ASUS announces Quad HD ZenPad S 8.0 and three other tablets at Computex

Computex has always been the stomping ground of Taiwanese manufacturers, and chief among them, Asus uses the occasion to show off its new wares. This year is no exception: we’ve already showed you the new ZenWatch 2 and now here’s a look at ASUS new tablet series.

ZenPad is ASUS’ new tablet brand, capitalizing on the success of the Zen brand in laptops, smartphones, and wearables. In typical fashion, ASUS announced a series of ZenPad tablets covering the market from end to end.

The ZenPad series comprises 7-inch, 8-inch, and 10.1-inch models, each one complete with their own accessories and coming with LTE variants. ASUS shared details about the 8-inch ZenPad and ZenPad S, so we will focus on these two and update with specs for the 7-inch and 10.1-inch models as we get them.

ZenPad S 8.0 (Z580CA)

Starting with the ZenPad S 8.0, this is a high-end affair featuring a metallic design and a crisp 2,048 x 1,536 (324-ppi) IPS display in a 6.6 mm body weighing 298 grams. The 4:3 device features an interesting two-tone design that makes it more suitable for use in landscape mode, rather than in portrait.

As with most ASUS tablets and smartphones, the ZenPad S 8.0 features Intel inside; the 64-bit Intel Atom Z3580, coupled with 4GB of RAM, should ensure top-notch performance, as we’ve seen on the ZenFone 2.

Other specs include 16GB or 32GB of storage, an 8MP rear camera, a 5MP front camera, one USB Type C connector, and a 15.2Wh battery. The Type C puts the ZenPad S 8.0 in rather select company for now, though without a doubt a wave of devices will follow over the next couple of years.

The ZenPad S 8.0 runs Lollipop 5.0 with ASUS Zen UI and you can learn more about this software from our review of the largely similar ZenFone 2.

ZenPad 8.0 (Z380)

The regular ZenPad 8.0 is much simpler fare – everything about it screams budget, though ASUS is trying to make it hip and sexy with the inclusion of a leather back, that can be switched with a range of special accessories. You can switch covers just to change the looks of the tablet, but you can also add some functionality. Zen Case is available in “five sleek or vivid colors and features a fine leather texture,” while Zen Clutch is a “sophisticated carrying and protection solution for ZenPad 8.” Audio Cover adds 5.1-channel surround speakers, while Power Case includes an external battery that can extend the ZenPad 8.0’s battery life to 15 hours.

Specs of the ZenPad 8.0 include an Intel Atom x3 processor, 1 or 2GB of RAM, 8 or 16GB of expandable storage, a disappointing 8.0″ 1280×800 IPS LCD    screen, a 5MP rear camera, the same 15.2 Wh battery as the ZenPad S 8.0, and Android 5.0 Lollipop. The ZenPad 8.0 will be available in Wi-Fi only or LTE options.

For now, ASUS has not shared availability and pricing information for the ZenPad S 8.0 and the rest of the series, though knowing the company’s MO, it may be a while before you’ll see them in stores. With that said, everything points towards some very attractive prices, so we definitely look forward to learning more about these new ZenPads. Let us know your thoughts!

[press]

Mr. Shih first introduced a range of consumer products aimed at delivering ultimate mobility, entertainment, and productivity experiences. These include ZenFone Selfie, a full-featured smartphone designed with advanced camera technology for capturing the best possible selfies; ZenPad 8.0, an 8-inch tablet with refined styling, incredible entertainment capabilities, and the world’s first tablet to offer customizable functionality; ZenPad S 8.0, the world’s first tablet with 4GB of RAM that delivers extreme performance with ultimate style; and  Zen AiO Series, premium all-in-one PCs that provide a perfect balance of beauty and performance for an extraordinary home computing experience. Finally, for creative professionals, such as digital artists and photographers, Mr. Shih introduced ASUS ProArt PA329Q, a 32-inch 4K/UHD (ultra-high-definition) monitor that delivers breathtaking levels of detail.

