Asus Zenbook 17 Fold Review
Finding Your Zen with the Zenbook 17 Fold: A Complete Review
Consumer electronics have experienced an impressive evolution in recent decades. The bygone era of bulky, fragile, over-cumbersome gadgets is quickly fading away, giving rise to a new breed of technology that sets the bar higher in terms of portability, convenience, and user experience.
Foldables including foldable smartphones, tablets, and laptops, are at the forefront of this change, providing buyers with a new, novel class of tech characterized by flexible displays that flip and fold in half without breaking apart. We’ve had the privilege of putting several foldable phones through their paces, such as Samsung’s amazing Galaxy Z Flip4 and its big sibling the Galaxy Z Fold4.
Today, however, we veer into the nascent world of foldable computers by touring the Asus Zenbook 17 Fold – a foldable hybrid laptop that’s highlighted by its breathtaking 17.3-inch OLED screen.
In this review, we outline why we believe the Zenbook 17 Fold represents the opening chapter in foldable laptop technology. After spending many weeks dissecting every aspect of this machine, it’s finally time to share our thought and insights.
If you’re interested in learning more about the Asus Zenbook 17 Fold – settle in and buckle up for the ride.
The Design
Upon opening the package, we were immediately struck by the Zenbook 17 Fold’s stunning refinement. In terms of design, this device sets the standard for all foldable laptops to come considering it was one of the first to hit the market when it launched in late 2022.
From the high-quality materials to its sleek finish, this machine oozes in wow factor. It’s crafted from a magnesium alloy and coated in a color the company calls “Tech Black”, complete with a dark green faux-leather kickstand that adds to its premium look and feels. What’s more, the ultra-thin chassis measures just 8.7mm which places it among the thinnest of all laptops on the market.
The Zenbook 17’s foldable design imbues it with a versatile range of positioning options that essentially make it an all-in-one hybrid that functions as a laptop, desktop, tablet, and even a book.
In laptop mode, the device transforms into a compact notebook, ideal for tight or restricted workspaces where room is limited. Think of a cramped airplane tray, a crowded bus, or maybe a busy train. Still, in the laptop position, users can detach the keyboard to expose the rest of the screen underneath. Without the keyboard, the Zenbook is programmed to reconfigure its layout where the bottom half of the display serves as the secondary display for UI inputs or even a virtual keyboard.
In tablet mode, the Zenbook 17 Fold unfolds into a massive 17.3-inch slate, perfect for the immersive viewing of movies and TV shows. And by setting the kickstand and pairing the keyboard via Bluetooth, the machine in effect becomes an all-in-one desktop display.
In addition, there’s also what Asus refers to as reader mode, which gives the feeling of holding a heavy newspaper or massive magazine. Truth be told, of all the modes, this one seems more like a marketing gimmick than a genuinely useful feature.
The Display
As breathtaking as the design is, the Zenbook 17 Fold’s stunning 17.3-inch touch-sensitive display undoubtedly steals the spotlight with its impressive flexibility and grand appeal. It offers 2560 x 1920 OLED pixels, a 4:3 aspect ratio, a respectable 0.2ms response time, and a 60Hz refresh rate.
Other notable stats are its 500nits HDR peak brightness, the fact that it covers 100% of the DCI-P3 color gamut, and its remarkable 1,000,000:1 contrast ratio, which means that the blacks are truly black and the whites are truly white. Additionally, the screen emits 70% less harmful blue light than other screens which is also a plus.
All in all, we feel that images and videos played from the Zenbook offer accurate color reproduction as well as nice clarity and smoothness but are far from impressive when compared to something like the Dell XPS 17, which we reviewed here.
We should also note that while bezel-less or near bezel-less is becoming the standard for top-of-the-line smartphones and laptops, the bezel makes a big return on the Zenbook 17. Nonetheless, engineers still managed to achieve a screen-to-body ratio of 87%, which is interestingly on par with other high-end laptops.
Lastly, when it comes to foldable devices, one of the biggest concerns is the crease that appears on the screen after extended use. We were pleased to discover that with the Zenbook 17 Fold, the crease is hardly noticeable. In comparison to other foldable on the market, it’s practically invisible, making it a top contender in this category. 
