What you need to know
- ASUS is debuting its brand new ZenBook 17 Fold at CES.
- Besides folding, it packs quite the spec sheet.
- The full launch isn't expected until Computex in the summer.
Is 2022 going to be the year the foldable PC really kicks off? If ASUS has anything to say about it, then yes. Revealed for the first time at CES 2022, the ZenBook 17 Fold OLED is the company's first foldable PC. And on a very early look, it's going to kick some serious ass.
The full launch of the ZenBook 17 Fold OLED isn't scheduled to happen until Computex in the summer in ASUS' backyard out in Taiwan, but it's kicking off the year in style with a sneak peek. There's plenty we still don't know about it, but we do have some snippets of goodness to get excited over.
ASUS ZenBook 17 Fold OLED
| Category | ASUS ZenBook 17 Fold OLED |
|---|---|
| Display | 17.3-inches (unfolded), 2560 x 1920, 4:312.5-inches (folded), 3:2100% DCI-P3, Pantone validated |
| Processor | Intel 12th Gen Core i7 U-series |
| Graphics | Intel Xe |
| RAM | Up to 16GB LPDDR5 |
| Storage | Up to 1TB PCIe 4.0 SSD |
| Front Camera | Dedicated IR Camera for Windows HelloBuilt in 5MP webcam |
| Security | Windows Hello |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.2 |
| Ports | 2 x Thunderbolt 4, 1 x 3.5mm audio jack |
| Audio | Harman/Kardon quad speakersAI noise cancellation |
| Battery | 75Wh65W USB-C charging |
Fully unfolded this is a pretty large device with a 4:3 aspect ratio and a massive 17.3-inches of screen real estate to play with. Imagine a 17.3-inch version of the iPad Pro and you're probably close to what this will be like. Of course, the beauty of a foldable is that it doesn't have to just be a massive tablet, you have options.
When folded, that display shrinks down to a 3:2 aspect ratio at 12.5-inches, and whichever way you choose to be, you have a full, proper wireless keyboard you can use with it. Alternatively, you can make use of an on-screen keyboard, it's up to you. The wireless keyboard that comes with the ZenBook 17 Fold OLED is the same full-sized layout that you will find on the rest of the 2022 ZenBook range, and with a kickstand built into the leather part of the device, you're never going to be looking for something to prop it up against.
Impressively, considering it's a foldable, you're getting a true Ultrabook processor inside from Intel as well as 65W USB-C charging, quad speakers, and Windows Hello support from a dedicated IR camera. Features like Windows Hello and Harman/Kardon audio are a staple of all 2022 ZenBooks, as is an OLED display, and that's also what you get on the ZenBook 17 Fold OLED. Here it also boasts a color sensor to detect the ambient light and change the tone of the screen to match for comfortable viewing. Much like Apple's True Tone on the iPad.
It's a shame we're still about half a year from seeing truly what this thing can do, but if foldables are going to be a thing in 2022, ASUS is certainly setting a high bar already.
