Acer’s Nitro 5 was always known for its strong value proposition and being the budget champion in gaming laptops. 2021 was a little bit of a turning point for the Nitro 5 though. It stopped becoming an entry-level option. You still can get the Nitro 5 with entry-level specs and a price to match, but the Nitro 5 expanded its option pool to hit the upper echelons of gaming with AMD’s Ryzen 9 and NVIDIA’s RTX 3080 bundle option. It was shocking to say the least, but a welcome.
Fast forward to 2022 though, there is a new Nitro 5 in town, and it looks good.
We start with what it packs. It is a 12th Generation Intel Core i7 (up to) that is paired with an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 Ti (up to). While it just stops shy from its higher-end cousin that tops out at an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080, the RTX 3070 Ti is plenty powerful enough for any sort of gaming situations. You also get to pack it with up to 32GB DDR4 RAM and up to 1TB of SSD storage. There is an additional SATA slot to give users the option to upgrade the notebook with another SATA storage.
The powerful insides keep games running optimally at up to 165fps on the 165Hz refresh rate QHD display (up to). You can opt for a Full HD 144Hz display if you are on a budget. The display also boasts 100% of DCI-P3 colour gamut coverage which means that it is even more colour accurate than before. At the same time, if you are looking for a laptop for both work and play, especially if you are in the creative industry, the colour accuracy is what you want.
Underneath the 4-zone RGB, Acer’s improved cooling system for the new Nitro 5 allows Acer to increase the maximum power draw of the GPU to extract even more performance and power from the GPU. At the same time, the Killer DoubleShot Pro wireless network module and WiFi 6E ensures that the Nitro 5 is always connected to the fastest available internet source.
The Acer Nitro 5 is now available from Acer’s own eStore, and official online stores on Shoppe and Lazada. You can also find the Acer Nitro 5 in Acer’s authorized retailers nationwide. It will set you back from MYR 4,399 all the way to MYR 8,699. For more information on the Acer Nitro 5 gaming laptop, you can head to their website.
Gaming laptops today are wonderful things. They are still not as powerful as their desktop counterparts, but still, they come close enough today. Because gaming laptops today packing the kind of power they do, they become some of the most popular choices even for among the hardcore gamers.
Even in 2021, before Intel introduced their most powerful CPUs ever, gaming laptops were the in thing. The Predator Helios 300 of 2021, for example, was a potent machine that could really take your gaming to the next level, anywhere and anytime. It packed Intel’s 11th Generation CPUs with the latest generation NVIDIA GeForce RTX 30 series cards for the best-in-class performance. It is 2022 though and the world needs something new, something a lot more powerful.
Welcome to the 2022 version of the Predator Helios 300. To be fair, this product should not be entirely new to you. It was launched globally a while back at one Next@Acer conference. It finally hits the shores in Malaysia though.
To recap, the new Predator Helios 300 is expected to be the weapon of choice for any sort of gamers everywhere. Its 15.6-inch display is a rather compelling one at QHD resolutions as well. It also boasts 165Hz refresh rate with 3ms response time for fast and smooth visuals in all sorts of gaming situations. At the same time, it is one display you can also rely on when you work with colour grading tools and editing tools with 100% of DCI-P3 colour gamut coverage.
Keeping the screen happy and maxing the 165Hz refresh rate, the Helios 300 now comes with Intel’s 12th Generation Core CPU (up to Core i7). You get to pair it up with up to NVIDIA’s GeForce RTX 3080 and 32GB of 4800MHz DDR5 RAM memory. While that may not sound like it will amount to too much of a performance gain compared to the older Helios 300, Predator has given it a treatment like no other to make it outperform the older laptop by a significant margin.
Instead of the traditional regular thermal paste to keep the CPU die attached to the heat transfer panels, Predator now uses liquid metal. That should also translate to better thermal transfer performance which should also directly translate to a bump in CPU performance. You also get the help of Predator’s 5th generation Aeroblade 3D which is redesigned for even better airflow without compromising noise and therefore better cooling.
The overall improvement in cooling performance also allows Predator to also increase the power draw of the GPU to increase its performance. The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 Ti now draws up to 150W of power to really give games a punch. You can also monitor the temperature of the Predator Helios 300 with the proprietary PredatorSense.
Besides up to 2TB in SSD space, the Predator Helios 300 now comes with mini-LED RGB backlit keyboard, which is an upgrade over the older Helios 300. You also get WiFi 6E connectivity with Killer DoubleShot Pro for more stable and faster internet speeds. Of course, there is always a Turbo button for you to overclock the laptop and make it even faster.
