Hot off their international launch of a new line up of XPS laptops and their Malaysian launch of the Precision and Latitude lines, Dell is adding a new member to the XPS family: the XPS Desktop. The new XPS desktop draws inspiration from the minimalistic designs of its laptop brethren. Keeping it simple, elegant and performance driven. In fact, it’s even slimmed down to keep a sleeker profile. The once 24L body of the XPS Desktop is now only 19L and it doesn’t sacrifice much when it comes to space for internals.
The new XPS Desktop isn’t just elegant, it packs the power when it comes to specifications. It comes supped up with 10th generation Intel Core i processors ranging from the Core i3 to the creator focused Core i9. This is paired with a up to 128GB of RAM and complemented with up to 4TB of storage in various hardware configurations.
Built for Content
Keeping it’s eye on creators and hardware intensive processes, the XPS Desktop will be coming with a slew of options for it’s graphics card ranging from the NVIDIA GT 1030 to the NVIDIA RTX 2070 SUPER and even AMD graphics processors ranging from the AMD Radeon RX 5300 to the powerful Radeon RX 5700 XT. It also has options for a DVD-RW or Blu-ray burner in the optical drive department.
Of course, being a performance focused desktop, the XPS comes with a bevvy of ports on the back. On the front, it comes with 3 USB 3.1 ports, 1 USB Type C, a 3.5mm jack and a SD card slot. It also comes with support for Killer AX1650i WiFi 6 connectivity. Complementing the power packed internals are options for 150W or 500W power supply.
The Dell XPS desktop take a page out of its laptop brethren with voltage regulator cooling to more efficiently cool the processors. In fact, the engineers at Dell have designed the chassis to maximise airflow and cooling when it comes to the hard disks and processors. Accessing the internals shouldn’t be a problem with the toolless system that it adopts.
A Perfect Match with the New Dell S-series Monitors
Together with the new power packed XPS Desktop, Dell also announced three new S Series monitors. The new additions to the affordable S-series monitors bring even more options and larger sizes to the popular series of monitors.
The new additions to the S series monitors come in two different sizes: 27-inch and a larger 32-inches. The 27-inch monitor comes in Full HD and 4K Ultra HD resolutions. These monitors have 99% coverage of the sRGB gamut and are equipped with AMD FreeSync technology. The Dell 32 Curved 4K Monitor (S3221QS) comes with dual 5W speakers built-in.
Dell is bringing the Dell Premium Panel exchange program to the S series monitors during their limited hardware warranty period. The Premium Panel exchange will ensure that you get a consistent experience with the new monitors. Dell will replace defective IPS panels which result inconsistent bright spots. This program is available in the United States for now. No information if the Dell Premium Panel exchange will be coming to other regions.
Pricing & Availability
The Dell XPS Desktop is available immediately in the U.S. and Canada with prices starting at USD$649.99 (MYR2,774.41). It will be available in Malaysia starting the end of July 2020. Prices will start at MYR3,499 for a Core i5 with 8GB of RAM and a GTX1650 Super.
Europe and other regions will have the XPS Desktop within the month as well.
The Dell S-Series monitors will be available worldwide starting on 20 August 2020. Malaysia will be getting the monitors in late August with their prices to be announced at a later date. International pricing is as below:
Dell 32 Curved 4K UHD Monitor (S3221QS) will be priced starting at USD$499.99 (MYR2,131.13).
Dell 27 4K UHD Monitor (S2721QS) will retail with prices starting at USD$449.99 (MYR1,918.02).
Dell 27 Monitor (S2721DS) will retail starting at USD$349.99 (MYR1,491.78).
By now you are probably quite familiar with the name ‘VivoBook’. That is mostly thanks to the fact that we have been reviewing the namesake or each iteration of the same notebook for quite sometime now. We hope that you have not grown bored of the same notebook though, because we have not. Also, because there is a new one in the block.
It seems like just yesterday that we were reviewing a new ASUS VivoBook S notebook PC. It seems like yesterday too that we gave quite high praises to ASUS’ value offering of a notebook PC. That said, we have always liked the ASUS VivoBook series. They are relatively inexpensive offering of notebook PCs that are always outperforming our expectations. They are also always very well built, for the kind of material they employ on the VivoBook.
Because of the wholesome package that is the ASUS VivoBook, it has become one of our most recommended notebook PCs so far. While it is a serious contender for ‘one-size-fits-all’ solution, the designers have never taken a too serious approach to the notebook too. That is also why the ASUS VivoBook notebooks have always been lookers.
The new one? Well, for one I think it is no different from the old recipe of making an attractive looking PC with great internals. They approached the VivoBook with the same ‘one-size-fits-all’ philosophy as before. Somehow, they have managed to make it even better in certain aspects. How? Let us delve deeper.
Design
Like before, the ASUS VivoBook is built with a mix of plastic and aluminium. We suspect that the outer shells are mostly aluminium and the keyboard tray is also aluminium. The only part that is not made from the lightweight metal is the bezel surrounding the Full HD display.
Unlike the previous ASUS VivoBook S too, the new 2020 variant seems to be a bit more scratch resistant. This is mostly due to the aluminium construction and what we think is an anodized surface instead of a paint coating. Anodizing has been a common practice in getting colours on metallic surfaces, and they last a whole lot longer.
