3D graphics are becoming key elements in many of today’s multimedia experiences, from games to movies to mixed reality. Of course, these realistic-looking images don’t just pop out of thin air and require someone to take the painstaking work to craft them. Despite their 3D designs, the tools that artists and designers use are all stuck in the flat 2D world. Limitations in technologies and hardware meant that the only way that both creators and consumers could experience 3D in their full glory would be to don goggles and headsets that are often more work than they’re worth. Fortunately, the dream of a 3D experience without glasses is upon us, and ASUS’ new Spatial Vision 3D OLED displays are offering that to the people charged with creating those very same 3D content.
We naturally see the world in 3D, but our flat computer screens are locked to displaying only 2D images. 3D glasses and headsets fool our brains by feeding each eye a different part of the image, creating a composite stereoscopic image that approximates the sense of depth that comes so naturally to us. This does work, but at the expense of burdening our heads, obstructing our vision, and effectively limiting our movements.
ASUS Spatial Vision works on the same principle but has a few tricks up its sleeves to ditch the glasses requirement. Compatible laptops have two cameras that track the position of each eye in order to split an image into alternating slices that then get sent to the left and right eye separately, similar to how 3D glasses work. Thanks to this, it is possible to view 3D objects and content as naturally as you would view any 2D image on your laptop, but also as naturally as you would see any real-world object.
Glasses-free 3D technology isn’t entirely new, but most of it has been geared more toward experiencing 3D content in games and entertainment. In contrast, ASUS is positioning its Spatial Vision technology as a tool for content creators to more accurately form, view, and revise their 3D models. Whether you’re creating assets for games and movies, creating visualizations for presentations, or building the metaverse, ASUS Spatial Vision has you covered. And when you need to switch back to a more convenient 2D view, a simple click lets you switch back and forth thanks to a special 2D/3D liquid crystal switching layer.
ASUS Spatial Vision 3D OLED Technology will debut in the company’s new ProArt Studiobook 16 3D OLED laptop and as a configuration option for the Vivobook Pro 16X. The technology is already compatible with multiple VR and game creation platforms, such as SteamVR and Unreal Engine, as well as popular tools like Blender.
Custom keyboard enthusiasts may have a reason to switch loyalties for a near fully-customizable Asus ROG keyboard revealed at CES 2023. Pricing and availability details are scanty at the moment but that doesn’t stop us for luring over this premium mechanical keyboard with a three-layer insulated design for sound dampening.
Called the Asus ROG Azoth, the keyboard released alongside a range of gaming hardware – including a Wi-Fi router and a gaming chair – comes with a premium aluminum finish. Azoth feels refined and durable on the outside, but within it has been designed softly, way up, in three layers of foam cushioning so the peripheral delivers a more satisfying sound on every click.
The look of a keyboard is secondary anyway. The heart of a mechanical keyboard is the switches and that’s where Asus has put in a lot of genius to get it desirably right. These hot-swappable switches – customizable with your personal choice – are pre-lubed ROG NX mechanical switches.
Switches are provided in linear NX Red, tactile NX Brown, or clicky NX Blue: red meant for fast response, brown and blue, however, requiring slightly more pressure. For user convenience, Asus has trimmed the stem height of the keycaps to give them a Cherry keycaps profile for utmost typing comfort. But if that’s not enough for you, you can also swap out the original switches and replace them with your choice, effortlessly. Asus provides a lube kit with the keyboard for swapping convenience.
Beyond the switches and its aluminum layout, the ROG Azoth even convinces with a utility OLED display on the top right. The screen displays system information and notifications for you, which is also customizable with a three-way knob on the side.
Courtesy of the ROG SpeedNova wireless technology, the Azoth can connect wirelessly at 2.4GHz. The keyboard offers up to 2,000 hours of backup if RGB and OLED screen is turned off. For quicker on-the-go connectivity, you can sync up via Bluetooth and allow the Aura Sync function to tailor the built-in RGB backlighting to flaunt your style.
