Asus ZenBook 3 looks just like a MacBook, except it runs Windows 10
BERLIN -- Apple's new MacBook is the belle of the laptop world even if this year's update was a little disappointing. However, if you like the compact form factor, but wish it ran Windows 10, Asus has the perfect laptop for you.
Announced at IFA 2016, the ZenBook 3 is the spitting image of the 12-inch MacBook, except you know it's made by Asus and runs Windows 10.
As part of Asus's "Zenvolution" IFA product announcements, which include the ZenWatch 3 and Transformer 3 Pro 2-in-1, the ZenBook 3 crams a 12.5-inch full HD screen into a 0.46-inch thick all-metal frame that also weighs two pounds, just like the MacBook. And as always the lid has Asus's signature "spun metal" finish.
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The compact laptop comes in three colors: Rose Gold, Royal Blue and Quartz Gray.
Asus is also taking a shot at Apple with a keyboard with slightly more travel: 0.8mm versus the MacBook's 0.5mm shallow key travel. Small as the ZenBook 3 is, Asus somehow managed to squeeze in a fingerprint sensor onto the trackpad for Windows Hello support.
Sadly, like the MacBook, the thin profile only has room for one USB-C port (it's not Thunderbolt 3) for charging, data and video output, and a headphone jack. Asus just swapped their positions compared to the MacBook.
Underneath the metal chassis is the latest 7th-gen Intel Core i5 or i7 processors, up to 16GB of RAM and up to 1TB of PCIe SSD storage. Battery life is rated at up to 9 hours.
Like so many of Asus's products, the ZenBook 3 features Harmon Kardan audio from its quad speakers.
Asus says it plans to launch the new laptop "soon" but didn't provide concrete details on when. The high-end model with Core i7 processor, 16GB of RAM and 1TB of SSDD will cost 1,999 Euro, which is about $2,227 at the moment.
Topics Windows
Raymond Wong is Mashable's Senior Tech Correspondent. He reviews gadgets and tech toys and analyzes the tech industry. Raymond's also a bit of a camera geek, gamer, and fine chocolate lover. Before arriving at Mashable, he was the Deputy Editor of NBC Universal's tech publication DVICE. His writing has appeared on G4TV, BGR, Yahoo and Ubergizmo, to name a few. You can follow Raymond on Twitter @raywongy or Instagram @sourlemons.
