ASUS Zenbook 17 Fold OLED (UX9702) review – is there a future for foldables?

Name: ASUS Zenbook 17 Fold
Brand: ASUS

LaptopMedia.com Reviews and Analysis ASUS Zenbook 17 Fold OLED (UX9702) review - is there a future for foldables? Page 8

From: Alex Iliev, eng. Kroum Nikolov 13 February 2023 / 19:08 0

8. Verdict

7. Temperatures and comfort, Battery Life Previous page Next page

Verdict

Foldable devices are the future. Smartphones and tablets could be easily dominated by this type of product. However, the laptop world is something different. Yes, it is open to innovation, and ASUS knows that best, but the clamshell design has endured so much for a reason.

It is just too comfortable and easy to use. After all, it is already a more portable version of the desktop computer. In our opinion, the Zenbook 17 Fold OLED (UX9702) won’t be extremely popular on the market. But that does not mean that we look at it as a failure.

In fact, its build quality is nothing short of impressive. Yes, the port selection is limited, but the two Thunderbolt 4 connectors are joined by an Audio jack and a USB Type-C to Type-A dongle.

ASUS Zenbook 17 Fold OLED (UX9702)’s touchscreen panel has a high resolution, comfortable viewing angles, and super fast pixel response times. It covers the DCI-P3 color gamut fully and has accurate color representation. Thanks to the “MyASUS” app, you can choose a preset, that correlates with the sRGB gamut too.

Obviously, the most interesting feature of this laptop is the foldable function of its display. In the default mode, it has a 4:3 aspect ratio and it is great as a tablet. Thankfully, it has a kickstand installed in the back.

However, in “laptop mode”, the screen gets cut in half, when you attach the Bluetooth keyboard, you got inside the package. The software that cancels half of the unused pixels works perfectly, and you are left with a magical Windows taskbar, which sits right on the curve. The newly “created” display has a size of 12.5 inches and a resolution of 1920 by 1280p.

On the bright side, the battery life is great (at least in “laptop” mode). The 75Wh package got us through about 12 hours of either Web browsing or video playback.

Essentially, you are getting two devices in one machine. One of them is a very small, but a thick laptop, while the other is a huge tablet – how the turntables! For one, it is pretty comfortable to use thanks to the keyboard attachment. It will definitely be your best friend in navigation with the machine.

By the way, if you need a machine for graphic design, you have to be warned that you can’t use styluses on this screen. It is really soft, and can be damaged by the pen’s tip – the only time just the tip can do enough damage.

Also, unfortunately, you won’t be able to upgrade this laptop. Its memory is soldered to the motherboard and has a capacity of 16GB of LPDDR5 type. At the same time, the storage comprises 1TB of PCIe x4 Gen 4 SSD, and there is no mention of possible interchangeability without the help of an authorized service.

At the end of the day, this laptop fixes some problems, but also creates more along the way. It is just that the concept is generally prone to problems – mainly in terms of durability, and longevity of the display. However, if you feel bold, and you want to own the latest and most funkiest tech, this one is definitely for you.

You can check the prices and configurations in our Specs System: https://laptopmedia.com/series/asus-zenbook-17-fold-oled-ux9702/

Pros

Fantastic keyboard inside the box
The OLED display has an infinite contrast ratio
Full DCI-P3 coverage and accurate color representation
The software works very with the foldable display and the keyboard attachment
Great build quality
You essentially get two devices in one
IR face recognition scanner + proximity and color temperature sensors
5MP AI Web camera and noise-canceling features

Cons

Limited I/O
The display is pretty fragile
Not upgradeable

#CommissionsEarned

ASUS Zenbook 17

Processor: Intel Core i7-1250U
VideoCard: Intel Iris Xe Graphics G7 (96EU)
RAM: 16GB RAM
STORAGE: 1000GB SSD

Detailed review