Although laptops have been a part of consumers’ lives for decades now, gaming laptops are still a bit of a novelty considering their target audience. You might not think that if you made rounds at CES 2023, though, or at least kept tabs on related news. There is a plethora of new notebooks from major PC makers, all geared toward gaming as well as content creation. Of course, gaming laptops aren’t new, and they even have the stigma of being bulky, heavy, and almost unwelcoming in appearance. This new generation of gaming laptops, however, do stand out from their peers in their stylish designs and especially their sizes, and the Republic of Gamers’ new Zephyrus M16 clearly sets itself apart with an aesthetic that will probably sing to more than just gamers.
Although it is actually an optional configuration, the defining feature of the 2023 Zephyrus M16 will most likely be its AniMe Matrix dot-matrix display on its lid. The brand’s second laptop to bear this rather quirky design, this display allows for a high level of personalization using images, text, animations, and the like. And with a 16-inch size, there’s an even bigger canvas for users to play with in terms of letting their personality shine through their laptop choice.
The ROG Zephyrus M16 (2023) has a design that is both simple yet bold. Intended to look stealthily stylish, the laptop bears a matte black color with an overfiring finish and a fingerprint-resistant surface. The chassis has been polished with ten grinding passes to completely remove any marks left over from the machining process. Those opting to skip the signature AniMe Matrix display won’t feel left out, as a Monochrome Film will be applied to the CNC holes that refract and reflect light in an eye-catching manner. The resulting look exudes an elegance that you won’t easily find in gaming laptops.
As a gaming laptop, the Zephyrus M16 isn’t just a pretty face, though. It is powered by the hottest combination available today, with a 13th-gen Intel Core processor paired with NVIDIA’s strongest GeForce for laptops to date, the RTX 40 series. Not only does this make the laptop excellent for gaming as it was intended, it can also be easily used for heavy work like content creation as well. The laptop is also equipped with ROG’s new Nebula Display HDR, which brings mini LED technology that you’re more likely to hear on TVs than on laptops. With finer control over dimming and brightness, the display promises breathtaking visuals whether you’re playing in a dark room or under bright light.
For all the power and features it bears, the ASUS ROG Zephyrus M16 (2023) comes with an equally powerful cooling solution, which includes Tri-Fan technology, Liquid Metal thermal grease, and Arc Flow Fans with 84 thin curved blades each. At under 2.1kg, the laptop still remains relatively portable, at least for a gaming laptop, giving you the freedom to bring it wherever you go and flaunt that personalized animated matrix display that brings out your and your laptop’s personalities.
Gaming smartphones have become quite a thing, even if almost all high-end smartphones are well capable of running those games anyway. This subset of the mobile market promises extra features to level up the gaming experience, like invisible extra buttons for additional controls or tiny cooling fans for better thermal management. Almost all of them also come with telltale designs of a gaming device in contrast to the more discreet looks of typical smartphones. All of these unconventional designs and features are, of course, intended to appeal to gamers, but none of these come for free. Sometimes, the price is quite literal, given how much these gaming smartphones cost. For one such special phone, however, the price also comes in the way you might least expect, especially if you accidentally sit down on or bend the phone out of proportion.
To be fair, ASUS’ Republic of Gamers, or ROG, needs to be lauded for putting out one of the most powerful smartphones this year as well as one of the most striking gaming phones so far. The white ROG Phone 6 Pro, in particular, delivers a unique and novel aesthetic that makes it look like it was taken straight out of a sci-fi movie set. The company’s attention to detail is definitely commendable as well, from the bulky yet interesting packaging to the embossed text on the glass back that exhorts the holder to “Join the Republic.”
There are also a few touches that would really appeal to gamers, like the small LCD display on the back that can be used to display logos and animations, not to mention notifications. There is also a second USB-C port on the side of the phone, allowing the user to play games while the phone charges without the cable getting in the way. The latter is completely new, though, since it was also present in last year’s ROG Phone 5. Unfortunately, the similarities between the two generations of gaming phones don’t end there.
YouTube channel JerryRigEverything’s typical torture test started well enough, with the phone doing quite well when it comes to scratching and burning the phone. That second test is admittedly now just for fun and tradition, but the scratch test inspires confidence that your gaming partner will survive your pocket or bag unscathed. Unfortunately, it might not survive a splash in the tub because of its meager IPX4 dust and water resistance rating.
