Category: Technology

ASUS just announced a brand-new mini PC at CES 2024 in Las Vegas. The ROG NUC mini gaming PC comes after Intel revealed it would stop making first-party NUC systems, instead relying on companies like ASUS.

For the uninitiated, NUC stands for Next Unit of Compute and refers to a line of ultra-portable desktop PCs and barebones computer kits. These are complete systems that you can hold with one hand, and the ROG NUC is no different. This mini PC, originally codenamed Scorpion Canyon, comes with your choice of Intel Core Ultra 7 or 9 processors and NVIDIA RTX 4060 or 4070 GPUs, allowing for four simultaneous 4K display outputs.

The whole system is designed for speed and multitasking, thanks to the proprietary Performance Hybrid Architecture that distributes additional E-cores to handle intensive tasks. ASUS promises a tool-less chassis design that lets users integrate upgrades and complete maintenance tasks in under 10 minutes.

As for connectivity, you get a HDMI 2.1 port, a DisplayPort 1.4, a single Thunderbolt 4/USB-C Type-C port and a USB 2.0 port. It also supports WiFi 6E and is compatible with both Windows 11 and Linux. Operation system flexibility is always nice. ASUS also says the system has been built to ensure seamless integration with the ROG Raikiri PRO controller and comes with the ROG Armory Crate app for creating unique RGB lighting schemes.

This is only the beginning. ASUS promises more mini PCs in the near future, saying that this release “heralds a new era in NUC gaming.” There’s no pricing or availability information for the ROG NUC, but that should come soon.

We’re reporting live from CES 2024 in Las Vegas from January 6-12. Keep up with all the latest news from the show here.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/asus-debuts-its-first-homegrown-nuc-at-ces-2024-with-core-ultra-9-chips-and-rtx-4070-graphics-000146547.html?src=rss 

For years, ROG Phone users had to put up with average camera quality for the sake of mobile gaming experience, and ASUS blamed it on cost reasons. To put it bluntly, it was either ROG Phone for gaming, or Zenfone for photography. Now that we’ve entered 2024, the Taiwanese tech giant finally has a change of heart. Announced at CES 2024, the ROG Phone 8 and 8 Pro essentially blend together the best of both worlds, featuring the usual trove of gaming aids in — at last — a brand new design, along with a set of significant camera upgrades derived from the Zenfone line.

Specifically, the new 50-megapixel f/1.9 main camera is powered by a more efficient Sony IMX890 sensor (featured on the OnePlus 11’s main camera, as well as the 3x periscope camera on Oppo’s Find X6 Pro and Realme’s GT5 Pro). More importantly, ASUS also brought over the Zenfone line’s 6-axis hybrid gimbal stabilizer, which further improves low-light shooting and offers a “Super HyperSteady” video mode. 

The new 13-megapixel f/2.2 ultra-wide camera benefits from a free-form lens for reduced distortion. As for the third camera, the old 5-megapixel macro camera is now replaced by a more practical 32-megapixel 3x telephoto shooter, which comes with optical image stabilization and pixel-binning process (8-megapixel output) for boosted sensitivity. On the other side of the phone, the 32-megapixel selfie camera — now a punch hole on the screen — has gained a wider field of view, jumping from 73 degrees to 90.

Another significant change on the ROG Phone here is the appearance. In what ASUS calls the “Gen#3” design, the ROG Phone 8 has opted for compactness by way of reduced bezels (especially top and bottom), body thickness (from 10.49mm to just 8.9mm) and weight (from 239g to 225g). Thanks to this re-engineering, the company was also able to implement IP68 dust and water resistance here — apparently a first for gaming phones, thus making it even more suitable for daily use.

The ROG Phone 8 line comes in two looks. The regular model features a redesigned Aura RGB logo on the back, and comes in either “Rebel Grey” or “Phantom Black.” The more premium Pro flavor only comes in “Phantom Black,” with the main difference being its “AniMe Vision” powered by 341 white mini LEDs. This dot matrix display supports over 20 preloaded animations that respond to the likes of X Mode, incoming calls, powering on and more. You can also create your own custom animations, and should you come across a fellow ROG Phone 8 Pro user, tapping both phones together will unlock new secret animations. (In case you’re wondering, ASUS has confirmed that there will be no “Ultimate” edition this time.)

