COMPUTEX 2016: ASUS launch ZenBook 3, Transformer 3 and Transformer 3 Pro

ASUS didn’t just announce phones and a robot at COMPUTEX today, they also announced a MacBook killer and a couple of Surface clones in the form of the ZenBook 3, Transformer 3 Pro and Transformer 3. You can check out our coverage of the company’s ZenFone coverage here . ZenBook 3 This new generation of ZenBook has been completely redesigned and crafted from aerospace-grade aluminium alloy with an 11.9mm chassis. The device is available in 3 colours, Royal Blue, Rose Gold and Quartz Grey and is powered by an Intel Core i7 processor with 16GB RAM at 2133MHz. You can configure the ZenBook 3 with a 1TB PCIe SSD if you like. The device sports USB Type-C, Harmon Kardon branded speakers and a “high-resolution” 12.5 inch display with a 72 percent NTSC colour gamut. The display is also protected by Corning Gorilla Glass 4. The base model offers an i5 CPU, 4GB RAM and 256GB SSD, but you can upgrade it to the aforementioned configuration if you so desire. All models will get a USB Type-C port and Harman Kardon speakers. It also has full-size backlit keyboard along with a glass-covered “precision” touchpad that has support for smart gestures, and, more importantly, handwriting. ASUS has provided a built-in fingerprint reader with Windows Hello support for instant and secure login. The battery life for the ZenBook 3 is upto 9 hours, but that will vary on the usage scenario. In addition to this, the device supports fast-charge and you’ll be able to take it from dead to 60 percent in 49 minutes. ASUS Transformer 3 Pro ASUS Transformer 3 Pro is the latest entrant in the Transformer Series by the company and it comes in a 2-in-1 PC form factor. The device is crafted from aluminum with the thickness going up to 8.35mm. It will be available in Gorgeous Icicle Gold and Glacier Gray colours. The 12.6 inch device provides 2880x1920 resolution at 275ppi pixel density and  gamut a of 121% sRGB colour space. The form factor closely resembles that of the Surface Pro series with the inclusion of integrated metal kickstand with stepless hinge further strengthening that observation. ASUS Transformer 3 Pro comes with ASUS Transformer Cover Keyboard, a backlit keyboard with laptop-grade keys available in Stone, Charcoal, Taupe and Amber colours. The device is powered by an Intel Core i7 processor with 16GB of RAM running at 2133mHz and up to 1TB PCIe SSD support. It sports reversible USB Type-C connector with USB 3.1 and Thunderbolt 3 support for transfer speeds up to 40Gbps and dual external 4K UHD displays. In addition, the device sports a USB 3.0 and HDMI port. ASUS Transformer Pro 3 has a 13MP rear camera and a front-facing Windows Hello facial-recognition-enabled camera. It will be available with accessories to enhance and add flexibility to its operations. These include the ASUS Pen, ASUS Universal Dock with full range of connectivity ports from USB-C 3.1, USB 3.0, HDMI, VGA, RJ45 LAN, to a 3-in-1 SD card reader and ASUS Audio Pod. ASUS Transformer 3 ASUS Transformer 3 is the second new device unveiled in the ASUS Transformer series. It has is a 12.6 inch display with specs similar to ASUS Transformer 3 Pro, packed in an aluminum body weighing just 695g with a thickness of 6.9mm. The device is equipped with ASUS Transformer Sleeve Keyboard with a 2 position display stand and a glass-covered precision touchpad. It is available in Icicle Gold and Glacier Gray with the Sleeve Keyboard available in Stone, Charcoal, Taupe, and Amber. Transformer 3 comes with ASUS Tru2Life Video technology and high-quality speakers by Harman Kardon. It is powered by a 7th Generation Intel Core processor with up to a 512GB SSD as an option and 8GB RAM. The device offers the same connectivity options as the Transformer 3 Pro. Transformer 3 supports the accessories provided for Transformer 3 Pro to extend it’s functionality and performance. Disclaimer: Our correspondent was invited for Computex 2016 by ASUS India. All travel and accommodation expenses have been take care of by ASUS India.