Anodizing also has another benefit, you can get really interesting colours on the surfaces. Which is what ASUS has gone for with the 2020 variant of the ASUS VivoBook S. The one we have here is green in colour. Specifically, Gaia Green. It is a stunning colour, in our humble opinions.
Personally, I have always liked green, Emerald Green or British Racing Green especially. Those are great colours, and I have always dreamt of a Bentley Continental GT in Emerald Green shade or a 1961 Jaguar E-Type in British Racing Green. We are getting a little side-tracked.
The point is, it is a very pretty Green that we are getting on the ASUS VivoBook S15. Finally, someone bothers to go with another green coloured notebook. This makes Red shades look over-rated and overly loud. There isn’t a big difference in the branding layout otherwise.
Open the ASUS VivoBook S15 up and you will be greeted with a very familiar full keyboard layout with backlighting. Oh, let us not forget the accented enter key with a lime outline and wording. We may not completely understand why that is included in the design, but it does help distinguish the keyboard itself from its competitors. The numpad is largely similar on the side with a nice layout too.
The trackpad is a little larger compared to what we could remember, but that is not a bad thing. Unlike the more popular wide pad designs, the new one looks more traditional and with additional height. That allows your two palms to rest on the palm rests on either side of the trackpad properly without accidentally touching the trackpad for extra inputs or accidental clicks.
There is no more fingerprint sensor on the ASUS VivoBook S15 anymore though. We are testing the Intel Core i5 variant of the ASUS VivoBook S15. Usually you would find the fingerprint sensor on the top right corner of the trackpad. Not this time though. Although you still get the same on/off button nestled at the top right corner of the whole keyboard layout.
There is a shiny chromed out chamfers on the side of the keyboard tray. That somehow adds to the premium look when its new. The shiny chromed ring surrounding the keyboard is what made us think that the whole top is aluminium. Thing is though, they will smudge a little from the oils from your skin. While that may not be too big of a deal if you keep it clean with constant care, it will not be the case for most people. Still, we feel that that is a nice touch. At least you know when you need to give your laptop a quick wipe down.
Hardware
As we have mentioned, this ‘go-anywhere-do-anything’ machine is made mostly of aluminium. Which is always a nice touch, in our opinion. It also helps with the overall feel and rigidity of the device, which is always nice.
There is more that just an aluminium body with nothing to show for it inside though. While it is not very heavy, it is still quite a powerful package. As we have mentioned, this is powered by an Intel Core i5, the one we have. We also have NVIDIA’s GeForce MX250 to work with, which is no slouch if you are not after outright gaming performance.
Specifications
ASUS VivoBook S15 S533
As Tested
Processor (clock)
10th Generation Intel Core i5-10210U (1.6GHz ~ up to 4.2GHz)
GPU
NVIDIA GeForce MX250
Display(s)
15.6-inch LED -backlit IPS Full HD (1920 x 1080) NTSC: 45% NanoEdge
1 x USB-C 3.1 Gen 1 1 x USB 3.1 Gen 2 Type-A 2x USB 2.0 1 x Standard HDMI 1.4 1 x Audio combo jack 1x MicroSD card reader Intel Wi-Fi 6 Gig+ (802.11ax) Bluetooth 5.0
Battery
50Wh 3-cell Li-Polymer Fast Charging (60% in 49 minutes)
Operating System
Windows 10 Home
Miscellaneous
Audio certified by Harman Kardon Certification 1.8kg
Features
Do not think for a second that ‘one-size-fits-all’ means that there is nothing that makes this thing special though. There is still a few things that makes this the perfect notebook PC that can do everything you need.
Back to Basics
So instead of the whole ErgoLift technology that ASUS was raving about a year ago, this has a regular hinge that tilts the display as normally as you would expect a normal notebook PC. You still get a similarly styled hinge, it is just that the VivoBook does not stand on the hinge. That also ensures that your keyboard remains at the same height on any surface, at any given time. You are not going to move your display and have your keyboard shift a few mm away from out or what not.
Not to say that the ErgoLift hinge was a bad thing. It really did improve typing positions when you set it on a proper surface to work with. On normal café tables, working on an ErgoLift hinged notebook is a little bit more comfortable than usual. Because your whole set up moves as the display moves though, it is a little inconsistent for my liking.
On the new 2020 line-up of the ASUS VivoBook S, ASUS is saying or listening to the consumers who say; “what was ever wrong with the normal typing position of notebook PCs”? After all, ASUS was one of the only players pushing that that kind of hinge design.
The loss of the supporting body part that extends from the display does create a little bit of an added opportunity in terms of rigidity too. If you turn the laptop around to its bottom, there is an extra rubber nub in the middle of the back part of the notebook PC. While it may not do much, it does add some body rigidity on the ASUS Vivobook S15, especially in the middle of keyboard which is usually where the older ASUS VivoBook S flexes. There is no visible or perceived crease here even when you put a little bigger pressure on the top part of the keyboard. That is really nice.
There is also another plus point with the regular flat-footed approach to the base of the notebook PC. It is much more comfortable using it on your lap. That is exactly the position of this notebook PC as I am typing this review.
