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Computers, Editor's Choice, Editorial, Reviews

ASUS VivoBook Pro 15 OLED (M3500QC) In-depth Review: Light on Weight, Heavy on Power & Kind on the Bank

December 7, 2021 Nur Jeevan Leave a comment

A laptop has become one of the pieces of technology that we can’t do without. Most of the time, we’re stuck between choosing something that is chunky and powerful or sleek and light. However, in recent years, we’ve been seeing laptops become slimmer and more portable across the board. What we expect from laptops has also changed over the years; we expect to get more done with them without sacrificing much.

One of the largest shifts in recent years has been the focus on better colour reproduction and laptops that are geared for creative work. That’s precisely what the Vivobook Pro 15 OLED is looking to address. It’s a laptop that is packed with creator centric internals. However, we’re still a little sceptical if it truly can keep the promise of being a power laptop built for the “prosumer” at its price point. In fact, that’s the main question we want to answer in our in-depth review of the ASUS Vivobook Pro 15 OLED.

Design

The Vivobook Pro 15 OLED is, as they put it – “same, same but different”. When it comes to the design, ASUS hasn’t decided to revolutionise the lineup with the design. Instead, they have chosen to focus on keeping the Vivobook’s design utilitarian but still sleek and sophisticated. They did this by prioritising the build quality and strength.

While the laptop is built primarily of plastic, ASUS has found a way to reinforce it to make it feel sturdy and well built. There is hardly any flex when opening the laptop and the display doesn’t sway when typing. The hinge of the Pro 15 OLED is firm and has just enough given that it isn’t a chore to open the laptop.

The overall design of the laptop is simplistic and minimal. Its simplistic design isn’t a bad thing – in fact, it’s one of the better designs out there. The top lid is emblazoned with a raised emblem in the middle left. This is possibly the only issue with the overall design. It is not only prone to getting scuffed and scratched but also tends to scratch and scuff things that it’s packed with.

Aside from that, Asus also made the choice to shave a little bit of the sides near the hinges making them less angled. This also gives the laptop less of a rectangular shape. Instead, it’s a trapezoid – but only very slightly. However, these design accents also lend to the uniqueness of the laptop. Overall, Asus made design choices that lent themselves to making the Vivobook feel more premium, sturdy and well-built.

Hardware

The Vivobook Pro 15 OLED isn’t like other Vivobooks; It’s packed to the brim with hardware that gives even ASUS’s Zenbook series a run for its money. In all honesty, there’s enough power here to give some ROG gaming laptops. ASUS had made the Pro 15 OLED a powerhouse – fit for creators looking for an affordable option for a portable workhorse.

Specifications

*ASUS VIVOBOOK PRO 15 OLED \| M3500QC*	As tested
Processor (clock)	AMD Ryzen 9 5900HX (3.30 GHz) 8 core with Turbo Boost (up to 4.60 GHz) 16 MB cache
GPU	NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 4GB GDDR6 VRAM
Display	15.6 Full HD (1920 x 1080) 16:10 aspect ratio 60Hz refresh rate 400 nits brightness 600 nits peak brightness 100% DCI-P3 NanoEdge display 84% Screen to Body ratio
Memory	16GB LPDDR4X 3200MHz 512TB M.2 PCIe® NVMe™ 3.0 SSD
Networking and Connections	WiFi 6 (802.11ax)/WiFi 5 (802.11ac) Bluetooth 5.0 1 USB 3.2 Gen1 Type-C 1 USB 3.2 Gen1 Type-A 2 USB 2.0 Type-A 1 HDMI 1.4 1 MicroSD card reader 1 Audio Combo Jack
Battery	63Wh 3-cell lithium-polymer battery “All Day” battery life
Operating System	Windows 11 Home 64-bit
Miscellaneous	HD camera Backlit Keyboard Stereo Speakers (Harman/Kardon Certified) Microphone Integrated Fingerprint Scanner

Features

While it may seem like the Vivobook pro skimps on features, it really doesn’t. It takes a similar approach to features as it does design. Every feature including the design of the keyboard is thought out and utilitarian in its implementation. In fact, simplicity and utilitarianism seem to be the theme of the Vivobook Pro 15 OLED. Everything is in its place for a reason.

Built for Working On-the-Go

The Vivobook Pro 15 OLED comes with all the bells and whistles you’d expect from any laptop. However – somehow – they seem to make more sense. Its focus on being utilitarian seems to create a form of tunnel vision which makes the features more apparent.

The power button comes with an integrated fingerprint scanner. While it’s not anything revolutionary, the inclusion of it allows you to sign in with Windows Hello seamlessly by simply touching the power button. Its response time is pretty fast. In fact, most of the time during our review, it would scan and power on at the same time – booting immediately into Windows 11. The quick response time makes working on the go easy as you don’t have to type in your password at all.

It also comes with an HD webcam. Yes, your run-of-the-mill webcam – but it has a privacy shield integrated. The addition of the privacy shield is a welcomed one. The fact that it’s not a software mediated one is a big plus point. The physical shutter simply blocks the camera making sure that it is unable to record. That said, with the addition of the shutter, the lack of physical muting felt like an oversight. But it didn’t take away from the experience and security that is provided.

The slim and light profile of the Vivobook Pro 15 OLED is another “feature” that makes it perfect for working on the go. ASUS has managed to fit functionality and connectivity into a relatively slim body which is perfect for working on the go. This is, of course, complemented by the AI noise-cancelling technology we saw with the Zenbook 14. The technology allows you to make video calls from cafes without much hassle even in loud environments. It will automatically detect the speaker’s voice and suppress background noise.

Full Keyboard, Numpad and Large Touchpad

Of course, being a creator and productivity-focused laptop, it comes as no surprise that the Vivobook Pro 15 OLED comes with a full keyboard with Numpad. While it may seem like a trivial feature, the full keyboard brings added convenience when it comes to dealing with excel sheets and even when it comes to creating apps and keyboard shortcuts. The keys are also pretty comfortable to type on. The individual keys are tactile and give enough feedback and travel; while they aren’t at the level of a mechanical keyboard, long writing sessions – like writing this review – are not an issue.

In addition to the full keyboard and Numpad, the laptop also comes with a large touchpad. Navigating with the touchpad is a little more intuitive with the larger space. It also helps Windows 11’s gestures feel more natural and less cumbersome to use. It also allows some flexibility with the way you work within your apps as it has more than enough space to move about.

Extended Connectivity

The VivoBook Pro 15 OLED comes with all the connectivity ports you need to work on the go. It comes with 2 USB 2.0 Type-A ports and a USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A port. These ports allow for high-speed transfer of files to hard disks and even for you to plug in accessories like a wired mouse to help you work. If you work with microSD cards a lot, the dedicated slot will allow you access to your files without needing a dongle. It also has a dedicated 3.5mm jack for both mic and headphones. The USB-C slot provides even more extendibility with high-speed data transfers and also support USB-C dongles which can provide RJ45 and additional HDMI outputs. The only output lacking is a physical RJ45 port which is easily remedied with a USB hub.