The Predator Helios 300 is now available from Acer’s official stores on Shopee and Lazada. You can also head to Acer’s authorized retail partners to get your hands on one. There will be no other colour option for it, but it is still a good-looking laptop, especially with the new light bar at the bottom of the laptop. It will set you back MYR 7,999 onward and tops out at 11,999. For more information on the Predator Helios 300, you can visit their website.
ASUS’s Republic of Gamers (ROG) brand is one which every gamer will be familiar with. The laptops which make up some of the most wanted in their classes are coming with fresh new updates. The new lineup also brings totally new experiences in both mobile and form factors. Of course, it goes without saying that the lineup features liquid metal cooling thanks to ASUS’s collaboration with Thermal Grizzly.
ROG Flow X13
Spearheading the new lineup is ROG’s most innovative lineup in a while – the ROG Flow. The lineup takes convention and turns it on its head with a laptop that is compact, thin and light but is able to rise to the task when needed. The Flow X13 comes with support for ROG’s XG mobile eGPU which allows you to power up the graphics capabilities of the ROG Flow 13 with up to an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080. It also extends connectivity with additional USBs and Thunderbolt ports.
This year, the ROG XG platform is also introducing an option with the AMD Radeon RX6850M XT. Paired with the Ryzen 7 6800HS in the Flow X13, you’ll be able to get the full AMD Advantage experience. That said, the Flow X13 itself comes with configurations with the RTX 3050Ti already onboard. The setup is complemented by up to 32GB of LPDDR5 RAM and up to 1TB of M.2 NVMe PCIe 4.0 SSD storage.
ROG Zephyrus Duo 16
The new ROG Zephyrus Duo 16 marks the return of ASUS’s signature dual-screen experience. The Zephyrus Duo gets slimmer and more portable than ever before. Powered by the AMD Ryzen 9 processor and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080Ti graphics card, the laptop is built for creators, gamers and streamers.
The ROG ScreenPad Plus brings a whole new level of productivity and also changes the game when it comes to cooling. The new design allows for better airflow and with AAS Plus 2.0 there is 30% more airflow above the fans. Thermal Grizzly’s Metal Conductonaut Extreme cools the processor even better than normal cooling compounds.
The Zephyrus Duo also brings top-of-the-line display choices featuring ROG’s new Nebula HDR. The new technology enhances ROG’s Nebula display technology with 512 Mini LED dimming zones and 1100 nits at peak brightness. The 16:10 display also supports Dolby Vision with certifications for VESA DisplayHDR 1000 and 165Hz refresh rate. The Duo, naturally, comes with options supporting the regular ROG Nebula display as well. The second screen features brand new, ROG-exclusive technology called the Dual Spec panel which allows the screen to switch between 4K 120Hz and Full HD 240 Hz. This allows it to adapt dynamically to the players choice.
ROG Zephyrus G15 & Zephyrus G14
The ROG Zephyrus G14 and G15 round up this round of additions to the ROG lineup. The new laptops bring back a winning combination of performance and personalisation. ROG has doubled down on its proven design. The new laptops feature a lid with 14,696 precision CNC milled holes. In models that support the AniMe Matrix, there are 1,449 mini LEDs under these holes. Like previous models, the AniMe Matrix allows users to express themselves with their own customised designs and logos.
When it comes to specifications, the Zephryus G14 and G15 both come with the AMD Ryzen 7 6800HS. The former comes with the full AMD Advantage experience with configurations featuring the Radeon RX 6700S and the Radeon RX 6800S graphics cards. The G15, on the other hand, complements the Ryzen 7 with either the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 or the GeForce RTX 3070 Ti. Both models come with up to 32GB RAM and 1TB of storage.
On the display front, the ROG Zephyrus G14 comes with a 14-inch QHD display with a 120Hz refresh rate and a 16:10 aspect ratio. The G15 comes with a larger, 15.6-inch QHD display with options for either 165Hz or 240Hz refresh rate and a 16:9 aspect ratio.
Pricing & Availability
The whole ROG line up is already available in Malaysia. The ROG Flow 13 is priced from MYR6,599 without the XG mobile system and MYR13,999 with the system. The ROG Zephyrus Duo 16 is priced from MYR15,999. The Zephyrus G14 and G15 are priced from MYR8,499 and MYR7,999 respectively.