Unfortunately, things take a nose dive immediately during the bend test. Just like its predecessor, the ASUS ROG Phone 6 Pro easily bent in half, suggesting that there may have been no significant improvement to its structural integrity. The rear glass completely shatters, though the small display ironically still works. The main screen is bent beyond repair and no longer works either. It still warrants a thorough investigation with a teardown, but the most likely culprits are the phone’s split batter design and the placement of that second USB-C port.
While you’re unlikely to try and bend a phone the way the YouTuber did, accidents do happen from time to time. It’s definitely not reassuring that a $1,300 phone like the ROG Phone 6 Pro could be so weak, especially when you consider it isn’t properly waterproof either. That doesn’t bode well for the sustainability of the phone in the long run since damages could easily mean throwing away the broken phone. The ROG Phone 6 Pro might look like it’s from the future, but it definitely didn’t make any progress in its durability and sustainability.
We’ve kicked off 2024 with a slew of new processors from Intel, NVIDIA and AMD, which means there should be plenty of refreshed laptops on the horizon. This year, the term you’ll probably hear the most is AI PCs, that is, computers with neural processors designed to speed up AI tasks. While it’s not necessary for you to buy a laptop just for the sake of AI this year, it’s a good thing to keep an eye on for future-proofing as more companies bring the likes of Microsoft’s Copilot or ChatGPT to their systems. Some notebooks even have dedicated Copilot buttons on the keyboard to make it easier to summon generative AI help.
Even if you’re willing to wait out the AI hype while you shop for your new laptop, there are still plenty of other specs to consider. Should you pay extra for more memory, or get a notebook with a larger screen? We've tested and reviewed dozens of the latest laptops, including Apple's latest M3 MacBook Air, to come up with top picks for the best laptops you can buy right now, along with buying advice that will hopefully help demystify the market.
What to consider before buying a laptop
Price
You probably have an idea of your budget, but just so you know, most modern laptops with top-of-the-line specs cost between $1,800 to $2,000 these days. That doesn’t mean you won’t find a good system for under $1,000 — a grand is the base price for a lot of premium 13-inch ultraportables, with chips like Intel’s Core i3 or i5 series. And if that’s too expensive, you’ll still have respectable options in the $600 to $800 range, but they might come with older, slower processors and dimmer screens. You could also consider configurations with AMD’s processors, which have become more reliable and speedy in recent years, while sometimes costing less. I’ve included our favorite budget-friendly model in this best laptop buying guide but we have a list of more-affordable laptop picks that you can check out as well.
Operating system: Apple, Windows or Chrome OS
After working out how much money you want to spend, your next decision is what operating system to choose. As expected, that’s slightly easier for people who prefer an Apple MacBook. Now that the company has brought its M-series chips to the whole lineup, with the Pro models sporting the third generation of those processors — your only real considerations are budget, screen size and how much power you need.
Over on Team Windows, however, the shift to ARM-based chips hasn’t been as smooth and it’s quite unlikely you’ll be considering one in 2024. Though Apple laptops have been able to bring huge increases in battery life while maintaining (and in some cases improving) performance with their own silicon, PC makers have been limited by Windows’ shortcomings. For now, it’s still safer to stick with an Intel or AMD processor.
As for whether you want a PC with a dedicated AI button on the keyboard, that depends on how often you see yourself using Microsoft’s CoPilot generative tools. Given we’re only just seeing the first slate of AI PCs, it would be wiser to wait out the hype and see what improvements might come over time.
Finally, if you don’t really need your laptop for a lot of complicated tasks and mostly want it for Netflix, shopping and Google Docs, it’s worth remembering there’s a third and fairly popular laptop operating system: Chrome OS. If you do most of your work in a browser, then a Chromebook might be good enough, and they’re usually more affordable, too.
Devindra Hardawar / Engadget
Connectivity
It’s worth pointing out that some recent models have done away with headphone jacks. While this doesn’t seem to be a prevalent trend yet, it’s a good reminder to check that a machine has all the connectors you need (otherwise, you'll have to spend more money on the necessary adapters). Most laptops in 2024 offer WiFi 6 or 6E and Bluetooth 5.0 or later, which should mean faster and more stable connections if you have compatible routers and devices. While 5G coverage is more widespread now, whether you need support for that depends on how much you travel and your need for constant connectivity sans-Wi-Fi.
