Performance has surely taken center stage in recent ASUS portable gaming devices. The new GX701 is no exception. Its performance results are impressive, while the design is distinctive. So here is an overall analysis of the main characteristic features of the brand-new gaming laptop Zephyrus S GX701 by ASUS.
Design Peculiarities
When it comes to its unique design, it is undoubtedly one of the most prominent features of the device. An average gaming laptop of the same dimensions is usually bigger and definitely not as thin as GX701. The layout of the keyboard is another unique feature of the device. AAS, which stands for “Active Aerodynamic System”, conditions the open space characteristic of the keyboard. What is specific about it is that there are no standard fans in it. Instead of well-familiar blades, there are fins in the cooling mechanism. Such a system provides the necessary cooling with the help of additional pipes and heatsinks. Their task is to get rid of the heated air and ensure access to the cool one. Self-cleaning is another feature of the fans’ design.
RGB lights are an integral part of the modern laptops’ keyboards. Thus, the new GX701 model is not the exception: its keyboard’s backlight is customizable: you can choose a different color for each key. The position of the touchpad in this model is quite unconventional. It is situated on the right side of the panel and serves as a numeric keyboard as well. This bold design solution is paying off, though. There is also a scroll wheel, which may be useful in turning the volume up or down.
Ports in GX701 are numerous: two USB 3.1 Type-C and three USB 3.1 Type-A ports, an HDMI 2.0 port, a 3.5mm audio jack, and a Kensington Lock. The lack of the SD-card reader, however, can be considered a flop by some. In the rest, you won’t have to worry about connecting your peripherals: the opportunities aplenty.
Screen Features
The reduced bezel is, for sure, one of the main features of the model. The amazing screen-to-body ratio of eighty-one percent is possible due to this solution. However, it results in the absence of the built-in webcam. It is probably not a problem for those who don’t use it frequently. And for the rest, there is an external webcam, which can be easily clipped on the frame or placed somewhere else.
The great 1920x1080px resolution of the display itself allows for quality time: both gaming and working with content is superb. What is more, the screen is Pantone-validated for 100% RGB color gamut. The refresh rate is high due to the combination of the graphics card and NVidia’s G-Sync technology.
Battery Life
The battery life of ASUS ROG Zephyrus S GX701 is average, although this is common for gaming laptops. The average time till discharge is three to four hours in the normal mode. But more challenging tasks will make it last as little as two hours. The power-saving mode allows another half an hour of functioning. However, its charging characteristics are pretty satisfactory: it takes slightly more than one hour to charge the battery to 50%. And a 100% charge will take around two hours, which is quite an impressive result in comparison to other gaming devices.
Performance
The performance capabilities of this laptop are truly amazing: it will cope with almost any task. An Intel Core i7-8750H 2.20GHz CPU along with 24GB DDR4 2666MHz RAM allows superb gaming experience and great speed. There is no game, which could not be played on the highest graphics setting – the laptop shows great results every time. If power is required, it switches to the Performance mode automatically, although you can also manually control it by yourself. A simple click can also activate the Power-saving mode. Although not equivalent to desktops, the laptop still offers great performance combined with a considerably smaller size.
Overall Verdict
The ASUS ROG Zephyrus S GX701 laptop is portable, light, and sleek. Being one of the most powerful devices in its category on the market, GX701 has no significant drawbacks. The absence of a built-in webcam, an SD-card reader, or an Ethernet port is surely not burning issues for a gaming laptop as well as low battery life. The price may vary, as it depends on the configuration of your choice. If you have enough money to purchase this device, you absolutely should do it, as there will be no regrets concerning this decision. Playing games on one of the most impressive modern laptops, ASUS ROG Zephyrus S GX701, will be a truly pleasurable experience.
Here is a shortlist of the main for and against.
For:
• Unique design;
• Various prices concerning your needs and budget;
• Amazing performance rate;
• 144Hz, 3ms, Full HD IPS panel.
Against:
• Modest battery life;
• Absence of Ethernet port and SD-card reader.