Published on 10:15 AM, March 10, 2023

Bytes

Going BIG with the Zenbook Fold

Hands-on review

Check out our hands-on review of the unique foldable laptop: ASUS Zenbook 17 Fold OLED. Photo: Shahriar Rahman

The fad around foldables is yet to fade – for now. We, in the near past, have reviewed some of the most prominent foldable smartphones that money can buy. That list is not long, but it is getting bigger every month. The list of foldables usually resorted to small pocketable devices, but the one we are reviewing won't fit in your pocket. Behold: ASUS Zenbook 17 Fold OLED. The first commercially available 17-inch foldable laptop in Bangladesh. This laptop has several unique features. We were able to play with this device only for a week as ASUS was very concerned about the 'well-being' of the device in the hand of reviewers(!) like us. So, this is our take.

The Zenbook 17 Fold OLED is a laptop that stands out from the crowd thanks to its unique design. The laptop features a foldable OLED display that can be folded down the middle to create a dual-screen setup. When the laptop is folded, it's slightly thicker than a regular laptop, but it's still slim enough to be easily portable. And it is heavy… I mean deceptively heavy.

The laptop is built with a premium aluminium chassis that looks and feels great. The lid has a brushed metal finish with a diamond-cut edge that adds a touch of elegance to the laptop. The keyboard deck is also made of aluminium and has a matte finish that resists fingerprints.

The main highlight of the Zenbook 17 Fold OLED is its 17-inch OLED display which has a resolution of 3840 x 2160 pixels. The display is bright, colourful, and sharp, with deep blacks and vibrant colours. The OLED technology allows for an infinite contrast ratio, making excellent image quality.

The display can be folded down the middle to create a dual-screen setup. The screen measures 14 inches diagonally when folded, which is still a decent size for a laptop display. The hinge mechanism is sturdy, and the screen stays in place when folded. The laptop also comes with a stylus that can be used to draw and take notes on the screen.

The Zenbook 17 Fold OLED is powered by a 12th Gen Intel Core i7 processor, 16GB RAM and Intel Iris Xe Graphics. This hardware configuration is more than capable of handling everyday computing tasks and some light gaming.

The laptop has a good thermal management system that keeps the laptop cool even under heavy loads. The laptop also has a fanless mode that can be activated to keep the laptop quiet when you're doing light tasks.

The Zenbook 17 Fold OLED has decent battery life. The laptop can last up to 6/7 hours on a single charge with moderate use. However, the battery life will be shorter if you're using the laptop for heavy tasks, such as gaming or video editing.

The laptop has a 65W USB-C charger that can charge the laptop quickly. The laptop also supports fast charging, which allows you to charge the laptop up to 60% in just 49 minutes.

The keyboard is comfortable to type on, with good key travel and feedback. The keys are backlit, which makes it easy to type in low-light conditions. However, the keyboard could be more cramped due to the laptop's smaller size, which may take some time to get used to. The touchpad is large and responsive, with Windows Precision drivers that provide accurate tracking and gesture support.

Overall, the Asus Zenbook 17 Fold OLED is an impressive and innovative laptop with a unique portability and versatility combination. It's ideal for creative professionals who need a large screen and the flexibility to work in different modes and anyone who wants a powerful and stylish laptop for both work and play. However, the high price tag and relatively short battery life may be a dealbreaker for some.