When it comes to WiFi connectivity the VivoBook Pro 15 OLED comes with support for the WiFi 6 (AX) – the latest standard available commercially. This allows for faster, more stable WiFi connections and even higher data transfer speeds – if the network you’re on supports it. That said, even if the network doesn’t support WiFi 6, the laptop does have backward compatibility with WiFi 5. Bluetooth 5.0 is also an option on the Vivobook. Naturally, this means that you’ll be able to use everything from audio accessories to keyboards and mouses which support the protocol.

Multitasking became easier with Link to MyASUS

One of the things I didn’t expect to fall in love with is the MyASUS app. The app isn’t something new – in fact, many other manufacturers have similar applications – but ASUS has made the app something you will use more often and it makes a meaningful impact on workflow. Link to MyASUS allows you to use your tablet or smartphone as an additional extended screen. I found myself doing this on multiple occasions when I was working on the go. Using the extended display function allows you to multitask a little better. Being a writer and video content creator, I regularly had my script and/or references on my extended display to allow me full use of the 15.6-inch display.

In addition to this, the app also allows you to make calls using the laptop. While we didn’t see ourselves using this very often, it made sense to use it when we needed to make an important call or had to answer an incoming call. The added convenience is definitely a boon.

Performance

You can’t lie when it comes to the performance you’ll be getting from the VivoBook Pro 15 OLED. It’s one of the best at the price point. In fact, we’d be comfortable saying that it excels ahead of a lot of its competition thanks to the AMD Ryzen 9 5900-HX processor it runs on. The octa-core processor allows the laptop to breeze through heavier workloads without a hitch. It’s also more power-efficient thanks to the Zen 3 microarchitecture and integrated Radeon graphics. With boost clocks of up to 4.6GHz, the laptop is able to do a lot more work without breaking a sweat.

Paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX3050, the combination is like a 1-2 punch when it comes to productivity. It’s able to handle heavy graphics loads with ease. During our review period, we were able to process 4K video with ease on Adobe Premiere Pro. Even with multiple sources and overlays, the laptop had little difficulty handling the workload.

The VivoBook Pro 15 OLED is also NVIDIA RTX Studio certified. This means that it meets NVIDIA’s requirements when it comes to being optimized for content creation. In fact, the first thing you will realise is that the drivers on the laptop default to the NVIDIA Studio drivers which provide even more reliable performance and stability.

However, this doesn’t mean that you can’t game on the laptop. You can ABSOLUTELY game with the laptop. It’s able to keep up with some of the more graphically demanding games like Shadow of the Tomb Raider and also Horizon Zero Dawn. This is not surprising given the combination of its processor and GPU. The RTX3050’s ray tracing capabilities also enhance the visual experience for gaming. We would go so far as to say, the combination blows some of the gaming laptops with the same specs out of the water – especially given the price point.

Display

ASUS is going all-in when it comes to adopting OLED in its laptops and the Vivobook Pro 15 OLED isn’t getting left behind. The laptop comes with a 15.6-inch OLED panel. The display covers 84% of the surface it’s on thanks to the slim bezels that surround it. It’s got a 16:9 aspect ratio and an FHD resolution. While it may not be a 2K or 4K display, it is more than enough when it comes to the laptop. In fact, it is one of those concessions I didn’t mind making with the VivoBook Pro 15 OLED to get better battery life.

However, the OLED panel shines when it comes to colour accuracy and reproduction – two of the most important aspects of any display when it comes to content creation and editing. The display covers 1000% of the DCI-P3 colour gamut and is Pantone validated for accuracy. This is one of those features you must experience to enjoy. The deep blacks and vibrant colours are a great boon to have when it comes to dealing with colour accuracy. It also makes gaming on the laptop a more immersive experience. You’re instantly drawn into the action and graphics of the scenery with the display. Even watching movies or series on the laptop is the more enjoyable cause of it. The brightness and contrast also make working on the display easier.

However, if there was just one complaint – it would be that the screen can get a little TOO bright. Throughout our review period, the brightness was set at about 30% to prevent blasting our irises to kingdom come with brightness.

A Laptop that focuses on functionality with a minimalist aesthetic built for Creators that need to work on-the-go

The ASUS VivoBook Pro 15 OLED is one of the most well thought out laptops we’ve had the pleasure of reviewing in a while. Its features are thoughtfully geared for budding content creators looking for a portable workhorse with a colour accurate display. It gives creator’s a complete package with features that allow us to work more efficiently on the go. Everything from colour accuracy to battery life and a large mousepad makes working on the ASUS VivoBook Pro 15 OLED the perfect balance between performance, portability and affordability. It’s a laptop that will cater to the needs of a creator at any level but even more so when it comes to those just starting out.

ASUS VivoBook Pro 15 OLED Editors Choice

It’s no surprise, if you’ve read this far, that we’re awarding the VivoBook Pro 15 OLED the techENT Editor’s Choice. ASUS has taken the time imbuing the laptop with a feature set that allows it to shine as a creator’s machine in every respect – from performance to the colour accurate display. This is bolstered by a price point that blows a lot of its competition out of the water.

Computers, Editorial, Gaming, Reviews

ASUS TUF Gaming Dash F15 In-Depth Review – Hey, This is Pretty Good!

November 19, 2021 Darwin Sucipto Leave a comment

The ASUS TUF line-up has its roots in 2010 as one of ASUS’ peripherals arms. Short for The Ultimate Force, they made peripherals for the gaming market. Unlike ROG though, the TUF line-up caters to the budget conscious gamers.

In that sense, some of the TUF are designed with durability and value in mind, and it shows. Beside the ROG name, the TUF branding is one of the most recognizable one in the gaming PC components industry.

The ASUS TUF gaming laptop line-up was made to be the entry-level category from 2016 onward. Of course, entry-level gaming laptops are full of compromises to make them as budget friendly as they can be. They were one of the first gaming laptops with MIL-STD 810 military standards certification, so they haven’t compromised on build quality. The performance was the one that took the hit though.

It is still a TUF gaming laptop, this TUF Dash F15, an entry-level product in other words. But it is not like any TUF gaming laptops that we know from before. It looks more sophisticated; more streamlined, and cleaner. It also packs a lot of power under its hood, or keyboard.

At MYR 5,799 though, it is not cheap. Should you consider an entry-level gaming laptop now if you are going into content creation and if you want to game without breaking the bank? Should you get this laptop for that matter?