It should come as no surprise that the ROG Phone 8 series packs the top options available in terms of processor, thermal design and display. You get Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chip paired with a “GameCool 8” advanced thermal system, which features a tiny rapid-cooling conductor to apparently boost thermal efficiency by up to 20 percent. (You can go even further by utilizing the new AeroActive Cooler X attachment, which is designed with a larger cooling chip at the sacrifice of two physical buttons.) Both are tucked underneath a Samsung E6 flexible AMOLED panel — it’s the same 2,448 x 1,080 resolution, 165Hz refresh rate and 720Hz touch-sampling rate as before, but now with a whopping 2,500-nit peak brightness (from 1,500 nits).

There are some small trade-offs, though. For one, the battery size has been reduced from 6,000mAh to 5,500mAh, but it still supports 65W HyperCharge which takes just 39 minutes. ASUS’s justification is the improved efficiency of the new processor as well as display, and that it saw the weight of the earlier ROG Phones being a major pain point. It also needed to squeeze out more space for the better (read: larger) camera modules. That said, this phone still somehow manages to add wireless charging support, which follows the Qi 1.3 standard.

Another slight downgrade lies within the audio department. What used to be two loud front-facing speakers are now one front-facing speaker and one downward-facing speaker, due to the reduction in the top and bottom bezels. Still, ASUS thinks Dirac’s tuning is able to compensate for this change. Speaking of, you also get Dirac Virtuo spatial audio for all headphones, be it wired (3.5mm or USB-C) or wireless (Bluetooth). As for phone calls, the ROG Phone 8 offers computational noise-cancelling for voice input across various scenarios — be it in-game communications, IM calls or regular phone calls.

ASUS’ signature AirTrigger pressure-sensitive buttons are here to stay, for obvious reasons. There’s also X Sense 2.0, an AI pattern recognition system for automatically detecting key events on screen, in order to provide timely prompts for the right moments. For instance, in Genshin Impact, this function will know when to trigger tools like auto pick up, fast forward, running lock and auto press-to-escape. Another AI feature — though not necessarily related to gaming — will be wallpaper generation, due to arrive in a future firmware update. This will leverage fast stable diffusion for creating images offline.

The ROG Phone 8 series will be available for pre-order in the very near future, with the base model (16GB RAM and 256GB storage) asking for $1,000 (actual retail price will cost an extra $100), followed by the $1,200 ROG Phone 8 Pro (16GB RAM with 512GB storage), and a more premium $1,500 ROG Phone 8 Pro Edition (24GB RAM with 1TB storage, plus an AeroActive Cooler X which normally costs $100). All models will come with at least two major OS updates (from Android 14), along with four years of security updates.

We’re reporting live from CES 2024 in Las Vegas from January 6-12. Keep up with all the latest news from the show here.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/the-new-rog-phone-8-from-asus-finally-puts-a-good-camera-in-a-gaming-phone-002618805.html?src=rss 

Alienware is following up its 34-inch ultrawide QD-OLED display with a pair of upgraded models that promise to deliver enhanced in-game visuals: 4K QD-OLED and 360Hz QD-OLED monitors. The company unveiled them at CES 2024 in Las Vegas, and is touting each as a “world’s first” in some regard. 

First up, there’s the Alienware 32 4K QD-OLED (AW3225QF), which the company calls the “world’s first 4K QD-OLED gaming monitor.” This display has Dolby Vision HDR, a curved panel and a peak luminance up to 1000 nits. The AW3225QF also boasts a 240Hz native refresh rate, a 0.03ms gray-to-gray response time and NVIDIA G-Sync compatibility.

You can expect inky dark black levels and lots of color coverage. In fact, Alienware promises blacks that are 10 times darker than a standard picture. It also claims you’ll have access to “colors never seen before on a screen,” which seems like a lofty promise, but hey, we won’t have long to find out. It’ll be available on January 11, with a list price of $1,200.

Alienware also announced the AW2725DF 360Hz QD-OLED gaming display. As you can tell from the name, this screen boasts an astounding 360Hz native refresh rate. Alienware touts another record being smashed here, calling this the “world’s first” 360Hz QD-OLED display.

