IFA 2016: ASUS unveils the ZenWatch 3

We love keeping a close eye on big overseas technology events like IFA; don’t get us wrong. But with a trove of new products unveiled within a given number of days, and more making it out of the gate even before the formal event opening, it can be tough to keep up. So consider this our penance for this week — although we’d also like to clarify that ASUS’ six new mobile devices are as far from “punishment” as it can get.

ASUS was one of the technology companies that made waves a day before IFA 2016 began, showcasing four new Zen products and two additions to the Transformer line in a press event aptly called Zenvolution.

Headlining the Berlin shindig is the ZenWatch 3, an Android Wear-powered smartwatch for Android and iOS devices that takes on the aesthetics of classic timepieces, but ships with all the bells and whistles. Consumers can expect top-qualty materials that withstand the varying impacts of daily use; functions such as physical activity tracking via the ZenFit app, ability to customize your watch band (rubber or leather, sir?), watch face and widgets; and a two-day battery life plus quick charging through ASUS’ HyperCharging technology. The ZenWatch 3 will be available in three colors: gunmetal, silver, and rose gold.

From watches, we move on to tablets. The ASUS ZenPad 3S 10 is a pretty, full-sized (9.7”) tablet that’s also only 5.8mm thick, giving you ample visuals in a compact package. It also brings sufficient power within its aluminum frame: a hexa-core MediaTek 8176 processor, 4GB of memory, 64GB of onboard storage (expandable to 128GB via microSD card), and a 5900mAh battery. ASUS also doesn’t skimp on its own tech, bringing its Tru2Life video enhancement and NXP smart amplifier technologies to boost the ZenPad 3S 10’s audio-visual skills.

On to a bigger Zen, the ASUS ZenBook 3 notebook. This baby sports a new look: ASUS says it bestowed upon the ZenBook 3 “aerospace-grade aluminum alloy”, along with that nice spun-metal finish that has marked all ZenBook models. It’s also gotten thinner and lighter, which really makes us wonder how manufacturers manage to cram everything under the hood (including a 3mm-thin fan). Speaking of that aspect, the ZenBook 3 has up to the newest Intel Core i7 brains, a 12.5” screen, SSD storage, USB-C I/O, 16GB of memory, Harman Kardon-branded audio, and a purported nine-hour battery life.

The last newcomer to the Zen lineup, the full-HD ASUS ZenScreen, provides additional 15.6” visuals for work and play. It’s USB-C-powered, works with laptops equipped with USB-C or -A ports, and meets the thin-and-light requisites. The MB16AC’s foldable smart case also functions as a stand for easy viewing.

As for the Transformer lineup, the two new kids held their own during this year’s Zenvolution — and can do the same against the other hybrid devices currently on the market. Both the Transformer 3 and Transformer 3 Pro are made with premium materials, and their functionalities expanded with ASUS’ range of accessories. As for specs… we’d say go for the Pro if you’re into top-of-the-line, but the Transformer 3 isn’t too shabby either.

 Unfortunately, ASUS didn’t give any details regarding global or regional availability, or the SRPs of the six products it featured at Zenvolution at IFA. We’ll let you know as soon as we get the specifics.