When Apple’s 2015 MacBook relaunch presented an impossibly small 12-inch laptop with enough power to run (most) everyday tasks, there was a general sense that we were witnessing the future of the form.
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ASUS has just revealed its new ZenBook 3 at the Zenvolution event in Taipei.
Though Asus hasn’t yet disclosed firm release dates for any of its new products announced at Computex today, Microsoft’s Windows Blog says that the ZenBook 3 will be available to buy “in Q3 this summer”. At 11.9mm, its body is 2mm thinner than the MacBook, while it weighs 10g less at 910g.
In royal blue in particular, the ZenBook 3 cuts a striking profile.
Asus says the secret behind the ZenBook’s design and build quality is the use of “aerospace-grade aluminum alloy”.
This lack of compromise extends to the ZenBook 3’s internals. It houses a Thunderbolt 3 connector and USB-C for charging, and a fingerprint sensor.
Apple hoped to revolutionize the thin and light category with its 12-inch MacBook in early 2015. It is powered by Intel’s Core i7 processor paired with up to 16GB of RAM. The company’s latest Windows 10 device offers more power than the MacBook in a thinner and lighter device.
As for making it so thin, Asus explains it developed the world’s thinnest 3mm fan to keep the laptop’s Core I-series processor cool while keeping it incredibly thin.
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For the pricing, the ZenBook 3 with entry level specifications – Core i5 CPU, 256GB SSD, and 4GB of RAM – will cost you $999, whereas the top-of-the-line model with Core i7 CPU, 16GB of RAM, and 4TB PCIe SSD will set you back by $1,999. It can provide up to 9 hours of battery life as well.
