The advent of artificial intelligence (AI) on personal computers has pushed both work and play boundaries to new heights, ushering in a slew of hardware and software features that promise upgraded performance and an enhanced user experience. Even as some brands opt for their own dedicated service, hardware and software leaders of the market have developed their own offerings that open up the market and Microsoft’s Copilot is one such software service that serves as a virtual assistant with the ability to cite sources, communicate in numerous languages and dialects, simplify data, and more.
It was later made accessible to Windows keyboards via a dedicated key, but the latest Copilot+ PCs continue to up the ante for productivity, entertainment, and everything in between, as brands build upon the existing framework to develop an AI offering that stands out from their others. A keen proponent of innovation and efficiency, ASUS has embraced the leap with a full range of its ProArt, Zenbook, and Vivobook laptops, each built for different users.
On a fundamental level, Copilot+ PCs already pack plenty of oomph. Touted as the fastest, most intelligent Windows devices ever built, they run on an all-new system architecture that brings together the power of the CPU, GPU, and a high-performance Neural Processing Unit (NPU) – a processor designed specifically for accelerating neural network operations and AI tasks. The devices also come secured out of the box, with nifty additions like Recall, which organises information based on relationships and associations unique to individual experiences, and Live Captions, capable of translating text and transcribing audio in real time.
All of that is just the start. With a strong framework in place, ASUS then adds its flair to the mix and branches out into two dedicated paths: creative work and everyday use. The ProArt lineup, tailored for the former, offers three options that cater best to different scenarios, beginning with the ProArt PZ13 (HT5306).
Weighing a mere 850 grams and measuring 9mm thin, the lightweight machine is ideal for active creators who are often on the move. The svelte profile makes it easy to bring around, with a detachable keyboard allowing for versatile functionality as a tablet or conventional laptop. Military-grade durability is a bonus, increasing protection against water, dust, extreme temperatures, humidity, and more.
Despite its ultra-compact build, the ProArt PZ13 packs plenty of oomph – both under the hood and outside of it. The latest Snapdragon X Plus processor serves as its main driver, joining a Qualcomm Adreno GPU and 45 TOPS NPU in delivering leading-edge performance. Be it everyday tasks or demanding processes like video editing or 3D rendering, the creative powerhouse handles them with ease.
The AI-enhanced hardware is matched with smooth, crisp visuals on a 13-inch OLED touchscreen display with stylus support. Boasting a 3K display resolution, a 60Hz refresh rate, and 0.2 millisecond response time, the Dolby Vision-certified and Pantone Validated screen ensures accurate colours, as well as vivid images with its cinema-grade DCI-P3 colour gamut.
More notably, the ProArt PZ13 includes nifty creation tools right out of the box. Users can tap into various ASUS AI applications to streamline their workflow more efficiently, such as StoryCube, an AI-powered digital asset management feature that automatically organises photos and videos, and seamlessly integrates media files across the cloud and various devices.
ProArt Creator Hub, meanwhile, serves as an all-in-one hub for monitoring a device’s status, customising settings, and enhancing work processes. For one, Fan Profiles can be fine-tuned via an overview Dashboard for optimal cooling performance, with Colour Control granting easy access to colour calibration tools. A new feature here would be Colour Management, which delivers precise colour data and allows unique palettes to be created or stored.
Completing the ProArt PZ13 experience, ASUS has also included an accessories bundle comprising the new ProArt backpack, soft keyboard, magnetic stand, and ASUS Pen 2.0 as part of the S$2,399 price tag.
As for versatile creators, the ProArt PX13 (HN7306) establishes itself as a trusty companion. The 13-inch convertible device can shift seamlessly between forms, transforming its 15.8mm-thin body into a traditional clamshell laptop or a tablet. It’s slightly heavier than the PZ13 at 1.38kg, and with good reason – the 2-in-1 is built to be a portable studio, carving out a space to house an AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 processor and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4050 GPU. Throw in 80 TOPs of NPU prowess, and even more processing power awaits.
