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ASUS CEO resigns as company shifts mobile focus to power users
Earlier today, ASUS announced that long-time CEO Jerry Shen is stepping down ahead of "a comprehensive corporate transformation" -- part of which involving a new co-CEO structure, as well as a major shift in mobile strategy to focus on gamers and power users. In other words, we'll be seeing more ROG Phones and maybe fewer ZenFones, which is a way to admit defeat in what ASUS chairman Jonney Shih described as a "bloody battlefield" in his interview with Business Next.
Microsoft’s Black Friday deals include discounts on Surface devices
Microsoft already announced its Xbox Black Friday deals -- which include $100 off an Xbox One X -- and now it's previewing the discounts you can expect on its Surface line. You'll be able to save $300 on the Surface Laptop 2 in black and up to $50 on the Surface Go. There are also multiple discounts available for Surface Pro devices. Microsoft is knocking off $260 from its Surface Pro 6 (Intel Core i5/128GB SSD) and platinum Signature Type Cover bundle, as well as $330 from either the i5/256GB SSD or i7/512GB SSD configurations when bundled with a Type Cover keyboard. You can also save $310 on a Surface Pro (5th Gen) Intel Core M and Platinum Type Cover bundle.
ICYMI: Catch up on a busy week of Engadget reviews
It has been a busy few weeks when it comes to product announcements, and that means we at Engadget have been reviewing a number of new devices. This week alone we shared our thoughts on laptops from Lenovo, Microsoft, Apple and ASUS, breaking down what each does well and what we think needs some work. We also took a look at the new iPad Pro -- which might as well be a laptop, given its price and the way Apple is positioning it -- and, for a change of pace, BMW's "hybrid supercar," the i8 Roadster.
ASUS ZenBook S review: Just a decent laptop
ASUS has cranked out so many laptop variations over the years that it's a little hard to be surprised by a new traditional clamshell notebook. But the ZenBook S represents an intriguing combination of portability, power and design. It's extremely thin and light, offers some solid specs, and features an odd hinge design that props the keyboard up at a slight angle. Oh, and it comes in a shiny, attention-grabbing maroon color. Of course, there are dozens of Windows laptops on the market at any given time, and many of them have more modern and, let's face it, exciting hardware designs. But if you don't care about getting a laptop with a detachable keyboard or a 360-degree hinge, the ASUS ZenBook S delivers almost everything we could ask for from an ultraportable.
The best laptops to give as gifts
Even at the cheaper end, laptops make for expensive gifts, and with tons of options out there, choosing the right one can be overwhelming. Let us help simplify things for you. If you check out our 2018 holiday gift guide, you'll see we narrowed our shortlist to just half a dozen machines. Dell's latest XPS 13 is a terrific all-rounder if you're looking to buy someone a Windows laptop. AGigabyte's lightweight Aero 15X, meanwhile, is a solid choice for those who want to play games on the go. Our picks also include Microsoft's Surface Go, the ASUS Chromebook Flip and the updated MacBook Air, which is so new it hasn't even begun shipping yet. Whether you're buying for a gamer, a person with basic needs, or someone overdue for a new ultraportable, we think we've found someone for nearly everyone.
ASUS' latest low-cost Chromebooks are available now
Just because there's been a slew of premium Chrome OS devices in recent weeks doesn't mean you'll have to go without modern, budget-friendly options. ASUS has launched its latest Chromebook designs in the US, and they're tempting if you want some basic computing with a little bit of flair. The 11.6-inch Chromebook C223, 14-inch C423 and 15.6-inch C523 all sport narrow-bezel displays, up to 10 hours of battery life and a mixture of both USB-A and USB-C ports (plus microSD slots) to accommodate all your peripherals. The two larger systems also have 180-degree hinges and options for both 1080p and touch.
How to buy a gaming laptop in 2018
It used to be tough to find an ideal gaming laptop -- one that didn't feel like a sack of bricks and have awful battery life. Now we have the opposite problem: There are a ton of great options! They're huge improvements over what came before in almost every way. And, best of all, they also pack in enough power to rival gaming desktops. So how do you actually choose what to buy? It's easier than you think -- once you know what to look for.
Lenovo retakes the top spot in PC shipments
Happy days are here again for Lenovo, though not for most of the PC industry. The Chinese tech firm has reclaimed the top spot for PC shipments in both Gartner and IDC market share estimates for the third quarter of the year, pushing past HP to scoop up roughly 24 percent of the market. The analyst groups chalked up the growth to both the addition of Fujitsu, better business PC sales and a smarter North American strategy. For most others, though, the season was a mixed bag.
Pre-order ASUS' ROG gaming phone on October 18th
ASUS Republic of Gamers (ROG) announced the release date of its gaming-oriented smartphone today. The ROG Phone will be available for pre-order on October 18th for a starting price of $899 for the 128 GB version. The 512 GB model will cost $1,099. There isn't any word on ship date yet, though accessories for the device will be available starting in Q4.
The Asus C423 is an ultra-thin mid-range Chromebook
After HP launched its thinnest convertible Chromebook yet, Asus has also announced a super-thin Chromebook of its own. With a height of 16.1 mm, the C423 is only 0.1 mm thicker than HP's and the one you'd probably go for if you have a tight budget. While Asus hasn't released its pricing yet, it has some components that scream mid-range unlike HP's premium contender.