The screen also features a 0.03ms gray-to-gray response time for “near instantaneous pixel response” and VESA DisplayHDR True Black 400. The monitor comes with AMD FreeSync Premium Pro and VESA AdapativeSync tech. The stand is fully adjustable to suit different setups and the minimal hexagonal base allows for added real estate on the desk for accessories.

The 27-inch AW2725DF will also be available on January 11, coming in at $900. Both of these monitors come with a 3-year limited warranty for OLED burn-in, which is certainly handy given the increased risk of this issue with OLED displays.

We’re reporting live from CES 2024 in Las Vegas from January 6-12. Keep up with all the latest news from the show here.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/alienware-teases-a-32-inch-4k-qd-oled-gaming-monitor-at-ces-230045701.html?src=rss 

Despite launching an all-new version of the m16 last year, Alienware has completely redesigned its mainstream 16-inch gaming laptop again for 2024 to address customer feedback while optimizing performance for the most popular configs. I got to check out the new m16 R2 ahead of CES 2024 and there’s a lot to like about Alienware’s more purpose-built revamp.

Unlike the 2023 M16, which could accommodate RTX 4090 cards, the m16 R2 tops out at an RTX 4070. In return for lowered top-end performance, you get a sleeker and lighter laptop with a larger 90 Whr battery, slimmer bezels, and a larger touchpad – all in a package with a 15 percent smaller footprint.

As before, display options will go up to a 16:10 QHD+ panel with a 240Hz refresh rate, while CPU options are getting a bump to Intel’s latest batch of Core Ultra H-series chips. Meanwhile, by eliminating the old model’s thermal shelf (which was the big protrusion that stuck out past the hinge), Alienware was able to shave off about an inch and a half in depth while also redesigning its cooling system to provide 43% more airflow. Notably, even though the new model is significantly smaller, it still offers a solid selection of ports including Ethernet, a full-size HDMI 2.1 jack, two USB Type-A 3.2 and two USB-C (one of which supports Thunderbolt 4).

There are also a handful of subtle, but much-appreciated, aesthetic changes, including a new RGB lightning loop that runs around the perimeter of the touchpad. That said, if you want to quickly hide your power level, you can instantly turn off all of the laptop’s lighting and set the system to quiet by hitting F2 and activating Alienware’s Stealth Mode. It’s a small but very handy addition that makes it easy for you to avoid drawing unwanted attention.

Other small changes and features include user–upgradeable DDRR5 RAM and M.2 SSDs (two slots each), a new FHD IR webcam with support for facial recognition and Windows Hello and AI-powered noise-cancellation for improved video calling. Additionally, all new Alienware laptops for 2024 will receive upgraded far-field microphones, support for Wi-Fi 7 and the latest version (6.1) of the company’s Command Center app.

But most importantly, the new Alienware m16 R2 feels like it’s better designed for gaming on the go. It’s not quite as powerful as last year’s model, but it’s almost a pound and a half lighter (5.75 pounds vs 7.17 pounds). It should have better battery life too, and it’s just easier to carry around thanks to its slimmer dimensions. You still get a premium construction with smooth matte aluminum panels on top and bottom. And if you really want a 16-inch thin-and-light gaming laptop with big graphics, there’s always the Alienware x16, which hasn’t gotten a redesign but will have updated specs for 2024 including support for up to an RTX 4090.

The new Alienware m16 R2 is scheduled to go on sale on January 11 with select configs starting at $1,650 before more options become available later this quarter.

We’re reporting live from CES 2024 in Las Vegas from January 6-12. Keep up with all the latest news from the show here.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/alienware-m16-r2-hands-on-a-sleeker-gaming-laptop-design-for-ces-2024-230059369.html?src=rss 

Typically a 2-in-1 is something that can transform into multiple modes (e.g., a notebook that converts to tablet or vice versa). But with the ThinkBook Plus Gen 5 hybrid, Lenovo smashed two gadgets together to create one of the funkiest and most interesting laptops we’ve seen here at CES 2024 in Las Vegas.

