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ASUS Zenbook 14X OLED (UX5400E) In-Depth Review – Eye Candy and Productivity with a Steep Learning Curve

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It’s not every day that we see something new and interesting when it comes to laptops. We’re so used to seeing the mundane clamshell form factor with new insides, displays and ports. However, ASUS has been on a roll lately with a slew of laptops that bring fun, new features as well as new hardware that is truly revolutionary. Over the past year, they’ve been adamant about equipping their laptops with OLED displays which are certified for their colour accuracy.

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With their Zenbook Duo lineup, they’ve brought an interesting approach to multiscreen productivity. But what happens when you take multiscreen productivity and fit it into a space once exclusively reserved for the trackpad? You get the hallmark feature of the ZenBook 14X’s hallmark feature: the Screen Pad. Does this new approach make sense? Is productivity enhanced or deterred by the feature and is it here to stay?

We’re looking to answer those questions and also the most pertinent one when it comes to any piece of tech, “Is it worth my money?”, in our in-depth review of the ZenBook 14X OLED.

Design

The ZenBook 14X OLED has its origins in the ZenBook’s early days as a flagship. It’s equipped with a machined aluminium body with a brushed finish and made of premium build materials; like any other ZenBook. However, the thing that makes the laptop stand out is the sheer sleekness and miniature form of the laptop overall. ASUS has made the ZenBook 14X OLED one of the smallest and sleekest laptops in its lineup. However, its minute stature isn’t where the story ends.

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When it boils down to it, the ZenBook 14X OLED distinguishes itself with its brushed aluminium top. However, it doesn’t give in to the incessant need to be thin as paper. Instead, it’s thicker and more substantial than its predecessor and competition. Coming in at just under 17mm, the laptop strides the line of being just thin enough and being thick and chunky in this day and age. That said, the added thickness and sturdy build materials provide the top lid with added stability and rigidity. This also prevents the display from flexing which can be detrimental to the laptop.

That said, the ZenBook isn’t only sturdy, but it’s also well designed. ASUS has made sure that while the ZenBook 14X OLED is slim and light, it’s also well equipped for working on the go. It comes with a good range of ports – which we will elaborate on later in the review. That said, these ports don’t break the overall aesthetic of the laptop. Instead, ASUS has made them flush seamlessly into the aluminium chassis. The thickest point of the laptop is also used to house the largest ports: USB-A and HDMI ports.

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The small body of the laptop doesn’t hinder ASUS from equipping the laptop with a tactile keyboard that emblazons the entirety of the main body. It’s only complemented by the chamfered dip which adds to the aesthetic of the laptop. That same aesthetic dip also highlights a change in materials as the top plate of the keyboard and ScreenPad isn’t made with the same aluminium. Instead, it feels a little more like plastic. That said, the plate is still encased within the aluminium frame.

Hardware

The ZenBook 14X OLED isn’t just about the aesthetics, it’s built for productivity. To achieve this, ASUS has packed the laptop with rather commendable insides which allow the ZenBook to stride the fine line between battery life and performance.

Specifications

ASUS ZENBOOK 14 | UX5400EAs tested
Processor (clock)Intel® Core™ i7-1165G7 processor 2.80 GHz quad-core with Turbo Boost (up to 4.70GHz) and 12MB cache
GPUIntel® Iris® Xe Graphics NVIDIA GeForce MX450
Display14” OLED 2.8K (2880 x 1800) resolution 16:10 aspect ratio Touch Panel anti-glare screen 550nits brightness
Memory16GB LPDDR4X 512GB PCIe® NVMe™ 3.0 x2 M.2 SSD
Networking and ConnectionsIntel WiFi 6 with Gig+ performance (802.11ax) Bluetooth 5.0   2 Thunderbolt™ 4 USB-C® 1 USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A 1 Standard HDMI 2.0 1 MicroSD card reader 1 Audio Combo Jack
Battery63Wh lithium-polymer battery Up to 8.3 hours of battery life   100W Type-C power adapter (Output: 20V DC, 100W, Input: 100-240V AC, 50/60Hz universal)
Operating SystemWindows 10 Home 64-bit
MiscellaneousHD camera ScreenPad Backlit Keyboard Stereo Speakers Microphone DisplayPort over USB-C Thunderbolt 4 MIL-STD 810H Durability

Features

The mainstay of the ASUS ZenBook OLED 14X is undoubtedly going to be its ScreenPad. However, it’s not the only feature that comes with the laptop. It comes with a slew of software and hardware features that make this laptop a real contender if you’re in the market for a new one.

Almost everything you want for connectivity

ASUS has proven time and time again that compact, thin laptops need not be handicapped when it comes to connectivity. The Zenbook 14X OLED comes with all the connectivity options that you need – well – unless you’re looking to take over the internet. It comes with two USB-C ports with Thunderbolt 4, a single high-speed USB 3.2 Type A port, an HDMI 4.0 port, a combo audio jack and even a micro USB card slot. With these essential ports, you’re pretty much covered when it comes to plugging in. That said, you also charge with USB-C ports, so, if you’re charging the laptop, you’ll have one less USB-C port. The only physical port missing is an ethernet port but you have WiFi 6 connectivity with a high enough throughput that you can even do online gaming.

Since we’re already on the topic, the Zenbook 14X does come with all the bells and whistles when it comes to wireless connectivity on laptops. Aside from WiFi 6, it also comes with Bluetooth 5.0. So you’ll be able to stream and connect to your wireless keyboard, mouse or even headphones without much hassle.

ASUS ScreenPad

ASUS’s novel ScreenPad is definitely a unique feature of their Zenbook series. It brings a whole new level of productivity. You’re presented with an additional screen from the get-go when you purchase it and given the norm of having more than one screen nowadays, it’s a welcomed addition to a laptop purchase.

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The ScreenPad brings an additional 1080p screen albeit a little smaller than we’re used to. It allows you to use apps on the track pad which makes so much sense especially if you’re working with a mouse. The extra screen real estate allows you to use the calculator more naturally, refer to a website or document or even control your media while keeping productive. ASUS has also integrated their multiscreen setup with Link to MyASUS more deeply.  A lot of the functionality that we’ve come to expect from the Link to MyASUS app is now natively integrated into ScreenPad with the Screen Xpert software. You can get prompts for messages and phone calls on the ScreenPad while you work and even use the ScreenPad to mirror your smartphone.

While all that is fine and dandy, the ScreenPad comes with a steep learning curve. It brings a layer of complexity to functions that many people expect to “just work” on Windows. One of the most irritating issues that we faced during our time with the Zenbook 14X OLED was the fact that the ScreenPad added an additional screen when it came to projecting displays. This was due to Windows recognising it as a display but it not showing on the display setup in Windows’ settings menu. To make things work as you would expect, we had to put the ScreenPad into trackpad mode which turned off the screen functionality.