ASUS' new ZenBooks have the thin bezels that 2018 demands
It wasn't all that long ago when ASUS brought out the oddly refreshing ZenBook Pro and the superslim ZenBook S, but the company hasn't forgotten its slightly more affordable offerings. For IFA this year, ASUS has updated its original ZenBook line with not only Intel's new Whiskey Lake U-series processors, but also a new four-sided, nearly frameless design with up to 95 percent screen-to-body ratio. And that's not all; ASUS still manages to tuck a 3D infrared HD camera into the top bezel, as opposed to making do with an ordinary camera farther down the body that's usually to blame for some not-so-flattering nostril shots.
What to expect at IFA 2018
Of all the annual meetings of tech-obsessed minds, IFA is perhaps the most unpredictable. You know everyone and their mother is going to CES to set the tone for the year, and MWC is all things mobile. At IFA, though, you never quite know what surprises lurk behind the floor-to-ceiling displays of kitchen appliances that dominate the halls of the sprawling Messe Berlin conference center. History and rumors give us some idea, however. Naturally, we'll be on the ground to bring you all the important news, but these are some of things we expect to see announced at this year's show.
ZenBook Pro 15 review (2018): The touchscreen touchpad is no gimmick
With the ZenBook Pro, ASUS is finally starting to out-innovate Apple. Mostly, that's because of the ScreenPad, a display that's tucked beneath the ZenBook Pro's trackpad. It's a similar concept to the MacBook Pro's TouchBar, but it can actually be used as a tiny second monitor for basic multitasking. That's potentially much more useful than some LCD function keys. The ScreenPad isn't quite perfect, but it's one of the most intriguing twists on modern laptop designs that we've seen. It's just too bad the ZenBook Pro's battery life holds it back.
ASUS unveils an even thinner Zephyrus gaming laptop
Ever since its debut at Computex last year, the ASUS ROG Zephyrus represented the company's vision for the future of gaming laptops. It was incredibly thin, and it packed in the fastest mobile graphics around, NVIDIA's GTX 1080 Max-Q (it's just a shame the battery life was weak). ASUS followed that up with the Zephyrus M in April, which opted for a more traditional keyboard design and slightly less powerful GTX 1070 Max-Q graphics. But of course, it's not stopping there. Today, the company unveiled the Zephyrus S, its thinnest gaming laptop yet.
ASUS' Android Go phone comes to the US for $110
The first Android Go phone to reach the US, the Alcatel 1X, was frankly lackluster between its not-even-720p screen and mediocre processing power. ASUS, however, is hoping to spice things up by launching the ZenFone Live (L1) in the US as a Best Buy exclusive. The unlocked handset costs slightly more than its rival at $110, but you're getting a lot more for your extra Hamilton. The ZenFone carries an 18:9 ratio, 5.5-inch 1,440 x 720 LCD screen, a speedier Snapdragon 425 processor and a heftier 3,000mAh battery, not to mention dual nano-SIM slots and a place for your microSD cards. This might be an ideal phone if you're a traveler who'd rather not risk their main device on a trip.
EU fines ASUS, Philips and others for online price fixing
Days ago, the EU Commission fined Google a record-setting €4.3 billion ($5 billion) for antitrust violations. Now it's handed down a combined €111 million in fines to four electronics manufacturers for fixing online resale prices for their devices and appliances, which is a breach of European Union competition laws.
We have questions about dual-screen laptops
At Computex, ASUS and Intel showed off what they think could be the future of computing: true dual-screen laptops. Open up what's currently called Project Precog, and all you will see are two panes of glass that can be used in a variety of ways. It's a laptop! It's a dual-screen desktop! It's a lay-flat tabletop machine for board games! And that's not all, because you can use it in tent mode to show two things off to two people at once.
Microsoft and friends need to explain why always-connected PCs make sense
It's been over a year since Microsoft, Qualcomm and Intel unveiled the Always Connected PC (ACPC) ecosystem at WinHEC 2016. At Computex 2017, we learned about Qualcomm's undertaking to power PCs with its mobile processors and Intel pledged to support eSIM in all its coming radios. The first wave of devices trickling out haven't gained much traction with the public, though. Despite some fairly obvious benefits, like a constant connection to gigabit LTE, long-lasting batteries and thin, fanless designs. Plus, Sprint is offering free data this year with each Snapdragon-powered device.
A brief (and depressing) history of gaming phones
ASUS' surprisingly ambitious ROG Phone is a clear sign the company has confidence in the gaming smartphone category. And it wasn't that long ago that the likes of Razer, Xiaomi and Nubia thought they saw an opportunity for a cash grab here. But as history has shown, gaming hardware is risky business, especially a segment this niche. Remember, not even Nokia at the height of its powers could crack the gaming phone equation with its legendary infamous N-Gage. While we wait for the ROG Phone to arrive later this year, let's take a stroll down memory lane and revisit some of its precursors.
Here's everything you missed at Computex 2018
It's been a wild week at the world's largest PC show. From an extremely high-spec gaming phone to a touchscreen trackpad and a gorgeous dual-screen AI-powered laptop, ASUS pulled out all the stops to impress the world from its turf here in Taiwan. But ASUS wasn't alone in showing off some impressive new products at Computex 2018. Qualcomm unveiled the Snapdragon 850, its first built-for-Windows processor, while Intel and AMD launched chips with more cores and at higher clock speeds than before. Meanwhile, NVIDIA announced a new platform specifically for smarter robots and Microsoft introduced a new category of displays that are basically DIY Surface Hubs.
