ASUS introduces foldable Windows tablet with 17.3-inch OLED display – Computer – News

ASUS has developed a foldable Windows PC in collaboration with Intel and BOE. The ZenBook 17 Fold OLED looks very much like the prototype that Intel showed off two years ago. When opened, the device has a 17.3-inch screen with a 4:3 aspect ratio.

The OLED screen has a resolution of 2560×1920 pixels and the panel comes from the Chinese company BOE. According to ASUS, the device can be used in several ways. For example as a laptop, by folding half the screen and using the bottom half as a virtual keyboard. Then the workspace corresponds to a 12.5-inch screen with a 3:2 ratio and a resolution of 1920 x 1280 pixels.

ASUS also includes a physical keyboard the same width as the tablet. This accessory fits in the lower half of the screen and has a magnet to keep it in place. Connect via bluetooth. The keys have a travel distance of 1.4 mm and dimples with a depth of 0.2 mm. Inside the tablet is a 12th generation Intel U-series processor. The maximum is a Core i7-1250U, along with 16 GB of RAM. The device is equipped with a 75 watt battery and weighs 1.6 kg. In combination with the keyboard, this is about 2 kg.

The edge of the screen houses a webcam with a 5-megapixel sensor, and the tablet also has a color sensor to adjust color reproduction and screen brightness with ambient light. In addition, there is an infrared camera in the tablet, which can be used to sign in with Windows Hello.

The thickness of the device when opened is 8.7 mm and when closed is 17.4 mm. ASUS says the hinge has been tested to open and close 30,000 times. ASUS did not provide exhaustive technical details about the hinge and foldable construction in the ad.

Much like ZenBook 17 Fold Intels Horseshoe Bend Concept, which was shown by Intel two years ago as a prototype at CES. Intel already indicated at the time that it would not release this same device, but other manufacturers could do so. ASUS may also have been involved in this concept at the time and the same screen was used.

Intel Horseshoe Bend prototype shown two years ago at CES 2020

Windows foldable discs are nothing new. At CES 2020, Dell also demonstrated concepts of such devices and Lenovo presented the 13.3-inch ThinkPad X1 Fold which has already appeared on the market. This device was introduced in March last year for about 3,300 euros and is currently in Pricewatch For about 2,400 euros.

ASUS is showing off the ZenBook 17 Fold OLED at CES and says the device will hit the market in May. It is not yet known if the tablet will also be released in the Netherlands and Belgium. The manufacturer has not yet announced a suggested retail price.