Thanks to Qualcomm’s newly released eight-core Snapdragon X Plus, vendors are now extending the AI capabilities of Copilot+ PCs to a larger audience—those at the lower end—due to the processor’s lower price. Asus is the first out the door with two laptops powered by the new processor: the Vivobook S 15 and the detachable ProArt PZ13 Copilot+ PCs. More are expected to soon follow from other manufacturers. In addition, Asus is further extending its AI-powered line of laptops with the Zenbook, Vivobook, and ExpertBook devices containing Intel Core Ultra processors (Series 2).
Asus is continuing its journey into the buzzy realm of AI PCs, delivering a pair of Copilot+ laptops with the eight-core Snapdragon X Plus, and announcing next-gen Copilot+ laptops with the latest Intel Core Ultra processors (Series 2).
At IFA 2024 in Berlin, Asus rolled out two new offerings—the new ultraportable Vivobook S 15 and creator-focused detachable ProArt PZ13 Copilot+ PCs—the first to be powered by Qualcomm’s new Snapdragon X Plus eight-core processor.
Announced this week, this Snapdragon X Plus with Oryon CPU delivers 45 TOPS of AI performance from the NPU, the same as the 10-core version and just above the baseline operating standard for running Copilot+. However, it is touted as a less-expensive version of the processor, thereby extending the reach of AI through Copilot+ to users at the entry level.
Asus Vivobook S 15. Designed for ultra portability, the Asus Vivobook S 15 is slim, measuring 14.7mm and weighing 1.42kg. It features a 15.6-inch 3K 120 Hz Asus Lumina OLED display, with 100% DCI-P color gamut and Dolby Atmos audio. The 70 Wh battery delivers up to 19-plus hours of use, with fast charging. The device has two USB 4.0 ports, USB 3.2, HDMI 2.1, a microSD slot, and Wi-Fi 7 for speeds up to 5.8 Gbps.
The keyboard is single-zone RGB backlit and has a touchpad with intuitive gesture controls and a dedicated Copilot key for immediate access to AI tools such as Copilot, Live Captions, and Cocreator. The device also features a StoryCube AI-powered app for organizing and managing digital assets.
The ProArt PZ13. The ProArt PZ13, meanwhile, is also lightweight and durable at 0.85kg. The 13-inch detachable laptop comes with a 3K Asus Lumina OLED touchscreen that supports stylus input (an Asus Pen 2.0 is optional), is certified as Pantone Validated, and has a 16:10 aspect ratio. For connectivity, the laptop has two USB 4.0 ports and an SD card reader, while the battery, at 70 Wh, provides up to 21 hours of FHD video playback.
The ProArt PZ13 includes AI-powered tools like StoryCube for asset management and ProArt Creator Hub for optimizing workflows.
The Vivobook S 15 and ProArt PZ13 with the eight-core Snapdragon X Plus are priced at $899.99 and 1,099.99, respectively, and are available now.
Other laptops with the processor are expected to roll out soon from Acer, Dell, Lenovo, Samsung, HP, and others.
Asus delivers Intel-driven Copilot+ PCs as well
There’s more than one way to Copilot a PC, and Asus showed us how it is doing that at IFA with new AI-powered Zenbook, Vivobook, and ExpertBook laptops powered by Intel Core Ultra processors (Series 2). Asus is incorporating the Core Ultra 200V processors across its new line of laptops, each tuned for the specific needs of various users.
Intel also used the Berlin consume show to launch the new CPU, code-named Lunar Lake.
Zenbook S 14. The new ultra-slim Zenbook S 14, built for ultra portability, sports a thin 0.47-inch profile and weights just 2.65 pounds. On the outside, it has a durable but attractive design. On the inside, it delivers on performance with an Intel Core Ultra 7 processor (a 256V or 258V), for up to 47 NPU TOPS. It has a 72 Wh battery, along with five I/O ports, as well as a 14-inch 3K (2880´1800) 120 Hz Lumina OLED display, a four-speaker sound system, AI noise cancelation, and an FHD AiSense IR camera supporting AI effects for enhanced video interactions. It also has Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4 connectivity.
Vivobook S 14. For those looking for a laptop that provides on-the-go productivity and entertainment, there’s the Vivobook S 14. It is lightweight, at just 2.87 pounds, and thin, measuring 0.55 inches. The keyboard, customizable and single-zone RGB backlit, also contains a large touchpad. Inside, the device contains the Intel Core Ultra 7 processor 258V providing up to 47 NPU TOPS. To keep it cool, it uses Asus IceCool thermal technology with two 97-blade IceBlade fans and two air vents.
In addition, the laptop has a 14-inch, FHD+ (1920´1200) 16:10 OLED display. It offers Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4 connectivity, six I/O ports, and a Dolby Atmos audio system, and the battery provides 75 Wh.
ExpertBook P series. Asus has also unveiled the ExpertBook P series, a line of laptops with robust functionality geared for a range of users, from entrepreneurs, to prosumers, to small businesses. Built to handle AI-powered tasks, the flagship ExpertBook P5, with its Intel Core Ultra 7 processor 258V, tops out at 47 NPU TOPS. Included are Asus AI ExpertMeet tools with features such as AI translation, AI subtitles, assisted meeting summaries, AI noise cancelation, and business watermarks. The device also offers advanced security, including AI-powered deepfake detection technology (McAfee Deepfake Detector) free for one year.
The ExpertBook P boasts a 14-inch, QHD+ (2560´1600) IPS display with a 16:10 aspect ratio. There are six I/O ports, an FHD camera with IR and Windows Hello support, and Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3 wireless card. The battery provides up to 63 Wh. It weights 2.84 pounds.
The Zenbook S 14 is available for preorder and is priced at $1,399.99 for the Ultra 7 processor 256V version and $1,499.99 for the Ultra 7 processor 258V version. The Vivobook S 14 is also available for preorder and ranges in price from $999.99 to $1,299.99 depending on the processor. The ExpertBook P5 will not arrive until Q4 2024; pricing will range between $1,099.99 and $1,489.99.