Hot off their global announcements of brand new Zenbooks and Vivobooks, ASUS is bringing an out of this world lineup of Zenbooks to Malaysia. Spearheading the new lineup is the Zenbook 14X OLED Space Edition which celebrates the anniversary of the first ASUS laptop to break the stratosphere.
ASUS Zenbook 14X OLED Space Edition
The new Zenbook 14X OLED Space Edition celebrates the 25th anniversary of the ASUS P6300 laptop being launched into space. The P6300 spent 600 days in orbit aboard the Mir Space station. The laptop managed to stay in orbit and remain functional amidst power outages and fires aboard the Mir.
To commemorate the feat, the ASUS Zenbook 14X OLED is getting a make over. Aesthetically, the Zenbook 14X OLED Space Edition will be sporting a Zero-G titanium colour and is emblazoned with etchings which hearken back to the Mir space station. In addition to the unique design, the Zenbook 14X OLED Space Edition is also getting a durability update. It’s got SMC-S-016A durability which is 4 times stronger than the military standard we are now accustomed to.
The ZenVision Smart Display also makes its debut with the space themed Zenbook. The interactive 3.5-inch screen on the cover of the chassis allows you to express yourself in new ways. You can display custom messages and designs on the ZenVision Smart Display.
Powering the Zenbook 14X OLED Space Edition is Intel’s 12th Generation Core i7 H-series processor with Intel® Iris® Xe graphics. Complementing this is 16GB of RAM and PCIe Gen4 compatible SSD Storage. It comes with a 14-inch 2.8K OLED display with a 16:10 aspect ratio. The display is also PANTONE validated and has a 90Hz refresh rate.
Zenbook Pro 14 Duo OLED
Together with the Space Edition, ASUS is also bringing a new Zenbook 14 Pro experience with two screens. The new Zenbook Pro 14 Duo OLED brings the dual screen experience that was once reserved for larger laptops to a more accessible size. The new Intel EVO certified laptop comes with a 14.5-inch OLED display with a 2.8K resolution and 120 Hz refresh rate. Together with this screen is a next-gen 12.7-inch ScreenPad Plus secondary display with touch capabilities. ASUS also incorporates a new AAS Ultra auto-tilting design that helps with cooling and makes working on the dual screen setup more ergonomic.
Powering the new Zenbook Pro 14 Duo OLED is Intel’s 12th Generation Intel Core i7-12700H. This is complemented by the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 Ti and 16GB of RAM. Completing the setup is a 512GB PCIe Gen4 SSD.
Zenbook Pro 16X OLED
ASUS is also debuting its first creator focused Zenbook with the Zenbook Pro 16X OLED. The supersized Zenbook comes in a 2.4kg unibody carved out from aerospace grade 6000-series aluminium alloy. It’s also only 16.9mm thin. It’s also equipped with a PANTONE Validated, 16-inch 16:10 4K OLED display with a 60 Hz refresh rate, HDR and touch capabilities. It covers 100% of the DCI-P3 gamut.
The NVIDIA Studio certified laptop is equipped with an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU. This is paired with a 12th Generation Intel Core i7-12700H and 16GB of RAM and 1TB of PCIe 4 SSD storage. ASUS is also introducing their IceCool Pro cooling system to keep things chilly for the best performance. The two IceBlade fans cool the vapour chamber. Hot air is then vented to the exterior via the AAS Ultra mechanism.
The Zenbook Pro 16X also brings the creator centric ASUS Dial rotary controller. This feature was reserved for their ASUS ProArt lineup until now. The dial allows creators to easily access their brushes, settings and more with simple, intuitive controls for finer control of functions. In addition, it also has the all new White-RGB ASUS Intelligent Lighting System that allows interactive indicators for power or performance status.
Zenbook 14 OLED
Rounding up the new lineup is the Zenbook 14 OLED. The new Zenbook 14 OLED brings an elegant, lightweight design which features ergonomic, productivity focused features for the go-getter.
The Zenbook 14 OLED is running on Intel’s 12th Generation Core i7 and Core i5 processors with 16GB of RAM and up to 1TB of PCIe Gen4 storage. All versions of the laptop come with Intel Iris Xe Graphics. It’s also fully equipped with a full array of ports including an HDMI and microSD card slot.
ASUS Numpad 2.0 also makes a return to the Zenbook 14. In addition, ErgoLift makes typing on the keyboard a more ergonomic experience keeping carpal tunnel syndrome at bay. Display wise, the Zenbook 14 comes with the same display as the Zenbook 14X OLED.