Design

The ASUS TUF Dash F15 is not just an ASUS TUF gaming laptop. It is also their thinnest offering to date. While the other 15-incher from ASUS’ TUF line-up offers you about 2.5cm in thickness, the TUF Dash 15 is just below 2cm. The diet also takes off about 300g off the weight, at 2.0kg.

While remaining thinner and lighter than most 15-inch gaming laptops, the TUF Dash F15 still features three full-sized USB 3.0 Type-A ports, a full-sized HDMI 2.0 port, and an RJ45 port to the sides of the notebook. Of course, with any modern laptop, you can expect to see one USB Type-C port alongside a 3.5mm audio jack.

Our test unit comes with the Eclipse Gray matte finish, and we are fans of its looks. The redesigned TUF emblem is a lot flatter than before, elegant almost. Just in case you forgot, there are letterings spelling out TUF on its cover boldly reminding you that it is a TUF device.

The ASUS TUF Dash F15’s more compact body also means limitations in terms of cooling vents. The solution is moving the cooling vents elsewhere which also moves the ports toward users. Because the chassis is smaller too, the keyboard is now a ten-keyless with two very unsightly unused space sandwiching the keyboard. While they have disguised the unused space with some textured designs, we still think that ASUS could have made better use of the wasted spaces.

Most of the TUF Dash F15 is made of plastics. Despite being mostly plastic, the TUF Dash F15 does not feel cheap. The plastic parts, which mostly cover the bottom and the display bezel of the laptop, feels durable, just as an ASUS should.

Other than the subtle branding exercise, there are no creases or bulges that indicates a gaming laptop. The only indicator that this is a gaming laptop is the cut out at the bottom of the display paying homage to ASUS ROG’s original idea. The cover is a flat aluminium slate that hides its power.

Hardware

Underneath the MIL-STD 810 build of the ASUS TUF Dash F15 is a powerhouse of a processor combined with a powerful enough GPU that you can appreciate.

Specifications

TUF Gaming Dash F15 (2021)	As Tested
*Processor (clock)*	Intel Core i7-11370H (Quad-Core@3.1~4.4GHz)
*GPU*	NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060
*Display(s)*	15.6-inch IPS (1920 x 1080 FHD) 144Hz Anti-glare Narrow Bezel
*Memory*	512GB NVMe PCIe Gen 3 SSD 16GB DDR4 RAM (8GB x 2)
Networking and Connections (I/O)	1 x USB 3.1 Type-C (Thunderbolt 4) 3 x USB 3.2 Type-A 1 x 3.5mm AUX 1 x HDMI 2.0 1 x RJ45 Ethernet Port WiFi 6 (802.11ax) Bluetooth 5.01
*Operating System*	Windows 10 Home (64-bit)
*Miscellaneous*	2.00kg DTS audio All-metal body

Features

The ASUS TUF Gaming is not just an entry-level value offering though. It is a thin-and-light gaming laptop. You still want everything that makes the gaming laptop a proper working PC when you need it to be.

Full Ports

There is little sacrifice in terms of I/O ports. You still get three USB Type-A 3.2 ports on both sides. There is a full HDMI 2.0 port, and one thunderbolt 4 USB Type-C port on the left side of the device too for multi-display compatibility. You get a 3.5mm AUX jack too, which is a nice welcome since the ASUS ZenBook devices started omitting AUX ports. As mentioned, you also get a full RJ45 port.

We still feel that some of the ports like the HDMI, the charging, and even one of the USB Type-A ports could be shifted to the back for better ergonomics and cable management. It might sacrifice some needed space for the cooling vents though.

You will not find an SD card reader, which is a bummer for content creators. While card readers are not that expensive these days, it is also always nice to have one already built-in.

Armory Crate

The ASUS TUF Dash F15’s Armoury Crate allows you to choose your power profile. You can tell the device to push maximum power with performance mode. While the power profile is set to ‘balanced’ by default, launching Armory Crate is just a matter of a click of a button and changing profiles is also just a matter of clicking the ROG logo button that sits separately above the keyboard. The Armory Crate button is also grouped with the volume up, down, and mute buttons.

Sadly, the Armory Crate does not allow you to change the back lighting of the keyboard. That is also because the keyboard on the ASUS TUF Dash F15 does not feature RGB. You can customize how your keyboard is being lit though. If you have an ASUS Aura Sync compatible device, you can connect it to the TUF Dash F15 and customize the lighting scheme from Armory Crate.

Sorry, I Don’t Have a Webcam

There is one glaring issue with the ASUS TUF Dash F15. It is one you cannot find. There is no webcam on the TUF Dash F15.

A lot of the included webcam on your laptops are not great though. You get subpar quality cameras that shoots at only 720p for video calls. Most of the time, your smartphone can do a much better camera capturing videos at 720p.

Webcams are easily accessible anyway. That also means that you might be better off with them anyway. You can even turn your smartphones into webcams these days.

Performance

This is a gaming laptop built with performance in mind. It is also made with budget in mind. The terms ‘budget-friendly’ and ‘high-performance’ does not always come together very often. In the case of the ASUS TUF Dash F15 though, you can put the terms together.

Multitasking & Poductivity

You get 16GB RAM out of the box (as tested). That means you have ample of RAM to work with in normal use cases. 16GB is more than enough even for creative suites like Adobe’s Premiere Pro or even Photoshop. You might want to be a little patient with After Effects though.

Still, even if you are on Google Chrome, you can manage up to 20 tabs with no issues. Of course, a clever RAM management plugin should do wonders for Chrome. Ample RAM also means that documents processing and even PowerPoint is a breeze.

On the end of content creation, the ASUS TUF Dash F15 also comes into its own. We relied on Adobe’s suite for most of our audio-visual work. For videos, we work with Adobe’s Premiere Pro. We tasked the laptop to render an H.264 Full HD video from H.265 HEVC 4K sources. It took the ASUS TUF Dash F15 about 5 minutes and 19 seconds to render the video. At H.265 format, the ASUS TUF Dash F15 renders the video at just about half the time. Oddly, the laptop refuses to render 4K videos at both H.264 and H.265 formats.

Silently Working

Keyboards on ASUS’ gaming laptops have come a long way though. In case you forgot that the ASUS TUF Dash F15 is a gaming laptop, the light blue backlighting shows through on the transparent keycaps for the WASD buttons.

It is still a laptop though, so you cannot expect an experience that compares to mechanical keyboards. The key travel is limited, and tactility is not the best. While it does not feel like you are hitting your fingers on a wooden board, the keyboard does not give you the best feedback. It might not feel the best and your typing accuracy might suffer a little bit, but at least you will not be too fatigued when you type out long essays.