In addition to this, you also need to get used to a new set of gestures that allow you to use the ScreenPad more effectively. The most essential is a three-finger swipe that will allow quickly toggle the track pad function. However, this toggle is only temporary – a fact we found out in the most annoying way. Due to the track pad function being temporary, we would be toggling apps unintentionally. This became an irritating occurrence particularly when we were trying to get urgent work done.

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While it does seem like a deal-breaker, we have to keep in mind that the Zenbook is one of the only laptops with the ScreenPad. This also means that we have a little bit of learning when it comes to the novel features of the laptop. After using the laptop for a week, the gestures and extended functionality became second nature.

That said, when it came to working on the go, we found ourselves turning the ScreenPad off all together. This was due to the fact that having it on while on battery had a significant impact on battery life. We noticed about 20-30% less battery life with it on. That equated to about 4-5 hours of battery but without it, we got about 8 hours.

AI Powered Clear Voice, Quick Sign In with Windows Hello & Linking Up

Hardware aside, ASUS has also bolstered the laptop with a whole bunch of AI enhancements. One of our favourites is the ClearVoice mic. With ASUS’s ClearVoice, the integrated microphones can intelligently suppress background noise and detect and enhances the speaker’s voice. So, you won’t be cut off by a passing vehicle or even a crying baby when you’re taking your video call. Given the work from anywhere reality that is quickly becoming mainstream, this is definitely a welcomed feature. In fact, during our review time with the laptop, the feature was so good that people didn’t realise that we took a call from a café as the background noise was so minimal.

The Zenbook 14X OLED also comes with an integrated fingerprint sensor in its power button. This has to be one of the most welcomed features on the laptop. With the integration, the laptop seamlessly powers on and signs in with one click. This is bolstered by the SSD in the Zenbook 14X OLED. It boots and is ready for use in a matter of seconds.

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Of course, with the Zenbook 14X, you get multiple options when it comes to keeping connected with your smartphone. You have Windows Phone Link (previously Your Phone) and Link to MyASUS. The latter provides even more functionality in our opinion. The Link to MyASUS app not only integrates seamlessly with the ScreenPad, but it also allows you to use tablets and large phones as an external display. This allows you the flexibility of being able to have multiple screens on the go. The wireless connection does have a little lag when it comes to interactions but if you’re simply using it to refer to documents or even to play media while working, you won’t even notice it.

PERFORMANCE

ASUS’s commitment to creating powerful, versatile, thin and light laptops shines through in the Zenbook 14X OLED. The laptop doesn’t perform like your typical thin and light. The thought that ASUS put into the design and feel of the laptop allows it to be one of the most sturdy and powerful small form factor laptops out there. While it’s no gaming laptop, it’s able to handle nearly workloads we don’t typically expect from a thin and light.

During our review period with the Zenbook 14 OLED, we were editing video and even doing some light gaming on the laptop without much hassle. When it came to editing video, we had source footage at 1080p resolution. The edit had about 3 layers with subtitles and effects and it was exported to a 1080p video for YouTube. While it did send the fans into overdrive, the laptop was able to handle it without overheating. In fact, aside from a longer export time, it was very seamless.

Gaming on the Zenbook 14 OLED is best left for proper gaming laptops. It goes without saying that AAA titles really taxed the processor and the NVIDIA GeForce MX450 GPU of the laptop. However, if you’re playing games like City Skylines or even Star Craft 2, the Zenbook 14 can definitely handle the load. You may not be able to play on maxed out settings, but you will definitely have a good experience playing it.

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Other than those taxing activities, the Zenbook 14 OLED was able to handle everything else. Word processing and even large Excel files were a breeze for the laptop. Even if there was some slowdown, it was only with active tasks. Once those were over, the laptop performance was seamless and back to being smooth as butter. It could even handle Firefox and Chrome with multiple tabs open at the same time. It didn’t slow down but it did get a little warm which kicked the fans into overdrive.

Battery life on the laptop is typical of one as small and power packed as the Zenbook 14 OLED. It lasted about 8 hours on a single charge without the ScreenPad on. However, when the ScreenPad was turned on, this generally dropped to about 4-5 hours. This is partially due to the extra power drawn by the ScreenPad’s screen. That said, the high resolution and luminance of the main display are also factors. However, if you’re running low on charge you’ll be able to use a USB PD compatible charger to get the charge up to about 50% in forty minutes. The Zenboook picks about its chargers, more often than not, it will ask that you plug it into its original charger, however, GaN (Gallium Nitride) chargers with about 85W capacity seems to work as well – keep in mind, that the original charger in the box is rated at 100W.

Display

The focus that ASUS has on bringing colour accurate OLED displays is really apparent in the Zenbook 14 OLED. This is partially because of the contrast between the screen quality of the main display and the ScreenPad’s IPS panel. However, the differences were mainly apparent when it came to viewing content and content creation.

The main display produced vibrant and saturated colours. While being saturated and vibrant, they were also relatively accurate colour reproductions. The accuracy was spot on and allowed us to colour grade video and photos when we were using the laptop on the go. The high resolution also gave us more visual real-estate when it came to doing programs like Adobe Illustrator. That said, the effect of this was relatively minute considering the 14-inch size of the display.

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While 14-inches may seem like a very small screen, it actually strikes a balance when it comes to size and productivity. It feels close to what we can consider a goldilocks zone for compact laptops. It’s just enough real estate that you have enough detail and clarity while keeping the size of the laptop portable.

The ability to use touch to navigate brought an added simplicity to interacting with the PC. The touch input allowed us to scroll through websites in what felt like a more natural way and also interact directly with links and the like. It also complemented the ScreenPad as you didn’t need to have it in trackpad mode to get things done.

Taking Multitasking to a Whole New Level with a Steep Learning Curve to Boot

The Zenbook 14 OLED is a machine built for multitasking and for productivity. It excels at being a machine for productivity and creativity. It’s one that allows you the freedom of multitasking in a way that makes sense to you while having a beautiful screen and a complementary ecosystem with Screen Xpert 2 and Link to MyASUS. All in all, it’s a machine that dedicates most of its resources to enabling its users to be creative, productive and even let loose with some light gaming.

Business, Computers, News

Intel Launches Their Most Powerful Mobile Processors in the 12th Generation Core HX Processors

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Intel Vision 2022 is here! Their keynote was two hours long, but it was not for nothing. They touched on plenty of things that they are working on in the background. Most of it has to do with their corporate businesses and corporate initiatives. One of it though has to do with mobile workstations and that is one we were interested in. They announced the new 12th Generation Core HX processors for workstations. In other words, they have released their most powerful mobile CPUs yet.