“I am thrilled to be at Computex to unveil our newest Zen-inspired innovations,” said Mr. Shih. “These exciting new creations strike a compelling balance of power and beauty, and perfectly embody our In Search of Incredible vision of creating seamless and connected digital lives for everyone.”

Intel Senior Vice President and General Manager of the Client Computing Group, Kirk Skaugen, joined Mr. Shih onstage in celebration of the new products and the ongoing partnership between the two companies. “We believe everything that computes and communicates will work best on Intel architecture,” said Kirk Skaugen. “The new ASUS products featuring the latest Intel technology bring great performance, exciting new innovation and experiences to consumers.”

ZenPad

ZenPad is a series of premium tablets that combine refined styling with incredible entertainment and productivity capabilities to redefine the tablet experience and bring true luxury to consumers. Available in three sizes — the 7-inch ZenPad 7.0 (Z370C/CG/CL), the 8-inch ZenPad 8.0 (Z380C/KL) and ZenPad S 8.0 (Z580C/CA) with optional Z Stylus, and the 10-inch ZenPad 10.1 (Z300C/CG/CL) with an optional keyboard — and offering models with  Wi-Fi, LTE/3G connectivity and phone functionality, there’s a ZenPad to suit any kind of user.

ZenPad is crafted to provide exceptional entertainment experiences. It has an expansive HD IPS display featuring the exclusive ASUS VisualMaster suite of visual enhancement technologies — including ASUS Tru2Life and TruVivid — that brings advanced image-processing found on high-end TVs to a tablet for the first time and provides comprehensive visual optimization. ASUS Tru2Life analyzes each pixel in an image before it is displayed and performs an intelligent contrast and sharpness adjustments to boost dynamic range, revealing even the smallest details to ensure an incredibly realistic viewing experience.

ASUS TruVivid improves screen clarity, brightness, and touch responsiveness by transforming the conventional four-layer display design — composed of cover glass, a touch panel, air gap, and an LCD module — into a two-layer, fully-laminated design that eliminates the air gap, resulting in higher optical transparency for brilliant color and improved brightness.

Complementing its stunning display, ZenPad is the world’s first tablet to integrate DTS Premium Sound™ technology for incredible audio. The built-in DTS-HD coder-decoder (codec) provides high-fidelity sound from all types of multimedia content, and lets users play back or stream movies and music with up to 5.1 channels of DTS surround sound to a connected audio system. ZenPad also includes DTS Sound Studio™ to transform stereo audio into virtual surround-sound that users can enjoy either through ZenPad’s speakers or using headphones for immersive entertainment experiences at home or on the go.

ZenPad 8.0 (Z380)

ZenPad 8.0 features clean lines, embossed-leather patterning, and premium styling influenced by fashion accessories such as clutch bags and wallets for a luxurious appearance unique among mobile devices. Ergonomic rounded edges make ZenPad 8.0 comfortable to hold and carry, and its polished metallic frame adds a bold visual accent.

ZenPad 8.0 is the world’s first tablet to feature an innovative interchangeable cover design that lets users easily customize their tablet with functional back covers. These can provide extra features and additional color options, while perfectly matching ZenPad 8.0’s looks. Zen Clutch is a fashion-forward accessory that combines elegant style with premium materials to provide a sophisticated carrying and protection solution for ZenPad 8.0. Zen Case is another stylish accessory that lets users outfit ZenPad 8.0 in their choice of five sleek or vivid colors and features a fine leather texture. Audio Cover brings immersive 5.1-channel surround sound to a tablet for the first time. Power Case extends ZenPad 8.0’s battery life, giving users up to 15 hours of usage to easily get them through their day or even the longest international flights.

ZenPad 8.0 is available with LTE/Wi-Fi connectivity and phone functionality (Z380KL) or as a Wi-Fi-only model (Z380C).