The VivoBook S15 (2020) is missing a fingerprint sensor though, which is quite an unpleasant surprise. It was one of the better fingerprint sensors in a position that we thought made a lot of sense. While some may think that having a fingerprint sensor on the trackpad could be a little distracting, we like where it is positioned. It is one of the more intuitive designs and placements we found in the market. We want the fingerprint sensor back – ASUS, take note.
Clickety Clackety
Notebook PCs have improved on their keyboards tremendously over the past few years. The ASUS VivoBook series over the years, in our opinions, has some of the best keyboard feels among ASUS’ other offerings. We feel that they could use a little more travel and softer feedback, but honestly, they are some of the best keyboards we find on an ASUS notebook.
The ASUS VivoBook S15 technically still has the sort of same keyboard as the slightly older VivoBook S of 2019. It feels somewhat similar as well. There seems to be a little more travel this time around, but that could just be me. We still think that it could use with a little more feedback with the keys though, and more travel. But still, travel would be sacrificed in making notebook PCs lighter and thinner.
Still, that comment of ASUS VivoBook series offering the best keyboard experience from ASUS still stands true with the ASUS VivoBook S15. We suspect also that is mostly due to the fact that this product is targeted mostly to students who types long essays. We feel that this could still be perfect for businesspeople too who needs something reliable and affordable to work with.
There is a small complaint on the keyboard though. The backlight still leaks from the sides of the of island keys. That is a very small tolerable issue though. What is slightly a bit more annoying is that the white backlight makes the keys harder to read in bright conditions. Under the light of the display for example, you cannot read the keys. It still helps when you are typing in darker conditions though. This is basically nit-picking already though as that only happens at certain angles.
We find the highlighted ‘enter’ key a little odd as well. We do not really know why it is in a different colour accent compared to all keys. While it helps us find the enter button, it is still rather odd. It could just be a design decision to help you find the enter key in the dark, to differentiate it from the ‘shift’ key maybe.
Harman and Kardon’s Magic Touch
Yes, the previous ASUS VivoBook S was also fitted with audio by Harman Kardon. Yes, the new one is also fitted with audio by Harman Kardon. Is there a difference? Not really. Both sounds great still.
The sound profile, on speakers at least, is similar to the older VivoBook S. With Harman Kardon, audio sounds crisp and clear. Not to forget, it can get quite loud. There is still a lack of bass or low frequency strength from the speakers. Still, that is quite understandable when they have not fitted a subwoofer into the svelte body of the ASUS VivoBook S15. You would need proper headphones for that needed thump from your music.
Still, even if you do not have any good pair of headphones to work with, the audio is plenty usable and enjoyable. That is the case for both movies and music, which is pleasant. Of course, you would want more low frequencies for action movies with plenty of explosions. In terms of music though, if you are not too big into Hip-Hop, you should do more than fine actually. The high frequencies and mid frequencies are great and clear.
Again though, there are still notebook PCs that packs better audio than the ASUS VivoBook S15 (2020). At the same time though audio for notebook PCs have evolved quite a bit and progressed further than anyone would have thought these days. You can hardly fault modern notebook PCs when it comes to audio quality these days – save for weaker low frequencies.
While Harman Kardon is nothing new for the ASUS VivoBook S15, we do think that having that backup from a large audio brand like Harman Kardon is still an exciting feature to have. It means that ASUS can handle what they do best while allowing one of the best in the business to do what they do best.
Plus the Magic of ICESound by ICE Power
Added to the prowess of Harman Kardon’s know how in making great sounding speakers, or tuning them to sound good. But a good speaker is nothing without good software to articulate and equalise sound. Here is where ICE shines.
ICE Power is known to make some professional grade amplifiers and audio equipment. They are one of the world’s best when it comes to studio monitoring and production grade audio solutions. No, that does not mean that ASUS worked with them to fit an amplifier that is made by them within the VivoBook S15. Not quite, those are still a third party developed part and then Harman Kardon would add their clever know how to make the speakers capable.
What ICE Power makes here is quite unique. It is a software based tuning kit that adjusts the frequencies of the media played through the speakers. Yes, in other words, they made a custom equaliser software for ASUS here.
Unlike plenty of other notebook PCs, the equaliser that is given by ICE Power, more known as ICESound that is built into ASUS’ existing Audio Wizard(cheeky) is a lot more comprehensive. You can tune the audio output to however you might like your music to be. You can have different settings for different software too. They are all saved under presets so you can just quickly get a different tuning and EQ in different conditions within a click.
There are preset settings, of course, for those who are not familiar with tuning software or equalisers adjustments. They simply label them as ‘Music’ and ‘Movies’. Both give you different experiences in both instances too.
Even in those settings, you can customise them further if you want your music to sound a certain way, like how professionals work with live audio, you can too with ICE Power, or at least at the default settings, they do the magic work and you just turn it on to work with. I suggest just going with their default setting though.
While to many, this may not sound like a huge difference with no treatments or equalisers; to any trained ear, you can notice differences straight away. Even with Spotify, the sound profile changes dramatically. Vocals sound clearer with that trailing afternote that you always hear when someone talks to you or in live concerts. The instruments sound a little more alive than they really are somehow. All these in just a simple arrangement of different frequencies. It is pleasantly surprising.
