At its, “In Search of Incredible: Transcendence” CES 2024 launch event, Asus showed-off its latest, dual-screen Zenbook Duo laptop among other Intel Core Ultra and AMD Ryzen 8040-based laptops. These include the latest Zenbook 14 OLED, Vivobook Pro 15 OLED and Vivobook S models.
There was also a redesigned Asus ExpertBook B5 (which hopefully fixes the wobbly screen) and a new ExpertBook CX54 Chromebook Plus which is Asus’ first ExpertBook series Chromebook and also ‘the world’s first’ Intel Core Ultra-powered Chromebook Plus.
S.Y. Hsu, Asus’ Co-CEO, said. “This year we have not only continued our remarkable journey toward sustainability, but we have also leveraged our technological expertise in the field of AI and strategic alliances and partnerships, to create innovative solutions in the fields of consumer, commercial, and gaming. With the dawn of a new age of AI-assisted technologies, ASUS is continuously striving to use this expertise and improve the user experience of every user.”
Asus said it would subject all 2024 consumer and commercial laptops to MIL-STD 810H US military-grade testing for long-lasting durability.
There’s no word yet on local pricing and availability.
Green laptops
Asus highlighted its ESG initiatives which integrate sustainable practices across its products, operations and carbon-offset services – aiming to achieve a net-zero enterprise – and push-on from its recent designation as an EPEAT Climate+ Champion.
Asus said that, “By setting ambitious near-term, science-based emissions reduction targets, as validated by the esteemed SBTi, it showcases its determination to mitigate climate impact. Asus Carbon Partner Services, recently launched in Taiwan with ExpertBook B9403 and ExpertCenter D9, redefine business contributions to carbon neutrality, offering impactful solutions through verified and high-quality carbon-credits, and empowering customers to reduce their environmental impact.”
Asus also reminded everyone that it’s earned other global green recognition, including acknowledgment by the Financial Times as a Climate Leader in Asia-Pacific and inclusion in the Corporate Knights Clean 200 Index. Also that the company created the world’s first carbon-neutral (Bamboo series) laptops and recently launched its first carbon-neutral-verified business laptop in 2022.
Asus stated that it already actively incorporates recycled materials in manufacturing and packaging, “Utilising over 1,600 tonnes of PCR plastic since 2017 and over 20,000 tonnes of recycled paper in 2022… its commitment to reducing environmental saw it recycle over 40,000 tonnes of e-waste since 2019. The result is that revenue from eco-friendly products exceeded 87.2 per cent of qualified revenue in 2022, highlighting continued progress towards a circular economy to minimise environmental impact.”
Asus Zenbook Duo (2024)
Asus’ Zenbook Duo (2024) now has two identical OLED touchscreens and a detachable, full-size Bluetooth Asus ErgoSense keyboard and trackpad. It weighs just 1.35KG. It’s the much-needed evolution of the early-gen Asus Zenbook 17 Fold we saw last year and is a rival to the more-recent HP Spectre Foldable.
The dual, full-size, UHD, 120Hz Asus Lumina, OLED, 16:10-ratio displays are joined by a lay-flat hinge to create a 19.8-inch screen. This has an integrated kickstand and detachable keyboard and can be used in vertical or horizontal orientations for several versatile user modes: Laptop, Dual Screen, Desktop or Sharing mode. Each is controlled by Asus ScreenXpert software.
The rechargeable keyboard can be detached to allow full use of the visual workspace or be placed on the lower display to mimic a traditional laptop.
The Zenbook Duo (2024) has (up-to) an Intel Core Ultra 9 processor, 32GB of LPDDR5 RAM and up-to 2TB of fast, NVMe storage.
It also has a 75Wh battery with fast charging plus. there are Harman Kardon-certified Dolby Atmos speakers.
Related: Asus Vivobook S 13 review
It incorporates a variety of recycled materials and is MIL-STD-810H certified.
New Asus Vivobooks at CES
Asus showed-off an updated Vivobook Pro 15 OLED (N6506) and new Vivobook S series laptops at CES.
The Asus Vivobook Pro 15 OLED has up-to an Intel Core 9 Ultra processor inside plus Nvidia GeForce RTX 4060 graphics, 24GB of DDR5 RAM and a speedy 2TB NVMe hard drive.
It has Asus IceCool Pro cooling technology that enables up to 125-Watts TDP. The UHD, Lumia OLED display has a 120Hz refresh rate.
Related: Asus Vivobook Pro 15 OLED review
It also sports Asus’ DialPad rotary control for enhanced productivity and design shortcuts. There’s also Asus’ AiSense camera security features and Ai-based noise-cancelling technology for better web-conferencing.
It has decent connectivity including WiFi 6E, Thunderbolt 4, USB-C and Type-A ports and HDMI 2.1 video out. It’s designed to suit both gamers and Creators.
The Asus Vivobook S series laptops are powerful and lightweight and come in 14, 15.6 and 16-inch variants. All are Intel Evo certified
The Intel Evo Edition Asus Vivobook S 14/15/16 models (S5406 / S5506 / S5606) are powered by Intel Core Ultra processors, with up to 45-Watt TDP.
Related: Asus Vivobook S 14 review
The AMD 14/15/16 OLED versions (M5406 / M5506 / M5606), are equipped with AMD Ryzen 8040 Series processors with AMD RDNA 3 graphics. They have a TDP of up to 45 Watts and have built-in Ryzen Ai acceleration for efficient performance in Ai applications.