Gaming

On the ASUS TUF Dash F15, we tested games like Shadow of the Tomb Raider, Horizon Zero Dawn, and even Grand Theft Auto V. Horizon Zero Dawn is also made to be optimized for the Sony PlayStation 4 platform first, which would also mean that Horizon Zero Dawn should have no trouble running at higher settings.

We cranked the graphics settings on the eight-year-old Grand Theft Auto to its highest. The game clocked at a maximum of 120fps on Grand Theft Auto V. On average, the fps count hovers around the 100fps mark and above.

While Horizon Zero Dawn is made for the PS4 platform, it is still a graphics heavy game. That also means that it clocks only at about 90fps on average with its graphics settings turned all the way up. Shadow of the Tomb Raider did push the hardware on the TUF Dash F15 a little bit. At some points the game only clocked 28fps. There were some noticeable lags far and few. Still, at default settings (medium-high), the game could run at 40-50fps on average.

While you may not be able to enjoy all the current AAA titles at ultra-quality, they will be easily playable and therefore enjoyed on the ASUS TUF Dash F15. If you wish to, you can even plug it into a monitor or TV to enjoy your games via the HDMI port or even the USB Type-C thunderbolt 4 port.

Throttle, Throttle, Throttle

In our test of the ASUS TUF Dash F15, we did encounter a few odd issues with its fan. The fans on the ASUS TUF Dash F15 throttles as temperature goes up. There is a way to turn the fans all the way up in the BIOS settings if you really want, but by default, the fan responds to temperature.

Temperatures on the rig can get quite high. When you are playing games, you tend to see your CPU hitting its limit at about 99oC to 100oC. The fan ramps up in an attempt to cool the PC in games. In games as well, the fan speed is sustained to keep temperatures manageable. The same cannot be said when you edit videos though.

In our test of the ASUS TUF Dash F15, working with Adobe Premiere Pro was mostly a pleasure with the PC being quiet most of the time while scrubbing through footages. Even at “performance” settings, the device remains relatively quiet. Once you start rendering the video though, fans start to ramp up to their maximum but not at a sustained rate, oddly enough.

Display & Audio

You get a nice 15.6-inch IPS panel for a display. Because there is no webcam to speak of, the bezels are super thin on the top and sides. It is also a Full HD display that refreshes at 144Hz, important when it comes to competitive titles.

Of course, if you are playing titles like Shadow of the Tomb Raider, or even Horizon Zero Dawn, you might not be taking advantage of the 144Hz refresh rate. The speed of the display can be appreciated by competitive titles like Counter-Strike: Global Offensive though. At the same you can still enjoy a goods game of GTA Online with your friends.

On the end of content creation though, you might want to consider a secondary monitor. While the display looks good with highly saturated colours, it is not the most accurate display you might find in the market. It is good enough though if you are not using the ASUS TUF Dash F15 for colour grading work.

Where the display shines beyond games is movies and consuming other medias. Videos look crisp and nice on the display, and you can easily enjoy Netflix and Amazon Prime on the platform. While the colour contrast is not the best, it is still great enough to casually enjoy a good movie with.

On the end of Audio, you get DTS Audio speakers. There are only two speakers that are firing downward and out. The speakers are decent in the mid-range and high-end frequencies with more emphasis on the mid-range. Low-end is a little thin because there is no sub-woofer on the laptop. At least the speakers can be louder than the fan when you game. That also means you might not need your headphones or earphones when you game with the ASUS TUF Dash F15.

The ASUS TUF Dash F15 – A Reasonable Performer

The ASUS TUF Dash F15 is a new sort of notebook in ASUS’ entry-level gaming line-up. It does not feel like they are new to the segment though. The TUF Dash F15 feels like a properly mature attempt at the thin-and-light gaming segment.

The ASUS TUF thin-and-light is brilliant for users who are looking for the form factor but do not want to spend insane amounts of money for it. It is also packed with all the right I/O ports, except for an SD card reader.

It is not the most powerful gaming rig you can find in the market. At MYR 5,799, it is also not the cheapest of its kind out there. For that kind of money, you can get another gaming laptop that features an RGB keyboard instead of a regular backlit one on the TUF Dash F15. The fan profile is a little odd when you start working with it in terms of content creation, which also means you will see some thermal throttling when you start rendering your videos.

If you are in it for the latest games, the ASUS TUF Dash F15 can easily keep up with any title you can throw at it in 2021. Of course, you have to adjust your expectations a little bit in terms of graphics performance. If you are talking about competitive e-sports titles, you are going to be more than happy with it.

Is it worth the MYR 5,799 price tag then? We would say it is. The aluminium finishing on the laptop makes it feel more premium than it is. The laptop is designed tastefully, and the new logo just looks modern and subtle, something we appreciate. In today’s money though, you are getting quite a lot of power. In gaming situations, you are not going to ever feel like you are lacking. In content creation, there are some give and take here, but it works well enough. It is all you could want in a thin and light gaming laptop, just about.

Computers, News

More OLED for ASUS – The VivoBook Pro 14X, Vivobook Pro 15 and VivoBook 15 gets OLED Treatment

November 19, 2021 Darwin Sucipto Leave a comment

OLED is wonderful. Since its introduction as viable digital panels for TVs, PC monitors, and even smartphones, the technology has been regarded as the best display technology so far. OLED display is all about contrast, brightness, clarity, and colours. It does all that well while consuming less energy than LCD panels. There is little wonder why manufacturers and users love the technology this much.

While it sounds like the perfect display technology, it is far from that. OLED panels tend to have burn-in issues especially when a static image is being displayed for far too long. OLED panels tend to have shorter lifespans too. At the same time, it is an expensive technology.

For ASUS though, the benefits far outweigh the drawbacks. Thankfully as well, modern technology ahs brought the cost of the OLED technology down significantly. Modern Technology also made the OLED technology even better and more colour accurate than ever before. Modern technology, in a sense, brought the OLED technology to the accessible Asus VivoBook series, and there are new ones to be excited about.

ASUS VivoBook Pro 14X OLED

Source: ASUS
Source: ASUS
Source: ASUS
Source: ASUS
Source: ASUS

Content creators need colour accuracy in their display. Of course, if you have larger budgets to work with, you might be able to afford a dedicated display that is made specifically with colour accuracy in mind. More often than not, independent content creators always work with limited budgets. That also means that they can only afford a single device and would need to spend their money elsewhere. This is where the VivoBook Pro 14X OLED comes in.

The new VivoBook Pro 14X OLED features a brilliant 14-inch 2.8K OLED panel boasting HDR 600. That means that the display boasts 600-nits in maximum brightness, plenty bright for a laptop that will set you back less than MYR 5,000. It is a unique 16:10 aspect ratio 14-incher too. With 100% DCI-P3 colour gamut coverage, you will not find anything more colour accurate in the same price bracket.