Pricing and Availability
The ASUS Zenbook 14X OLED Space Edition will be available in two configurations. The i7 version will be retailing at MYR6,499 while the i5 version will be retailing at MYR5,599.
The ASUS Zenbook 14 OLED will be available in two colours: Ponder Blue and Aqua Celadon. The i7 version of the 14 OLED will only be available in Ponder Blue and will retail for MYR5,599 while the i7 version will be priced at MYR4,399.
The Zenbook Pro 16X OLED will be available for MYR11,999 while the smaller Zenbook Pro 14 Duo OLED will be priced at MYR8,999.
All the laptops will be on display at the ASUS roadshow which is happening at MidValley Megamall until 29th May 2022. You may also be able to walk away with free gifts with every purchase made at the roadshow.
It’s that time of year again when we see the latest and greatest from companies like ASUS being announced for the upcoming year. After the extensive display of their newly extended Vivobook and Zenbook lineup, ASUS is now extending their Republic of Gamers (ROG) portfolio with two new, power packed laptops.
ROG Strix SCAR 17 Special Edition
ASUS is reinvigorating their Strix SCAR lineup with a new, special edition of the ROG Strix 17. The new, cyberpunk inspired Strix SCAR 17 Special Edition has an elevated design language and higher graphics performance thanks to its 175W max TGP (Total Graphics Power) with Dynamic Boost.
Source: ASUS
The new SCAR 17 Special edition will be coming equipped with Intel’s 12th Generation Core i9-12950HX processor which is paired with up to 64GB of DDR5 4800MHz RAM. It also supports up to 4TB of internal storage in RAID 0 with PCIe 4.0 support. The top of the line processor, high-speed RAM and PCIe 4.0 support make it one of the fastest laptops revealed yet. It also means that your laptop will be loading quicker than ever before. It’s also got ROG’s exclusive Conductonaut Extreme liquid metal cooling which allows it to perform at higher speeds at lower temperatures.
Like its sibling models, the ROG Strix SCAR 17 SE will come in display configurations supporting either FHD resolution and 360Hz refresh rate or QHD resolution with 240Hz refresh rate. Both configurations have IPS level panels with Adaptive Sync and Dolby Vision support and 3ms GtG response times. This paired with up to an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 Ti Laptop GPU is bound to give you an unbeatable visual experience.
Source: ASUS
In addition to its cutting edge specifications, the ROG Strix SCAR 17 SE features a new, metal chassis which has all the signature ROG swagger. However, ASUS has etched the chassis with a unique, cyberpunk design that holds a secret for its SCAR Runner game. The etchings are applied with a first of its kind invisible ink. Under regular lighting, you’d be none the wiser as it appears as a matte metallic shade. However, shining a UV light on the design makes the etchings glow an iridescent green and blue hue.
Source: ASUS
The SCAR 17 SE comes with all the connectivity that you would expect from a ROG laptop including USB Type A, USB Type C with DisplayPort 1.4 and Power Delivery, Thunderbolt 4, ethernet, HDMI and a combo audio jack.
ROG Flow X16
ROG’s convertible laptop lineup is also being extended with a wholly new, large entry. The new ROG Flow X16 is upping the ante when it comes to gaming convertibles. ROG is supersizing their 13-inch laptop and giving it a larger, 16-inch display. Still remaining as thin and light as the larger form factor will allow it, the Flow X16 brings a whole new Frost Force Technology and Pulsar Heatsink for a whole new level of cooling. It features three fans and a high-density heatsink to help cool and dissipate heat more efficiently.
Source: ASUS
In addition to the new form factor and cooling technology, the ROG Flow X16 is also coming with ROG’s flagship Nebula HDR Display. The new display is a QHD, Mini LED panel with a 165Hz refresh rate with 1100 nits peak brightness. It also covers 100% of the DCI-P3 gamut.
Source: ASUS
The Flow X16 continues to be powered by AMD’s Ryzen processors like the X13 before it. The X16 comes with configurations supporting up to a Ryzen 9 6900HS processor and up to the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 Ti Laptop GPU. If that isn’t powerful enough, the X16 also supports the XG mobile family of external GPUs. It supports up to 64GB of DDR5 RAM with 4800MHZ speeds and up to 2TB of PCIe Gen 4.0 SSD storage. It comes with a 4 speaker audio setup with support for Dolby Atmos.
