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You could get two Galaxy Folds for the price of ASUS' foldable laptop
- ASUS revealed its new foldable laptop at IFA 2022.
- Its headline feature is a 17.3-inch bendable display that pivots into a 12.5-inch laptop.
- Pricing starts at an eye-watering $3,499.
We’re well used to seeing foldable phones out in the wild, but foldable laptops are still few and far between. Asus is hoping to change this. At IFA 2022, the company unveiled its new foldable laptop, the Zenbook 17 Fold OLED.
Teased at CES 2022, the Zenbook 17 Fold seems like another device capitalizing on the foldable form factor hype. But ASUS does make a compelling case for its existence, billing the laptop as the ideal balance between mobility and productivity.
The Zenbook 17 Fold’s party piece is a 17.3-inch 2,560 x 1,920 display that pivots 180 degrees to form a 1,920 x 1,280 12.5-inch laptop equivalent. In this mode, the bottom section of the screen can act as a virtual keyboard, or users can snap on a compatible magnetic keyboard. The Zenbook 17 Fold can also be used in full-screen mode, with the physical keyboard tethered to it via Bluetooth.
As the Zenbook 17 Fold is effectively all screen, ASUS thinks users can replace their ebook readers and tablets with this device. At 1.5kg, it’s not practical for novels, but it shouldn’t make a massive dent in a traveler’s carry-on. For fidgety users, the Zenbook 17 Fold’s hinge is rated for 30,000 flexes across its lifetime.
Internally, the Zenbook 17 Fold comes with 12th-generation Intel CPUs, Intel’s Iris graphics, up to 16GB of RAM, and 1TB of SSD storage. Considering this device is almost all screen, a 75WHr battery provides the juice required for up to 9.5 hours. Two USB-C ports provide a charging point and peripheral connectivity. Other niceties include Wi-Fi 6E support, Harman Kardon audio with Dolby Atmos support, and a 5MP video calling camera.
See also: The best laptops you can buy in 2022
ASUS Zenbook 17 Fold OLED: Pricing and availability
So, how much does ASUS’ new foldable laptop cost? Spoiler: it’s not cheap.
You’ll need to fork out $3,499 to own the Zenbook 17 Fold when it rolls out globally in Q4 2022. That’s a $1,000 premium over the Lenovo Thinkpad X1 Fold, or nearly double the price of Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 4. But for those who want a large-screen computer without the bulk, the Zenbook 17 Fold may be a left-field prospect worth considering.