Of course, there is still the problem of not enough low-frequency strength from smaller speakers fitted on the ASUS VivoBook S15. Still, for a notebook PC to have audio like this is plenty amazing. If you are a little picky with audio, this could be the notebook that you might want to have.
There is some caveat though. While it does transform your audio experience a little bit, the speakers at times might seem that it hardly copes with the changes in frequencies, especially the higher ones. There are minimal tears in audio if you pay attention. Still, they can be quite negligible in most cases. To be fair, it could be Spotify too.
Performance
Of course, there are some limitations to what the ASUS VivoBook S15 can do. After all, the test device we have here only packs Intel’s Core i5. While it is the 10th Generation processor, it is not the most powerful in its range too. It is made to be power efficient and durable. It is made to be a workhorse instead of a powerful all conquering device with short bursts of power. This is made to last all day and more. This VivoBook S15 is made to stay away from the wall plugs as long as possible.
Still Quite Powerful
That is not to say that the ASUS VivoBook S15 is a weakling though. With the 10th iteration of Intel’s powerpack, it is more powerful than ever. It scrubs through Full HD 1080p videos on Adobe Premier Pro with ease. It renders the video quite fast too. Well, of course, this coming from a modern PC and at 1080p, you can expect as much. The NVIDIA GeForce MX250 does help things trundle along in video editing purposes too, especially when you need to do any extra stabilisation of your footage.
While your gaming rig can render Full HD videos much faster, this is not too far off. We were able to render 2minute Full HD videos in a few minutes. Provided the video does not feature plenty of complex animations, or too many added footages, or generally that much in complexity. It is just a simple cut, join and render from two different Full HD videos.
Where this should shine though is in simple Adobe Illustrator works and even Adobe Photoshop. Thing is, you might be left a little bit wanting from the display a little bit though. You are not getting the most colour accurate display available to you. Still, it is an IPS display; which means you still get best in class viewing angle and colours still look good.
We also appreciate the fact that this comes out-of-the-box with 8GB RAM. We have always said that 8GB should be the minimum RAM size that any notebooks come in. ASUS listened and fitted 8GB into this thing. Of course, you can upgrade it or add another RAM stick on your own if you want to.
Of course, with 512GB of SSD, you are not going to think too much about wanting for more speed out of your storage. 512GB is also plenty to work with when you are just going to work with documents, some light video or image editing, and even looking through endless emails. Trust me, it is enough. If not, you still can add a 2.5-inch HDD if you want to.
Gaming
Obviously the first part of any performance gauge on almost any notebook PC. Well, that is barring the creator grade stuffs. So, gaming.
Before we go on though, we are not going to install or test AAA titles on this notebook PC. Let’s face it, no one will buy this type of PC to run AAA titles in even close to high settings. You might be able to run older AAA titles still though.
We are not very good DOTA 2 players, but we are pretty sure this still can run that. Then again DOTA 2 runs on nearly any machine on the market these days. So DOTA may not be a good marker anymore.
We ran Two Point Hospital and Motorsport Manager on this thing. We relied on Two Point Hospital more than Motorsport Manager to work with though. Motorsport Manager is buggy at best, and does not require super high performance from GPU as well.
In that light, we are delighted to report that this runs Two Point Hospital healthily. As in, we have not complaints on it. We did not fiddle with the settings, for obvious reasons. We are pretty sure we could push the VivoBook S15 to higher settings on Two Point Hospital, but it might make the frames a little choppy, so we did not bother.
No, you will not get anything higher than 60 fps. This display only refreshes at 60hz. Nope, not a competitive esports contender here. Just a regular PC.
Going the Distance – Battery Life
The older VivoBooks have allowed us to work remotely quite efficiently in the past. There is no specific battery life quote from ASUS really for the new ASUS VivoBook S15. The 50Wh battery built into the ASUS VivoBook S15 (2020) though allowed us to stay on the move and work for at least 4 hours. This is considering that we left it at default power mode. You could improve that a little bit by changing your power consumption model like any other Windows notebook.
We got about 6 hours in battery life with no more than 10 tabs open on both Mozilla Firefox and Microsoft Edge, plenty of typing on Microsoft Word (we typed this review entirely on the ASUS VivoBook S15), constantly having audio at various levels of volume with Audio Wizard on full time. Oh yes, we were downloading some things from Steam too. Screen brightness were kept to half though.
Still, we managed to get this review written on the ASUS VivoBook S15 in two full charges. Which is not ideal if we are away from ports for 8 hours or more in a single period. We are not though, so it still works. We are also thinking in terms of the buyers of this notebook PC. It should be more than adequate to work with between charge points if you are a student especially. Unless, of course, your class goes on for more than 5 hours at a time.
Display
We are not going to lie; the display is not the best. This is not some notebook PC that you might want to use to edit photos or images with super accurate colours. Might I suggest you get a secondary monitor that might cost as much?
No, this is not made for super accurate colour reproduction. This is also not made for gaming, so you do not get anything close to 120Hz. It stops at 60Hz, which is quite terrible in today’s gaming standards.
Does it matter though? This is not a PC that is made to be a creator’s tool. It is made to be a reliable workhorse for the likes of students, or some working adults that is looking at a budget. This is made for Word processing, Excel sheet crunching, and PowerPoint creation. This is made to browse through endless research papers and a mindless amount of web pages.
