ASUS has announced a wide range of upcoming gaming laptops and peripherals at CES 2021. ASUS held two different CES conferences, one for its ROG lineup and the other for other series of the company.
ASUS ROG has unveiled the ROG Flow X13 gaming laptop with the XG Mobile external GPU, the dual-screen ROG Zephyrus Duo 15 SE gaming laptop, Strix SCAR 17 gaming laptop, the 32-inch ROG Swift PG32UQ 4K 144 Hz gaming monitor ROG Claymore II gaming keyboard, and the ROG Gladius III Wireless gaming mouse.
ROG Flow X13
The ASUS ROG Flow X13 is an ultraportable 13-inch gaming laptop that is powered by AMD CPU and NVIDIA GPU. The laptop can be configured with up to an AMD Ryzen 9 5980HS mobile processor CPU and NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 mobile GPU. The Flow X13 has a flip design that allows the screen to flip 360 degrees for increased usage scenarios.
The laptop has a 120 Hz FHD panel option or a 60 Hz high res 4K panel both of which are protected by Corning Gorilla Glass. Flow 13 has great battery life and can offer up to 10 hours of gaming on a full charge.
The most interesting feature of the ROG Flow X13 is that it can be paired with XG Mobile which is an external GPU with NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 graphics. The XG mobile’s proprietary eGPU connector dedicates 63 Gbps of bandwidth exclusively to graphics. The external GPU device also has a dedicated USB 3.2 Gen 2 link, which feeds an I/O hub with extra connectivity, and an integrated 280W AC adapter, which powers both XG Mobile and the laptop.
ROG Zephyrus Duo 15 SE
The ROG Zephyrus Duo 15 SE is a 15-inch gaming laptop that also features the ROG ScreenPad Plus which is a secondary mini-screen on the device. ScreenPad Plus raises a few degrees when the laptop display is opened to give the user a comfortable viewing angle.
Coming to the specs, the laptop can be configured with up to an AMD Ryzen 9 5900HX mobile processor CPU and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 graphics. The laptop also has two different display options, a 120 Hz 4K display with 100% Adobe RGB color space coverage or a 300 Hz FHD display with a 3 ms response time.
The new model features an upgraded Active Aerodynamic System Plus for better cooling performance. The design provides an air intake underneath the secondary display to aid cooling. It features new Arc Flow fans that increase airflow by 13% over the previous generation.
ASUS has worked with different developers for better support for the Screenpad. ROG also worked with Adobe for additional content creation tools for some of its creative software.
ROG Strix SCAR 17
The ROG Strix SCAR 17 is a beast of a gaming laptop that can be configured with up to an AMD Ryzen 9 5900HX mobile processor CPU and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 graphics. The new model features a new cooling design for better thermal performance.
The SCAR 17 has the world’s fastest laptop display, which is a 360 Hz FHD panel with a 3 ms response time. Another display option is also available, a 165 Hz WQHD panel that has a DCI-P3 color gamut. Both options have Adaptive-Sync technology.
The laptop has a 90 Wh battery that provides up to 12 hours of video playback on a full charge. The SCAR 17 has a quad-speaker design and Dolby Atmos support. The laptop also has an optical-mechanical keyboard featuring per Key RGB lighting. The trackpad size increased 85% from the last model.
ROG Swift PG32UQ
The ROG Swift PG32UQ is the world’s first 32 -inch HDMI 2.1 gaming monitor and features a 144 Hz IPS panel with a 1ms moving picture response time. The monitor has two HDMI 2.1 ports which support 4K with a 120 Hz refresh rate for the next-gen consoles. The display also has DisplayPort 1.4 for 4K 144 Hz visuals.
Moreover, the ROG Swift PG32UQ is G-Sync compatible and supports ASUS Extreme Low Motion Blur Sync (ELMB Sync) technology and ASUS Variable Overdrive technology. The monitor is also DisplayHDR 600 compliant, has 160% sRGB and 98% DCI-P3 color gamut support, and is factory pre-calibrated to ensure Delta E < 2 color accuracy. ROG Swift PG32UQ will be available at the end of the first quarter of 2021.
ROG Claymore II
The ROG Claymore is ASUS’s first mechanical RGB keyboard to feature the new ROG RX Blue Optical Mechanical Switches. The switches have a unique design that provides almost no debounce delay so keys are immediately triggered the moment they are pressed. The keyboard is available in ROG RX Red switches as well.
The Claymore II supports both wireless and wired connectivity options. USB-C and 2.4 GHz RF wireless connections ensure lag-free connectivity. The 4,000 mAh battery provides up to 40 hours on a full charge. Claymore II has a magnetic wrist rest and a detachable Numpad that can be attached to either side of the 80% keyboard to suit various playstyles and gaming setups.
Rog Gladius III Wireless
The ROG Gladius III is a wireless mouse with an ergonomic shape and supports up to 19,000 dpi. The mouse has advanced tri-mode connectivity with wired, wireless 2.4 GHz RF and Bluetooth modes. The new and exclusive Push-Fit Switch Socket II supports both traditional 3-pin mechanical and 5-pin Omron optical micro switches, allowing the user to tailor button click and feel to suit their preferences.
The mouse has flexible, low-drag ROG Paracord cable and round-edged 100% TPFE ROG Omni mouse feet for a smooth glide.
ASUS revealed the products from other different series in the ‘Be Ahead’ launch event at CES 2021. ASUS introduced a wide variety of new laptops including ZenBook Pro Duo 15 OLED (UX582), ZenBook Duo 14 (UX482), VivoBook S14 (S435), ExpertBook B9 (B9400 vPro), Chromebook Flip CX5 (CX5500), Chromebook CX9 (CX9400), BR1100 for education and the TUF Dash gaming laptop.