At first glance, the ThinkBook Plus looks like an ordinary clamshell. However, if you pull up on the display, it lifts right off and becomes a 14-inch tablet while the bottom contains everything needed to power a traditional Windows PC (well, aside from a screen). From there, you can use the tablet as a standalone Android device, a wireless monitor for the laptop base, or a Wacom-like inking display via Lenovo’s Freestyle app. Meanwhile, you can use ThinkBook’s deck as a mini desktop just by plugging in an external screen.

The number of situations that might require having two separate devices running different OSes might be somewhat rare. However, this level of flexibility is rather unique. For example, if you’re browsing the web on the couch, you could just grab the tablet section and leave the bulky laptop chassis behind. Or you could give the tablet to a child while you work on the laptop. (Just be mindful of their total screen time, OK?) And to make sharing files across both devices as easy as possible, there’s a hybrid folder on both devices that syncs wirelessly. Just drag and drop and voila.

On top of that, the specs for both devices are pretty solid. The laptop is the beefier of the two packing an Intel Core Ultra 7 processor, up to 32GB of RAM, 1TB of SSD storage, Wi-Fi 6e and sizable 75Whr battery. The tablet on the other hand consists of a 14-inch 2.8K OLED screen with stylus input, Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 chip, 12GB of RAM and a 38Whr battery. It also houses two rear cameras (13MP + 5MP) and a full HD IR selfie cam that the laptop can also use when the two are attached.

The somewhat surprising thing is that, for a pre-production device, everything functioned pretty smoothly. When I yanked off the display, the tablet instantly booted into Android. And when I placed it back on the laptop, it only took a second or two for the Windows desktop to reappear. The only software issue I ran into was when trying to use the tablet as a sketching aid. But that was more of a problem with the insane wireless congestion that you always battle during CES.

There were only two minor flaws that I noticed. The first is that, aside from a 3.5mm audio jack, there are only two USB-C ports. But since both are Thunderbolt 4, at least you’ll be getting excellent data speeds. The other is that the ThinkBook Plus’ keyboard is on the shallow side, so if you prefer a notebook with longer key travel, this might not be for you.

However, the ThinkBook Plus’ biggest hurdle may be its price. Because, starting at $1,999, Lenovo is charging a bit of a premium for the convenience of having two devices in one. That’s because unless you’re dead set on having a 14-inch tablet, it’s pretty easy to pick up a smaller Android slate plus a well-equipped ultraportable for way under $2,000.

But if this sort of frakengadget strikes your fancy, keep an eye out for it when it goes on sale sometime in Q2 2024.

We’re reporting live from CES 2024 in Las Vegas from January 6-12. Keep up with all the latest news from the show here.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/the-lenovo-thinkbook-plus-gen-5-is-the-funkiest-gadget-mashup-at-ces-2024-230059087.html?src=rss 

Lenovo’s updated consumer laptop lineup at CES 2024 is (unsurprisingly) focused on AI. The company unveiled an array of Yoga and Ideapad notebooks on Monday in Las Vegas, including new versions of the Yoga Pro 9i and Yoga 9i 2-in-1.

The 2024 Yoga Pro 9i and Yoga 9i 2-in-1 still have a military-spec rating (MIL-STD-810H) for durability. Both get a spec bump to the latest Intel Core Ultra “Meteor Lake” processors — up to Intel Core Ultra 5 / 7/ 9 H Series in the Pro 9i and up to Intel Evo Edition powered by Core Ultra 7 processor in the Yoga 9i 2-in-1.

Like practically every other company at CES, Lenovo is touting its new products’ AI capabilities. The Yoga Pro 9i and 9i 2-in-1 have a dedicated Lenovo AI Core Chip powering onboard artificial intelligence. They both include Microsoft’s dedicated Windows Copilot button on their keyboards.

Lenovo Yoga Pro 9i (2024)

The new pair of machines also ships with Lenovo Yoga Creator Zone, a generative AI-powered image creation suite. Remember, you don’t need to buy new hardware to generate AI art, but Lenovo’s software is built-in to (depending on the quality) perhaps save users from navigating to Midjourney or DALLE-3 in their browsers. In addition, models with discrete graphics cards can train personalized AI models to learn your style and create matching images.