All Asus Vivobook S series laptops also have a dedicated Windows Copilot key and a ‘memory-allocated’ function that enables users to customise memory capacity to the iGPU up to a maximum of 8GB which can, “Enhance the performance of gaming and AI applications.”
The series has Asus’ Lumina, UHD, 120Hz OLED displays (S5606 / M5606) and support 100 per cent of the difficult DCI-P3 gamut.
They sport Asus’ ErgoSense keyboards which have customisable RGB backlighting, and there’s an extra-large ErgoSense touchpad.
The screens lay-down completely flat, they have IR cameras (with a physical shutter) for Windows Hello log-in. Audio comes via Dolby Atmos audio and Harman Kardon-certified stereo speakers.
The Vivobook models have “long-lasting” and fast-charging batteries.
Asus Zenbook 14 OLED (UX3405 / UM3406)
The new Zenbook 14 OLED is a premium ultraportable laptop powered by both Intel and AMD processors. It’s available with up-to an Intel Core Ultra 9 processor (with Intel Arc graphics) or the latest AMD Ryzen 8040 series processors with AMD RDNA 3 Graphics.
The models weigh just 1.2 kg and are only 15 mm thick. Asus claims long life via the 75Wh battery and fast charging. Connectivity includes two Thunderbolt 4 (UX3405) or USB4 (UM3406) ports, USB-A 3.2 Gen 1, HDMI 2.1 and a 3.5mm audio jack.
The screens are, once again, 120Hz, UHD, Lumina OLED displays and these are backed-up by, “New super-linear speakers.” There’s a Full HD webcam with physical privacy shutter and a new, quiet, Asus ErgoSense keyboard with a large ErgoSense trackpad.
The new design has improved sustainability credentials with the extensive use of recycled materials for the laptop and its packaging. Plus, the laptops have undergone US military-grade durability testing.
ASUS ExpertBook B5 (B5404 / B5604)
Asus’ updated ExpertBook B5 is available in 14-inch and 16-inch versions and features Intel’s new Core Ultra 7 processors. Asus says there are options with (ancient) Nvidia GeForce RTX 2050 graphics (we need to confirm that), dual SSD configurations and dual, 64GB SO-DIMM DDR5 RAM modules.
Related: Asus ExpertBook B5 review
The 14-inch, magnesium-aluminium alloy model weighs just 1.3KG and is MIL-STD military certified. It’s available with 4G LTE and Wi-Fi 7 (CMA model only) internet connectivity.
The laptops’ I/O features include a Thunderbolt 4 port and Ethernet LAN. The hinge folds completely flat and the 16:10-ratio, slim-bezel touchscreen is compatible with an MPP 2.0 stylus.
These, too, feature AiSense IR cameras for Windows Hello log-in and AI noise-cancelling microphones. There’s also Asus’ ‘Private View’ tech to stop snooping eyes and a smartcard reader for security.
Asus ExpertBook CX54 Chromebook Plus (CX5403)
The new ASUS ExpertBook CX54 Chromebook Plus is powered by an Intel Core Ultra processor and supports up to 16GB of LPDDR5 RAM and 512GB storage.
It’s “Crafted with renewable energy” and is 30 per cent made from PIR recycled material. It weighs just 1.3KG and its, “Precision-crafted, all-metal chassis is finished in elegant Fog Silver.”
It has a 14-inch, 16:10-ratio, NanoEdge display with 89 per cent screen-to-body ratio and supports 100 per cent of the DCI-P3 colour space.
The touchscreen supports a USI stylus. Connectivity includes Wi-Fi 6E, two Thunderbolt 4 ports, two USB-A 3.2 Gen 2 ports and an HDMI 2.1 port.
There’s an 8-megapixel camera plus Ai-enhanced video tools. There’s also a fingerprint sensor, webcam privacy shield and a Google Titan C2 Security chip. It also features enterprise-level management tools like Zero-Touch Enrollment and Google Admin Console management.
16-inch Asus TUF Gaming laptops
The new 16-inch Asus TUF Gaming F16 gaming laptops have military-grade MIL-STD-810H toughness. They’re powered Intel’s new 14th-Gen Core i9-14900HX processors which are backed-up by fast, 2TB NVMe SSDs and DDR5-5600 RAM. They’re available with, up-to, an Nvidia RTX 4070 GPU.
Its AMD-powered counterpart, the ASUS TUF Gaming A16 FA607, features an AMD Ryzen 9 7845HX CPU and (also) up-to an RTX 4070 GPU.
Both laptops feature 84-blade, Arc Flow fans and a dust filter for efficient heat dissipation.
The TUF Gaming F16 and A16 laptops’ 16-inch, IPS displays have a 16:10 aspect ratio and 165Hz refresh rates. They’re available with Full HD or UHD resolutions and Nvidia G-Sync.
The TUF Gaming A16 also has Hi-Res Audio and Dolby Atmos technology and an HD webcam.
ASUS TUF Gaming F15/17 and A15/17 (FX507/707 and FA507/707)
The new 15 and 17-inch F15/17 and A15/17 gaming laptops feature, up-to, an Intel Core i9-13900H processor (F15/17) or an AMD Ryzen 9 Zen 4 processor (A15/17).
GeForce RTX 40-series graphics are supported. All 2024 models now include a MUX Switch and an empty M.2 NVMe PCIe Gen 4×4 SSD slot for boosting storage. Also for 2024, the improved cooling system features dual Arc Flow Fans with an 84-blade design that provides up to 13 per cent more airflow than previous generations and quieter operation.
We’ll review all the new models at High Performance Laptops as soon as they’re available.