Intel already has their 12th generation Intel Core processors on the mobile platform before this. While they are largely of similar build and architecture, they are different products, this Core HX one and the ones before. As Intel puts it, the Core HX is made for professionals and creators.

At the top, the 12th generation Intel Core i9 with Core HX still packs up to 16 cores. Eight of the cores are efficiency cores while the rest are performance cores. In their forms, they are still the same 10nm processors with the new big-small architecture. The new Core HX processors also still support the same DDR5 at 4800MHz speeds where available.

12th Gen Intel Core HX Mobile Workstation Processors | Talking Tech | Intel Technology

Where the new Core HX differs to the outgoing 12th generation Intel Core processors is in its multi-threaded performance. Intel claims that the Core HX delivers 65% more multi-threaded performance compared to the regular Core processors. 65% is a significant amount and important when it comes to creative use. It means less rendering and processing time in video production, 3D rendering, and even animation purposes. The 12th generation Core HX processors, in this case, will see the most benefit in CAD, animation, and visual effect applications. How it will compare to team red is yet to be seen though.

Still, just because the Core HX processors are optimised to be workhorses in creative and professional applications, does not mean that Intel has forgotten their core strength. The Core HX processors are still powerful gaming processors at their hearts. Of course, if you are building a gaming rig, there are other Intel products that might suit you better, this one should be more of an all-rounder for those who needs the versatility.

With Core HX, Intel has introduced seven new processors in their 12th generation Core line-up. The seven new processors are spread out between the Core i5, Core i7, and Core i9 offerings. Because they are mobile processors, we will have to wait and see what Intel’s manufacturing partners can come up with later in the year with the Core HX solutions. For more information on Intel’s Core HX processors, you can visit their website.

Computers, Lifestyle, News

Lenovo Launches the Yoga Slim 9i– Carbon Neutrality is Really a Thing

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Being environmentally friendly and creating products that fits the bill should not be something new. It is, however, now cool to do it. Take the recently launched Acer Aspire Vero National Geographic Edition for example, even a world renown organisation dedicated to global preservation recognises Acer’s effort in reducing their carbon footprint.

Acer is not the only company that is jumping on the ecologically friendly product bandwagon though. Dell has quietly been on that bandwagon for a while now, not the extremes of Acer, but they have been cutting down wherever they can. Now, we can add Lenovo to that list.

They have launched the new Yoga Slim 9i, a flagship that is created with carbon neutrality in mind. In fact, Lenovo’s new flagship thing-and-light has been certified as a carbon neutral product by TÜV Rheinland. They have also launched the Lenovo Yoga Slim 7 series built for creators who are constantly on the move.

Carbon Neutral is Cool

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    Source: Lenovo
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    Source: Lenovo
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    Source: Lenovo
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    Source: Lenovo
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    Source: Lenovo
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    Source: Lenovo
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    Source: Lenovo
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    Source: Lenovo
  • 09 Yoga Slim 9i Gen7 Hero Keyboard
    Source: Lenovo
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    Source: Lenovo
  • 07 Yoga Slim 9i Gen7 Hero Rear Facing Left
    Source: Lenovo
  • 06 Yoga Slim 9i Gen7 Hero D Cover
    Source: Lenovo
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    Source: Lenovo
  • 04 Yoga Slim 9i Gen7 Tour Right Side Profile Closed
    Source: Lenovo
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    Source: Lenovo
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    Source: Lenovo

It is the first laptop device in the world to be certified by TÜV Rheinland as a carbon neutral product. How? Lenovo never specified how. We speculate that Lenovo must have somehow offset the carbon footprint of the product in one way or another since they did not claim that the laptop has been made with recycled or recyclable materials.

While eco-friendliness can often be associated with lower build qualities and lack of durability, this is not the case with the Yoga Slim 9i. As its name suggests, the flagship laptop device is 14.9mm thick, or thin, depending on how you see it. The slim and svelte body is encased in durable 3D glass with smooth contours just to make sure that the laptop is comfortable in your hands.

The high-end device packs a 14-inch display with a 16:10 aspect ratio and boasts up to 4K in resolution. It is an OLED PureSight display too so colours are sure to be as vibrant and true as they can be on the laptop. The OLED panel is also a Vesa Certified Display HDR True Black 500 and 10-bit colour depth to get a good 100% coverage of the DCI-P3 colour gamut. The vibrant and immersive display is supported also by a powerful Bowers and Wilkins speakers for a great audio experience.

Inside the premium chassis, the Lenovo Yoga Slim 9i packs a lot of punch with Intel’s 12th Generation Core processors with Intel EVO certification. It also packs something called Lenovo A.I. Core 2.0 to automatically optimise performances and secure the laptop. It also ensures that the fans are always spinning adequately enough to ensure that your laptop always stays cool.

Prices and Availability

The Lenovo Yoga Slim 9i will be available in a few configurations. You can get it with an Intel Core i7 or an Intel Core i5. Both devices pack Intel’s Iris Xe graphics technology. You can also get spec it with either a 2.8K or 4K OLED display. It also only comes in one colour option, not black, they call it Oatmeal. The Lenovo Yoga Slim 9i will be available in the United States (U.S.) starting June 2022 onward for US$ 1,799 (MYR 7,865*). There are no confirmations on its local availability or prices so far.

*Approximately based on exchange rate of US$ 1 = MYR 4.37 as of 06/05/2022 on xe.com

Computers, Gaming, Lifestyle, News

Intel’s Core i9-12900KS is The World’s Fastest CPU at 5.5 GHz 

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Intel, on a recent note, has been making quite a comeback. Their competitor, AMD really wiped the floor when they introduced the 5000 series Ryzen processors that made Intel’s 10th and 11th Generation processors look like old processors. When Intel introduced their 12th generation Core processors, people paid attention again, we paid attention.  

The 12th generation Core processors codenamed Alder Lake has already shown some of its power since the series’ launch. The higher-end processors have proven that Intel has not forgotten how to make powerful processors for gamers and content creators alike. They are also unique in the space of PC processors with a Big Small architecture that we are more used to seeing on smartphone chips. The 12th Generation Core i9, for example, packs eight performance and eight efficiency cores. They are also known to be very power-hungry chips, so if you are considering an Intel Alder Lake build, you do want to really think about beefing up your PSU (Power Supply Unit). 