Source: ASUS
As with all ROG laptops, the Flow X16 comes with a complete array of ports including the XG mobile interface which includes a USB Type-C port with DisplayPort 1.4 support and power delivery. Aside from this, it comes with USB Type A, HDMI 2.0b, a 3.5mm combo audio jack and a microSD card reader.
Pricing & Availability
ASUS has yet to unveil pricing and availability at the time of the announcement.
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.
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.
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.
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 | UX5400E
As tested
Processor (clock)
Intel® Core™ i7-1165G7 processor 2.80 GHz quad-core with Turbo Boost (up to 4.70GHz) and 12MB cache
GPU
Intel® Iris® Xe Graphics NVIDIA GeForce MX450
Display
14” OLED 2.8K (2880 x 1800) resolution 16:10 aspect ratio Touch Panel anti-glare screen 550nits brightness
Memory
16GB LPDDR4X 512GB PCIe® NVMe™ 3.0 x2 M.2 SSD
Networking and Connections
Intel 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
Battery
63Wh 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 System
Windows 10 Home 64-bit
Miscellaneous
HD 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
First, yes, we realise that the newly announced NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3090 Ti is not in any way an affordable piece of kit. In fact, it is NVIDIA’s most expensive RTX 30 series GPU to date at US$ 1,999 which is nearly MYR 8,500 by today’s estimation. But this also is not a regular GPU made for the regular consumer.
To be fair, yes, the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3090 Ti broke cover a few days ago. It is still a brand-new piece of kit that hardly comes by though. While conditions in the market is not getting worse, it is not getting that much better either. Prices of GPUs are still quite inflated and item availability is still not great. So, does this mean that NVIDIA’s move in launching a new card going to screw us, customers over even more with an even more pricey GPU?
As it turns out, not really. Let us go into that a little bit later. For now, the GPU; the star of the show.
The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3090 Ti is not really a new GPU. Like its siblings, the RTX 3090 Ti is more like a small improvement over the mighty RTX 3090. In some partner board cases, it is even bigger than the RTX 3090 which just makes them ridiculous to look at and to have.
As mentioned earlier, it is no ordinary consumer class GPU. The regular RTX 3090 was not a regular consumer class GPU either, so you should not expect this one to be at its asking price. NVIDIA targets not only the most demanding gamers with this card, they want the prosumers to also notice. It is made to chew applications like Maya, Blender, Cinema4D, and other 3D rendering software then spitting out masterpieces as quickly as you can conceptualize them. Of course, I am exaggerating a little bit here, but you get the idea.
It packs 10,752 CUDA cores with 24GB of onboard memory that is capable of 78 RT-TFLOPs, 40-Shader-TFLOPs, and 320 Tensor-TFLOPs. That basically means it can do a lot of calculations. The regular RTX 3090 only houses 10,496 CUDA cores in comparison. The result is a GPU that is overall 9% faster than the one that it evolves from. It is also about 50% faster than the most expensive GPU NVIDIA had before, the TITAN RTX.
All these not just enables gamers to game with up to 8K resolutions in smooth fashion. It also enables content creators to work even more seamlessly with 8K resolution contents. The demand for contents today has brought 8K resolution videos as standard. This would be the perfect GPU to work with for 8K contents.
Source: ASUS
The first of the board partners that have come out and announced their RTX 3090 (at least in Malaysia) is ASUS with their ROG Strix and TUF Gaming GeForce RTX 3090 Ti GPUs. The Strix is quite unique, a water-cooled GPU with its own AiO cooler that you need to find space for in your case, if you want one. The TUF Gaming GPU is a more regular GPU, but you still do need some clearance for it with a 3.2 slot heatsink. You can get the ROG GPU at MYR 11,000 and the TUF Gaming GPU from MYR 9,700, which is around the ballpark price of a high-end GPU these days.
So, What Does This Mean?
A quick Shopee search for the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3090 GPU will bring you some clue to the answers. You would see prices of the previous halo product going anywhere between MYR 10,000 to about MYR 12,000. This would be considered a reasonable price before the RTX 3090 Ti showed up. Considering stocks are low, with demands that stocks could not meet, it is understandable these prices.
A few months ago, a quick search of the NVIDIA GeForece RTX 3090 yields result that hover anywhere between MYR 12,000 to even MYR 20,000 for a single GPU. This also means that GPUs have gone down in prices for the past few months and that is a good thing. But it is not necessarily good enough because GPUs are still sold way above their retail prices, just because they can.