A great display like the OLED panel that the VivoBook Pro 14X needs a powerful hardware to back it up. It comes packing Intel’s 11^th Generation Core i5 processor and up to an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 GPU. To ensure that you have all the power to get your creatives flowing is an 16GB RAM supporting the powerful CPU and GPU. Of course, if you need to use a secondary display for productivity’s sake, there is a Thunderbolt 4 capable USB Type-C port too.

ASUS VivoBook Pro 15 OLED

Source: ASUS
Source: ASUS
Source: ASUS
Source: ASUS
Source: ASUS

What if you are not really a content creator, but appreciate a good large display on your laptop anyway? What if you are a student that has not requirement for an ultra-powerful hardware and ultra-premium laptop? You get the Vivobook Pro 15 OLED

It features a stunning 15-inch Full HD OLED panel as its display. It may not be as high-resolution as the Vivobook Pro 14X, but it still got all the right benefits from OLED technology. The immersion you get from the OLED display is made even better with the Vivobook Pro 15’s Harman Kardon audio.

It packs AMD’s latest Ryzen 5000 H-series processor. That processor is supported by a powerful NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 GPU. It also has up to 16GB of RAM to keep everything running nice and smooth with up to 512GB of storage for everything else.

ASUS VivoBook 15 OLED

Source: ASUS
Source: ASUS
Source: ASUS
Source: ASUS

Even if you are on a budget tighter than MYR 4,000 though, you still can get access to an OLED display with the VivoBook 15 OLED. It is the same 15-inch Full HD display you get from the Vivobook Pro 15. You also get 100% DCI-P3 colour gamut coverage for the best and accurate colours from your 15-incher. What it lacks in, or at least where it becomes cheaper, is at its performance hardware.

It is powered by AMD’s Ryzen 7 processor or an Intel Core i3 processor. It does not come with a discreet GPU though so you are either stuck with AMD’s own Radeon or Intel’s own Iris Xe graphics. You still get and SSD with the Vivobook 15 OLED. You also get Harman Kardon-certified audio with the new Vivobook 15 OLED.

Price and Availability

The three new ASUS VivoBook OLED series are now available in Malaysia. You can get your hands on one via ASUS’ authorised retailers across the nation, or even online. The ASUS VivoBook Pro 14X will set you back MYR 4,799. The ASUS VivoBook Pro 15 OLED starts at MYR 4,299. The VivoBook 14 OLED though starts at a mere MYR 2,799. More information on the ASUS VivoBook OLED series can be found on ASUS’ website.

Gaming, Lifestyle, News

Complete Your Gaming Set Up with ROG x IKEA

November 11, 2021 Nur Jeevan Leave a comment

ASUS’s Republic of Gamers (ROG) announced a partnership with IKEA to bring more gamer-centric furniture to complete your setup not too long ago. However, the partnership was exclusive to Taiwan and China until today. The ROG x IKEA gaming furniture is now available at IKEA outlets across Malaysia.

The collaboration comes in five new product ranges which IKEA dubs its gaming range: the UPPSPEL, LÅNESPELARE, MATCHSPEL, UTESPELARE and HUVUDSPELARE. The new product families have IKEA’s unique, minimalist approach with insights from ROG’s long relationship with gamers. The UPPSPEL, however, is a true co-developed product with ROG engineers working closely with IKEA product designers.

The new gaming range focuses on bringing ergonomic comfort to gamers while they work to take out their challengers and best their opponents. Gamers can choose from a wide range of furniture which covers a wide range of price ranges. IKEA is offering a choice of three gaming chairs which range from MYR299 to MYR699. While the ROGxIKEA gaming desk, UPPSPEL, will set you back MYR2,499. Each piece of furniture is designed while taking into consideration the unique needs of a gamer. IKEA and ROG have put thought into everything from ergonomics to ventilation for your gaming setup.

The partnership doesn’t simply cover gaming furniture. You’ll also be able to get accessories such as a mouse bungee, headset stand and mug to complete your epic setup. The best part is these items are all priced below MYR80. If you’re not looking to get a completely new set-up, these additions should be more than welcome.

As part of their launch, ROG and IKEA have set up vignettes and showrooms with ROG gaming PCs in IKEA outlets across Malaysia. The gaming rigs in the stores feature some of the best components from ROG paired with Kingston’s performance RAM and storage. The rigs are available for you to experience at IKEA Damansara, Cheras, Terbrau and Batu Kawan.

For the complete lineup and prices, you can head on down the official ROG x IKEA webpage.

Computers, News

ASUS Vivobook 13 Slate OLED Expands Vivobook Lineup

November 4, 2021 Nur Jeevan Leave a comment

The ASUS Vivobook lineup is one of the most popular lineups the company has under its wings. Only recently, it received an infusion of “Pro” features with the Vivobook Pro series. Now, ASUS is bringing more variety to the lineup with a new tablet form factor.

ASUS Vivobook 13 Slate OLED 005 — Source: ASUS

The new ASUS Vivobook 13 Slate OLED is the first Vivobook tablet that comes with a 13.3-inch Full HD OLED display. It comes with a 16:9 aspect ratio and a 1920×1080 pixel resolution. The Vivobook 13 Slate OLED seems to be built with creators and media consumption in mind. The display has a peak brightness of 550 nits and covers 100% of the DCI-P3 colour gamut. It also has support for Dolby Vision. Completing its multimedia experience is a quad-speaker setup that is concentrated on the bottom half of the slate with Dolby Atmos certification. The speakers also come with smart amplifier technology that amplifies the audio up to 3 times louder.

New Form Factor with “Unique” Insides

The Vivobook 13 Slate OLED doesn’t come with your regular Intel Core i processors. Instead, ASUS has opted to go with the Intel Pentium Silver N6000. It’s an x86 quad-core processor with no multithreading support. It has a 4MB cache and a maximum speed of 3.3GHz. The processor is supposed to be one of Intel’s more power-efficient SoCs. This should promise better battery life with the OLED display. The processor is complemented with either 4GB or 8GB of RAM and up to 256GB of storage.

ASUS Vivobook 13 Slate OLED 007 — Source: ASUS

ASUS Vivobook 13 Slate OLED 006 — Source: ASUS

The Slate OLED comes with a 13-megapixel rear camera and a 5-megapixel front-facing camera. It also has support for WiFi 6 with ASUS WiFi Master to boot. Also along for the ride is Bluetooth 5.2. Aside from that, the Slate OLED comes with 2 USB Type C ports that support USB 3.2 and power delivery, and a microSD card reader and a 3.5mm combo jack.