Just having the lead on performance never seems enough though. Intel wants to keep the lead and destroy its competition. On a side note, it is good to see the two protagonists in the CPU industry outdoing each other every step of the way. We are the winners here. We are also looking forward to AMD announcing their Ryzen 7000 series CPUs in this case,  

Back to the topic, Intel wants to also wipe the floor with 12th generation Core CPUs, just before AMD makes their move with the 7000 series. They released their most powerful CPU yet, the Core i9-12900KS. While the naming scheme is a little confusing, it is a new Core i9 that we are seeing here. 

To be fair, when we say new, it is not an entirely new CPU. It is still an Alder Lake architecture. Structurally, it is the same as any Inte Core i9-12900 series chips. What differs though is how much power it commands.  

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Source: Intel

The eight performance cores can now be clocked to up to 5.5 GHz with turbo boost. The previeous Intel Core i9-12900K could only boost up to 5.2 GHz at best. You could overclock it, obviously, since it is an unlocked processor. Why would you attempt to overclock an Intel Core i9-12900K when you can get the already overclocked stock Core i9-12900KS. The newly announced processor is also unlocked, by the way. 

There is a small catch though. While the Core i9-12900K draws a minimum of 125W, the new 12900KS needs at least 150W from your PSU. Turbo boost will draw up to 241W for both processors, no increases there, which is sort of good news for your PSU. Other than a slight increase in the clock speeds for the efficiency cores, everything else remains the same as the older 12900K.  

As with the current 12th generation chips, you want to work with the Z690 chipset motherboards to get the most out of it. It also supposed DDR5 4800 MT/s RAM and PCIe gen 5.0 technology. Of course, the older DDR4 and PCIe Gen 4.0 (no, this is not that old) technologies are still supported. 

You might be wondering; “who needs all this power?” We will say that no one really needs all this power unless they are working in the creative industry and needs some extra horsepower to render videos and 3D animations. Then again, there are specifically built workhorses for that. This is made for “gamers and overclocking enthusiasts”, according to Intel. We will go with that, but these are people with money and time.  

It will be available April 5th onward in select regions. We do not know if that includes Malaysia or not. As it is, supply situations in Malaysia are still quite dire. It will also set you back at least US$ 739 (MYR 3,120*). We say at least because that also depends on stock availability and demand. For more information on the Intel Core i9-12900KS, you can head over to their website.  

*Approximately based on exchange rate of US$ 1 = MYR 4.22 on xe.com as of 29/03/2022 

Advertorial, Lifestyle

HP has an Intel Powered Laptop for Everyone with Unbeatable Discounts During LAZADA’s Birthday Sale!

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We live in a world where not having a computer can be a huge handicap. Post pandemic, this reality is even more real than ever. We are working, communicating and connecting with each other with technology more than we ever did.  However, it’s harder to come by devices that we can rely on that don’t burn through our bank accounts. That’s changing with offers coming from SNS Network in conjunction with LAZADA’s Birthday!

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Source: SNS Network

HP’s offerings are built for more than just one purpose – we’ve seen them grow their line up with Chromebooks, gaming laptops and even purpose-built design laptops. These laptops are built with performance in mind and are equipped with the latest and greatest processors from Intel® ranging from the Intel® Celeron® to the latest generation Intel® Core™ processors. These laptops can also be versatile like the HP Spectre x360, HP EliteBook x360 or the HP ENVY x360. These convertible laptops also come with stylus input for a more natural feeling interaction.

Whatever your need, HP’s lineup of laptops is bound to have something that is uniquely catered for you. If you’re looking for a versatile laptop for education, the HP Chromebook x360 is built to cater to you. Powered by the Intel® Celeron® N4020, it’s equipped with enough power for all your educational needs. Its versatile 360° hinge also allows it to adapt to any space you are working on. The HP Chromebook x360 also comes with a durable chassis that can withstand falls from the desk or even an accidental spill. It’s available during LAZADA’s Birthday sale for MYR679! That’s a whopping MYR720 off the retail price of MYR1,399.

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Source: SNS Network

If you’re looking for a laptop that is able to handle work and some play, HP has a plethora of laptops to choose from. Laptops like the HP Pavilion Laptop 14 equipped with the 11th Generation Intel® Core™ i5 with a 14-inch FHD screen are built to bring together portability and performance at an affordable price point. This specific model is getting a whopping MYR740 discount during the sale. If the Pavilion Laptop isn’t your style, the HP Probook 440 G8 would fill the same shoes with enterprise-grade security and comparable specifications. It will be available for MYR3,329 – an MYR270 discount off its retail price. If you need some graphical prowess, the HP Laptop 15s is also on sale with NVIDIA® GeForce® MX350. The discreet graphics card will give you additional power for work involving graphics and design and it’s available for MYR2,859 during the sale.

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Running on Intel®’s 11th Generation Core™ processors gives these laptops an edge over the competition. The 11th Generation Core™ processors are able to run more efficiently giving you up to 20% better battery life. That’s about an hour’s worth of usage! The processors are also more powerful than before. They promise about 15% better performance with single and multicore processing. You’ll be able to tackle large excel files, pivot tables and even some light design work without many problems. With their integrated Intel® Iris® Xe Graphics platform, you can even do some basic gaming or even edit videos with up to 4K resolution without a hitch. These laptops are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to what’s available and on offer during the LAZADA Birthday Sale starting on the 27th of March 2022. The SNS-HP LAZADA store will feature everything from desktops, all-in-ones, laptops, and even gaming setups powered by Intel®’s processors for proven performance. You can even grab printers, monitors and other accessories during the sale with massive discounts happening from 12 am to 2 am on the 27th of March 2022. SNS Network will be offering massive savings of up to MYR860 on laptops!

SNS HP LAZADA

Psst! Pssst! Wanna know a little secret? You can already start adding what you want to your cart on the LAZADA app. LAZADA will then notify you when the superb Birthday sale kicks off later this month. You’ll be the first to know when the item you want goes on sale! What are you waiting for!?  Head on down to the SNS-HP LAZADA store and select your laptops!

22CON BTS Gaming LT 11thGen 10thGen Masthead 970x250 EN CA

DISCLAIMER: THIS ARTICLE IS AN ADVERTORIAL COMMISSIONED BY SNS NETWORK. IT MAY NOT REPRESENT THE OPINIONS OF THE TECHENT EDITORIAL BOARD.

Computers, Gaming, News

ROG FLOW Z13 Launches in Malaysia; Price starts from MYR7,999

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ASUS took the stage in Las Vegas during CES 2022 to unveil a brand new slate of devices. Among them was one of the more interesting devices we’ve seen from ASUS and specifically the Republic of Gamers in a while – the ROG FLOW Z13. The new tablet brings gaming prowess and specifications to a form factor that we’ve yet to see for any device carrying its specifications.