ZenPad S 8.0 (Z580CA)

ZenPad S 8.0 offers the premium ZenPad experience, delivering ultimate style and beauty together with extreme performance. Featuring a gorgeous, Zen-inspired design that fuses aesthetics with functionality, ZenPad S 8.0 is crafted with clean lines, a metallic finish enhanced by an exquisite hairline pattern, and brilliant diamond-cut edges. Just 6.6mm thin and weighing only 298g, it is extremely thin and lightweight, making it perfect to take anywhere and comfortable to hold and use for long periods of time.

ZenPad S 8.0 is equipped with a 2K QXGA (1536x 2048) IPS display with a wide 178-degree viewing angle and an incredible 324ppi pixel density for a stunning, beautifully-detailed viewing experience. It also comes with ASUS Tru2Life Plus, which includes all the benefits of Tru2Life and also improves video with fast action scenes by reducing blur, resulting in for smooth, detailed motion. ZenPad S 8.0 takes tablet performance to the next level. It is powered by a 64-bit Intel® Atom™ Z3580 processor and is the world’s first 8-inch tablet with 4GB of RAM, delivering blazingly fast performance when running the most demanding games and apps, and offering incredibly smooth multitasking.

ZenPad S 8.0 can be used with the optional Z Stylus, making it the perfect device for creative expression. Designed especially for ZenPad S 8.0, Z Stylus provides a natural writing and drawing experience that’s as easy as using a pen. With pinpoint accuracy and sensitive multi-touch technology, Z Stylus is perfectly suited for creative tasks such as sketching, painting, and even design work.  It supports up to 1024 levels of pressure sensitivity and up to a 1.2mm writing tip.

ZenFone Selfie

ZenFone Selfie is a unique smartphone designed to capture the best possible selfies, quickly and simply. Featuring front and rear 13MP PixelMaster cameras with dual-color, dual LED Real Tone flash, ZenFone Selfie captures beautiful, natural-looking selfies in gloriously high resolution. The rear camera features a large f/2.0 aperture lens and laser auto-focus technology to ensure near-instant focusing for clear, sharp pictures — even in low-light conditions where traditional cameras struggle.

ZenFone Selfie includes the brilliant ZenUI Beautification mode for live digital cosmetics. A few taps is all that’s needed to soften facial features, slim cheeks, and enhance skin tone to add vibrancy, and all in real time — injecting instant verve into any composition. ZenFone Selfie also has Selfie Panorama mode, which exploits ZenFone Selfie’s f/2.2-aperture front lens and 88-degree field of view to capture panoramic selfies of up to 140 degrees. With Selfie Panorama mode enabled, selfies become a party with all friends included — plus the ability to capture panoramic scenery for stunning backdrops.

ZenFone Selfie has a large 5.5-inch screen that fits in a body that’s a similar size to that of most 5-inch smartphones, for a maximized viewing experience in a compact body that fits comfortably in the hand. It has a high-resolution 1920 x 1080 Full HD IPS display with a wide 178-degree viewing angle and staggering 403ppi pixel density that renders every image in eye-delighting detail. ASUS TruVivid technology brings color to life in brilliant clarity, making selfies and other photos look their best. Tough Corning® Gorilla® Glass 4 covers the display to help protect against scratches and drops.

ZenFone Selfie features the industry’s first octa-core, 64-bit processor for the perfect balance of multimedia performance and battery efficiency — the Qualcomm® Snapdragon™ 615. This extraordinarily powerful chip equips ZenFone Selfie to provide the very best multimedia and entertainment experiences, carefully balancing high performance with superior power-efficiency.

Zen AiO Series

Zen AiO Series is a premium range of all-in-one PCs — initially comprising the 23.8-inch Zen AiO Z240IC and 21.5-inch Zen AiO Z220IC — that fuse art with industry-leading technology, providing a perfect balance of beauty and performance for the ultimate home-computing experience. A masterpiece of craftsmanship and design, Zen AiO features a slim and elegant unibody shell — forged from a solid block of anodized-aluminum — that tapers to just 6mm thin at the edges, with a precision-crafted matching integral stand. The smooth, sophisticated appearance is enhanced by edge-to-edge glass that covers the display, a rear cover finished in our signature Zen-inspired concentric circle design, and a stylish yet subtle Icicle Gold color.