Asus touts that the Zenbook 17 Fold’s hinge is designed to open and close up to 30,000 times but durability in real-world conditions can vary. Despite this fact, the hinge mechanism seems well-built and sturdy, giving users the confidence that it will hold up once set in position. Overall, the flexible display on the Zenbook 17 Fold is a triumph of technology and something that would have been crazy to imagine just a few years ago.
- Multi-Screen Versatility — Find the mode that best suits your task and seamlessly switch between them. Expand your workspace with Dual Screen or Desktop Mode, share content effortlessly in Sharing Mode, or snap everything back into one for Laptop Mode
- Everything-Built-In Portability — At 3.64 lb and a mere 0.57” thin, the DUO elevates portable dual-screen setups to the next level. With a detachable Bluetooth keyboard and built-in kickstand, you can take the Zenbook DUO just as you would with any laptop — plus a FHD IR front camera
- Powerfully Productive — The Zenbook DUO delivers powerful performance and AI-ready features on Windows 11. The ultra-fast Intel Core Ultra 9 285H processor with Intel AI Boost NPU paired with Intel Arc graphics, enhances tasks with AI capabilities. With 1TB SSD storage and 32GB LPDDR5x RAM, you can explore more seamlessly
- Dual 14” Lumina OLED Displays — Immerse yourself in unparalleled visuals with the Zenbook DUO's dual 16:10 touch displays boasting a 2880 x 1800 resolution, vibrant 500-nit HDR peak brightness, smooth 120Hz refresh rate, and Pantone validated 100% DCI-P3 color accuracy
- Military-Grade Durability — Meeting US MIL-STD 810H military standards1, the Zenbook DUO ensures unmatched reliability in harsh conditions. Rigorous testing enhances longevity, guaranteeing that your laptop is ready for work, travel, or relaxation both today and in the future
Keyboard, Trackpad, Stylus
When it comes to the Zenbook 17 Fold’s keyboard, there are many positives and quite a few negatives to consider.
On the plus side, the keyboard’s compact size allows for convenient storage within the display when you’re on the go. Also since it’s Bluetooth, you can pair it with other devices besides your Zenbook which is useful. Additionally, with 1.4mm of keystroke depth, it’s a remarkable feat to achieve such a level of tactile satisfaction on a keyboard so slim. This was impressive and surprisingly great for prolonged typing.
But while the keyboard has an exceptional battery life and uses USB-C port for charging, it requires separate charging from the device, which we consider a disadvantage.
Some other drawbacks worth mentioning include:
- We experienced routine connectivity issues where the keyboard disconnects when the Zenbook falls asleep. We discovered that sometimes the computer would awake on command as you’d expect, while other times, we had to physically remove and reconnect the keyboard or else the computer would stay asleep.
- The computer is designed to automatically detect when the keyboard is placed on top of the bottom half of the screen in laptop mode. However, sometimes this didn’t work when using certain apps, causing the display to enter full-screen mode instead.
- We also experienced infrequent but erratic cursor jumps, resulting in frustration during periods of typing and gameplay.
- It’s truly a shame that the Zenbook 17 Fold, a device that features a touch-sensitive screen, doesn’t offer stylus support. In fact, the company explicitly cautions against using a stylus, warning of potential screen damage. In our opinion, this is disappointing because stylus support should be a standard feature at this price point.
Ports and Connectivity
Considering the Zenbook 17’s ultra-slim design, it’s no surprise that I/O is limited. With a mere 8.7mm of playground for ports, Thunderbolt 4 is practically the only one that wouldn’t compromise the device’s sleek form factor.
Expect to see two Thunderbolt 4 ports that support display and power delivery, along with a 3.5mm audio jack. This means you’ll need to buy a dongle for anything beyond audio or Thunderbolt, but luckily Asus was nice enough to throw in a USB-C to USB-A adapter in the box. For those wondering, USB-C uses the same connector as Thunderbolt 4.
As for network connectivity, the Zenbook boasts a Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax) wireless card and Bluetooth 5.3 support.