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Source: ASUS

The ROG FLOW Z13 comes with a 13.6-inch IPS display with up to 4K resolution and a 120Hz refresh rate. The display comes with 100% coverage of the sRGB gamut with Pantone Validation and support for Dolby Vision HDR. Yes – like always, ASUS’s ROG goes over the top with all the bells and whistles for its first-ever gaming tablet. Together with the display, the FLOW Z13 comes with 16GB of onboard RAM with up to 1TB of M.2 NVMe PCIe 4.0 SSD memory.

Here’s the kicker when it comes to the Z13, its body is only 1.2cm thick but it has specifications supporting up to an Intel Core i9 processor and an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050Ti built-in. Yep – you read that right! BUILT-IN! You don’t have to hook up any additional accessories to get an RTX3050Ti GPU with the Z13. In fact, the ROG FLOW Z13 does support the ROG XG Mobile system we saw in the earlier ROG FLOW X13 with minor updates. However, adding on the XG Mobile system allows you to bump up to an RTX3080 with 16GB of GDDR6 RAM and 150W TGP. That’s a whole lot of power for a 13-inch tablet!

ASUS ROG FLOW Z13 02
Source: ASUS

In addition to the insane CPU and GPU, the Z13 also supports stylus and touch inputs. It’s also not taking any hostages when it comes to connectivity. It comes with 1 USB 2.0 Type-A port, 1 Thunderbolt 4 port with DisplayPort support, 1 USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C port with DisplayPort, G-SYNC and USB-PD support, 1 microSD card slot, a 3.5mm combo jack and, of course, the ROG XG Mobile interface.

ASUS ROG FLOW Z13 01
Source: ASUS

The keyboard bundled with the ROG FLOW Z13 is an RGB backlit Chiclet Keyboard. It also acts as a folio cover as well. It also comes with a triple microphone array for better video conferencing with the 8-megapixel, 720p webcam. On the speaker side of things, it has a 2-speaker system with Smart Amplifier technology. It also supports Windows Hello fingerprint recognition.

Pricing & Availability

The ROG FLOW Z13 will be available in three configurations in Malaysia. The lowest-end configuration will be sporting a 12th Generation Intel Core i7 with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX3050 and will retail for MYR7,999. A step up will get you the Core i9 with a higher RTX3050Ti. This will cost MYR8,799. The maxed-out version for Malaysia will come with the Core i9, RTX3050Ti and a 4K display with a 60Hz refresh rate. It’s going to set you back a whopping MYR15,999.

ASUS ROG FLOW Z13 05
Source: ASUS

All variants of the Z13 will be bundled with a ROG Sleeve bad, the ASUS PEN and a ROG mouse. The higher-end variant will come with the XG mobile platform bundled together which comes equipped with an RTX3080 and expands the connectivity options available on the tablet.

The maxed-out ROG FLOW Z13 will be available starting in April 2022 while the other two are now available on ROG’s LAZADA storefront.

Official Specfications

Model GZ301Z-CLD132WGZ301Z-ELD236WGZ301Z-ELC214W
ColorBlackBlackBlack
Dimension (W x D x H)30.2 x 20.4 x 1.20 ~ 1.20 cm30.2 x 20.4 x 1.20 ~ 1.20 cm30.2 x 20.4 x 1.20 ~ 1.20 cm
Weight1.18 Kg1.18 Kg1.18 Kg
Processor12th Gen Intel® Core™ i7-12700H Processor 2.3 GHz (24M Cache, up to 4.7 GHz, 14 cores: 6 P-cores and 8 E-cores)12th Gen Intel® Core™ i9-12900H Processor 2.5 GHz
(24M Cache, up to 5.0 GHz, 14 cores: 6 P-cores and 8 E-cores)		12th Gen Intel® Core™ i9-12900H Processor 2.5 GHz
(24M Cache, up to 5.0 GHz, 14 cores: 6 P-cores and 8 E-cores)		 
Laptop GraphicNVIDIA® GeForce RTX™ 3050 4GB GDDR6NVIDIA® GeForce RTX™ 3050 Ti 4GB GDDR6NVIDIA® GeForce RTX™ 3050 Ti 4GB GDDR6
DGPU FeatureMUX Switch + OptimusMUX Switch + OptimusMUX Switch + Optimus
Max Graphic TGP40W40W40W
IGPUIntel® Iris Xᵉ GraphicsIntel® Iris Xᵉ GraphicsIntel® Iris Xᵉ Graphics
Panel Size & Info13.4-inch IPS WUXGA (1920 x 1200) 16:10
120Hz 500nits
Touch Screen Panel
Adaptive-Sync
SRGB 100%
Pantone Validated
Dolby Vision HDR
Stylus Support		13.4-inch IPS WUXGA (1920 x 1200) 16:10
120Hz 500nits
Touch Screen Panel
Adaptive-Sync
SRGB 100%
Pantone Validated
Dolby Vision HDR
Stylus Support		13.4-inch IPS WQUXGA (3840 x 2400) 16:10
60Hz 500nits
Touch Screen Panel
Adaptive-Sync
SRGB 100%
Pantone Validated
Dolby Vision HDR
Stylus Support
Total System MemoryTotal 16GB RAM
On-board: 8GB LPDDR5 x2		Total 16GB RAM
On-board: 8GB LPDDR5 x2		Total 16GB RAM
On-board: 8GB LPDDR5 x2
System Storage Installed
M.2		Slot 1: 512GB M.2 2230 NVMe™ PCIe® 4.0 SSDSlot 1: 1TB M.2 2230 NVMe™ PCIe® 4.0 SSDSlot 1: 1TB M.2 2230 NVMe™ PCIe® 4.0 SSD
Wi-Fi/BluetoothWi-Fi 6E(802.11ax)+Bluetooth 5.2 (Dual band) 2*2
(*BT version may change with OS upgrades.)		Wi-Fi 6E(802.11ax)+Bluetooth 5.2 (Dual band) 2*2
(*BT version may change with OS upgrades.)		Wi-Fi 6E(802.11ax)+Bluetooth 5.2 (Dual band) 2*2
(*BT version may change with OS upgrades.)
I/O Ports1x ROG XG Mobile Interface
1x Thunderbolt™ 4 support DisplayPort™ / power delivery
1x USB 2.0 Type-A
1x card reader (microSD) (UHS-II)
1x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C support DisplayPort™ / power delivery / G-SYNC
1x 3.5mm Combo Audio Jack		1x ROG XG Mobile Interface
1x Thunderbolt™ 4 support DisplayPort™ / power delivery
1x USB 2.0 Type-A
1x card reader (microSD) (UHS-II)
1x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C support DisplayPort™ / power delivery / G-SYNC
1x 3.5mm Combo Audio Jack		1x ROG XG Mobile Interface
1x Thunderbolt™ 4 support DisplayPort™ / power delivery
1x USB 2.0 Type-A
1x card reader (microSD) (UHS-II)
1x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C support DisplayPort™ / power delivery / G-SYNC
1x 3.5mm Combo Audio Jack
Camera8MP camera and 720P HD Webcam8MP camera and 720P HD Webcam8MP camera and 720P HD Webcam
MicBuilt-in 3-microphone arrayBuilt-in 3-microphone arrayBuilt-in 3-microphone array
Keyboard TypeBacklit Chiclet Keyboard RGBBacklit Chiclet Keyboard RGBBacklit Chiclet Keyboard RGB
Aura SyncYESYESYES
Speakers2-speaker system with Smart Amplifier Technology2-speaker system with Smart Amplifier Technology2-speaker system with Smart Amplifier Technology
Audio TechAI noise-canceling technology
Dolby Atmos
Hi-Res certification
Smart Amp Technology		AI noise-canceling technology
Dolby Atmos
Hi-Res certification
Smart Amp Technology		AI noise-canceling technology
Dolby Atmos
Hi-Res certification
Smart Amp Technology
FingerPrintFingerPrint function availableFingerPrint function availableFingerPrint function available
Operating SystemWindows 11 HomeWindows 11 HomeWindows 11 Home
Battery56WHrs, 4S1P, 4-cell Li-ion56WHrs, 4S1P, 4-cell Li-ion56WHrs, 4S1P, 4-cell Li-ion
PowerTYPE-C, 100W AC Adapter, Output: 20V DC, 5A, 100W, Input: 100~240V AC, 50/60Hz universalTYPE-C, 100W AC Adapter, Output: 20V DC, 5A, 100W, Input: 100~240V AC, 50/60Hz universalTYPE-C, 100W AC Adapter, Output: 20V DC, 5A, 100W, Input: 100~240V AC, 50/60Hz universal
Bundled ItemsROG sleeve bag
ASUS PEN (SA201H)
ROG Impact Gaming Mouse		ROG sleeve bag
ASUS PEN (SA201H)
ROG Impact Gaming Mouse		ROG sleeve bag
ASUS PEN (SA201H)
ROG Chakram Core mouse P511
ROG Delta Headset
XG MobileNot includedNot includedBundled
ROG XG Mobile (GC31S)
208 x 155 x 29.6mm (1kg)
NVIDIA® GeForce RTX™ 3080 16GB GDDR6
TGP 150W
Power Supply 280W

