PRESS RELEASE
Global debut of ZenWatch 3 and announcement of European pricing and availability for latest laptops, 2-in-1 PCs, tablets and displays
KEY POINTS
ASUS unveils ZenWatch 3, a stylish and customizable wearable device powered by Android Wear and the first ZenWatch with a round case
European pricing and availability announced for ZenBook 3, Transformer 3 Pro, Transformer 3, ZenPad 3S 10 and ZenScreen
All products plus a full line-up of lifestyle and gaming innovations are on display from 1st–6th September at ASUS Sales and Media Lounge
Berlin, Germany (31st August, 2016) — ASUS Vice President Eric Chen today took the stage at the Zenvolution event at IFA 2016 in Berlin to unveil ZenWatch 3, the latest model in the ZenWatch family of Android Wear™-powered wearable devices. He also announced European pricing and availability for the latest lineup of laptops, 2-in-1 PCs, tablets, and displays. Products featured onstage include ZenBook 3, Transformer 3 Pro, Transformer 3, ZenPad 3S 10 and ZenScreen.
“IFA is where we launched our very first smartwatch and we have continued the tradition today with ZenWatch 3,” said Mr. Chen. “We deeply appreciate the loyal support from consumers in Europe, and we are excited to bring our new Zenvolution product line-up to the European markets.”
ZenWatch 3 is a stylish and customizable wearable device powered by Android Wear that provides wearers with timely information at a glance, and functions as a full-featured activity tracker to help wearers stay motivated and meet their fitness goals. Meticulously crafted in the tradition of fine watchmaking, ZenWatch 3 is the first ZenWatch model with a gorgeous round design.
ZenBook 3 is a premium, prestigious laptop with unprecedented performance, featuring an ultra-thin 11.9mm profile and an Intel® Core™ i7 processor. Transformer 3 Pro is the world’s most versatile PC that delivers extreme performance in a slim and light design, whereas Transformer 3 redefines 2-in-1 PC computing with ultimate mobility. Both feature unrivaled expandability, with a range of accessories that includes the ASUS Universal Dock, ASUS Audio Pod, the VR/4K UHD-ready ROG XG Station 2 and ASUS Pen.
“With the 7th-generation Intel Core processor we have once again delivered new performance levels with increased efficiency, and introduced new media capabilities that give people the power to create and view in the immersive internet,” said Chris Walker, Vice President of Intel’s Client Computing Group and General Manager of Mobility Client Platforms. “Intel is proud to have worked closely with ASUS on their stunning new line-up of ZenBook and Transformer products.”
ASUS ZenScreen MB16AC is the world’s lightest and slimmest Full HD portable monitor. It features a hybrid USB Type-C (USB-C) port that supports both power and video transmission for compatibility with any laptop with a USB-C or USB Type-A port. ZenPad 3S 10 is a 9.7-inch Android™ tablet featuring a stunning QXGA (2048 by 1536) high-resolution touchscreen and an incredibly slim, compact, and elegant design. It offers a comprehensive set of entertainment-focused features, including ASUS Tru2Life video-enhancement technology and a powerful stereo audio system with five-magnet speakers and NXP smart amplifier technology that make media look and sound their best.
ASUS ZenWatch 3: Time-Honored Craftsmanship, Smart Customization
ASUS ZenWatch 3 is a stylish and customizable wearable device powered by Android Wear that serves as a smart assistant for Android and iOS devices1. ASUS ZenWatch 3 follows in the tradition of fine watchmaking with its luxurious, detail-focused design and construction from premium materials. Its round case — available for the first time on an ASUS wearable device — is accented by a thin, rose-gold bezel for a sophisticated look inspired by the corona of an annular solar eclipse.
ZenWatch 3 is just 9.95mm thin and its case is meticulously fashioned from jewelry-grade 316L stainless steel, available in three gorgeous finishes: Gunmetal, Silver, and Rose Gold. This premium-quality, cold-forged steel is 82 percent stronger than conventional steel to ensure that ZenWatch 3 can easily withstand the rigors of daily wear. Three crown buttons adorn the case, providing quick access to frequently used functions. The top button can also be assigned custom functionality. ZenWatch 3 comes with a strap made from a choice of stitched Italian leather or high-quality rubber, each of which is available in dark brown or beige colors.
Complementing its physical design, ZenWatch 3 comes with more than 50 software watch faces that can be changed using the ZenWatch Manager smartphone app, letting wearers easily customize their watch to fit any style, mood, or occasion. Many of these watch faces support customizable widgets that display useful information, such as current weather, daily step counts, and missed call notifications. For an even more personal ZenWatch 3 experience, wearers can create their own unique watch faces with the FaceDesigner smartphone app.
