ASUS leads in innovation at iF design awards

ASUS has announced that it was awarded 10 awards at this year’s iF Product Design Awards at a ceremony recently concluded at the BMW Welt Event Forum in Munich, Germany. The Asus products that received the awards included notebooks, smartphones, desktops and gaming devices- namely Transformer Book Chi, ZenFone 2, ZenWatch, ZenBook UX305, Chromebook C, Republic of Gamers (ROG) GX 500, ROG G20, ROG Swift PG278Q, ASUS MX27A, and the ASUS Smart Home System.

The iF Design Awards are recognized worldwide as a seal of quality for products that excel in specific criteria including design quality, degree of innovation, functionality, ergonomics and much more. International experts evaluate each product submission based on the quality of the design, appropriate material usage and how innovative these are. A total of 75 products were chosen for gold awards this year.

In a statement regarding the annual awards event, Mr. Chris Wen, the Product Manager for ASUS Kenya said, “We are honored that the International Forum Design has recognized our determination towards exceptional product design that enables our consumers to interact with technology in new ways. We will endeavor to produce concrete designs and innovative products for our markets around the world.”

According to Mr. Wen, the Transformer Book Chi series which was is a range of the products that received an award will be the subject of the upcoming dealer event scheduled for Nairobi in April.

The following products and concepts received and iF award in the design categories.

ASUS Transformer Book Chi Series

The ASUS Transformer Book Chi Series is a family of razor-thin 2-in-1 Windows detachable tablets that transform seamlessly into laptops. With a beautiful precision-crafted all-aluminum design featuring brilliant diamond-cut highlights, gorgeous up to WQHD displays and powerful performance with up to Intel® Core™ M processors, Transformer Book Chi offers users sophisticated and elegant mobile computing for both work and play. A key element of the clever Chi design is the smart magnetic hinge, which is designed for reliable, easy and fuss-free attachment of the Bluetooth keyboard.

ASUS ZenFone 2

ZenFone 2 (ZE551ML) is the new flagship smartphone in the ZenFone family, featuring a gorgeous, all-new design that employs iconic Zen design elements, such as a sleek, brushed-metal finish and concentric-circle detailing, and introduces new refinements, including a graceful curved case that tapers to an incredibly thin 3.9 mm at the edges. The 5.5-inch Full HD IPS+ screen has an ultra-narrow bezel that reduces ZenFone 2’s overall size yet provides a maximized viewing experience.

With a 64-bit Intel Atom Z3580 processor and up to 4GB RAM, ZenFone 2 delivers uncompromising performance. An Intel LTE modem provides ultra-fast and reliable 4G/LTE connectivity, while the 3000mAh battery provides more than a full day of power and features BoostMaster fast-charging technology for dramatically-reduced recharge times.

ZenFone 2 comes equipped with a 13MP PixelMaster camera with an f/2.0 wide-aperture lens to let users quickly and easily capture beautiful, high-resolution photos with zero shutter lag. Camera features including Low Light mode, Backlight (Super HDR) mode, and the Real Tone flash ensure incredible photos in any lighting situation.

The brand-new ZenUI offers a simpler and smarter user experience, with a stylish new layout that expands white space for a cleaner design, placing the information you need front and center. It’s brighter, smarter, simpler and even more beautiful!

ASUS ZenWatch

ASUS ZenWatch is an exquisitely-crafted watch that seamlessly pairs with an Android™ smartphone to extend its functionality and provide relevant, useful information when it is needed most. ASUS ZenWatch is also a personal wellness manager that tracks a variety of wellness stats, such as heart rate, step counts, and relaxation levels to help users keep their lives in balance and achieve personal fitness goals.

Following in the tradition of fine watchmaking, ASUS ZenWatch has a stylish, detail-focused design and is made with high-quality materials. Its curved glass and case that follows the contour of the wrist, combined with a premium, stitched-leather strap with unique clasp, results in a design that is both comfortable and elegant. ASUS ZenWatch comes with a wide selection of instantly-changeable watch faces to fit any style or mood.

