Asus ROG unveils Zephyrus S17 and M16, gaming notebook with RTX 3000 and Tiger Lake
Asus ROG unveils Zephyrus S17 and M16
Asus ROG has announced the new Zephyrus S17 and Zephyrus M16, gaming notebooks equipped with Nvidia RTX 3000 GPUs and latest generation Intel Tiger Lake H processors. These are high-end solutions, dedicated to gamers and content creators who do not like to compromise, even when working or playing on the move.The ROG Zephyrus 17 is equipped with an Intel Core Tiger Lake H series processor and an RTX 3080 with a 140W TGP and uses an intelligent cooling system to keep internal components at bay: the keyboard rises, allowing the fans to collect more fresh air and keep temperatures under control more easily; then the inclination not only improves the cooling, but also the use and the writing. Returning to the technical specifications, next to the latest generation processor and video card we have the possibility to install a maximum of 48GB of DDR4-3200 RAM and up to three PCIe 4.0 SSDs with RAID0 support (two managed by the CPU, one by the chipset), also on board the notebook we find Wi-Fi 6 card, an SD card reader, a Thunderbolt 4 port with Power Delivery, a USB 3.2 type C also with Power Delivery, three USB 3.2 type A, 3.5mm jack, LAN port and HDMI 2.0b.
As for the screen, you can choose between two 17 "panels with G-Sync, one with WQHD resolution (2560 × 1600 pixels) and a refresh rate of 165Hz and one with 4K resolution and 120Hz refresh rate. Both offer 100% coverage of the DCI-P3 space and are Pantone certified, plus there is a webcam at the top of the display, absent on previous models. Despite the 17 "screen, the Zephyrus S17 is quite compact: it measures 39.49 × 26.43 × 1.99 cm, for a weight of 2.6kg.
The keyboard uses opto-mechanical switches with a stroke of 1.9mm and per-key RGB lighting, customizable via Aura Sync. The layout is slightly different from the usual: the numeric keypad is in fact placed above the directional arrows, not on the right as usually happens. On the top left, just above the keyboard, is the volume control wheel, larger than the one on previous models and customizable. The audio sector is entrusted to 6 speakers with support for Dolby Atoms and Smart AMP technologies, while the battery is 90Wh and supports fast charging via the 280W power supply.
On board the Asus ROG Zephyrus M16 instead we find an 11th generation Intel Core Tiger Lake processor combined with an RTX 3070, accompanied by a maximum of 48GB of DDR4-3200 RAM and up to 2TB of storage space via NVMe PCIe 4.0 SSD. In 35.5 × 24.35 × 1.99 cm (and a weight of only 1.9kg) Asus has inserted a 16 ″ screen with 16:10 aspect ratio, WQHD resolution (2560 × 1600 pixels), frequency 165Hz refresh rate with Adaptive Sync and 3ms response time, resulting in a 94% screen-to-body ratio. The panel is of the IPS-Level type and guarantees 100% coverage of the DCI-P3 space, it is also Pantone and Dolby Vision certified.
Also in this notebook we find a webcam above the display, 90Wh battery with fast charging and an audio system with 6 speakers and Smart AMP and Dolby Atmos technology, Hi-Res certification and AI-based two-way noise-canceling microphones. The supplied ports include a USB type C with Thunderbolt 4 and support for Power Delivery up to 100W, a second USB 3.2 type C with Power Delivery, two USB 3.2 type A, microSD reader, HDMI 2.0b, 3.5mm jack and port LAN. Finally, there is no lack of support for Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.2 connectivity.
Among the other features of the Zephyrus M16 we find a membrane keyboard with 1.7mm stroke, fingerprint reader integrated in the power button and lid with prismatic coating: the finish is the same half classic and half "matrix" that we have seen on other ROG models of the last period and which gives a certain uniqueness to the notebooks in the range, but this time it has been coated with a particular material which reflects light and divides its spectrum. Thanks to this coating, the notebook is “colored”, almost as if the lid were covered with RGB LEDs.
The new Asus ROG Zephyrus S17 and Zephyrus M16 will be available in the coming weeks. Unfortunately for the moment we have no information regarding prices and configurations for the Italian market.
ASUS ROG goes big with the 16-inch Zephyrus M16 and 17-inch S17
Given our glowing reviews for ASUS ROG's Zephyrus G15 and G14, it's obvious we're big fans of the company's gaming handiwork. Next up for ASUS: a pair of big-screen machines. The Zephyrus M16 squeezes a 16-inch Quad HD screen into a case that's 5 percent smaller than last year's M15. And the new 17-inch Zephyrus S17 now has a rising keyboard, similar to what we saw on the Zephyrus Duo.
Gallery: ASUS ROG Zephyrus M16 and S17 | 6 PhotosGallery: ASUS ROG Zephyrus M16 and S17 | 6 PhotosNaturally, both machines will feature Intel's powerful new H-series CPUs, as well as NVIDIA's RTX 30-series GPUs. The slim Zephyrus M16 can be equipped with up to an RTX 3070, while the S17 can go all the way to an RTX 3080. You can think of these machines as a step up to the smaller Zephyrus G lineup, with slightly more premium designs. The M16's 16-inch display sounds impressive on paper, with a 165Hz refresh rate, adaptive sync support and a tall 16 by 10 aspect ratio. It also supports Dolby Vision and covers 100 percent of the DCI-P3 gamut, so you can expect bold colors to pop more than usual.
I'm particularly eager to see the M16 in action, if only to gawk at its slim 4.6mm screen bezels. This year, ASUS also managed to shave down the bottom bezel, which gives it an enormous 94 percent screen to body ratio. From the renders we've seen, it almost looks like the screen edges disappear completely. The M16 doesn't seem particularly hefty either — it weighs 4.19 pounds, slightly less than the 4.3-pound MacBook Air 16-inch.
For those who need the most screen space possible, the Zephyrus S17 also seems like a solid upgrade over last year's model. The rising keyboard allows for more ergonomic typing. And most importantly, it'll create better airflow, which is particularly important if you want to run an RTX 3080. You've got two 17.3-inch panel options, a 165Hz Quad HD screen with G-SYNC and NVIDIA's Advanced Optimus technology (which can easily swap between integrated and discrete graphics), and a sharper 120Hz 4K screen with adaptive sync.
The Zephyrus S17ASUS
The S17's bezels aren't as razor-thin as the M16, but the displays should still look fantastic, with Dolby Vision and full DCI-P3 coverage. ASUS says both the M16 and S17 can also hit 500 nits of brightness, which should make them strong HDR contenders, as well as decent outdoor notebooks. Just be prepared to lug the Zephyrus S17 around, as it weighs a hefty 5.73 pounds.
ASUS says both the Zephyrus M16 and S17 should be available in the second quarter. We don't have any pricing details yet, but you can expect them to cost far more than the relatively affordable Zephyrus G lineup.
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