ASUS ZenWatch 3 features the all-new ZenFit activity tracking app that automatically counts wearers' steps throughout the day with industry-leading 95 percent accuracy and provides reminders to stand and move after periods of inactivity. ZenFit works together with the companion smartphone app to provide helpful and easy-to-understand summaries and graphs for a complete picture of physical activity.
ASUS ZenWatch 3 provides long battery life of up to two days. It features exclusive HyperCharge technology that provides industry-leading charge times — just 15 minutes to reach a 60 percent charge — and a convenient magnetic charging connector that snaps into place automatically. An optional battery pack is also available that provides 40 percent more battery life.
ASUS ZenBook 3: The World’s Most Prestigious Laptop with Unprecedented Performance
ASUS ZenBook 3 is the next-generation ZenBook. It has been completely redesigned with a gorgeous, ultra-sleek 11.9mm chassis that weighs a mere 910g. To achieve its amazing lightness without compromising strength, ZenBook 3 is crafted from aerospace-grade aluminum alloy, a premium material that is 50 percent stronger than the standard alloy used in laptops. As well as being strong and light, this material is also supremely elegant and features the signature ZenBook spun-metal finish. ZenBook 3 is available in three exclusive colors — Royal Blue, Rose Gold and Quartz Grey — and a special two-phase anodizing process is used to create stunning golden highlights on its diamond-cut edges.
ZenBook 3 delivers unprecedented performance with the latest 7th-generation Intel Core i7 processors, 16GB of high speed 2133MHz RAM, up to a 1TB PCIe® 3.0 x4 ultra-fast SSD, a next-gen USB Type-C (USB-C) port, and powerful quad-speaker audio system by Harman Kardon. Its high-resolution 12.5-inch display has a wide 72 percent NTSC color gamut and an edge-to-edge covering of tough, scratch-resistant Corning® Gorilla® Glass 4. A slim bezel design provides an 82 percent screen-to-body ratio for the maximum display size with the minimum footprint. ZenBook 3 has an innovative cooling system featuring the world’s thinnest fan design at just 3mm thin. This efficient cooling enables ZenBook 3 to achieve incredible performance in an ultra-thin from factor.
ZenBook 3 features a full-size backlit keyboard with 19.8mm key pitch — the same as most desktop keyboards — and 0.8mm key travel to deliver a comfortable typing experience. A glass-covered Precision Touchpad provides smooth and accurate input and incorporates palm-rejection technology, Smart Gestures, and handwriting support for enhanced usability. A built-in fingerprint reader with Windows Hello support gives users instant one-touch access, allowing them to sign in and unlock ZenBook 3 quickly and securely without having to type their password or PIN.
ZenBook 3 provides up to nine hours of battery life for all-day computing. When it’s time to recharge, fast-charge technology brings ZenBook 3's battery up to 60 percent capacity in just 49 minutes.
ASUS Transformer 3 Pro: The World’s Most Versatile PC
ASUS Transformer 3 Pro is a 2-in-1 PC that combines unrivaled performance with incredible portability to create the ultimate mobile device for work and play. Precision-crafted from aluminum, Transformer 3 Pro is only 8.35mm thin, yet has incredible structural strength and rigidity. Transformer 3 Pro has diamond-cut detailing that accentuates its elegant design, and it is available in gorgeous Icicle Gold and Glacier Gray color options.
Transformer 3 Pro has an integrated metal kickstand with a stepless any-position hinge that lets users set the device at almost any viewing angle up to 170°. The included ASUS Transformer Cover Keyboard is a backlit keyboard that provides laptop-grade 1.4mm key-travel for a comfortable typing experience, and is available in four attractive colors — Stone, Charcoal, Taupe, and Amber — that perfectly complement the device. Transformer 3 Pro has a beautiful 12.6-inch display with a 3K resolution of 2880 by 1920 and a 275ppi pixel density for pin-sharp, detailed images as well and a wide color gamut of 121 percent sRGB for rich, vibrant colors. Powerful front-mounted stereo speakers with audio by Harman Kardon provide spacious, defined sound for an incredible listening experience.
Transformer 3 Pro is powered by an Intel Core i7 processor and has up to a 1TB PCIe® x4 ultra-fast SSD and 16GB of high-speed 2133MHz RAM for the ultimate performance. Its versatile, reversible USB-C connector supports USB 3.1 Gen 2 devices at speeds up to 10Gbps, and also incorporates Thunderbolt™ 3 for unbelievably fast 40Gbps data transfers and support for dual external 4K UHD displays. Transformer 3 Pro also comes with USB 3.0 and HDMI ports for convenient connectivity. A 13MP rear camera lets users capture high-resolution photos and videos, and a front-facing camera with Windows Hello facial recognition enables users to log in conveniently with just a quick glance.
