Asus is not just going for ambitious at Computex 2018, if Project Precog and the Screen Pad on the new Zenbook Pro models has you thinking that. It has also launched a high-end new ZenBook S ultrabook. The Zenbook S features an 12.9mm ultra-thin body packed with the latest gen Intel 15W ultrabook processors and a 4K display.
The stand-out design feature – besides the thin design – is the unique hinge mechanism which lifts the keyboard to a more comfortable typing angle of around 5.5 degree. Asus calls it ErgoLift, and it also helps in drawing air and heat management.
The Zenbook S’s brushed-metallic unibody design has Asus’ signature concentric circle pattern and a MIL-STD 810G military standard certification for durability.
You can get up to an Intel Core i7 (8550U) quad-core processor or go for the cheaper Intel Core i5 (8250U) processor. Both variants have integrated Intel UHD 620 graphics; 8 GB or 16 GB of LPDDR3 RAM and up to 1TB of PCIe SSD or 256GB of SATA3 SSD on the low-end version.
Asus has managed to pack a 13.3-inch LED-backlit 4K UHD (3840 x 2160) touchscreen display in the small body thanks to the 5.9mm NanoEdge display bezels. The screen is rated to reproduce 100% sRGB and 72% NTSC color gamut. You can also get it with a cheaper and more power-efficient 13.3-inch Full HD display.
There’s a fingerprint sensor on the trackpad for Windows Hello authentication, and Harman Kardon-tuned ASUS SonicMaster stereo speakers with surround-sound support.
As for ports, there are three USB type-C inputs, two of which are Thunderbolt 3 with peak data transfer speeds of up to 40 GB/sec, with dual-band 802.11ac Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 4.2 for wireless connectivity.
The device weighs just around one kilogram, and the a 50Wh 4-cell lithium-polymer battery is rated for up to 13.5 hours of usage. There’s also fast charging for up to 60% battery top-up in just 45 minutes.
Asus will bundle a Asus Mini Dock multi-port dongle and an optional Asus Pen. The ZenBook S will be available after June 11 and will start at $1,199, however, Asus is yet to announce which markets will get this first.