Accessoried to be Your Tablet and PC

Coming in at only 785g, the Vivobook 13 Slate OLED is made to be a portable productivity beast. However, unlike other slates on the market, ASUS opted to minimise the amount of moving parts on the Slate OLED. Instead, the Slate’s multimode form factor comes from its accessories. It comes with a cover stand which allows it to stand in both portrait and landscape modes. Together with this, it also has a separate Keyboard cover which comes with a large touchpad.

ASUS Vivobook 13 Slate OLED 002 — Source: ASUS

Together with these, the ASUS Vivobook 13 Slate OLED comes with support for the ASUS Pen 2.0. The new ASUS Pen 2.0 is compliant with Windows’ built-in Microsoft Pen Protocol 2.0. This means that it connects seamlessly when attached to the Slate magnetically. It has 4096 points of sensitivity and a 266Hz sampling rate. The most unique thing about the ASUS Pen 2.0 is its interchangeable tips. Instead of just being replaceable for wear and tear reasons, the tips also mimic the textures of 2H, H, HB and 2B pencils. It charges via USB-C. I thas a quick button on top which brings added functionality when paired via Bluetooth.

Pricing & Availability

The ASUS Vivobook 13 Slate OLED will be available starting in December 2021 with prices starting at USD$600 (MYR2,491.88). The Slate will be bundled with a cover stand, keyboard and ASUS Pen 2.0.

Together with the standard version of the ASUS Vivobook 13 Slate OLED, ASUS also announced special editions of the new Vivobook. These special edition Slates will feature custom designs from Steven Harrington and Philip Colbert. They will feature a special cover stand, wallpaper, a special box, a sleeve, a keyboard, a hardcover case and keyboard stickers. The Philip Colbert version will come with an additional pair of limited-edition shoelaces.

Android, Mobile, News

ASUS Announces Android 12 Upgrade Plans

November 2, 2021 Nur Jeevan Leave a comment

With Google announcing the stable release of the latest version of their mobile operating system, Android 12, manufacturers have started announcing their own plans for the update to roll out to their stable of devices. The latest one to do so is ASUS.

ASUS has previously proven that they will be providing two years of updates for their phones. That roughly equates to two major updates. They have also provided security patches for about three years. That said, ASUS will continue to use this policy for their devices moving forward.

ROG Phone Android 12 RolloutPlan 1920x1080 — Source: ASUS

With the rollout of Android 12, it looks like the Zenfone 6 has reached the end of its life; so there will be no update for the smartphone. According to their official press note, the phones receiving the update are the Zenfone 7, Zenfone 7 Pro, ROG Phone 3, ROG Phone 3 Strix Edition, Zenfone 8, Zenfone 8 Flip, ROG Phone 5, ROG Phone Ultimate, ROG Phone 5s, and ROG Phone 5s Pro. That’s pretty much their latest lineup of devices since 2019.

According to their announcement, the ASUS Zenfone 8 and 8 Flip will be the first of their devices to get the update. It is scheduled to get the update starting in December 2021. The ROG Phone 5 and 5s are slated for Q1 2022. The ROG Phone 3, ROG Phone 3 Strix Edition, Zenfone 7 and 7 Pro are set to have the update in the first half of 2022.

Zenfone Android 12 RolloutPlan 1920x1080 — Source: ASUS

ASUS didn’t detail much when it came to features that will be coming with the Android 12 update. However, they did mention that “this update inherits the major functional changes introduced in the official version of Android 12, as well as continuing the popular ASUS battery- and performance-management features.”.

Android, Gaming, Mobile, News

The ASUS ROG Phone 5s Series Soon to be Available in Malaysia for MYR 2,999 Onward!

October 9, 2021 Darwin Sucipto Leave a comment

The ASUS ROG Phone 5s was launched in Taiwan just last month. Technically the device only became available in Taiwan very late last month on the 30^th of September 2021. Then again, the ROG Phone 5 Ultimate just landed in Malaysia not that long ago too.

Still, while the ROG Phone 5 Ultimate remains fresh, ASUS decided its time to launch their latest most powerful ASUS ROG Phone to date in Malaysia. If you have forgotten about the ASUS ROG Phone 5s, you get Qualcomm’s latest and greatest Snapdragon 888+ platform. Yes, it will be marginally more powerful than the ASUS ROG Phone 5 series.

Source: ASUS Malaysia
Source: ASUS Malaysia
Source: ASUS Malaysia
Source: ASUS Malaysia

Other than the System on a Chip platform that differs from the ROG Phone 5s and ROG Phone 5, there is not much else that separates the two devices. They virtually look the same, and you might think that they might be the same devices put side-by-side. The ROG Phone 5s also comes one regular variant, and one Pro variant, very much like the older ROG Phone 5. There is no Ultimate variant for this though.

You can regard the 5s Pro as the replacement to the ROG Phone 5 Ultimate though. The Pro variant comes with an overkill 18GB of RAM space and 512GB of storage. That is alongside the Qualcomm Snapdragon 888+. You also get the little customizable ROG Vision OLED display at the back of the device with the ASUS ROG Phone 5s Pro.

Variants	Retail price	Availability	Warranty	Remark	Colour
SD888+/8GB Ram/128GB Storage	RM2,999	Oct-21	1 Year	Not included: AeroActive cooler	Phantom Black & Storm White
SD888+/16GB Ram/256GB Storage	RM3,799	Oct-21	1 Year	Not included: AeroActive cooler	Phantom Black & Storm White
Pro SD888+/18GB Ram/512GB Storage	RM4,999	Oct-21	1 Year	Included: AeroActive cooler ROG Vision: Coloured	Phantom Black

Accessories	Price	Availability	Warranty
ROG Kunai 3 Gamepad (for ROG Phone 5)	RM499	Oct-21	3 Months
LIGHTING ARMOR CASE (ROG5)	RM199	Oct-21	3 Months
AeroActive Cooler 5	RM149	Oct-21	1 Year
ROG Clip	RM149	Oct-21	3 Months
ROG Phone 5 Screen Protector	RM79	Oct-21	nil
ROG KUNAI 3 BUMPER	RM69	Oct-21	3 Months
ROG 1.8M USB-C TO C CABLE	RM59	Oct-21	6 Months

The ROG Phone 5s series will be available in Malaysia from the 21^st of October 2021 onward. The device will be available in two colours – Phantom Black and Storm White. The top-of-the-line Pro variant will be available only in one colour option though, the Phantom Black. You also only get the AeroActive cooler bundled with the Pro variant. The regular device starts at MYR 2,999 (8GB + 128GB). There is also a second option (16GB + 256GB) that retails at MYR 3,799. The range-topping Pro variant meanwhile will be sold for MYR 4,999. For more information on the ASUS ROG Phone 5s and its Pro variant, you can visit their website. Or, you can pre-order your ASUS ROG Phone 5s or ROG Phone 5s Pro now.