In addition to these laptops, ASUS also revealed portable ProArt Display PA148CTV and ZenBeam Latte L1 projector.
ZenBook Pro Duo 15 OLED
The ASUS ZenBook Pro Duo 15 laptop is aimed at the productivity segment, powered by the latest generation Intel Core i9 processor and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 laptop GPU graphics. The laptop also features the ScreenPad secondary touchscreen having a 4K display.
The laptop’s I/O ports include two Thunderbolt 3 USB-C ports, and the latest Intel WiFi 6 (802.11ax). The laptop comes with 32 GB DRR4 Ram and a 1 TB PCIe 3.0 X 4 SSD. The laptop’s main display is 4K OLED HDR with VESA DisplayHDR True Black 500 certification. The frameless screen design features a 93% screen-to-body ratio for more immersive visuals.
ZenBook Duo 14
The ZenBook Duo 14 is a 14-inch notebook that also features a secondary screen that complements the main FHD NanoEdge display. The laptop is powered by 11th Gen Intel Tiger Lake processors with Intel Iris® Xe graphics or the option of NVIDIA GeForce MX450 discrete graphics.
The ZenBook Duo 14 has 4 USB C thunderbolt ports for easy connectivity. These support Power Delivery and DisplayPort, and the 40 Gbps bandwidth enables users to connect an external 8K display or two 4K UHD displays.
VivoBook S14
The ASUS VivoBook 14 is an ultralight 14-inch Intel Evo certified notebook. It is powered by an 11th Generation Intel Core i7 processor with Intel Iris Xe graphics and 16 GB memory. The laptop also has Intel Optane H10 memory for fast boot times. At only 1.3 kg light with a sleek 15.9-mm profile, the ultrathin VivoBook S14 is designed for premium portability.
The VivoBook 14 has 4 USB-C, USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A, and USB 2.0 ports for I/O connectivity.
ExpertBook B9
The next offering from ASUS is the ExpertBook B9, which the company is calling the next-generation portable laptop for businessmen due to its lightweight and sleek design. It is the world’s lightest 14-inch business laptop and has impressive internal specifications as well.
The ExpertBook B9 is powered by Intel’s latest 11th Gen Tiger Lake processors with graphics being powered by the new and powerful Intel Iris Xe graphics. The new processor provides plenty of processing power and the graphics make it more affordable whilst being able to perform all the necessary tasks.
The ExpertBook B9 features 32 GB LDDR4x RAM running at speeds of 4266 MHz and for storage, the notebook has dual 2 TB NVMe SSDs for lots of storage on the go. The notebook also has Intel WiFi 6 and Thunderbolt 4 for best in class connectivity speeds.
Chromebook CX9
ASUS has introduced the Chromebook CX9 for cloud-first operating systems and collaborative tools. It is powered by an 11th Generation Intel Core i7 processor with Intel Iris Xe graphics. ASUS Chromebook CX9 meets industry-leading MIL-STD 810H U.S. military test standards, and it features a durable, ultralight magnesium-alloy chassis that is 16 mm thin and around 1 kg light.
For business-grade protection, ASUS Chromebook CX9 is secure by design, offering Titan C security for storing sensitive information such as passwords and encryption keys. The laptop has USB C, USB Type-A, and HDMI ports for connectivity. ASUS Chromebook CX9 comes with a fingerprint sensor for password-free login and a webcam shield for added protection.
ASUS BR1100 for education
The ASUS BR1100 is an education-focused laptop with an ultra-tough chassis that can withstand everyday knocks. It is powered by an Intel Pentium Silver processor to deliver performance for a smooth experience with apps and learning tools.
The 42 Wh battery enables all-day battery life, and a 4G LTE option provides mobile internet connections for added portability. The laptop has USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 and USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A ports, an HDMI slot, and a microSD card reader.
The laptop can be configured with up to 16 GB RAM and storage up to 128 GB eMMC and a 1 TB M.2 SSD.
Chromebook Flip CX5
The Chromebook Flip CX5 is the first 15.6-inch Chromebook Flip to be powered by an 11th Generation Intel Core processor with Intel Iris Xe graphics. This notebook also supports Google Stadia and GeForce now so you can even enjoy cloud gaming on this device.
The 57 Wh battery in Chromebook Flip CX5 provides a battery life of up to 12 hours, and the laptop also delivers up to 16 GB of memory, storage of up to a 512 GB SSD, and a microSD card slot for expandability.
ProArt Display PA148CTV
The ASUS ProART Display PA148CTV is a 14-inch FHD IPS portable monitor that is aimed at content creators. The display features ASUS Dial and Virtual Control Panel for streamlining creative processes with shortcuts and programmable hotkeys.
PA148CTV delivers exceptional color with 100% sRGB and 100% Rec. 709 color spaces, and it is Calman Verified and factory pre-calibrated to provide Delta E < 2 color accuracy. With loads of I/O ports like USB C, micro HDMI, and tripod socket, the display can be used in various configurations.
ZenBeam Latte L1 projector
The ZenBeam Latte L1 projector has been awarded CES 2021 Innovation Award, a Good Design Award 2020, and a Taiwan Excellence Award 2021 due to its unique design. ZenBeam Latte L1 features a user-friendly remote control and a built-in battery that offers up to three hours of battery life on a single charge for portable use. It casts imagery with a 300-LED-lumens light and has a projection range of 40 to 120 inches.
What do you think of the latest gaming equipment and devices revealed by ASUS during their CES 2021 keynote? Which products would you be interested in getting your hands on? Let us know in the comments section below.