Transformer 3 Pro is the world’s most versatile PC, with superlative expansion capabilities provided by a range of accessories that extend its functionality and performance to give users a new level of flexibility and convenience from a mobile device.
ASUS Pen is a beautifully crafted active stylus for writing and drawing, that detects 1024 levels of pressure for completely natural note-taking and sketching experiences with a high degree of control. Users can also capture photos with Transformer 3 Pro’s high-resolution camera and annotate them directly with ASUS Pen.
ASUS Universal Dock is a hub that provides a full range connectivity ports, including USB-C 3.1, USB 3.0, HDMI, VGA, RJ45 LAN, and a 3-in-1 SD Card reader. It adds desktop-grade functionality to Transformer 3 Pro.
ASUS Audio Pod is an entertainment accessory, with four powerful speakers that deliver amazing 360° virtual 5.1-channel surround-sound with rich, defined bass.
ROG XG Station 2 is an external graphics card dock that gives Transformer 3 Pro desktop-grade graphics performance, turning it into a VR-ready gaming powerhouse or workstation.
ASUS Transformer 3: The Mobile PC, Redefined
ASUS Transformer 3 is a stylish, ultra-slim and compact 2-in-1 PC that provides users with the ultimate mobility, total convenience, and amazing expandability. Precision-crafted from aluminum, Transformer 3 weighs just 695g, is only 6.9mm thin, and has smaller dimensions than a sheet of A4 paper. Its compact and elegant design is accentuated by diamond-cut edges and an exquisite spun-metal finish. Equipped with the detachable ASUS Transformer Sleeve Keyboard that has 1.4mm key travel, an integrated two-position display stand, and a glass-covered precision touchpad, Transformer 3 provides comfortable typing and smooth, accurate input for the best productivity and creativity experiences. Transformer 3 is available in gorgeous Icicle Gold and Glacier Gray color options. The ASUS Transformer Sleeve Keyboard is available in four attractive colors — Stone, Charcoal, Taupe, and Amber — that perfectly complement Transformer 3.
Transformer 3 has a beautiful 12.6-inch display with a 3K resolution of 2880 by 1920 and a 275ppi pixel density for pin-sharp, detailed images, as well as 450cd/m2 brightness and a color gamut of 121 percent sRGB for rich, vibrant colors. An ultra-thin bezel provides an 80 percent screen-to-body ratio, maximizing the display area while keeping the device compact and highly portable. Transformer 3 delivers superb video performance with ASUS Tru2Life video-enhancement technology, which optimizes every pixel in each frame before it is displayed, resulting in superior contrast and clarity for the best, most realistic video quality.
Transformer 3 has an incredible quad-speaker audio system developed in co-operation with audio experts Harmon Kardon, an amazing feature for such a thin device. Each speaker is powered by a smart amplifier to deliver rich, detailed, and immersive sound, even at loud volumes. Transformer 3 automatically adjusts the routing of low and high audio frequencies to the correct speakers depending on the orientation of the device, ensuring users will always enjoy optimum audio quality.
Transformer 3 is powered by 7th-generation Intel Core processors, with up to a 512GB SSD and up to 8GB RAM to deliver fast performance for work and play. Its versatile, reversible USB-C connector supports USB 3.1 Gen 2 devices at speeds up to 10Gbps, and Thunderbolt 3 provides unbelievably fast 40Gbps data transfers and support for dual external 4K UHD displays. A built-in fingerprint reader and Windows Hello support lets users sign in and unlock Transformer 3 quickly and securely without having to type their password or PIN. Transformer 3 also includes a 13MP rear camera for capturing high-resolution photos and videos.
Like Transformer 3 Pro, Transformer 3 is also expandable with a range of accessories — including ASUS Pen, ASUS Universal Dock, ASUS Audio Pod, and ROG XG Station 2 — that extend its functionality and performance, giving users a new level of flexibility and convenience from a mobile device.