Performance, Specs, OS, Battery
All Zenbook 17 Folds come with the same Intel Core i7-1250U processor, 16GB of RAM, and a 1TB M.2 SSD. Overall you can expect smooth performance, though it doesn’t quite match up to other systems in its price range. But it’s important that we note that the high cost of this product is not driven by its exceptional performance, but rather, by its innovative foldable technology.
Don’t expect to see any awe-inspiring figures when running Geekbench or PCMark tests. However, when it comes to everyday multitasking, writing, streaming media, light duty gaming, and web browsing across numerous tabs, the Zenbook 17 Fold has got you covered.
As for battery life, this machine packs impressive longevity and quick charging, thanks to its 75WHrs, 4-cell Li-ion battery, and 65W AC charging. During our tests, we were able to accomplish a full day’s work involving heavy web browsing, word processing, and media streaming on a single charge.
Overall, we feel that the battery life of our Zenbook 17 is one of its standout features, providing ample power to keep you productive while on the go, without constantly needing to hunt for a power outlet.
As for the operating system, the Zenbook 17 Fold ships with your choice of Windows 11 Home or Windows 11 Pro.
- Multi-Screen Versatility — Find the mode that best suits your task and seamlessly switch between them. Expand your workspace with Dual Screen or Desktop Mode, share content effortlessly in Sharing Mode, or snap everything back into one for Laptop Mode
- Everything-Built-In Portability — At 3.64 lb and a mere 0.57” thin, the DUO elevates portable dual-screen setups to the next level. With a detachable Bluetooth keyboard and built-in kickstand, you can take the Zenbook DUO just as you would with any laptop — plus a FHD IR front camera
- Powerfully Productive — The Zenbook DUO delivers powerful performance and AI-ready features on Windows 11. The ultra-fast Intel Core Ultra 9 285H processor with Intel AI Boost NPU paired with Intel Arc graphics, enhances tasks with AI capabilities. With 1TB SSD storage and 32GB LPDDR5x RAM, you can explore more seamlessly
- Dual 14” Lumina OLED Displays — Immerse yourself in unparalleled visuals with the Zenbook DUO's dual 16:10 touch displays boasting a 2880 x 1800 resolution, vibrant 500-nit HDR peak brightness, smooth 120Hz refresh rate, and Pantone validated 100% DCI-P3 color accuracy
- Military-Grade Durability — Meeting US MIL-STD 810H military standards1, the Zenbook DUO ensures unmatched reliability in harsh conditions. Rigorous testing enhances longevity, guaranteeing that your laptop is ready for work, travel, or relaxation both today and in the future
Price and Availability
For those who are looking for the ultimate foldable computing experience, the Zenbook 17 Fold is definitely worth considering. Its innovative design makes it a standout device that is perfect for both work and play. With its high price tag, it’s definitely not for everyone, but if you’re looking to live at the edge of technology and set yourself apart from the crowd, the Zenbook 17 Fold is the perfect choice for you.
The Zenbook 17 Fold is now available through all major retailers in the US, with an MSRP of $3,499. If you’re interested in purchasing this innovative folding laptop, don’t forget to check our exclusive links to find the best discounts and promotions that can help you save on your purchase.
So, what are you waiting for? Go ahead and add the Zenbook 17 Fold to your cart today and experience the future of computing firsthand
3,499
The Final Verdict
After spending some time with the Zenbook 17 Fold, we can confidently say that this device is a top contender in the foldable laptop market. It boasts a nice combination of power, portability, and convenience and is a great opener in what is set to become a market dominated by foldable tech over the coming years.
The Zenbook 17 doesn’t feature the latest and greatest performance specs, but again, that’s not the point here; foldability is its purpose. Therefore, the target audience isn’t hardcore gamers or dedicated tech enthusiasts seeking the ultimate high-power computing experience, but rather its early adopter fascinated by the latest foldable technology.
While there are a few downsides to this device, such as keyboard connectivity issues and its sky-high MSRP, the positives far outweigh the negatives. That’s why we believe that the Zenbook 17 Fold is an excellent choice for anyone looking for a top-tier foldable laptop.
In the end, we wholeheartedly endorse the Asus Zenbook 17 Fold as an exceptional choice that pushes boundaries and sets new standards in its category. To explore more and experience the pinnacle of foldable technology without compromise click here.