Zen AiO provides out-of-the-ordinary performance for discerning home users. Using the latest generation of quad-core Intel® CoreTM up to i7 processors, combined with up to 32GB of the lightning-fast DDR4 memory and up to PCIe® Gen 3 x 4 SSD storage, Zen AiO has power to spare for instant responsiveness and ultra-smooth and immersive entertainment. Dedicated NVIDIA® GeForce® GTX™ 960M gaming-grade graphics with up to a class-leading 4GB of video memory ensure users can enjoy stutter-free full HD movies and videos and play the latest games at full resolution. As the world’s first all-in-one PC to use the next-generation USB 3.1 Gen 2, Zen AiO delivers blindingly-fast data transfers of up to 10Gbit/s —twice as fast as USB 3.0, and over twenty times faster than USB 2.0. It also uses the latest USB 3.1 Type-C connector for improved ease of use — the connector is reversible, so it can’t be inserted the wrong way round.

Zen AiO Z240IC has an amazingly-accurate 3D camera that uses Intel RealSense™ technology to add futuristic interactive capabilities. Accurate motion-sensing of people or objects in front of the camera is now possible, enabling previously-unimagined ways of interacting with a PC. For example, with precise 3D facial recognition, a user’s face can become their login password, or families can just have fun interacting with the latest motion-controlled games.

Zen AiO is designed for the ultimate home entertainment, using a total of 6 speakers to deliver rich and clear full-range sound. Each 8-watt stereo channel uses three powerful speakers located at either side of Zen AiO, giving fully-realistic stereo separation and a total of 16 watts of pure, undistorted sound for an amazingly-lifelike entertainment experience. Zen AiO gives users an awesome audio experience, whether they’re watching the latest blockbuster movie, enjoying games or relaxing with music.

ProArt PA329Q 4K/UHD Monitor

The ASUS ProArt PA329Q monitor is a 32-inch 4K/UHD (ultra-high-definition) monitor for professionals that delivers breathtaking levels of detail with a wide 100% Adobe RGB color gamut. PA329Q features 3840 x 2160 resolution on a 16:9 aspect ratio IPS display with a wide 178-degree viewing angle to eliminate color shifting. PA329Q has a pixel density of 138 PPI and provides over 8 million pixels, four times the pixel density of standard Full HD displays for astonishingly-detailed visuals.

Each PA329Q is factory pre-calibrated to prove the best color accuracy (Delta  ≦2), and with a wide 100% Adobe RGB color gamut, colors seen in photos will be reproduced faithfully and consistently. It also features BT2020 / DCI-P3 color space support for video production and editing. PA329Q offers 10-bit display color for over 1.07 billion onscreen colors and supports a 16-bit internal lookup table (LUT), which gives smoother gradations and more transitions between hues.

PA329Q incorporates ASUS ProArt Calibration Technology – a professional hardware calibration application with a 16-bit lookup table (LUT) and uniformity compensation capability. Compared with the conventional way of color calibration, it controls the hardware of the monitor directly and saves all color parameters profile on the monitor IC chips rather than in the PC, so users can recalibrate monitor on their own to ensure the color consistency. It also has the highest compatibility with major hardware calibrators, such as X-rite & Datacolor.

PA329Q delivers breakthrough connectivity with the following options:

1 x DisplayPort 1.2 (4K at 60Hz)
1 x Mini DisplayPort 1.2 (4K @ 60Hz)
1 x HDMI 2.0 (4K at 60Hz)
2 x HDMI 1.4 (4K at 30Hz)
4 x USB 3.0 ports

Where to find ASUS at Computex 2015

The ASUS showroom at Computex 2015  is located at booth M0410 in the Taipei World Trade Center Nangang Exhibition Hall, and is open from 2nd to 5th June from 9:30am to 6:00pm, and on 6th June from 9:30am to 4:00pm.

[/press]