In that sense, the display is great enough for web browsing and reading. It is adequate to work with; you do not need 120Hz or even Pantone validation to process videos or get through an Excel sheet. You only need to protect your eyes. Windows and ASUS has you covered with blue light filter built-in of course.
The ASUS VivoBook S15 S533 (2020) – The Best VivoBook
That should go without saying. Every new device should be the best of its series. But the ASUS VivoBook S15 (2020) managed to do even more than that though. We admit, it lost some great stuff. It lost the highly acclaimed ErgoLift design (somehow, I am personally glad though). Then there is the fact that you do not get the fingerprint sensor with Windows Hello anymore, a mild annoyance. There is also no significant improvements in battery life too.
The ASUS VivoBook S15 (2020) is a mild progression from the older 2019 variant, rather than a revolution. It does everything a little better. Sure, we do not get some things that we have come to expect from the ASUS VivoBook line-up. But a notebook PC at this segment is not made great by those things.
You still get the same sort of great looking design that can stand out anywhere or blend in anywhere. That is up to your colour choices, by the way. It remained at the same great price too at MYR 3,199. That while having slightly better rigidity, which in turn improves durability and overall typing experience (thank you, little nub). The product still feels great but is made better with the slightly more powerful new generation Intel Core i5 processor (the only one we are getting in Malaysia, by the way). Audio by Harman Kardon is still much of the same thing, but the discovery of Audio Wizard by ICE Power made exclusively for ASUS PCs made it slightly better; just the right amount to change the experience.
Everything points to very slight increments in the experience of the ASUS VivoBook S15. All the increments are made at the same price too. Yes, that means that you must give up some good stuff too. But remember, that is not the point. The point of the ASUS VivoBook S15 is to be a great all-rounder. In that, it does well. We would describe it as the perfect all-rounder. It’s 15.6-inch display is large enough, but also light at 1.8kg. It has all the power you need too, and still lasts longer your meetings or classes. Of course, the Harman Kardon and ICE Power combination is a winner in the audio aspect. Music is enjoyable on this, really.
It is like that friend that you hang out with all the time, the one that goes to the ‘mamak’ with you to discuss world issues, and to the bar with you to watch Liverpool winning the 2019/2020 season; the all-around swell and reliable friend. This is that friend. Oh, as a bonus, this ‘friend’ might look better than that friend; whatever you may think, the Gaia Green is gorgeous. Definitely the one I would spend my MYR 3,199 on.
ASUS’s VivoBook has come a long way since it’s first debut. The line up which started out by carving a unique niche for affordable laptops with respectable specifications, has evolved to one of the most personalisable ultrabooks available on the market. The line up has become known for its bold, bright colours, gorgeous finish and rather feature rich package.
The new Vivobook S continues this ethos. It comes in bright, vibrant colours that bring a renewed vigour to the line up with updated specifications and new colours. This year, the VivoBook S line up is bringing a whole new range of colours including the Resolute Red, Gaia Green, Dreamy Silver and India Black. These colours allow users to express themselves from the get go while infusing a pop of colour in any mundane environment.
That said, the VivoBook S has never been just about the looks; it has also been about pushing technology and design. The slim, 1.59cm silhouette of the line up belies its technical prowess. The new VivoBook S line up comes equipped with 10th generation Intel processors which promise faster performance and longer battery life. This paired with the NVIDIA GeForce 250MX and WiFi 6 capabilities allows the VivoBook S series to stride a fine line between performance and portability. This is further bolstered by the 512GB of M.2 NVMe PCIe SSD with 32GB of Intel Optane memory and 8GB of RAM out of the box.
Pricing & Availability
The new ASUS VivoBook S series will be available starting today, 30 June 2020 in retail stores with prices starting at MYR3,199 for the VivoBook S14 and MYR3,699 for the VivoBook S15. Both come with 2 years global warranty from ASUS.
If you are interested in getting one yourself, ASUS is offering an MYR100 discount with the voucher code ASUSVS100 on their official stores on LAZADA and Shopee. The offer is valid on a first come first serve basis on 30th June 2020 from 12pm till 11:59pm.