News

ROG Unleashes the ROG Zephyrus G14 Alan Walker SE to Walkers in Malaysia at MYR 7,999!

September 7, 2021 Darwin Sucipto Leave a comment

August was an interesting month for ASUS. They launched a brand-new gaming laptop in collaboration with a big name in the new age world of EDM Music. That name is Alan Walker, if you have not guessed it yet.

At its global launch, we mentioned Malaysia will get to the notebook somewhere in September. We did not know specifically when though. We are excited about the laptop though, because we were mainly interested in the included box that packages the ROG Zephyrus G14 Alan Walker SE. At the same time, it is one of the most striking looking collaboration pieces from ASU ROG. In other words, it looks stunning, and we dig its looks.

At today’s launch gambit of the ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14 AW SE, we can tell you that you can get your hands on one today onward if you have MYR 7,999 to spare. The ROG Zephyrus G14 AW SE, admittedly, is more expensive than the regular ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14. To be specific, you are paying about MYR 300 over the most expensive ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14 device available.

The ROG Zephyrus G14 AW SE packs a powerful AMD Ryzen 9 5900HS processor with Zen 3 architecture which is respectable enough. It also comes with NVIDIA’s GeForce RTX 3050 Ti GPU, which is also a respectable processor for gaming notebooks. The combination of which powers Windows 10 on a 14-inch QHD IPS display that refreshes at 120Hz.

In comparison, the top-of-the-line ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14 features AMD’s Ryzen 9 5900HS Zen 3 processor. It also comes with NVIDIA’s GeForce RTX 3060 GPU platform which packs a lot of punch. This package comes at the price of MYR 7,499.

Before you write off the new ROG Zephyrus G14 AW SE though, you should know that your money buys more than just a gaming notebook PC. Alongside your G14 AW SE are a few extra goodies that you will not find anywhere else in the PC market. You get an Alan Walker x ROG designed cap and socks. On top of that, you are getting a custom ROG laptop sleeve that has Alan Walker design all over it.

Those may not sound like a lot. You are also buying a sort of an audio sampling box to go along with your Alan Walker edition of the ROG Zephyrus G14. The sampler box allows you to be your own DJ and be more creative with music samples that is included with the built-in software. You can even load the samples into the software if you want and create your own tracks. On top of that also, you get a slew of custom Alan Walker inspired graphics to load up on the AniMe Matrix panel on the back of the display.

Source: ASUS
Source: ASUS
Source: ASUS
Source: ASUS
Source: ASUS
Source: ASUS
Source: ASUS
Source: ASUS
Source: ASUS
Source: ASUS
Source: ASUS
Source: ASUS

The ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14 AW SE is now available for purchase across ASUS retailers nationwide. You can also purchase the laptop via their online retail partners, Shopee and Lazada. As mentioned, it will set you back MYR 7,999. For fans in Malaysia though, you get an extra special edition item to go along with your ROG Zephyrus G14 AW SE. As part of the 9.9 promotions, every order of the Alan Walker x ROG notebook is entitled to an ROG Slash Sling Bag worth MYR 399, while stocks last. More information on the ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14 AW SE can be found on their website.

Computers, News

ASUS Going All-In with OLED on the ProArt StudioBook 16 OLED and ProArt StudioBook Pro 16 OLED

September 3, 2021 Darwin Sucipto Leave a comment

Innovation is ASUS’ middle name. Well, not really. But they are one of the most innovative PC manufacturers of late. They were the first and still the only manufacturer that offers a dual function touchpad that works as a mouse tracking pad and an extra number pad at the same time. They are the only manufacturer currently that ships some of their notebooks with two displays in a notebook PC. At this point, when ASUS launches new devices, we are basically asking, “what will be the next big thing?”.

OLED is not a new technology. By now you would have known and understood the power of an LED display and what it can offer in terms of colour reproduction and contrast, in comparison to regular LCD displays. It is not a new technology on ASUS devices too, in a sense. They have integrated the OLED technology into their ZenBook before this.

ProArt StudioBook Pro 16 OLED

The top-of-the-line ProArt notebook PC is the no compromise notebook for the creatives that needs the power for 3D CAD work. The OLED display that is splashed on the new ProArt StudioBook Pro measures in at 16 inches as per its name. The 16:10 display pushes 4K (3,840 x 2,400) UHD resolution into your face. The 4K UHD OLED display also boasts 100% DCI-P3 colour gamut coverage with up to 550 nits in maximum brightness. At ΔE<2 as well, the pantone validated display should be a lot of help for creators.

Inside the 16-incher’s chassis you can find either a very powerful AMD Ryzen 9 5900HX (W5600, up to), or an industrial 3^rd generation Intel Xeon W-11955M (W7600, up to). Alongside the choice of two processors, the ASUS ProArt StudioBook Pro 16 can be specced with up to 64GB in 3200 MHz DDR4 RAM. At the same time, you can pack the StudioBook Pro with up to 4TB of PCIe SSD from the factory to ensure you have ample storage for all of your work and quick access to the files you need. Speaking of storage, the SD card reader on the StudioBook Pro is capable of reading SD cards at 985 MB/s for an extra smooth, extra fast workflow.

In terms of graphics, you get NVIDIA power for both variants of the StudioBook Pro. The notebook can be packed with up to an NVIDIA RTX A2000 GPU (A5000 of W7600 Intel variant), which is made specifically made for the studio environment. Thanks to modern machinery as well, you get the benefit and power of a full HDMI 2.1 port on the notebook.

While all these are well and good, it does take away from the interesting innovation that ASUS has fitted into the StudioBook Pro though. The innovation is on the surface of the keyboard on the ASUS ProArt StudioBook Pro 16. On the keyboard surface of the StudioBook Pro is not just a keyboard and touchpad combo. The touchpad does not need to double as a numpad as well, because this has dedicated physical numerical keys. The innovation comes in a form of a small circular dial that sits just below the keyboard.

They call it the ASUS Dial and it is brilliant for the creative industry. Using dials to have more granular and finer controls over your creative software, or even volumes, is nothing new. But having that packed in a notebook and having it accessible wherever you deploy your mobile workstation without extra accessories is new. This is what the ASUS Dial is though, a dedicated, built-in dial that is compatible with Adobe’s suite of apps. The implementation is not limited to Adobe though, imagine working with CAD software to create your next big project. The Mousepad also has a third middle button now just to really suit content creators for their projects and apps.

ProArt StudioBook 16 OLED

There is also the ASUS ProArt StudioBook 16 OLED, a less bonkers version of the ultimate creative working laptop. The ASUS ProArt StudioBook 16, visually, shares the same design cues with the more expensive and powerful ASUS ProArt StudioBook Pro 16. The StudioBook 16 even features the same ASUS Dial that the Pro variant gets. The touchpad also features the third middle mouse button.

