With the introduction of the 11th generation Intel ‘Tiger Lake H’ processors, the ASUS Zephyrus M16 and S17 join the ROG roster as its latest entrants.
The M16 is almost like a Macbook Pro with a gaming laptop skin, complete with fancy CNC-milled perforations to help create a prismatic effect. Perhaps its most distinctive feature is the large 16:10 display with the tiniest of bezels (94% coverage). The Pantone Validated screen supports Dolby Vision and is certified for 100% DCI-P3 coverage, so this laptop is very viable as a designers tool as well. Coupled with a 165Hz refresh rate and 3ms response time, the M16 display looks good; or at least, sounds good on paper.
The M17 sports an ErgoLift hinge for improved cooling and ergonomics. Image: ASUS
That’s not all, of course. The slim profile is matched by a lightweight body measuring 1.9kg. It also features the ErgoLift hinge, which creates a gap between laptop and table to facilitate cooling a high-end graphics card. The M16 is specced for a range of GPUs, starting from the new NVIDIA RTX 3050 series right up to the familiar RTX 3070, and paired with equally high-end CPUs, up to a Core i9-11900H processor. The keyboard is the silent type and is coupled with a large touchpad, which lends itself well to an office environment.
The S17 takes cues from the Duo in the form of a keyboard that rises at an angle when the laptop is opened. The resulting channel that is created not only helps airflow but also makes typing far more comfortable. You’ll need that gap because the S17 is specced to take up to an RTX 3080 GPU along with an i9-11900H processor. The S17 sports an optical-mechanical keyboard to give you the feel of a traditional keyboard with enhanced responsiveness made possible by modern tech.
The S17 can accomodate up to a RTX 3080. Image: ASUS
You get a choice of two Pantone Validated displays that meet DCI-P3 requirements – WQHD resolution with 165Hz refresh rate and 3ms response time or 4K resolution with 120Hz refresh rate and 3ms response time. The first option offers G SYNC and Advanced Optimus (dynamic switching between internal graphics and discrete graphics) while the latter offers Adaptive Sync. Other perks include a 1080p webcam with a 3D mic array and a configurable multi-wheel for easy scrolling.
No word yet on the availability of these two, but we might hear some rumblings come June.