Here is the thing though, the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3090 Ti marks an end of stock shortages in the GPU market, it is basically NVIDIA producing a new halo product because they can finally do it with ease. It is why the RTX 3080 Ti was released and the RTX 3090 Ti had to wait a few more months before it comes to light.
If you look closely, even with ASUS’ inflated pricing, the RTX 3090 Ti is priced lower than plenty of the current RTX 3090 GPUs you can find in the market. This should, in turn, drive down prices of GPUs that are currently out in the market even lower. At this point as well, retailers might not even be able to use the “stocks are still scarce” excuse to price their GPUs. There is enough GPUs to go around now, and prices should have come down to earth.
Sure, a halo product like this will still come in limited quantities. It is, after all, the most expensive GPU you can buy in 2022. But it does mean that you can go out and buy a GPU. It signals to us that you can start haggling down prices of the GPUs that you want from the retailers, at least a little bit. It also means that you have enough GPUs to go around now. It is now almost a reasonable time to go out and buy a GPU.
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.
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!
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.
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.
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-CLD132W
GZ301Z-ELD236W
GZ301Z-ELC214W
Color
Black
Black
Black
Dimension (W x D x H)
30.2 x 20.4 x 1.20 ~ 1.20 cm
30.2 x 20.4 x 1.20 ~ 1.20 cm
30.2 x 20.4 x 1.20 ~ 1.20 cm
Weight
1.18 Kg
1.18 Kg
1.18 Kg
Processor
12th 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)
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.)
Wi-Fi 6E(802.11ax)+Bluetooth 5.2 (Dual band) 2*2 (*BT version may change with OS upgrades.)
I/O Ports
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
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
Camera
8MP camera and 720P HD Webcam
8MP camera and 720P HD Webcam
8MP camera and 720P HD Webcam
Mic
Built-in 3-microphone array
Built-in 3-microphone array
Built-in 3-microphone array
Keyboard Type
Backlit Chiclet Keyboard RGB
Backlit Chiclet Keyboard RGB
Backlit Chiclet Keyboard RGB
Aura Sync
YES
YES
YES
Speakers
2-speaker system with Smart Amplifier Technology
2-speaker system with Smart Amplifier Technology
2-speaker system with Smart Amplifier Technology
Audio Tech
AI 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
[UPDATE on 09/02/2022] NVIDIA and SoftBank has officially announced that the ARM acquisition bid from NVIDIA will not go through! Read SoftBank’s statement here.
NVIDIA, the world’s largest graphics chip maker, expressed their interest in acquiring ARM, the people behind some of the world’s most powerful mobile chips currently, back in 2020. It was not just an expressed interest though; they really started the whole process of acquiring the chip designers from 2020 onward. It became a whole thing too through 2021.
To be fair, the concerns that were raised by multiple parties regarding the acquisition efforts were not baseless. Companies like Qualcomm, Microsoft, even Samsung and Apple rely on ARM’s chip architecture and designs for their processing chips. It makes sense then that Qualcomm and even Microsoft would have objected the acquisition efforts. The purchase could have led to a massive imbalance in the chip business, since ARM is a key player in the chip making industry. If the purchase went through, it would have been the biggest ever in the chip business too with Softbank selling it at US$ 66 billion.
There were also a lot of regulatory issues that were raised prior to 2022 regarding the purchase. Investigations were also launched by United Kingdom, United States, and European Union as well regarding the acquisition. They raised concerns of anti-competition efforts and market monopoly despite NVIDIA promising that ARM’s deal with all its customers will still be honoured and it will be business as usual.
There are no official announcements just yet on the deal not going through. NVIDIA, ARM, and SoftBank have not commented on the reports that first broke on Financial Times. According to early reports too, SoftBank, ARM’s owners will be receiving US$ 1.25 billion from NVIDIA for failing the acquisition bid.
The falling through of the deal should be a relief to many in the tech industry. It means that Apple, Qualcomm, Intel, Samsung, and plenty of other key chip manufacturers can sleep soundly as their deal with ARM continue without NVIDIA’s intervention. Their relief is another person’s headache though, in this case probably two. SoftBank is still selling ARM, but given the significance of ARM in the industry, selling the chip designers will be a tall order. As for NVIDIA, their stock prices might tank once the fall through is official, but it is NVIDIA after all, they should bounce back quickly enough. If you want to know more about the acquisition bid, you can head over to NVIDIA’s blog.
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.
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.
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.
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.