ASUS ZenWatch also features Remote Camera, a unique app that opens up new photographic opportunities for users by displaying their smartphone’s camera viewfinder remotely on ASUS ZenWatch. This frees them to take photos from creative angles where the viewfinder would be difficult to see, such as when holding the phone overhead at a concert or other crowded event. Remote Camera is also useful for group photos, letting the photographer compose the photo, release the shutter, and check the final result while being included in the shot.

ASUS ZenBook UX305

The 13.3-inch QHD+ laptop, measuring just 12.3mm thin. Its subtle and refined shape incorporates the DNA of the classic ZenBook, featuring an elegantly-tapered design that has smooth and comfortable edges with diamond-cut metallic highlights.

ASUS Chromebook C Series

The ASUS Chromebook C Series is an entry-level notebook that emphasizes usability and comfort without sacrificing quality. The design features a new design language that combines the ASUS core Design DNA with the simplicity of Google ChromeOS. The small factor notebook features a full keyboard and large touchpad to improve usability beyond typical notebooks in its class. The Chromebook C Series has a fanless design for cool and quiet usage, and is perfectly suited for mobile and casual computing.

ASUS ROG GX 500 Series

The GX Series is a line of high-end laptops that combine superior performance with a slim form factor for maximum portability. The laptops feature bodies made from solid aluminum to allow for designs of the greatest purity and simplicity. GX Series laptops come with anti-glare 4K Ultra High Definition (4K/UHD) screens, which deliver sharper images together with improved viewing comfort.

ASUS ROG G20

ROG G20 is the world’s most powerful compact gaming desktop PC, packing advanced hardware into a stunning 12.5L small-form-factor design. Its Intel Core i7 processor and up to NVIDIA GTX780 graphics deliver ultimate performance during demanding marathon gaming sessions. To ensure optimized reliability, ROG G20 has an innovative cooling system that uses natural convection and a hidden airflow tunnel for efficient thermal management.

ASUS ROG Swift PG278Q monitor

ROG Swift PG278Q is a 27-inch, WQHD-resolution gaming monitor with a 144Hz refresh rate and 1ms response time to cater to the graphical requirements of today’s fast-paced games. It boasts gamer-centric features for a better gameplay experience, NVIDIA® G-SYNC™ technology for smooth, fluid visuals, as well as exquisite and ergonomic design touches.

ASUS MX27A monitor

ASUS MX27A is a 27-inch monitor with an elegant, precision-crafted design inspired by the millennia-old artistry of the sundial. MX27A features an edge-to-edge frameless panel with a bezel thickness of just 0.1cm with WQHD (2560 x 1440) resolution, providing 77% more screen area and 25%-sharper images than similarly-sized Full HD displays for stunning visuals. The die-cast aluminum stand accentuates the monitor’s premium design and provides a stable, sturdy base.

MX27A features ASUS SonicMaster audio technology, incorporating ICEpower®, Bang & Olufsen technology and AudioWizard sound optimization functionality to give users truly immersive audio through a combination of advanced hardware and professional audio processing ASUS MX27A also features ASUS Eye Care Flicker-Free and Low Blue Light technology to reduce eyestrain and fatigue caused by monitor use. MX27A is certified Flicker-Free and Low Blue Light by TÜV Rheinland laboratories, a global provider of technical, safety, and certification services.

ASUS Smart Home System

ASUS Smart Home System is an ecosystem combining a gateway with a series of devices designed to provide users with a comprehensive, safe, and energy-efficient home-automation solution. Built on the concept of strong family union, the Smart Home System gateway features a beautiful sapphire-blue arc to indicate connections to smart features around the home. The system connects to a range of devices — including motion sensors, smoke detectors, window and door sensors, thermostats, alarms, door locks, and plug switches — that can be controlled from anywhere using a user-friendly smartphone app.