The 2024 Yoga Pro 9i has a 16-inch, 3.2K (3200 x 2000) display with an IPS or mini LED panel. It ships with up to a GeForce 4070 Laptop GPU, 64GB of RAM and 1TB storage. The laptop weighs 4.82 lbs and has a 5MP webcam (including AI-powered auto-framing software). It has six speakers, including “advanced bass” support. The Yoga Pro 9i will start at $1,700 and is expected to launch in April.

Lenovo Yoga 9i 2-in-1 (2024)

The updated Yoga 9i 2-in-1 has a 14-inch screen using PureSight OLED 2.8K or 4K OLED tech. It has a 360-degree rotating soundbar with four Bowers & Wilkins speakers, and it’s bundled with a magnetically attached Slim pen. The 9i 2-in-1 launches in April with a $1,450 starting price.

The Lenovo Book 9i, the company’s wacky dual-screen folding laptop, is also back for another round. Top configurations will include Intel’s latest Core Ultra chips, with up to a PureSight OLED 2.8K screen and a rotating B&W soundbar. It, too, is expected to arrive in April. It will start at $2,000.

Lenovo Yoga Book 9i (2024)

Moving to the company’s less expensive models, the Lenovo IdeaPad 5i 2-in-1 comes in 16-inch and 14-inch form factors with up to a 2K OLED screen in the larger one. The 14-inch model will start at $760, and the 16-inch variant starts at $810. Both begin shipping in April. The screens can reach up to 400 nits brightness, and they cover 100 percent of the DCI-P3 color gamut.

Rounding out the new gear are updated models of the Lenovo Slim 7i ($1,050+) and Pro 7 ($1,350+), now supporting up to Intel Core Ultra or AMD Ryzen 7 8845HS processors with up to RTX 4050 Laptop GPU and PureSight Pro LCD or OLED 3K displays.

We’re reporting live from CES 2024 in Las Vegas from January 6-12. Keep up with all the latest news from the show here.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/lenovo-yoga-pro-9i-and-yoga-9i-2-in-1-now-have-have-ai-chips-and-a-generative-art-suite-230059936.html?src=rss 

Without a new generation of NVIDIA GPUs to accommodate, this year at CES 2024 in Las Vegas, laptop manufacturers have been forced to come up with other ways of getting attention. Some OEMs have opted for complete redesigns while others have introduced smaller (and super light) versions of existing models. But on the 2024 Predator Helios 18, Acer has opted for the flashiest method yet, featuring a captivating new hinge along with updated specs.

Compared to last year’s model, the outside of the Helios 18 doesn’t look that much different. It features a familiar matte black chassis and, at 7.17 pounds and 1.14 inches thick, it’s about the same size and weight as well. But then you get to the back where its new hinge is waiting to dazzle you with a seemingly endless series of RGB lights to gawk at. It’s a cool effect that Acer has dubbed the Infinity Mirror lighting bar, and while I’m not sure that alone would cause me to buy one, it’s certainly fun to stare into. All hail the hypno hinge.

Aside from that, the other new design change is the introduction of Acer’s MagKey 3.0 on the Helios 18’s WASD buttons, which allows you to swap not only the keycaps but also the mechanical switches beneath for a truly customized gaming experience. The laptop will come with two extra sets of keycaps and switches in the box. I just wish Acer allowed owners to swap out every key and keycap instead of just WASD. Unfortunately, because I only saw a pre-production model, I didn’t have the chance to try it myself.

Inside, the Helios 18 has been refreshed with an Intel Core i9-14900X CPU and support for up to 32GB of RAM, 4TB of storage and NVIDIA RTX 4090 graphics. Meanwhile, to keep its operating temps in check, Acer has upgraded to 5th-gen Aeroblade 3D fans and switched to liquid metal thermal grease for improved heat conductivity. And as you’d expect on a system this big and starts at $2,000, the Helios 18 has great connectivity including Wi-Fi 7 and tons of ports (full-size HDMI 2.1, Ethernet, microSD, dual USB-C and more). The Helios 18’s display has also gotten some attention with the move to a 250Hz mini LED panel with a peak brightness of 1,000 nits and a gamut that covers 100 percent of DCI-P3.