Fitting for a top-of-the-line model, the ProArt PX13 seeks to deliver maximum creativity through several hardware features. The ASUS DialPad acts as an intuitive physical controller, granting access to instant and precise fingertip control in creative apps, including changing brush sizes and rapidly undoing actions. Full customisation of the software is also supported, achieved through the intuitive ASUS Dial and Control Panel feature.
For those who require a creative spark, MuseTree harnesses AI to generate images via a new and intuitive interface, which intelligently stores and manages them for easy access and organisation. All of that, alongside other ASUS AI applications, is bundled into a S$3,599 package, with a souped-up alternative available to fulfill demands for even higher intensity or complexity.
While the ASUS ProArt P16 (H7606) shares the same AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 processor with up to 80 TOPs, it offers an upgrade option to the more powerful GeForce RTX 4070 graphics card. The DialPad, MuseTree, and other earlier mentioned features are included as well, with its display tech marking an improvement over the PX13. Expect 4K resolution, a 16:10 aspect ratio and stylus support on the 16-inch OLED touchscreen, ensuring smooth, lively visuals that culminate into a S$4,599 price point.
Leading the everyday productivity front is the ASUS Zenbook S16 (UM5606), the company’s first ultra-thin 16-inch new-era AI PC. Powered by an AMD Ryzen AI 9 365 chip and Radeon 870M GPU, it taps into 77 TOPs of NPU processing power to deliver blazing-fast and power-efficient performance for day-to-day use.
Not only does the machine run well, it looks good while doing so. It comes in at 1.5kg and 11mm thin, lending a sleek charm to a redesigned chassis. Crafted with a high-tech ceramic in a range of nature-inspired colours, it bears the characteristics of hardness, increasing resistance against scratches and other forms of surface damage.
Accompanying the 16-inch 3K ASUS Lumina OLED display is a full HD infrared (IR) camera with Adaptive Lock support. Designed to protect the user’s personal space, it locks the screen when they step away – a nifty safeguard against any breach in privacy or security in the era of AI. This tool joins other notable features on the Zenbook S16, including a smart, larger-than-usual touchpad that grants control over various settings via swipe or slide gestures.
Connectivity will also be at its fastest. Equipped with a Bluetooth 5.4 wireless card and the latest Wi-Fi 7 standard, touting up to 2.4 times faster speeds than the previous generation, the laptop can automatically link to the strongest Wi-Fi signal and use all available bandwidth efficiently. There’s also support for up to three simultaneous Bluetooth headphone connections on one device, further facilitating communication and entertainment.
The ASUS Zenbook S16 retails for S$2,549, but those seeking a more wallet-friendly option can turn to the smaller Vivobook S15 (S5507). Instead of an AMD configuration, it runs a Snapdragon X Elite processor and a Qualcomm Adreno GPU outfit, promising AI-enhanced performance and responsive multitasking.
Display-wise, users can expect a 3K OLED resolution and a refresh rate of 120Hz – all packed into an all-metal 14.7mm-thin chassis. The portable form factor, weighing 1.42 kg, makes it easy to carry around, with an 18-hour battery life powering users through a typical workday. Like its Zenbook counterpart, the Vivobook S15 includes similar features like an enlarged smart gesture touchpad, an IR camera, and Wi-Fi 7 support.
A full suite of ports, meanwhile, proves handy for external connections. In addition to two USB4 ports that support external display and lightning-fast data transfers, the device also boasts two USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A ports, HDMI 2.1 support, a microSD card reader, and a 3.5mm audio jack. It costs S$2,199, with the base 16GB RAM model coming in at S$1,799 and sporting a Snapdragon X Plus X1P 42 100 processor.
Whether it’s creative work, general productivity, or entertainment, ASUS’ Copilot+ laptops look set to master the craft of AI-powered functionality. The technical leap in recent times has demonstrated the vast potential of AI, and this device suite represents a step closer to unlocking its full capabilities.
Si Jia is a casual geek at heart – or as casual as someone with Sephiroth’s theme on her Spotify playlist can get. A fan of movies, games, and Japanese culture, Si Jia’s greatest weakness is the Steam Summer Sale. Or any Steam sale, really.
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