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Introducing the Asus Zenbook Pro 16x OLED, a laptop that seamlessly blends the creative power of a content creator machine with the gaming DNA found in high-performance gaming laptops. This unique convergence sets the Zenbook Pro 16x OLED apart in a market where similar attempts often fall short. While its premium features and capabilities make it a desirable device, it’s worth noting that such a sophisticated machine comes with a corresponding price tag, a characteristic shared by many laptops designed specifically for creators.

Examining the laptop’s physical attributes, the design is a testament to both innovation and durability. The Star Trek Communicator-like logo on the Zenbook Pro 16x OLED stands out against the Zen Booky aesthetic, characterized by a slightly swirled CNC 6000 series aluminum finish.

Despite its 16-inch size and powerful specifications, the laptop is relatively lightweight, emphasizing its portability. Asus highlights its durability by subjecting the laptop to several MSTD 810h tests, including shock, vibration, heat, and humidity. This robust build ensures that the laptop is not overly delicate and can withstand various environmental conditions.

The 16:18-inch OLED display, boasting a 16:10 aspect ratio and a 3.2k resolution (3200×2000 pixels), enhances the visual experience. Covered by Gorilla Glass, the display provides durability against scratches but introduces some glare due to its glossy surface. The measured peak brightness of 1616 nits, coupled with a 10-bit OLED display, showcases the impressive display technology employed.

Under the hood, the Asus Zenbook Pro 16x OLED houses an Intel Core i9 processor from the 13th generation, with the possibility of a future refresh to the 14th generation. The Nvidia RTX 4080, running at 160 Watts, powers the graphics capabilities. For those considering the laptop for gaming, the inclusion of the RTX 4080, and possibly an RTX 4070 in certain configurations, positions the Zenbook Pro 16x OLED as a potential choice.

The pricing starts at approximately $2699, reflecting the premium specifications and performance features. The lift-up keyboard design implemented by Asus, while unconventional, contributes to improved cooling efficiency, ensuring that the powerful Core i9 processor remains at optimal temperatures. The keyboard’s lift-up mechanism purportedly enhances cooling by 30%, a design choice that aligns with Asus’s commitment to efficient thermal management.

Despite the potential ergonomic concerns associated with tilting the keyboard, the Asus RGB keyboard offers a tactile and vibrant typing experience. The inclusion of programmed light effects or customizable options further enhances the laptop’s appeal, reminiscent of features found in gaming laptops.

Notably, the RTX 4080 demonstrates its capabilities in demanding tasks such as video editing and Blender work, as well as gaming. The laptop’s cooling system, featuring liquid metal and a vapor chamber, ensures efficient heat dissipation without compromising on noise levels or surface temperatures. To maximize performance, users are advised to set the cooling profile to high performance using Asus’s dedicated app, resulting in significantly improved frame rates during gaming sessions.

For instance, running Cyberpunk at a resolution of 3200 by 2000 pixels, higher than the commonly tested QHD resolution, showcases the laptop’s gaming prowess. By setting the cooling profile to high performance, frame rates increase from 44 frames per second with low ray tracing to over 60 frames per second, demonstrating the substantial impact of optimal cooling on gaming performance. Leveraging the Windows setting and configuring the processor performance to high performance complements this enhancement.

In conclusion, the Asus Zenbook Pro 16x OLED successfully marries the attributes of a content creator laptop with gaming capabilities, presenting a versatile and high-performance device. While its premium nature is reflected in the price, the laptop’s durable build, innovative design, and efficient cooling mechanisms make it a strong contender in the competitive market for creator-centric laptops. As technology continues to advance, the Zenbook Pro 16x OLED exemplifies a harmonious fusion of creative and gaming features, catering to users seeking a multifaceted device for their diverse computing needs.

Certainly, the Asus Zenbook Pro 16x OLED appears to be an impressive piece of technology, addressing many common issues found in other Creator laptops. One of its key strengths lies in the absence of any major flaws, such as subpar displays, excessive heat, or loud operation, making it an appealing choice for users who demand top-notch performance without compromising on aesthetics.