I/O ports
1x HDMI 2.0b
1x DP 1.4 support G-SYNC
1x RJ-45 LAN port
1x DC input jack
4x USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A
1x SD Card reader(Standard)/UHS-II(312MB/s)
Warranty2 Years Global Warranty
(1st Year with Perfect Warranty)		2 Years Global Warranty
(1st Year with Perfect Warranty)		2 Years Global Warranty
(1st Year with Perfect Warranty)
SRPRM7,999.00RM8,799.00RM15,999.00
AvailabilityAvailable Now in Malaysia (March 2022)Available Now in Malaysia (March 2022)April 2022
Advertorial, Computers

Bringing JOI to Hybrid Education by Empowering Flexibility & Adaptability in Classrooms

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In the past two years, the landscape of work and health has changed with the pandemic. However, while we look at the impacts of the pandemic on our education system. Students and teachers have been forced to adapt to an environment full of uncertainties. They’ve needed to learn in an environment that is constantly changing. What’s more, in most cases, they have been ill-equipped to adapt to these changes. However, as Malcolm X once said, “Education is the passport to the future” and educational institutions and educators must adapt to a new normal, especially with the increase in the number of COVID-19 cases.

Like many other institutions, educational institutions like Primary Schools, Secondary Schools and even Universities have had to adopt a hybrid approach to both teaching and learning during the pandemic. That said, the demands of hybrid learning differ vastly. Education requires creativity, finesse and a touch of ingenuity; Skills and elements that can be lost with hybrid learning. Nevertheless, these elements can be preserved and amplified when teachers and students have access to the proper equipment. It wouldn’t be surprising to see creativity unbound, collaboration flourish and productivity increase with the right empowerment.

JOI Smart Classroom 7
Source: SNS Network

We’ve heard many success stories when it comes to hybrid learning throughout the pandemic. Institutions like Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia (UTHM) have successfully empowered their classrooms to embrace hybrid learning. They’ve done this by giving JOI a place in their classroom. The JOI suite of learning technologies is an end-to-end solution that covers everything from classroom devices to backbone technologies that allow for efficient, creative and collaborative teaching and learning.

One of the key technologies that empower distance learning is the JOI Smart Classroom. The platform allows teachers to interact with students and keep tabs on student progress. On the other hand, students get access to interactive experiences while learning seamlessly through a wireless connection. All these are enabled by SNS Network’s own JOI devices including the JOI Smartboard, JOI Books and JOI Connect. These devices unlock the flexibility needed for education to be adaptable to any circumstance.

What’s more, devices like the JOI Book and the JOI Classmate are built specifically to cater for remote learning. They’re powered by the latest Intel processors to bring the portability and processing power needed to empower remote teaching and learning. They also come with a variety of form factors with the JOI Book Touch 330 Pro able to support multimode productivity as a tablet and with a touchscreen. It also supports writing and drawing with a stylus.

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Source: SNS Network
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Source: SNS Network

In the classroom, JOI Smartboard and JOI Connect allow teachers to seamlessly teach both in-person and online. The Smartboard allows teachers to not only project but also annotate slides naturally with pen input or even write while teaching as they would naturally. This can seamless be integrated into platforms like Google Classroom and Microsoft Teams to be shared online. The students attending classes in person will get an uninterrupted experience like they always have. This allows teachers to bridge the current hybrid learning that is being implemented by the Ministry of Education in Malaysia across all national schools.

Of course, this brings up the question of data security and controlling access to the internet during learning hours. This is a non-issue with the JOI Classroom platform as it also allows teachers and administrators to grant and restrict access to websites outside those needed for education. They will also be able to grant or restrict access to plug and play devices via USB through this platform. The granular permissions allow them to help students focus better during learning hours while giving the students their freedoms outside learning hours.

General Banner 1920x1080 1
Source: SNS Network

It’s not a question of when but how schools and their administration can empower and facilitate this transition and new normal. As we move into an endemic phase, we also need to think about the future, about how we can better adapt to a constant state of uncertainty when it comes to education. Furthermore, we also need to take into consideration the feasibility of making students own a device whether by purchase or lease to take charge of their education.

