ASUS Foldable Tablet

[Demon_Skeith]

Asus announced at CES 2022 today the Zenbook 17 Fold OLED, a foldable tablet the likes we haven’t seen before. I say this because, unlike the X1 Fold, this Zenbook has a massive display, a mainstream processor, and the latest connectivity standards.

Asus calls it a laptop but the Zenbook 17 Fold OLED is best described as a convertible tablet that can fold in half to turn into something similar to a Moleskin notebook. Spread open the Zenbook and you’ll look down at a continuous 17.3-inch, 2.5K (2560 x 1920) OLED touchscreen with a 3:2 aspect ratio and a 2-millisecond response time.

When unfolded, the Zenbook 17 Fold measures 14.9 x 11.3 x 0.46 inches but folds to become a 12.5-inch device with measurements of 11.3 x 7.45 x 1.25 inches. So yes, it’s thick in notebook mode, but then, the overall footprint is drastically reduced. And since it weighs just 3.75 pounds (or 4.4 pounds with the keyboard), you shouldn’t have any problems carrying it around. That said, holding this 17-inch tablet in your hand to watch YouTube or stream a movie might require stretching beforehand and an ice bath afterward.

Where the X1 Fold’s screen was too small to bend in half and use as two separate displays, the Zenbook 17's massive panel folds in the middle to create two 12.5-inch, 1920 x 1280 displays. This essentially puts the tablet into clamshell laptop mode, but the deck is replaced with a screen. You could use the on-screen keyboard, but since that’s a terrible experience 100% of the time, Asus is bundling in a Bluetooth keyboard with a touchpad and a respectable 1.4mm of key travel.

With the display bent at a 90-degree angle, you can either view one window that waterfalls down to the bottom half or split multiple windows into quadrants. To make that process easier, Asus created a software feature called ScreenXpert 2 and added a Mode Switcher app that dynamically responds to the orientation of the panel and is run on a i7 processor.

 

[Sharon]

There was a time when I would new technology like this and just hop on straight away. It's looks so cool! Being budget conscientious now though, I must sit back and let others take the lead. I suppose, it's good too because if I do pick this up eventually all of the kinks may be worked out.

 

[Ash]

Looks cool but I'm not entirely sure why people would need a foldable tablet. It's not like you're going to carry it in your pocket so you need it to be smaller.

 

[Demon_Skeith]

Looks cool but I'm not entirely sure why people would need a foldable tablet. It's not like you're going to carry it in your pocket so you need it to be smaller.

It would help reduce any damage, say if you left it on the table and would protect it from spills or anything set/thrown on it.

 

[Grungie]

It would help reduce any damage, say if you left it on the table and would protect it from spills or anything set/thrown on it.

They already have cases/covers for that.

 

[Artisan Vistra]

That description about needing to cool or stretch the tablet sounds like more of a chore than anything. Neat gimmick and bound to get smudges easier but there could be a great many visuals to see on it even in folded mode. Maybe even develop games and art projects specifically for the display.

 

[froggyboy604]

It looks expensive, and not worth it. I rather buy a regular tablet, screen protector, and a protective case.

 

[Pikamon]

"Foldable" is the most baffling gadget buzzword of the year

 

[Ash]

Spills I kind of get. But if something gets chucked at it whilst it's folded, there is still going to be a chance of something breaking. There's probably a higher chance of something going wrong in the folding area as well.

 

[Demon_Skeith]

They already have cases/covers for that.

expensive and not always form fitting, and now you wouldn't need one

 

[Grungie]

expensive and not always form fitting, and now you wouldn't need one

They're a helluva lot cheaper than what this tablet is going for.

 

[Demon_Skeith]

They're a helluva lot cheaper than what this tablet is going for.

true, but still a pain (as I had to sell them )

 

[Artisan Vistra]

expensive and not always form fitting, and now you wouldn't need one

But like I want it to be shockproof or waterproof too. If I watch movies in a jacuzzi.

 

[Demon_Skeith]

But like I want it to be shockproof or waterproof too. If I watch movies in a jacuzzi.

that's on the person if they are in a Jacuzzi lol.

 

[Artisan Vistra]

that's on the person if they are in a Jacuzzi lol.

Projector it is! Frick this tablet. XP

 

[froggyboy604]

expensive and not always form fitting, and now you wouldn't need one

eBay and Amazon has some affordable cases and screen protectors which offer enough protection for most users who want to prevent scratches to their tablet.

Users can also re-sell their used protective tablet case, so users can get back some of their money, or they may even earn an extra few dollars if there is a protective tablet case shortage caused by Covid19 tablet case factory closures because of social distancing restrictions.

 

[Artisan Vistra]

eBay and Amazon has some affordable cases and screen protectors which offer enough protection for most users who want to prevent scratches to their tablet.

Users can also re-sell their used protective tablet case, so users can get back some of their money, or they may even earn an extra few dollars if there is a protective tablet case shortage caused by Covid19 tablet case factory closures because of social distancing restrictions.

That really seems odd. Most people already have PCs before covid and for the number of laptop cases out there and how easy it is to get, I doubt for the need that would be there for travel or protection at home that they'd be out. They vary in size so much depending on what it is and for this screen here it feels really impractical but would also be treated as a laptop. Besides, I think I wouldn't want a used case and have it hold any germs and marks from previous owners.