Intel® Core™ i7-10510U Processor 1.8 GHz (8M Cache, up to 4.9 GHz)
Display
14” LED-backlit Full HD (1920 x 1080) 16:9 Frameless four-sided NanoEdge display with 85% screen-to-body ratio 178° wide-view technology; anti-glare IPS panel display; NTSC: 45%
Intel® Optane™ Memory H10 with Solid State Storage (32 GB Optane™ + 512 GB M.2 NVMe PCIe SSD)
Wireless
Intel® WiFi 6 GIG+ (802.11ax) Bluetooth® 5.0
Camera
HD camera
I/O ports
1 x USB 3.1 Gen1 Type A 1 x USB 3.1 Gen1 Type-C™ 2 x USB 2.0 1 x HDMI 1.4 1 x Audio jack combo 1 x Micro SD card reader
Audio
Array microphone with Cortana voice-recognition support 3.5 mm headphone jack Certified by Harman Kardon
Battery
Fast charging: 60% in 49 minutes 50 Wh 3-cell lithium-polymer battery 65 W power adapter Plug Type: ø4 (mm) (Output: 19 V DC, 3.42 A, 65 W) (Input: 100-240 V AC, 50/60 Hz universal)
Keyboard
Backlit Chiclet Keyboard
Fingerprint Reader
Yes
Colors
Dreamy Silver / Indie Black / Gaia Green / Resolute Red
Dimensions
Height: 1.59 cm (0.62”); Width: 32.49 cm (12.79”); Depth: 21.35 cm (8.40”)
Weight
1.4 kg (3.08 lb)
Retail Price
RM 3,699 (available on 30th June onwards)
Bundle in Box
ASUS Backpack, Limited Edition VivoBook stickers
Warranty
2 years global
[1] Specifications, content and product availability are all subject to change without notice and may differ from country to country. Actual performance may vary depending on applications, usage, environment and other factors. Full specifications are available at http://www.asus.com
ASUS VivoBook S15 (S533F)
CPU
Intel® Core™ i5-10210U Processor 1.6 GHz (6M Cache, up to 4.2 GHz)
Display
15.6″ LED-backlit Full HD (1920 x 1080) 16:9 Frameless three-sided NanoEdge display with 86% screen-to-body ratio 178° wide-view technology; anti-glare IPS panel display; NTSC: 45%
Intel® Optane™ Memory H10 with Solid State Storage (32 GB Optane™ + 512 GB M.2 NVMe PCIe SSD)
Wireless
Intel® WiFi 6 GIG+ (802.11ax) Bluetooth® 5.0
Camera
HD camera
I/O ports
1 x USB 3.1 Gen1 Type A 1 x USB 3.1 Gen1 Type-C™ 2 x USB 2.0 1 x HDMI 1.4 1 x Audio jack combo 1 x Micro SD card reader
Audio
Array microphone with Cortana voice-recognition support 3.5mm headphone jack Harmon Kardon Certified
Battery
Fast charging: 60% in 49 minutes 50 Wh 3-cell lithium-polymer battery 65 W power adapter Plug Type: ø4 (mm) (Output: 19 V DC, 3.42 A, 65 W) (Input: 100-240 V AC, 50/60 Hz universal)
Keyboard
Backlit Chiclet Keyboard
Fingerprint Reader
No
Colors
Dreamy Silver / Indie Black / Gaia Green / Resolute Red
Dimensions
Height: 1.61 cm (0.63”); Width: 35.98 cm (14.17”); Depth: 23.38 cm (9.2”)
Next@Acer brought plenty of things to light. One of them is a cool thin and light, the Acer Swift 5. The new Acer Swift 5 packs Intel’s next gen Core i7-1065G1 that is paired to up to an NVIDIA GeForce MX350 GPU. that also means that you get even more power for your buck. With up to 16GB of RAM too, you would not be left wanting for more speed. Of course, you still get the touch display. This time though, you have the protection of Corning’s Gorilla Glass to protect the beautiful Full HD display.
The thin and light power house is looking at on the go people looking to be productive. With everything from a touchscreen display with quick access with fingerprint unlock with Windows Hello, the Swift 5 is built to help you be productive on the go. What’s even better? You won’t have the literal weight of productivity on your shoulders with the laptop coming in at less than 1kg with it’s respectable specifications.
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The Acer Predator Triton 300 for 2020 is the latest in the line of very alluring thin and light gaming machines from Acer’s Predator. The new “game anywhere” mean machine will pack the power of Intel’s 10th Gen Core processors and NVIDIA’s super powerful GeForce RTX2070 GPU (up to). This thing is really made to game on the go. LAN party travel anyone?
The new Triton 300 packs a punch with supped up specifications and is versatile, allowing you to game anywhere. It boasts improved power efficiency and better performance with update specifications and improved cooling. Paired with the Predator center app, you’ll be able to customise and optimise the settings so you can get the best performance out of your Triton 300 at your fingertips.
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Acer’s ConceptD series created waves when it was first announced a little over a year ago. It was the first offering from the computer manufacturer to take aim at the creative industry and cater to their needs. Specifically, providing a powerful, portable machine capable of rendering and processing large workloads on the go. This year, the company is looking to bring even more flexibility with the new ConceptD 3 Ezel.
The ConceptD 3 Ezel brings along a new hinge design that brings even more flexibility to the already powerful line up of ConceptD laptops. The unique, innovative hinge by Acer allows the laptop to function in multiple modes. It also allows artists to illustrate and draw without the hassle of working around the keyboard.
The unique hinge is not the only design cue that stands out. The ConceptD 3 Ezel is pristine white with the hinge running through the top of the laptop providing a symmetrical accent that highlights the hidden functionality. The keys are also back lit a glowing amber which glows and resonates against the white of the laptop.
Elegance isn’t the only thing the ConceptD 3 Ezel is. It’s also power packed and ready to take on anyone’s creative process. The laptop comes with either a 14-inch or 15.6-inch Full HD PANTONE Validated touchscreen display which covers 100% of the sRGB gamut with an accuracy rated at delta ΔE<2. It is also supports Acer’s Active Stylus for easy writing and drawing with 4,096 levels of pressure sensitivity.
The ConceptD 3 Ezel comes packing a punch with high performance, 10th Generation Intel Core i7 and Core i5 processors and NVIDIA’s Quadro T1000 graphics processor (ConceptD 3 Ezel Pro) or the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 Ti. It comes with 1TB of PCIe SSD storage as well.