And while I didn’t get to see it myself, if you don’t want a gaming laptop this big, there will also be a Predator Helios 16 that offers all the same specs (up to an RTX 4090) including a 90 Whr battery, but in a chassis that weighs 5.95 pounds and measures 1.05 inches thick.

But it doesn’t stop there because at CES 2024, Acer is announcing more budget-friendly Neo versions of the machines above. Also available with 16- and 18-inch screens, the Predator Helios Neo 18 and Predator Helios Neo 16 come with the same i9-14900X chip, but with a slightly slower 240Hz display and GPU options that cap out at an RTX 4070. Sadly, similar to the Predator Helios 18, the Helios Neo 16 I saw was a pre-production model and had some finishes and speaker grilles that didn’t match the rest of the system, though Acer says that will be fixed on retail models.

Regardless, Acer will have a bunch of updated 16 and 18-inch gaming laptops for you to consider no matter your budget.

The Predator Helios 16 will start at $1,900 and go on sale in January, followed by the Predator Helios 18 at $2,000, which will arrive sometime in March. Alternatively, the Predator Helios Neo 18 and Neo 16 will start at $1,550 and $1,500 respectively, with both officially launching in March.

Update 1/8/2024 6:00 PM ET: This post has been updated with hands-on video.

We’re reporting live from CES 2024 in Las Vegas from January 6-12. Keep up with all the latest news from the show here.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/the-acer-predator-helios-18-has-the-most-mesmerizing-hinge-on-a-laptop-at-ces-2024-230045775.html?src=rss 

Razer was so proud of the screens on its updated Blade laptops it announced some details a week before CES. Now that I’ve seen them, I can say they look even better in person.

The big upgrade for the Blade 16 is without a doubt its screen, which Razer says is the world’s first 16-inch 240Hz OLED display. The impressive thing is that, even when compared to the Blade 14 and Blade 18’s panels which both look great, the one on the 16 just pops a little bit more. Colors look rich and it covers 100 percent of DCI-P3 color gamut, plus its response time of just 0.2ms is super fast. You also get VESA ClearMR 11000 and DisplayHDR True Black 500 certifications. And while its QHD+ resolution isn’t quite 4K, you can always opt for the dual mode mini LED screen Razer introduced last year.

Inside, you get a new 14th-gen Raptor Lake Core i9-14900HX chip and up to an RTX 4090 with a TDP of 175 watts. While the Blade 16’s starting price looks pretty steep at $3,000, it’s important to note that that figure includes the brand new OLED display and 4070 graphics, which is better than the 4060 cards you get as base from a lot of Razer’s rivals. The Blade 16 is on sale today. 

As for the Blade 14, it’s got a new AMD Ryzen 9 8945HS chip and up to an RTX 4070 GPU with a TDP of 140 watts. As for its display you’re looking at a 16:10 QHD+ panel with a 240Hz refresh rate. And all this comes in a chassis that still weighs 4.05 pounds and measures 0.7 inches thick, which might make this my favorite of the three due to its combination of power and portability. I just wish that it had the OLED display from the Blade 16. Pricing is still to be determined, though pre-orders are slated for the end of January.

Finally, there’s the Blade 18, whose most important new feature is the world’s first 18-inch 4K 165Hz display. Now I should mention that this display is so new, the model we saw at CES has a placeholder lid, so the system I saw was significantly thicker than it will be at launch. The other big claim is that the Blade 18 will feature a Thunderbolt 5 port, which is the first time I’ve heard any company pledge to include this connector. Unfortunately, that’s all we know about the Blade 18 for now, as it’s not scheduled to launch until sometime later this year.

One last notable change for 2024 is that across the entire Blade family, you’ll now be able to equip each system with up to 96GB of RAM and 8TB of SSD storage. Those are pretty monstrous figures and you can bet upgrading won’t come cheap, but if you need it, you need it.

Update 1/8/2024 6:14 PM ET: This post has been updated with hands-on video.

We’re reporting live from CES 2024 in Las Vegas from January 6-12. Keep up with all the latest news from the show here.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/razers-blade-laptop-lineup-shines-bright-with-stunning-screens-at-ces-2024-230044688.html?src=rss