If you’re interested in futureproofing education head on down to SNS Network’s official website to get more information.

DISCLAIMER: THIS ARTICLE IS AN ADVERTORIAL COMMISSIONED BY SNS NETWORK. IT MAY NOT REPRESENT THE OPINIONS OF THE TECHENT EDITORIAL BOARD.

Computers, Gaming, News

MSI Unleashes A New Stable of Laptops Powered by Intel’s 12th Generation Processors

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Intel only recently announced their latest 12th Generation processors. These processors bring improved performance and better battery life. MSI is banking on the “Metaverse” as it moves forward with a new redesigned logo, slimmer, more powerful laptops and feature-packed offerings. The new lineup takes advantage of the latest and greatest from Intel and also NVIDIA.

In addition to bringing the latest from Intel and NVIDIA, MSI is also bringing a few new upgrades of its own. The company is introducing a new cooling technology they call “Phase Change Liquid Metal Pad” which has better thermal conductivity thanks to its change in state. According to MSI, as temperatures hit 58°C (136° F), the Liquid Metal Pad liquefies which allows it to fill the gaps between the CPU and thermal block providing better cooling. In fact, MSI is attributing a 10% increase in overall performance to its new cooling technology. This feature is making its way to most, if not all of MSI’s “Meta Ready” Laptops.

A Gamer in Plain Sight: MSI Stealth GS77/66

It seems that more and more people are looking for a laptop that can seamlessly blend into their work and play. The MSI Stealth GS series is built to do just that. MSI has bolstered the durability of the Stealth with better more robust materials. They’ve also shifted the hinges towards the centre of the laptop for better stability and sturdiness. It also comes with a 50% larger trackpad and larger keycaps for better productivity. The Stealth will also feature a physical camera lock allowing you to deactivate the webcam when not in use.

MSI CES2022 006

The Stealth will come with configurations supporting up to the Intel Core i9 and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 Ti Laptop GPU. It also comes with support for DDR5 RAM and Thunderbolt 4. It comes with options supporting 4K and UHD displays with up to 360 Hz refresh rates. It also comes with 6 speakers for a more immersive sound experience. Connectivity-wise, the MSI Stealth GS77/66 comes with support for WiFi 6E and also comes built-in with Intel’s Killer AX1675 and E3100 controllers.

Maxing out performance with the MSI Raider GE

MSI’s Raider GE is made to be a powerhouse gaming experience. Like the Raiders of the past, the new one comes with configurations to empower gaming without limits. This year, it comes with configurations supporting up to the Intel Core i9 and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080Ti Laptop GPU. This is complemented by MSI’s own OverBoost technology which allows users to get every drop of performance from their laptop. It delivers up to 220 watts of power to unlocked unrivalled performance.

MSI CES2022 005

Similar to the Stealth GS, the Raider GE will come with support for DDR5 RAM and PCIe Gen4 SSDs. It comes with MSI’s new cooling technology and also supports multidisplay setups. The Raider is also one of the only laptops on the market to sport a 1080p webcam. Like it’s sibling it comes equipped with high refresh rate displays sporting up to QHD resolutions. It also has the Intel Killer E3100 ethernet and Intel Killer AX1675 WiFi controllers.

Putting Power In the Hands of Creators

Content Creation KV

MSI is also imbuing the Creator Z16 and Z16P with a boost in power. The latter is getting an extra 20% boost in performance thanks to the new Vapour Chamber Cooler which cools better and decreases the temperature further. In addition to this, the Creator Z laptops will be also be getting pen touch support.

Empowering Every Gamer

MSI CES2022 001

In addition to the two hero gaming laptops, MSI is also updating its other lineups including the MSI Crosshair 15, the MSI Pulse GL76/77, the MSI Katana and the MSI Sword. These laptops will be coming with Intel’s 12th Generation processors and also configurations supporting up to NVIDIA’s GeForce RTX 3070Ti Laptop GPU. They will also support DDR5 RAM and PCIe Gen4 storage.

Computers, News

Acer’s Swift X & AiO Lineup Gets More Extensive

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Acer’s Swift X lineup debuted last year with a unique combination of both performance and power in a sleek, lightweight package. This year, it seems like the new lineup is here to stay with more sizes and even more power. Their AIO Aspire C lineup has been a budget offering that’s been delivering consistently when it comes to a one size fits all package. This year, they get all new processors.

Acer Swift X Makes A Bigger, More Powerful Return

Acer’s ultra-portable Swift lineup has always been one of the go-to laptops when looking for a thin and light laptop. Last year, the company supercharged its thin and light offerings with the Swift X and this year, they’re taking it a step further. The Swift X isn’t just getting its insides upgraded, it’s getting a bigger sized variant for those who are looking for even more screen real estate without compromising on form.

  • Swift X SFX14 51G 06
  • Swift X SFX14 51G 07
  • Swift X SFX14 51G 01
  • Swift X SFX14 51G 02
  • Swift X SFX14 51G 04
  • Swift X SFX14 51G 05

The new Swift X will be available in 14-inch and 16-inch versions. The former weighs a meagre 1.4kgs packing the latest, 12 generation Intel Core i processors with up to 12 cores and NVIDIA’s RTX 3050 Ti Laptop GPU. The 16-inch version of the Swift X also comes with the 12th Generation Intel Core i Processors, however, it doesn’t sport an NVIDIA GPU instead, the laptop has the honour of being one of the first laptops with Intel’s ARC discreet GPU.

Both come with up to16GB of LPDDR5 RAM and up to 2TB of PCIe SSD storage. They also come with an IPS display with a 16:10 aspect ratio. The 14-inch version has a 2240×1400 pixel resolution while the larger 16-inch version has a WQXGA resolution of 2560×1600 pixels. Both come with narrow bezels and have 92.22% screen to body ratio and 100% coverage of the sRGB gamut and up to 400 nits brightness.

Swift X SFX16 52G 01
Swift X SFX16 52G 02
Swift X SFX16 52G 03
Swift X SFX16 52G 04
Swift X SFX16 52G 05
Swift X SFX16 52G 06

When it comes to connectivity, the Swift X comes with Intel WiFi 6E and a full array of ports including USB Type-C ports with support for Thunderbolt 4 and two USB Type-A Gen 3.2 ports with an HDMI 2.0 port. It also supports Windows Hello with a built-in fingerprint reader.

Acer Aspire C27 and C24 AiOs

Acer’s AiO lineup is also getting a taste of the latest and greatest internals. The new Aspire C27 and C24 will be shipping with the latest 12th generation Intel Core i processors with configurations supporting up to the Core i7. It will also ship with the NVIDIA GeForce MX550 GPU. These configurations will also support up to 64GB of RAM and up to 2TB of SSD storage and 1TB of HDD storage.

