But at the same time, it's actually kind of practical (and it doesn’t hurt that it reminds me of playing with Transformers as a kid). By fully deploying that 17.3-inch screen, suddenly you have a ton of extra space for productivity, gaming (well light gaming) or anything else. And because the detachable keyboard sits on top of the bottom half of the screen, you still get a very familiar mousing and typing experience.īut when you get to a hotel or cafe with a bit more room, that's when the real magic happens. This is great when you're trying to get work done on an airplane tray table or anywhere else space is a premium. In laptop mode, the ZenBook 17 Fold converts to a system that's similar in size to a 12.5-inch notebook. That said, I'm not trying to neg ASUS' lack of originality, because by going with a bigger 17.3-inch display (up from 13.3 inches on the ThinkPad X1 Fold), it created a hybrid that finally works as both a laptop and a portable all-in-one desktop of sorts.
Update your settings here, then reload the page to see it. This content is not available due to your privacy preferences. While it's a bit bulky, measuring 1.25 inches thick in clamshell mode and weighing just over four pounds including its keyboard (4.04 to be exact), the Zenbook 17 Fold is still lighter than a lot of similarly-sized traditional laptops like Dell's XPS 17. We have a big flexible OLED display (with no obvious crease, I should add) that's augmented by a built-in kickstand and a detachable magnetic keyboard that neatly fits inside the gap that forms when the system is folded in half. Sure, the Zenbook is a little prettier thanks to some leather panels and a bit of lovely frosted glass around back, but it's clear ASUS didn't try to deviate too much from Lenovo’s formula. Designįor the Zenbook 17 Fold it's almost as if ASUS took the blueprint for the ThinkPad X1 Fold, put it in a photocopier and then hit the enlarge button. But for all the foldable haters out there, ASUS' latest effort has proven it's way too early to write off the next wave of new-fangled flexy laptops. Now that doesn't mean you should run out and get one, because starting at $3,500, the Zenbook 17 Fold is far from affordable. And while there are a few issues that need to be addressed, my experience was surprisingly positive and renewed my excitement for the category as a whole (especially after Lenovo's ambitious but flawed first try back in 2020). So to really test ASUS' first go at making a laptop with a flexible display, I took the Zenbook 17 Fold OLED on a journey across four countries in nine days.
Just like a relationship, going on a trip with a gadget is one of the best ways of finding out how well you and your partner work together.