Asus is updating its ZenBook Pro 15 with a new model that supports up to an Intel Core i9-8950HK processor, NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Ti graphics, up to 16GB of RAM, and up to 1TB of solid state storage. It also supports up to a 4K touchscreen display.

All that would be impressive enough in a laptop that’s just 0.74 inches thick and 4.1 pounds. But the Asus ZenBook Pro 15 UX580 is also the first laptop to feature an Asus ScreenPad we first heard about last week.

Rather than a touchpad, the laptop has a 5.5 inch touchscreen display below the keyboard. In addition to functioning as a normal multitouch controller, it also works like a second screen that you can use as an app launcher, a control interface for some applications running on the primary display, or a place to view mini apps such as a calculator or calendar.

Asus says the ScreenPad is a full HD IPS display that supports 4-finger gestures and works as a Microsoft Precision Touchpad. But it also has a configurable toolbar that you can drag down from the top of the screen.

You can use it as a virtual numeric keypad, use it to control local music playback, or to control YouTube and Spotify. There are also controls for Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, and Asus says you can configure the ScreenPad to work with any application installed on your PC.

There are also options to extend your Windows desktop to the ScreenPad display, treating it like a second monitor. Or you can mirror your smartphone display.

Asus will also release a ScreenPad SDK by the end of the year in order to allow third-party developers to create apps and experiences for the new platform.

While the ScreenPad is probably the laptop’s most distinctive feature, the rest of the specs don’t look bad:

  • 15.6 inch, 3840 x 2160 or 1920 x 1080 pixel display options
  • 83 percent screen to body ratio
  • Optional touchscreen
  • Core i5-8300H/Core i7-8750H/Core i9-8950H processor options
  • NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 TI 4G DDR5 graphics
  • Up to 16GB of DDR4-2400 memory
  • 256GB or 512GB SATA SSD
  • 512GB or 1Tb PCIe SSD
  • 802.11ac WiFi
  • Bluetooth 5.0
  • 2 Thunderbolt 3 ports
  • 2 USB 3.1 Type-A ports
  • HDMI 1.4
  • Headset jack
  • microSD card reader
  • Stereo Harmon Kardon-certified speakers
  • 71Wh battery
  • 14.3″ x 9.9″ x 0.74″
  • 4.1 pounds

Those features don’t come cheap though: the Asus ZenBook Pro 15 UX580 is expected to sell for $2300 and up when it goes on sale in July.

Update: Asus also plans to launch a 14 inch model called the ZenBook Pro 14 UX480 later this year. It has a slightly different design, slightly less powerful hardware, and hopefully a slightly more affordable price tag.

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4 replies on “Asus ZenBook Pro 15 UX580 premium laptop has a “ScreenPad” instead of a touchpad”

  1. The challenge here? Raise your hand if you own a smartphone. Raise your hand if your smartphone is within arms reach, most times, even when using your laptop. I don’t see many raised hands out there.

  2. Oh wow, now this makes so much sense, especially on the dual screen devices

  3. This seems cool. When using the ScreenPad as the laptop’s touchpad, does it mirror the laptop’s display screen? I wonder if that would work or even make sense. Or would everything just be too tiny to make it work. Perhaps a pan & zoom version of the main display would make more sense?

  4. Asus is destroying it with more innovation than most of other pc manufacturers. I wonder if they have a utility patent on this touchpad and will license it to other companies?

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