Aspire C27 Aspire C24 Lifestyle 03

The AiOs will come with a full array of ports and sport either a 24-inch (C24) or 27-inch (C27) display. Together with this, it comes with a 5.0-megapixel webcam and support for WiFi 6E. It also has support for Bluetooth 5.2 and Thunderbolt 4.

Pricing & Availability

No pricing or availability for either the Swift X or Aspire AiO has been announced at the time of writing.

Gaming, News

Acer Bolsters Gaming Laptop Lineup with the Latest from AMD, NVIDIA and Intel

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Acer has been busy creating new experiences for gamers and also catering to every niche they can think of. When it comes to their gaming offerings they have two distinct lineups – the Predator lineup which has different models and the Nitro lineup which consists of one laptop with two variants. Over the past years, their gaming offerings have become fine-tuned and refined so you can see a distinct difference between them. This year is no different with the Nitro getting an updated design and the Predator Triton 500 blurring the lines between gamer and professional. In addition to these design updates, the gaming lineup is being supercharged with the latest and greatest from Intel, AMD and NVIDIA.

Predator Triton 500 SE

The biggest update comes in the new “special edition” Predator Triton 500. The laptop sheds the design queues we’re used to seeing in the Helios lineup and adopts a more subdued aesthetic that allows it to marry both the professional and gamer in its users. The hard angles and throughways of the classic predator designs are replaced by a sleek and thin exterior that belies its insides. If you looked from afar, you wouldn’t think that this was a gaming laptop.

PREDATOR TRITON 500 SE PT516 52s 03
PREDATOR TRITON 500 SE PT516 52s 01
PREDATOR TRITON 500 SE PT516 52s 02
PREDATOR TRITON 500 SE PT516 52s 05
PREDATOR TRITON 500 SE PT516 52s 06

When we say belies its gaming prowess, we mean it. The Triton 500 SE comes with specifications of up to a 12th generation Intel Core i9 processor. Yep – that’s right, a Core i9. This is paired with the NVIDIA RTX 3080 Ti Laptop GPU and up to 32GB of LPDDR5 RAM and up to 2TB of PCIe Gen4 storage. It also comes with Acer’s newest and best when it comes to cooling. It’s equipped with a triple-fan system with two 5th Generation AeroBlade 3D fans that have 89 metal blades each to maximise airflow and cooling. It also has a 99.8Wh battery which promises better battery life even on the highest specifications.

It comes with a large 16-inch WQXGA display with a 2560×1600 pixel resolution, 240Hz refresh rate and 3ms response time. The 16:10 aspect ratio gives even more visual real estate and NVIDIA’s G-SYNC technology allows for smoother gameplay while the 100% coverage of the DCI-P3 gamut provides some colour accuracy.

The Triton 500 SE comes with a full range of ports including two Thunderbolt 4 Type-C ports, an HDMI 2.1 port and even an SD card reader. It also has an Intel Killer E3100G 2.5G Ethernet controller and WiFi 6E support for seamless online play.

Acer Nitro 5

Together with the Predator Triton 500 SE, the Acer Nitro 5 also got a significant facelift. It’s now edgier. The once cumbersome top of the Nitro is now sleek and accented by angled reflective lines that give it that gamer’s aesthetic without being too overt and loud. It still retains the bottom half of the older design but replaces its red accents with a black and silver colourway which gives it a rather “grown-up” aesthetic.

Nitro 5 AN517 04
Nitro 5 AN517 01
Nitro 5 AN517 02
Nitro 5 AN517 03
Nitro 5 AN517 05

On the inside, the Nitro 5 comes with configurations supporting either the 12-generation Intel Core i processors or the recently announced AMD Ryzen 6000 series APUs. The former comes with configurations supporting up to a Core i7. These processors are complemented with configurations with up to an NVIDIA GeForce RTX3070 Ti Laptop GPU. When it comes to RAM, the Intel configuration supports up to 32GB of DDR4 RAM while the AMD one supports up to 32GB of DD5 RAM. It also comes with up to 2TB of SSD memory.

The Nitro 5 comes with either an FHD display with a 144Hz refresh rate or a QHD display with a 165Hz refresh rate. Both options are able to advantage of AMD FreeSync technology for smoother gameplay. When it comes to connectivity, the laptop comes with support for WiFi 6 and comes with an Intel Killer WiFi 6 AX1650i card and Killer Ethernet E2600. It also has a full range of ports including an HDMI 2.1 port and Thunderbolt 4.

Predator Helios 300

Joining its siblings, the Helios 300 is also getting a bump to the latest 12th Generation Intel Core i processors with configurations supporting up to a Core i7. This is complemented with up to an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 Laptop GPU and up to 32GB of DDR5 memory and up to 2TB of SSD storage.

PREDATOR HELIOS 300 PH315 55 08

Display-wise it comes with options for a QHD IPS display with a 165 Hz refresh rate or an FHD display with either a 144 Hz or a 165 Hz refresh rate. The latter options are available on the 17.3-inch model of the Helio 300. Aside from this, it comes with similar specifications as the Nitro 5 apart from its per-key RGB and support for Killer DoubleShot Pro (E2600+1675i) and WiFi 6E connectivity.

Pricing & Availability

The laptops will start making their way to market starting in February 2022. Details in the table below

LaptopAvailabilityPricing
Predator Triton 500 SENorth America – March 2022
EMEA – February 2022
China – February 2022		North America – USD$2299.99
EMEA – EUR3499
China – RMB24999
Acer Nitro 5 (Intel) – 15-inchNorth America – March 2022
EMEA – February 2022
China – February 2022		North America – USD$1049.99
EMEA – EUR1549
China – RMB9499
Acer Nitro 5 (Intel) – 17-inchNorth America – March 2022
EMEA – February 2022
China – February 2022		North America – USD$1099.99
EMEA – EUR1649
China – RMB9499
Acer Nitro 5 (AMD) – 15-inchNorth America – April 2022
EMEA – April 2022
China – March 2022		North America – USD$1099.99
EMEA – EUR1599
China – RMB8999
Acer Nitro 5 (AMD) – 17-inchNorth America – May 2022
EMEA – April 2022
China – March 2022		North America – USD$1149.99
EMEA – EUR1649
China – RMB8999
Predator Helios 300 – 15-inchNorth America – May 2022
EMEA – February 2022
China – February 2022		North America – USD$1649.99
EMEA – EUR2299
China – RMB11999
Predator Helios 300 – 17-inchNorth America – March 2022
EMEA – February 2022
China – February 2022		North America – USD$1749.99
EMEA – EUR2399
China – RMB11999