Together with the ConceptD3 Ezel, Acer also announced the available of a regular ConceptD 3 which comes with similar specifications and sports 20 hours of battery life.
Pricing & Availability
The ConceptD 3 Ezel will be available in September in North America and China with pricing starting at USD$1,499.99 (MYR6,412.64) and RMB9,999 (MYR6,056.21) respectively. While the EMEA (Europe, Middle East & Asia) region will be getting the Ezel starting September with prices starting at EUR1,699 (MYR8,224.28).
The regular ConceptD 3 will be retailing in North America and EMEA starting in October for USD$999.99 (MYR4,275.08) and EUR1,299 (MYR6,289.14) respectively. While, in China, it will be available starting in September with prices starting at RMB8,999 (MYR5,450.53).
Dell’s gaming line up has long been one which has been growing in its scope and popularity. With the introduction of a whole new ethos and design last year, the company’s gaming segment is quickly growing and packing more of a punch. Last year, there was one big piece missing when it came to their offerings; this year, they are making sure they have all their bases covered with the Dell G5 Gaming Desktop.
The Dell G5 gaming desktop adopts the rugged design language of Dell’s gaming series and equips itself with some of the most sought after features. It’s deep metallic colour and hard lines are a pretty obvious cues that this machine is made for performance and gaming. You’ll be able to see the muscle behind the performance with the window on the side of the desktop.
The G5 is built for performance with options for processors ranging from the 10th Generation Intel Core i3 all the way up to the Intel Core i9 processors. This is paired with up to 64GB of RAM and up to 3TB of space. Hard disks are available in multiple configurations to fit the needs of the user. Users are able to choose graphics cards ranging from the NVIDIA’s GTX1650 to the RTX2070 Super or the AMD Radeon RX5600.
When it comes to connectivity, the G5 is equipped with more than enough ports for any user. These ports include USB type C, USB 2.0, Ethernet, and 3.5mm jacks for headphones and microphones. On the wireless side of things, it has support for WiFi 6 with Killer Wireless and Bluetooth 5.0.
Dell Gaming Monitors
Together with the Dell G5, Dell also announced two gaming monitors: the Dell 27 gaming monitor and the Dell 27 Curved Gaming Monitor. The two monitors join the ranks of the renown Dell monitor series which is well known for display quality and colour reproduction.
The new Dell 27 gaming monitor is a flat screen monitor. It has a QHD 4K resolution of 2560×1440 pixels. It has options for 144Hz and 165Hz refresh rate. The In-fast IPS Nano Color display has a 16:9 aspect ratio and is HDR compatible. Colour reproduction wise, the monitor covers 98% of the DCI-P3 gamut and has a 1.07 billion colours colour depth. It also has a 1ms grey to grey response time. The Dell 27 Gaming monitor is equipped with LED edge lighting so you can immerse yourself in the game. It has certifications for AMD FreeSync and NVIDIA’s G-Sync. On the back, it comes with 2 HDMI 2.0 ports, 1 Display Port, 4 USB 3.0 downstream ports, 1 USB 3.0 upstream port, a headphone jack and audio line out.
If you’re looking for something more curved, the Dell 27 Curved Gaming monitor has your name on it. The monitor comes with a Full HD display with 144Hz refresh rate. It comes with a 16:9 aspect ratio and is a VA panel. It covers 72% of the NTSC CIE 1931 gamut and 83% of the NTSC CIE 1967 gamut with a colour depth of 16.7 million colours. It has a 4ms grey to grey response time. It also comes with LED edgelighting which enables users to be more immersed into their experience. The monitor is AMD FreeSync and NVIDIA GSync compatible. It has 2 HDMI 1.4 ports, 1 Display port 1.2 and 1 headphone jack at the back.
Pricing & Availability
Dell’s G5 Gaming Desktop hit the market on July 9, 2020 with prices starting from USD$699.99 (MYR2,993.01). The G5 doesn’t look to be making its way to Malaysia. We will update you if this changes.
The Dell 27 Gaming monitor will be available starting June 28, 2020 with prices starting at USD$569.99 (MYR2,436.87).
The Dell 27 Curved Gaming monitor is available started 21 August, 2020 with prices starting at USD$279.99(MYR1,197.04).
Dell’s gaming laptops have been the company’s offering for those who want gaming level performance but can’t jump for the Alienware line up. The Dell G line up has inherited many of the award winning designs that have made Dell laptops a force to be reckoned with.
The new Dell G7 Gaming laptops are pushing the boundaries when it comes to aesthestics as Dell continues to refine the chassis of the G7. This year, the G7 sheds its pounds for a more thin, svelte silhouette completed by a customizable RGB strip. The once thick laptop comes in at only 18.3mm thin. Aside from the thinner silhouette, the Dell G7 Gaming comes with a Mineral Black finish with iridescent silver accents that allows you to go from gamer to corporate professional without batting an eye.
The refreshed gaming laptop is going to be packing a punch when it comes to performance. Packing the 10th Generation Intel Core i processors ranging all the way up to the i9, the G7 is built for performance both in gaming and heavy workloads. On the graphics side, it’s equipped with NVIDIA’s GeForce graphics cards ranging from the GTX1650 Ti to the RTX2070 with Max-Q design.