ZenScreen MB16AC: Double Your Productivity, Wherever You Work
Weighing just 800g and only 8mm thin, the 15.6-inch ASUS ZenScreen MB16AC is the world’s lightest and slimmest Full HD portable monitor. At 6.5mm, the bezel is 60 percent thinner compared to previous models, bringing a more expansive view without compromising the styling. ZenScreen MB16AC features a hybrid USB-C port that supports power and video transmission, and enables compatibility with any laptop with a USB-C or USB Type-A port. ZenScreen MB16AC has an ultra-thin 1mm foldable smart case, which not only provides protection but also can be turned into a horizontal or vertical stand. Users who don’t have the case can simply insert a pen into the hole located at the right bottom corner of the screen to prop it up.
ASUS ZenPad 3S 10: Cinematic Entertainment, Supercharged Performance
ASUS ZenPad 3S 10 is a 9.7-inch tablet featuring a stunning QXGA (2048 by 1536) high-resolution touchscreen and an incredibly slim, compact, and elegant design. Its chassis is milled from a single block of aluminum, resulting in clean lines and a device thickness of just 5.8mm. The metal rear surface and rounded edges are finely sandblasted for a smooth matte texture and diamond-cut chamfers provide an attractive accent. The display is bordered by a 5.3mm-thin bezel — the world’s thinnest on a tablet2 — giving ZenPad 3S 10 a class-leading screen-to-body ratio of 78 percent and making it one of the most compact 9.7-inch tablets available.
ZenPad 3S 10 offers a comprehensive set of entertainment-focused features that make media look and sound their best. Exclusive ASUS Tru2Life video-enhancement technology increases the sharpness and contrast of videos by intelligently analyzing every pixel in a video frame and optimizing them individually for brightness, contrast, color and sharpness before the frame is displayed. The tablet also features a powerful stereo audio system with new five-magnet speakers for loud and clear sound. Additionally, NXP smart amplifier technology enables the speakers to be driven at higher volumes without causing audio distortion or long-term speaker damage. Hi-Res Audio (HRA) support enables playback of ultra-clear, detailed 24-bit, 192kHz audio — 4X the quality of CD audio — with superior sound-staging and fidelity to the original recording. DTS Headphone:X virtual 7.1-channel surround-sound technology automatically optimizes and tunes attached headphones to simulate the immersive effect of a 7.1-channel surround-sound home theatre system.
Powering ZenPad 3S 10 is a set of powerful components that includes a hexa-core MediaTek 8176 processor supported by a generous 4GB of RAM. For storage, the tablet has up to 64GB of onboard eMMC memory and a micro SD Card reader that can support cards up to 128GB in capacity. ZenPad 3S 10 is the first ASUS tablet to feature a fingerprint sensor that allows the tablet to be rapidly locked or unlocked, and also works in supported apps for authentication. ZenPad 3S 10 also supports the optional
ASUS Z Stylus, which gives a natural pen-on-paper feel and works with many useful productivity apps. ZenPad 3S 10 has a high-capacity 5900mAh battery that can power it for up to 10 hours for movie watching or 12 hours of Wi-Fi web surfing. This battery also features Qualcomm’s Quick Charge 3.0 technology that delivers a full charge in about three hours — incredibly fast for such a high-capacity battery.
Product display area
All the products announced at the Zenvolution press event — along with a full line-up of lifestyle and gaming innovations including the ROG 3DMod, ROG GT51, ROG G20, and ROG G11 gaming PCs; ROG G701VI and ROG Strix GL702VM gaming laptops; ROG Enthusiast SLI Bridge; ROG XG Station 2 external graphics card; ROG Swift PG258Q gaming monitor; Vivo AiO all-in-one PC; Designo Curve MX34VQ and Designo MX27UC monitors; and DSL-AC87VG ADSL/VDSL VoIP modem router — will be on display during IFA 2016 at the ASUS Sales and Media Lounge.
Hours: 1st–2nd and 5th–6th September, 2016, 9:00am–7:00pm
Venue: Berliner Freiheit 2, Berlin, Germany
ASUS Global Press Room: http://press.asus.com
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ASUS Global Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/asus
About ASUS
ASUS is a worldwide top-three consumer notebook vendor and maker of the world’s best-selling, most award-winning motherboards. A leading enterprise in the new digital era, ASUS designs and manufactures products that perfectly meet the needs of today’s digital home and office, with a broad portfolio that includes motherboards, graphics cards, optical drives, displays, desktop and all-in-one PCs, notebooks, netbooks, servers, multimedia devices, wireless solutions, networking devices, tablets, smartphones and wearables. Driven by innovation and committed to quality, ASUS won 4,368 awards in 2015 and is widely credited with revolutionizing the PC industry with its Eee PC™. ASUS has more than 17,000 employees around the globe with a world-class R&D team of over 5,500 engineers. Company revenue for 2015 was approximately US$14 billion.