The laptop boasts an attractive design, emphasizing both functionality and durability. The Star Trek Communicator-like logo adds a distinctive touch to the Zenbook Pro 16x OLED, which features a CNC 6000 series aluminum finish. Despite its 16-inch size and powerful internals, the laptop manages to remain relatively lightweight, enhancing its portability.

Asus takes pride in subjecting the device to rigorous MSTD 810h tests, ensuring its resilience against shocks, vibrations, heat, and humidity. The 16:18-inch OLED display, protected by Gorilla Glass, offers a 3.2k resolution and a 10-bit OLED display, providing a visually immersive experience. The measured peak brightness of 1616 nits further underscores the display’s quality.

Under the hood, the laptop features an Intel Core i9 processor from the 13th generation, with the possibility of a future upgrade to the 14th generation. The inclusion of an Nvidia RTX 4080, running at 160 Watts, positions the Zenbook Pro 16x OLED as a formidable gaming machine. The pricing starts at approximately $26.99, reflecting the premium specifications and performance features. The innovative lift-up keyboard design contributes to improved cooling efficiency, allowing the powerful Core i9 processor to maintain optimal temperatures.

Despite the ergonomic considerations associated with tilting the keyboard, the Asus RGB keyboard offers a tactile and vibrant typing experience. The laptop’s cooling system, featuring liquid metal and a vapor chamber, ensures efficient heat dissipation without compromising on noise levels or surface temperatures. Setting the cooling profile to high performance, using Asus’s dedicated app, significantly improves frame rates during gaming sessions.

In terms of connectivity, the Zenbook Pro 16x OLED provides two Thunderbolt 4 ports, one USB-A port, HDMI 2.1, a full-size SD card slot, and Ethernet connectivity via an adapter. The laptop’s upgradability is yet to be fully explored, but the soldered-on 32GB power DDR5X RAM allows for higher clock speeds.

The SSD, PCIe 4, comes in configurations of either one terabyte (M.2 2280) or two terabytes for the higher-end model with the RTX 4080 GPU. The laptop also supports Wi-Fi 6E, the current standard until Wi-Fi 7 becomes widespread.

The keyboard deck includes a large trackpad with an Asus Dial feature that may seem superfluous to some users. The laptop includes a full HD Windows Hello webcam, a fingerprint scanner, and a robust six-driver speaker system. The generous 96-watt-hour battery, coupled with a 280-watt charger, ensures a substantial power capacity, although the laptop’s weight may remind users of a gaming laptop.

Switchable graphics, facilitated by a MUX switch, provide flexibility between dedicated GPU mode and a more power-efficient mode for improved battery life. Despite its high-powered configuration, the Zenbook Pro 16x OLED manages to deliver satisfactory battery life, ranging from 3 to 4 hours during light productivity work and streaming.

The laptop ships with the Asus 2.0 pen, utilizing the Microsoft pen protocol, offering various nibs, 496 pressure levels, and reliable tracking. While not reaching the level of Wacom or Apple Pencil for 2D artists, the pen is suitable for digital painting and sketching.

Examining the laptop’s internals, the Torx T4 screws facilitate easy access, revealing a CNC aluminum back cover and a layout that allows for straightforward disassembly. Notable components include a vapor chamber cooling system, a liquid metal application, a soldered-on Wi-Fi card, and a six-driver speaker system.

In summary, the Asus Zenbook Pro 16x OLED stands out as a commendable choice for users seeking a versatile and high-performance laptop that excels in both creative tasks and gaming. While the premium price tag reflects the device’s top-tier specifications, the absence of major flaws, coupled with innovative design choices, positions the Zenbook Pro 16x OLED as a strong competitor in the market for creator-centric laptops.

As technology continues to advance, Asus demonstrates its commitment to delivering a well-rounded device that caters to the diverse needs of users demanding superior computing capabilities without compromise.