Like all things Dell, the G7 comes with options for it’s display which include a UHD 4K OLED display with 60Hz refresh rate, a FHD 1080p antiglare LED display with 300Hz and a FHD 1080p antiglare LED display with 60Hz refresh. It supports up to 32GB of RAM with options of 8GB and 16GB out of the box. Storage options range from 128GB to 1TB. Of course, these are PCIe M.2 SSDs.
Connectivity wise, the Dell G7 gaming supports HDMI 2.0, USB 3.2 Gen 1, PowerShare and more. It has support for up to Bluetooth 5.0 and WiFi 6 with Killer Wireless. All of these beefed out specs will be powered by either a 56WHr batter or a 86WHr battery.
Pricing & Availability
The Dell G7 Gaming Laptop will be available starting June 29, 2020 with prices starting at USD$1,429.99 (MYR 6,113.62) worldwide. There are two models that will be released: Dell G7 15 and Dell G7 17. The main difference between the two is the size of the display.
Malaysia will be getting the Dell G7 15 (7500) starting 14 July 2020 for MYR6,499.
Acer’s Swift series has always been one of the forerunners of the thin and light segment of laptop. The Swift 5 has become Acer’s top selling model in the series and the one that Acer has been putting their muscle behind. Just last year, the Swift 5 was refreshed with a new, thinner design; this year, the company is raising the bar with even more features and design tweaks that make the laptop even sleeker and more appealing; coming in at less than 1kg and under 15mm in thickness.
Acer Swift 5 Official Renders
The new Swift 5 comes with a few design tweaks that give the laptop some thoughtful improvements. While the over all design hearkens back to the Swift 5 of last year, the new refresh comes with a new hinge design which lifts the laptop ever so slightly to increase the airflow. The increased airflow allows the components to be cooled more efficiently as more heat is able to be dissipated. The display on the new Swift is a 14-inch, Full HD IPS panel with a resolution of 1080×1920 pixels. The screen is touch enabled and also comes with options for an antimicrobial coating and Corning Gorilla Glass. The bezels of the Swift 5 are slim which allows the display to cover a whopping 90% of the upper clam of the laptop.
The biggest change with the Swift 5 is the inclusion of Intel’s brand new generation of processors with their new Xe architecture. The new Xe architecture ups the ante when it comes to performance and power efficiency. It has a new 7nm process which allows the processors to draw more performance with less power. Of particular interest, is the increase in graphical performance from the integrated graphics component of the processor. However, if you need even more graphical prowess, the Swift 5 also comes with versions with a discreet NVIDIA GeForce MX350 graphics processor.
The refreshed Swift 5 comes with the same all day battery life that Acer has been touting since last year. However, this year, you’ll be able to get up to 4 hours of use with 30 minutes of charge. The increased power efficiency of the next generation Intel cores also allows it a slightly longer battery life, allowing it to be a trusty companion when it comes to working on the go.
Pricing & Availability
The new Swift 5 will be available starting in October 2020 with prices starting at USD$999 (MYR4,271.30) in North America, EUR 1,099 (MYR5,323.54) in Europe, Middle East and Asia (EMEA); and RMB 6,999 (MYR4,238.50) in China.
Specification will vary according to region. The Swift 5 will be available in Mist Green and Safari Gold.
Video games and budget does not usually go together. Gaming notebook PCs are usually a little bit more expensive than the usual notebook PCs you can find in the market. That is usually because these things are high-powered thingamajis that you can carry anywhere you go. You can take your games anywhere with you. Because of more powerful internals, gaming PCs become a little more expensive. So up until a few years ago, budget gaming PCs do not really exist.
The advancement of technology is a wonderful thing however and makes gaming more accessible to the market. That translates to products like the Acer Nitro 5. The Acer Nitro 5 has always been Acer’s entry-level gaming notebook PC. They have a new one this year, and it is even better than before.
The Acer Nitro 5 has always been a looker, so it is no surprise that the new one still looks good. This time though, you get RGB keyboard that can be customised via NitroSense. There is a new thermal solution within the body of the Nitro 5 for better cooling and airflow. Added with the proven CoolBoost technology, you can squeeze a little bit more power from the Acer Nitro 5.
Source: Acer
Of course, all these are just enhancements in the minimal sense. To get the most out of theese cooling solutions, you need better hardware inside. This entry-level gaming notebook PC packs more power than before with 10th Generation Intel ‘Comet Lake’ Core processors starting with the Core i5 up to the Core i7. Paired to the new, powerful CPUs are the new NVIDIA GeForce GTX GPUs (up to GTX 1660Ti).
Of course, price is always a concern. The Acer Nitro 5 starts at MYR 3,799 and tops out at MYR 4,899 for the top specced NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660Ti. Considering the entry-level Predator Triton 300 packs an Intel Core i7 paired to an NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650, the Nitro 5 is a real bargain.
Source: Acer
The Acer Nitro 5 will be available on the 15th June onward. You can get your hands on one via Acer’s official online store and official Lazada store. From the 15th to 19th June 2020, Acer will have some online exclusive promotions for these two notebook PCs. Among the free gifts that you can expect are Predator Gaming Chairs, predator gaming headset, gaming mouse, and backpacks. For more information on the Acer Nitro 5 gaming notebook PC, do check out Acer’s website.