Display size
Where you plan on taking your laptop also helps in deciding what size to get. Many companies launched new 14-inch machines in the last year, straddling the line between ultraportable and bulkier 15-inch laptops. For most people, a 14-inch screen is a great middle ground. But if you’re worried about weight and want a more portable laptop, a 12- or 13-inch model will be better. Those that want more powerful processors and larger displays will prefer 15- or 16-inch versions.
This Apple laptop is just a larger version of the 13-inch M3 MacBook Air. It's still quite portable at 3.3 pounds, and some will appreciating having just a tad more screen real estate all the time. Configuration options are the same as well; you can spec out the 15-inch Air with up to 24GB of RAM and 2TB of storage. But considering it starts off $200 more than the smaller model, it's primarily best for those who absolutely need a larger screen and are willing to pay for it.
FAQs
What is the average battery life of a laptop per charge?
Battery life will vary depending on the type of laptop you have and what you use it for. Gaming laptops have some of the shorter average battery lives in the notebook space because playing laborious titles causes battery to drain faster. You can expect between five and eight hours of life on a single charge with most gaming laptops, but don't be surprised if you actually get less use per charge if you're doing heavy things with it. As for regular laptops, you can expect roughly ten hours of life on the best models, but some will fall on the lower and higher ends of the spectrum.
What is the best storage capacity for a laptop?
There is no one-size-fits-all solution when it comes to laptop storage. Most of the best laptops will have configurations with 128GB, 256GB, 512GB and 1TB storage options, and we think most people will be served best by either of the two middle options: 256GB of 512GB. If you use your laptop to store tons of documents and files, or photos and videos, we recommend springing for extra built-in storage or investing in a portable SSD with which you can backup your most important files. It's also worth noting that Chromebooks tend to come with less built-in storage — 32GB, 64GB or 128GB — since Chrome OS encourages users to save their files in the cloud rather than on a device.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/best-laptops-120008636.html?src=rss
Gaming laptops are the true Transformers of the PC world: They’re powerful enough to play your favorite titles, but you can also harness their speed for media creation or extreme multitasking, like streaming high-resolution gameplay to Twitch. Today, you can even find a few that weight less than the smallest MacBook Pro, making them solid options for daily drivers as well. For the demanding Apex Legends player, or the power user just looking for a capable GPU to handle video encoding, it’ll be easier than ever to find the best gaming laptop to suit your needs — but sorting through the seemingly endless number of options can be taxing. We've tested and reviewed plenty of gaming laptops and we continue to do so as new models become available. Here, we outline our top picks for the best gaming laptops, along with everything you need to know before purchasing one.
What to look for in a gaming laptop
Price
Your laptop buying journey starts and ends with the amount of money you're willing to spend. No surprise there. The good news: There are plenty of options for gamers of every budget. In particular, we're seeing some great entry-level PC gaming choices under $1,000, like Dell's G15 lineup. A cheap gaming laptop in this price range will definitely feel a bit flimsier than pricier models, and they'll likely skimp on RAM, storage and overall power. But most cheaper laptops should be able to handle the majority of video games running at 1080p at 60 frames per second, which is the bare minimum you'd want from any system.
Things get interesting when you start looking at the best gaming laptops in the mid-range space, with prices at $1,000 and higher. At that point, you'll start finding PCs like the ASUS Zephyrus ROG G14, one of our favorite gaming notebooks. In general, you can look forward to far better build quality than budget gaming laptops (metal cases!), improved graphics power and enough RAM and storage space to handle the most demanding games. These are the gaming machines we'd recommend for most people, as they'll keep you gaming and working for years before you need to worry about an upgrade.
If you're willing to spend around $1,800 or more, you can start considering more premium options like Razer's Blade. Expect impeccably polished cases, the fastest hardware on the market, and ridiculously thin designs. The sky's the limit here: Alienware's uber customizable Area 51m is an enormous beast that can cost up to $4,700. Few people need a machine that high-end, but if you're a gamer with extra cash to burn, it may be worth taking a close look at some of these pricier systems.