You still get a 16-inch 4K (3,840 x 2,400) UHD OLED display that boasts the same colour accuracy as the pro variant. The difference lies in the hardware that powers the device. While you can still opt for the AMD Ryzen 9 5900HX AMD powerhouse if you are team red, the Intel variant only goes up to a Core i9-11900H processor. While it is no workstation powerhouse, the latest generation Tiger Lake Core i9 processor is still a respectable and mighty powerful processor for the notebook.

Graphics wise, the Intel variant stops at NVIDIA’s GeForce RTX 3060 while the AMD variant goes up to an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070. Both the notebooks support NVIDIA’s studio driver, these are creator-centric notebooks after all. You still get to pair the powerful processors with up to 64GB 3200 MHz DDR 4 RAM for smooth operations especially when you are relying on creative apps and 3D rendering projects. With up to 4TB in SSD storage as well, you are not going to be really wanting more storage space for your ongoing projects. On top of all of that is a super-fast SD Express 7.0 SD card reader with up to 985 MB/s read speeds.

Price and Availability

Source: ASUS
Source: ASUS
Source: ASUS
Source: ASUS
Source: ASUS
Source: ASUS
Source: ASUS

There are no announcements on the availability of the new ProArt StudioBook series with OLED displays just yet. There are no mentions on pricing either but remember these are made to be the ultimate portable workstation for content creators. In that regard, you can expect them to come at a premium. With that kind of price premium, its availability in Malaysia might be even more delayed. However, if you are a production house in need of powerhouse like the ProArt StudioBook series with OLED displays, you can try ringing up ASUS to come up with a deal.

Computers, Lifestyle, News

Gaming Meets Music with ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14 Alan Walker Special Edition

August 18, 2021 Darwin Sucipto 1 Comment

ASUS unleashed their ROG Zephyrus G14 with updated internals earlier this year in May, at least in Malaysia. The new powerhouse took over from where its predecessor left off. It packs AMD’s latest Zen 3 packed Ryzen 9 5900HS processor that maxes out at 4.3GHz. You also get NVIDIA’s power in a GeForce RTX 3050 Ti GPU platform. The package is more than capable of powering the 14-inch QHD IPS display at 120Hz.

The ROG Zephyrus G14 platform may not be the highest-end gaming laptop you can find in ASUS ROG’s arsenal of gaming notebooks. Obviously, it is also not the most expensive you can find. But it is one of the most versatile one to have. It is the perfect size for an ultra-light and thin laptop, and it fits in most bags with little fuss. You will not be craving for more power when you need to be productive too with a powerful and efficient AMD Zen 3 architecture. Paired to NVIDIA’s GPU, editing 4K videos on-the-go is a breeze. You can even colour correct with the highly accurate display at 100% sRGB coverage.

The ROG Zephyrus G14 then is the perfect notebook for both work and play. It is a formidable laptop in a production setting. It is the perfect notebook to bear the Alan Walker name.

If you do not know who Alan Walker is, you are in for a treat. A Google search of Alan Walker should be all you need to get introduced to the popular artist. But before you start wondering if Alan Walker has anything to do with gaming, let us introduce you to Live Fast, a song he produced for PUBG Mobile, and Ghost, a soundtrack from the game Death Stranding.

Source: ASUS
Source: ASUS
Source: ASUS
Source: ASUS
Source: ASUS

The Alan Walker edition of the ROG Zephyrus G14 has to be special though. That is why ASUS shoehorned an even more powerful AMD Ryzen 5900HS that packs 8 processing cores with up to 16-threads. The Zen 3 processor should be more than enough for aspiring content creators to work with. Its superior multi-threaded performance will make short work of any creative software you can throw at it.

Getting your games on is important though, especially when you need a quick break to get the creative juices going again. The brand-new NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 Ti GPU ensures that you have great gaming experiences on-the-road especially on the 14-inch IPS display that refreshes at 120Hz. The fun does not stop here though when it comes to Alan Walker.

Alan Walker designed the packaging of the ROG Zephyrus G14 himself. The packaging is not the regular box that merely protects the notebook though. You can connect the box to the Zephyrus G14 via a USB Type-C cable and the box turns into a unique accessory. It becomes an ROG Remix sampler that houses 18 of Alan Walker’s own sound effects. It comes complete with conductive pads on the surface for users to trigger the sound effects.

Source: ASUS
Source: ASUS

The integration goes even deeper with a custom software developed and designed with Alan Walker and his team. The custom software allows users to start creating their own tracks or create remixes based on Alan Walker’s famous tracks.

It is an ROG product still though. You get an ROG x Alan Walker inspired animations on the ROG Zephyrus G14’s main display and its AniMe Matrix panel at the back. The animations will play accordingly based on the MIDI inputs that is selected from the Remix sampler. The notebook also comes with a custom boot animation and an exclusive Alan Walker wallpaper.

Source: ASUS
Source: ASUS
Source: ASUS
Source: ASUS
Source: ASUS
Source: ASUS
Source: ASUS
Source: ASUS
Source: ASUS
Source: ASUS

On the surface, the Alan Walker ROG Zephyrus G14 is laced with Alan Walker’s signature colours. The ‘A’ and ‘W’ keys features the producer’s logo too. The AniMe Matrix panel comes in a unique Spectre Blue shade on this special edition. Lining the AniMe Matrix panel are two fabric belts with one belt featuring reflective texts that compliments the Matrix LED panel.

The ROG Zephyrus G14 Alan Walker edition is scheduled to arrive in Malaysia in September 2021. There are no official pricing for the special edition gaming notebook at this time. The ROG Zephyrus G14 comes with a few special edition goodies in the package too like the baseball cap, a pair of socks, and an ROG laptop sleeve. More information on the ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14 Alan Walker edition can be found on their website.

Design

Hardware

Specifications

Features

Built for Working On-the-Go

Full Keyboard, Numpad and Large Touchpad

Extended Connectivity

Multitasking became easier with Link to MyASUS

Performance

Display

A Laptop that focuses on functionality with a minimalist aesthetic built for Creators that need to work on-the-go

Design

Hardware

Specifications

Features

Full Ports

Armory Crate

Sorry, I Don’t Have a Webcam

Performance

Multitasking & Poductivity

Silently Working

Gaming

Throttle, Throttle, Throttle

Display & Audio

The ASUS TUF Dash F15 – A Reasonable Performer

ASUS VivoBook Pro 14X OLED

ASUS VivoBook Pro 15 OLED

ASUS VivoBook 15 OLED

Price and Availability

New Form Factor with “Unique” Insides

Accessoried to be Your Tablet and PC

Pricing & Availability

ProArt StudioBook Pro 16 OLED

ProArt StudioBook 16 OLED

Price and Availability

Tech Your Way