally, we disabled the entire AdaptiveLock settings throughout the Laptop computer mode check (the one time they are often activated), in order to make the check honest, though Stroll-Away Lock and positively Look-Away Display Dimming would be sure you enhance battery length basically use.
We switched all background functions off, the place potential performed two hours of fullscreen YouTube, after which spent the remainder net searching and typing on GoogleDocs. The brightness was set to 63%, all through which is the equal on this gadget of 120 cd/m² – the advisable brightness for indoor, daytime use (extra on this later).
Pill mode (17.3″) – c.8.5 hours
Laptop computer mode (12.5”) – c.9.5 hours
Contemplating that is an OLED show, the battery outcomes are fairly spectacular, notably for the absolutely unfurled 17.3” pill mode. It’s not fully shocking, given the comparatively underpowered CPU, nevertheless they’re nonetheless fairly respectable.
That being stated, we didn’t use any contact display performance in our battery check. Utilizing the touchscreen keyboard in Home windows 11 for example would nearly actually sap the battery lifetime of the pill quicker.
Though we didn’t correctly check its battery length, as talked about the trackpad of the removable keyboard did appear to carry out much less responsively as time went on till it was recharged.
Display
The OLED display of the ASUS Zenbook 17 Fold is kind of shiny and reflective, although the excessive brightness (extra on this later) does assist to fight this.
When in laptop computer mode, the show appears like that of every other OLED 12.5” laptop computer, however when unfolded to its full-size, there’s a pretty noticeable band down the centera lengthy the fold line. In case you’re taking a look at this useless on it’s not very noticeable, although from every other slight angle it turns into pretty obvious, which can put some individuals off who need to use the gadget in workplace/screen-sharing settings. You do get used to it nevertheless, and the contents of the display are nonetheless legible.
This isn’t a gaming gadget, so the 60Hz most refresh price of the show is fairly normal. The show has the everyday very excessive response time of OLED shows (round 0.2ms), nevertheless given the 60Hz cap there’s not an enormous quantity of utility on this.
We carried out the entire following colour, distinction, and brightness assessments with the display unfolded to its full dimension, propped up utilizing the kickstand. We examined the gadget on three of the completely different colour gamut presets out there inside MyASUS (sRGB, DCI-P3, and Show P3, which apparently combines the primary two for a nonetheless wider gamut), which is a comparatively distinctive function, and one which colour professionals will little doubt discover helpful.
ASUS Zenbook 17 Fold OLED sRGB colour gamut outcomes
ASUS Zenbook 17 Fold OLED DCI-P3 colour gamut outcomes
ASUS Zenbook 17 Fold OLED Show P3 colour gamut outcomes
ASUS Zenbook 17 Fold OLED colour accuracy earlier than calibration
We examined varied accuracy factors on the three completely different presets. The perfect values for every are as follows (to match in opposition to the outcomes):
6500K (White level), 0/m² (Black level), infinity:1 (Distinction ratio), 0 (common deltaE*00), 2.2 (gamma).
Common deltaE*00 variance is the true measure of colour accuracy, and something under 2.5 is what you need to purpose for.
- sRGB profile outcomes: 6768K (White level), 0/m² (Black level), infinity:1 (Distinction ratio), 1.78 (common deltaE*00), 2.35 (gamma).
- DCI-P3 profile outcomes: 6716K (White level), 0/m² (Black level), infinity:1 (Distinction ratio), 1.76 (common deltaE*00), 2.76 (gamma).
- Show P3 profile outcomes: 6805K (White level), 0/m² (Black level), infinity:1 (Distinction ratio), 2.49 (common deltaE*00), 2.35 (gamma).
As is anticipated from an OLED show, the Black level and Distinction ratio had been good on every of the three completely different presets. White level and gamma had been lower than very best, however not dangerous, and the all-important common deltaE values for every had been very spectacular. We’d positively advocate utilizing the sRGB profile when you’re doing color-accurate work on this area, the DCI-P3 profile for color-accurate work in that gamut, and maybe think about the Show P3 setting for watching movies and the like.
ASUS Zenbook 17 Fold OLED colour accuracy post-calibration
Though it’s usually pointless, we prefer to see what a fast calibration can squeeze out of a show. In every case calibration solely worsened the colour accuracy outcomes, and infrequently the white level additionally. Black level and distinction remained the identical, although there was an enchancment within the gamma every time in direction of the two.2 very best. General there’s no cause to additional calibrate the show, until you’ve got a very particular want to enhance the gamma.
- sRGB profile, put up additional calibration: 6350K (White level), 0/m² (Black level), infinity:1 (Distinction ratio), 3.04 (common deltaE*00), 2.15 (gamma).
- DCI-P3 profile, put up additional calibration: 6723K (White level), 0/m² (Black level), infinity:1 (Distinction ratio), 2.19 (common deltaE*00), 2.19 (gamma).
- Show P3 profile, put up additional calibration: 6763K (White level), 0/m² (Black level), infinity:1 (Distinction ratio), 3.15 (common deltaE*00), 2.16 (gamma).
ASUS Zenbook 17 Fold OLED panel uniformity
We do a panel uniformity check on all laptops we overview after their calibration, which assessments for each luminance and colour accuracy. We begin on the centremost level as a reference after which check all the opposite sections of the display (25 in whole) to see how they examine.
Typically, any common colour variation below 1.00 is sweet and exhibits up as inexperienced within the picture above, although the common client received’t be capable of inform a lot distinction under 3.00. Visible editors who work with colour nevertheless might have a keener eye.
The outcomes we bought on the Zenbook 17 Fold OLED had been excellent. Most variation was under 1.00 common delta (in inexperienced), with solely the 2 segments within the prime proper displaying a most variance of two.19 and a couple of.68 (in yellow). Because of this the untrained eye possible will discover no variation in any respect on the display, with color-trained professionals having the ability to detect slight discrepancies within the prime proper. Nonetheless, this specific result’s ok for the overwhelming majority of creatives to work with until they’re working on the very excessive finish {of professional} requirements.
Remaining Phrase
The ASUS Zenbook 17 Fold OLED is a singular and spectacular gadget, however its huge price ticket (just below $4,000 on launch within the US, and £3,300 within the UK) mixed with the dearth of stylus help will imply it received’t be of curiosity to nearly all of customers. It does have good colour replication in sRGB and DCI-P3 ranges, in addition to colour accuracy and panel uniformity ok for professionals to work with, which can entice some, however the comparatively weak processor means you received’t be capable of do a lot in the best way of demanding render workflows or the like. Nonetheless, when you’ve bought deep pockets the novelty of this gadget could swing it for you, and we’re excited to see the place ASUS takes the know-how subsequent.