CPU and GPU
The answer to this question used to be relatively simple: Just get an Intel chip with an NVIDIA GPU. But over the last few years AMD has stepped up its game with its Ryzen notebook processors, which are better suited for juggling multiple tasks at once (like streaming to Twitch while blasting fools in Fortnite). Intel responded with its impressive 12th and 13th-gen chips, but it’s nice to have decent Ryzen AMD alternatives available, especially since they’re often cheaper than comparable Intel models.
When it comes to video cards, though, AMD is still catching up. Its Radeon RX 6000M GPU has been a fantastic performer in notebooks like ASUS’s ROG Strix G15, but it lags behind NVIDIA when it comes to newer features like ray tracing. (We’re still waiting to test AMD’s new Radeon 7000 series mobile graphics.) At the very least, a Radeon-powered notebook can approach the general gaming performance of the NVIDIA RTX 3070 and 3080 GPUs.
If you want to future-proof your purchase, or you’re just eager to see how much better ray tracing can make your games look, you’re probably better off with an NVIDIA video card. They’re in far more systems, and it’s clear that they have better optimized ray tracing technology. NVIDIA GeForce RTX GPUs also feature the company’s DLSS technology, which uses AI to upscale games to higher resolutions. That’ll let you play a game like Destiny 2 in 4K with faster frame rates. That’s useful if you’re trying to take advantage of a high refresh rate monitor.
You’ll still find plenty of laptops with NVIDIA’s older RTX 30-series GPUs these days, and they’ll still give you tremendous performance. But to be safe, it’s probably worth opting for the newer RTX 40-series systems, since they support the newer DLSS 3 technology and offer a wealth of performance upgrades. (If you’re looking out for the best deals, you can probably find some killer RTX 3070 laptops out there.) The entry-level RTX 4050 is a solid start, but we’d suggest going for a 4060 or 4070 if you’re aiming to maximize your framerates on faster screens. The RTX 4080 and RTX 4090 are both incredibly powerful, but they typically make systems far too expensive for most users.
It’s worth noting that NVIDIA’s mobile graphics cards aren’t directly comparable to its more powerful desktop hardware. PC makers can also tweak voltages to make gaming performance better in a thinner case. Basically, these laptops may not be desktop replacements — don’t be surprised if you see notebooks that perform very differently, even if they’re all equipped with the same GPU.
Screen and refresh rate
Screen size is a good place to start when judging gaming notebooks. In general, 15-inch laptops will be the best balance of immersion and portability, while larger 17-inch models are heftier, but naturally give you more screen real estate. There are some 13-inch gaming notebooks, like the Razer Blade Stealth, but paradoxically you'll often end up paying more for those than slightly larger 15-inch options. We’re also seeing plenty of 14-inch options, like the Zephyrus G14 and Blade 14, which are generally beefier than 13-inch laptops while still being relatively portable.
But these days, there is plenty to consider beyond screen size. For one: refresh rates. Most monitors refresh their screens vertically 60 times per second, or at 60Hz. That's a standard in use since black and white NTSC TVs. But over the past few years, displays have evolved considerably. Now, 120Hz 1080p screens are the bare minimum you'd want in any gaming notebook — and there are faster 144Hz, 240Hz and even 360Hz panels. All of this is in the service of one thing: making everything on your display look as smooth as possible.
For games, higher refresh rates also help eliminate screen tearing and other artifacts that could get in the way of your frag fest. And for everything else, it just leads to a better viewing experience. Even scrolling a web page on a 120Hz or faster monitor is starkly different from a 60Hz screen. Instead of seeing a jittery wall of text and pictures, everything moves seamlessly, as if you're unwinding a glossy paper magazine. Going beyond 120Hz makes gameplay look even more responsive, which to some players gives them a slight advantage.
Steve Dent/Engadget
Not to make things more complicated, but you should also keep an eye out for NVIDIA's G-SYNC and AMD's FreeSync. They're both adaptive sync technologies that can match your screen's refresh rate with the framerate of your game. That also helps to reduce screen tearing and make gameplay smoother. Consider them nice bonuses on top of a high refresh rate monitor; they're not necessary, but they can still offer a slight visual improvement.
One more thing: Most of these suggestions are related to LCD screens, not OLEDs. While OLED makes a phenomenal choice for TVs, it's a bit more complicated when it comes to gaming laptops. They're mostly limited to 60Hz, though some models offer 90Hz. Still, you won’t see the smoothness of a 120Hz or 144Hz screen. OLEDs also typically come as 4K or 3.5K panels – you'll need a ton of GPU power to run games natively at that resolution. They look incredible, with the best black levels and contrast on the market, but we think most gamers would be better off with an LCD.
Devindra Hardawar/Engadget
Other things to remember when buying a gaming laptop:
Get at least 16GB of RAM. And if you're planning to do a ton of multitasking while streaming, 32GB is worth considering.
Storage is still a huge concern. These days, I'd recommend aiming for a 1TB M.2 SSD, which should be enough space to juggle a few large titles like Destiny 2. (If you can afford the jump to a 2TB SSD though, just do it.) Some laptops also have room for standard SATA hard drives, which are far cheaper than M.2's and can hold more data.
Get your hands on a system before you buy it. I'd recommend snagging the best gaming laptop for you from a retailer with a simple return policy, like Amazon or Best Buy. If you don't like it, you can always ship it back easily.
We review gaming laptops with the same amount of rigor as we approach traditional notebooks. We test build quality by checking cases for any undesirable flexible spots, as well as the strength of screen hinges during furious typing and Halo Infinite sessions. We benchmark every gaming notebook with PCMark 10, a variety of 3DMark tests, Cinebench and Geekbench. We also use NVIDIA’s Frameview app to measure the average framerates in Cyberpunk 2077, Halo Infinite and other titles. For media creation, we transcode a 4K movie clip into 1080p using Handbrake’s CPU and GPU encoding options.
Displays are tested under indoor and outdoor lighting with productivity apps, video playback and gameplay. We also try to stress the full refresh rate of every gaming notebook’s screen by benchmarking Halo Infinite, Overwatch 2 and other titles. Laptop speakers are judged by how well they can play back music, movies and the occasional game session with detail and clarity, and without any obvious distortion.
When it comes to battery life, we see how long gaming systems last with a mixture of real-world productivity apps and gameplay, and we also test with PCMark 10’s “Modern office” battery test. In addition, we’re judging the quality of a machine’s keyboard with typing tests as well as relative accuracy and comfort during extended gaming sessions.
Other gaming laptops we’ve tested
Framework Laptop 16
We were eager to test the Framework Laptop 16 since it promised both modular customizability and a decent amount of gaming power. But while we appreciated just how repairable and upgradeable it is, its actual gaming performance was middling for its high price. You could always buy it without the additional GPU, but that makes it more of a daily workhorse than a gaming system.
MSI Stealth Studio 14
On a brighter note, we were pleased to see MSI return to form with the Stealth Studio 14, which is far faster and more attractive than the previous model.
Razer Blade 16 and 18
We were amazed to see a genuine 4K/1080p native screen in the Razer Blade 16, but it’s far too expensive and impractical, even for such a pricey brand. Similarly, we found the Razer Blade 18 to be both oversized and overpriced.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/best-gaming-laptops-172033838.html?src=rss
Why choose between a gaming laptop and one meant for school when you can get a PC that does both? Gaming laptops are now cheaper and more powerful than ever, and many wouldn’t look out of place in a classroom. If you’re aiming to do some serious multimedia work alongside playing video games online, it’s worth taking a look at a dedicated gaming system. You can find general advice on choosing a gaming notebook in our guide. But if you want a few models that will be perfect for school and play, you’ve come to the right place.
Are gaming laptops good for school?
As we’ve mentioned, gaming laptops are especially helpful if you're doing any demanding work. Their big promise is powerful graphics performance, which isn't just limited to games. Video editing and 3D rendering programs can also tap into their GPUs to handle laborious tasks. While you can find decent GPUs on some productivity machines, like Dell's XPS 15, you can sometimes find better deals on gaming laptops. My general advice for any new workhorse: Get at least 16GB of RAM and the largest solid state drive you can find (ideally 1TB or more). Those components are both typically hard to upgrade down the line, so it’s worth investing what you can up front.
The one big downside to choosing a gaming notebook is portability. For the most part, we'd recommend 15-inch models to get the best balance of size and price. Those typically weigh in around 4.5 pounds, which is significantly more than a three-pound ultraportable. Today's gaming notebooks are still far lighter than older models, though, so at least you won't be lugging around a 10-pound brick. If you’re looking for something lighter, there are plenty of 14-inch options these days. And if you're not into LED lights and other gamer-centric bling, keep an eye out for more understated models (or make sure you know how to turn those lights off).
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/best-gaming-laptops-for-students-170026726.html?src=rss
They were ridiculed at first, especially by those from Apple’s camp, but the gigantic phones previously known as “phablets” have become the norm today. Naturally, there are now people wishing for the old days, with phones that don’t like they want to jump out of your hand and drop to the ground. These compact or mini phones are becoming rare, especially among the more premium smartphone models. Once in a while, however, there does come something that bucks the trend and offers something that seems to answer those cries. Based on an accidental leak from the manufacturer itself, the ASUS Zenfone 9 could very well be that blast from the past that you’ve been waiting to happen for a very long time.
Designer: ASUS
Smartphone design has always been a matter of making compromises. After all, you can’t throw everything, including the kitchen sink, inside a device that should still fit in your pocket. Today’s breed of smartphones almost make that impossible with their extra-large screens, and foldable phones were conceived as another form of compromise. Of course, one could just adopt a slightly smaller screen, and ASUS seems to be going old-school with its next high-end flagship.
Granted, 5.9 inches is hardly small compared to iPhones before the 2019 iPhone 11, but it’s significantly smaller compared to today’s premium devices. While it does mean that it has a more compact and handier size, it also means there’s less space to view content, especially with rather sizable bezels around the screen. To some extent, ASUS is prioritizing ergonomics over functionality, which seems to go in line with its vision of using the Zenfone 9 as a sports action camera with the right accessories.
The phone also has a headphone jack, something that has become almost extinct in smartphone designs. Even the modular and repairable Fairphone 4 has eschewed this connection in favor of a single USB-C port for both charging and audio output. With the Zenfone 9, however, you won’t have to ignore your wired audio equipment or spend for an adapter that you will often lose. It’s a subtle yet important feature for those who aren’t in the market to buy new speakers or headphones. And despite that gaping hole, the phone still boasts the highest dust and water resistance rating for its kind.
Unfortunately, the compact size of the Zenfone 9 makes the two cameras look even bigger than they would normally be, like two bulging eyes peeking from the phone’s back. As mentioned, ASUS seems to be aiming for practicality and ergonomics rather than aesthetics, and the Zenfone 9 won’t be a looker, at least not in a good way. In exchange, however, the phone’s main camera is being promoted to have 6-axis stabilization, which makes it a good tool for recording sports or active scenes. Given its smaller size, it would give you a better grip to make that happen as well.
Since the promotional video was taken down, it’s not entirely certain whether this is the final form of the ASUS Zenfone 9 or just an early concept. Given the mainline Zenfone’s history, it’s not that far from reality and could be the real deal. It’s definitely an outlier in the smartphone market, so it’s good that consumers still have a choice when looking for these rare features. Hopefully, next year’s Zenfone will be able to deliver the same things but in a more aesthetically pleasing package.
Our future could either go cyberpunk or utopia, and this gaming phone’s designs depict these possibilities.
Gaming accessories and peripherals almost have an unspoken rule about what is considered to be standard design rules. Predominantly black chassis is punctuated by RGB lights that shine like neon signage on a dark night. If that has you thinking of cyberpunk settings, it’s pretty close to the aesthetic that most gaming products embrace. Of course, there are other ways to view our future, one that embodies hope expressed in cleaner and brighter designs. This dichotomy of aesthetics is even more pronounced in the ASUS Republic of Gamers’ newest gaming phone, carrying a design that it describes as leaving the phone’s cyberpunk roots to venture further into the future and into the wider cosmos.
The ASUS ROG Phone 6 comes in two main designs split between Pro and non-Pro models. And while ASUS describes both as having evolved styles, it is really evident in only one of the two. The ASUS ROG Phone 6 still bears many of the design marks of the previous generations, especially in its black colorway. Most of the shapes and lines on its back are asymmetrical and askew, creating a bit of visual noise that conveys energy and eccentricity. Its RGB dot-matrix display is also a blast from the past, a trait that’s common in cyberpunk aesthetics.
In contrast, the ROG Phone 6 Pro comes only in a “Storm White” version, and it makes a sharp U-turn from previous aesthetics, heading towards a more utopian and space-centric view of the future. The lines are clean, the geometrical shapes are more balanced, and there is less in the way of distracting noise and details. A new color screen on the side of the phone is capable of displaying full pictures and animations, calling to mind the fancy HUDs in sci-fi props. The phone’s accessories have matching motifs, with mostly white bodies, a few black panels, and maybe a splash of RGB colors here and there.
Despite the futuristic theme, the ASUS ROG Phone 6 is pretty old-school in some aspects, and it’s not actually a bad thing. There’s still a headphone jack that’s all but extinct on high-end phones these days. And instead of a notch or a cutting-edge under-display camera, the phone has plain, narrow bezels, top and bottom. This does also come with the benefit of having some “dead space” for the holder’s palms when playing a game in landscape orientation. Of course, those same hands will also cover the headphone jack, so many gamers might opt for Bluetooth headphones instead at that point.
In terms of hardware, the ASUS ROG Phone 6 is pretty much what you’d expect for a phone designed and built for gaming. Its true test will be in its thermal management, which will determine how long the processor will be able to maintain its performance. Design-wise, the phone could mark a new phase for mobile gaming devices that are adopting cleaner aesthetics, a trend that seems to be growing in the wider gaming market if the latest console and PC designs are anything to go by.
While almost any high-end phone is really capable of gaming, there are a few that stand out as having been designed specifically for that purpose. These sometimes have “active cooling technology,” which pretty much just means it has a tiny fan spinning inside, almost like a miniature gaming laptop. These gaming smartphones take after PC counterparts in other ways as well, particularly with the generous use of RGB lights, dark finishes, and sometimes asymmetrical forms. Some gaming computers, however, started incorporating newer design languages that give off a different personality. It seems that the next version of ASUS’ gaming smartphone is following in those footsteps, and the ROG Phone 6 could probably be one of the most handsome gaming smartphones in the market.
If you are an avid gamer, the aesthetics of gaming devices and accessories might already be normal for you. The motifs employed by the likes of Razer, Dell’s Alienware, and ASUS’ Republic of Gamers all share similar elements such as those mentioned earlier. While the design language conveys images of speed, vibrancy, and activity, it may also speak of chaos, imbalance, and aggressiveness. Based on images shared by tipster Evan Blass, the ASUS Republic of Gamers Phones 6 might be anything but.
The phone might come in a predominantly white case, which in itself is already unorthodox as far as gaming products are concerned. It probably won’t be the only colorway available, but it will most likely be the most popular, given its novelty. Lines still don’t go straight up and down or sideways, but their appearance is more balanced here, forming a trapezoidal shape right in the middle of the phone. With the cleaner lines and lighter hues, the ROG Phone 6 takes on a more utopian appearance compared to the cyberpunk aesthetic of its predecessors.
There are still plenty of blacks and colors to go around, though they seem to be relegated to accessories. The AeroActive Cooler 6 add-on, for example, brings a dash of that RGB lighting to the phone, while a black DevilCase Guardian Lite Plus case offers a perfect contrast to the phone’s white shell. There is also a pair of white detachable controllers similar to the Nintendo Switch’s Joy-cons to complement and complete the look.
There does seem to be a small trend in the gaming market that is moving away from the stereotypical blacks and RGBs of gaming-related products. Dell’s latest Alienware desktops, for example, employ a similar white and light blue color scheme. The “trophy” PlayStation 5, of course, also aimed for a more futuristic visual with a splash of white and smooth curves. Whether it’s a passing fad or a new movement, we’ll have to see if these products catch on with gamers who can be very particular about the way their gaming gear looks.
As for the specs, the ASUS ROG Phone 6 will undoubtedly be a powerhouse, boasting at most 18GB of RAM, which sounds almost overkill for a phone. It will be interesting how it will perform in the camera department, though, since it is an area that’s often overlooked by gaming phones. The phone is expected to debut on the 5th of July, so it won’t be long before we behold the real thing.
