Laptops

ASUS Transformer 3 Pro review

Published

December 27, 2016

Marvin Velasco

Some people want high-powered gaming machines; others already have simple laptops that can do it all. The ASUS Transformer 3 Pro is part of a tiny gray area in between, and it’s quite the niche.

If you’re familiar with Microsoft’s line of Surface convertibles, you’ll know what you’re getting with the Transformer 3 Pro. They look and function alike, but the ASUS has a few more tricks up its sleeve.

The model I’m reviewing here is also known as the T303U. If you want to get technical, mine has a decent configuration with a sixth-generation Intel Core i5 processor, 8GB of memory, and 512GB SSD storage.

Not bad, eh? The only downside is the price: PhP 69,995 in the Philippines, or about $1,400 in most markets. That’s pricey, so you better read on before making the investment.

It’s surprisingly comfortable in all positions

What bothered me when I reviewed previous convertibles were the awkward resting positions on my lap. The Transformer 3 Pro manages to break that curse.

The main unit comes with a built-in kickstand, which is as long as the entire tablet part and has 155 degrees of flexibility. This means it can easily rest on any type of surface, whether you have the bundled keyboard case attached or not.

Latching on the keyboard is as simple as letting the magnets of both units attract one another. And even with the two parts put together, the whole thing feels so light. The tablet weighs in at about 790g, but you’d think it’s lighter thanks to the slim 8.35mm profile.

This thing can run fast

Based on the specifications we mentioned earlier, you can already tell this convertible can blaze through everyday tasks. The question is: How far much farther can it go?

Without a dedicated graphics card, the Transformer 3 Pro will struggle when handling high-definition video editing or playing games like Tomb Raider or the new Doom. But that’s to be expected, really.

What you can get away with is heavy editing on Photoshop while having several tabs open at the same time in Chrome. I’m writing this review on a Transformer 3 Pro, and I’m split-screening Google Docs with YouTube videos playing and Photoshop ready in the background.

But expect lots of heat on top

Obviously, you’re going to experience lots of heat when putting a laptop-level Core i5 chipset in a thin tablet. It doesn’t help that the whole thing is made of “premium alloy.” Solid? Yes, but the heat spreads all over the top half of the unit.

Since the Transformer 3 Pro doesn’t have the lighter Core M processor found in most convertibles — or even in the cheaper non-Pro Transformer 3 — a cooling fan had to be installed, and it blows hot air upwards.

That’s a good thing, actually, as it keeps heat away from your face or lap. Still, you’ll want to give the tablet some time to cool down before slipping it back in your bag, especially if you save the heavy loads towards the end of your work session.

Speakers get loud; display’s not that bright

Something I enjoy using during my time with the Transformer 3 Pro are the loud front-facing stereo speakers. They’re a breath of fresh air after all the crappy speakers I’ve had to endure with other tablets. This is one of the few instances where I don’t have to reach for external speakers just to watch Netflix flicks.

On the other hand, the screen isn’t that bright. While I appreciate the perfectly sized 12.6-inch 2880 x 1920-pixel display, the overall sharpness and well-saturated colors aren’t enough to make the screen clearly readable under sunlight. It’s a shame, since convertibles like this are designed to be used absolutely anywhere.

Wonky trackpad and keyboard, ugh

Here we go again: another Windows convertible, another awkward trackpad. Expect it to miss double-clicks and right-clicks, and mistakenly zoom in on whatever you’re viewing when you least expect it. I’d sometimes reach a point where I’d have to restart the whole thing just so it would go back to “normal.”

Same issues apply to the bundled pen. Although it works a lot like the one that comes with the Microsoft Surface line, with 1024 levels of pressure and two physical buttons for mouse-like controls, it’s difficult to write legibly or draw anything beyond rough sketches. Fortunately, the pen makes use of a removable AAAA battery instead of built-in charging like the Apple Pencil, and ASUS bundles the hard-to-find battery in the box.

The keyboard isn’t that great, either. While I appreciate the well-spaced keys and their relatively long travel, they have too much resistance, requiring stronger presses while typing. You’ll get used to it eventually, but you also have to deal with a glitchy connection to the tablet. Any slight nudge, and it’ll disconnect instantly; that’s a problem if you move a lot while it’s on your lap.

On the bright side, the keyboard has evenly distributed backlighting. This is invaluable while working in the dark, since the keyboard has an all-black design. You can also choose from three brightness levels.

Hello, ports and cameras

The latest tech trend I hate most is sacrificing connectivity options in favor of a single USB Type-C port and multiple dongles. Apple’s new MacBook started this horrible idea, and companies have been following suit in order to trim down components and rip off consumers with extra accessories. ASUS is having none of that here.

For starters, the Transformer 3 Pro has a single full-sized USB 3.0 for all those flash drives you have lying around, and a USB Type-C port with Thunderbolt 3 support. Then you have a full-sized HDMI port, microSD slot, and — thank goodness — a 3.5mm headphone jack. I never had to consider bringing adapters along for a trip.

Finally, we have a 13-megapixel camera at the back, and a 2-megapixel shooter in front with an infrared camera beside it. I honestly never thought of using the main camera for taking pictures — and don’t have any sample photos, sorry — but the front-facing camera works flawlessly for Windows Hello, which allows you to log in using your beautiful face.

Where art thou, battery life?

This part hurts the most. As much as I love the speed and overall completeness of the Transformer 3 Pro, its battery life is terribly average.

I’d normally expect at least six to seven hours of usage on a single charge from a convertible; this hybrid can manage only four hours with brightness set at 50 percent and Wi-FI turned on the whole time. And that’s if you’re lucky — three and a half hours is the norm if you go beyond simple web browsing and add photo editing into the mix.

At least you get fast charging. It took me less than two hours to reach a hundred percent, and that’s for a battery capacity much larger than any smartphone’s.

Is this your GadgetMatch?

Of all the Microsoft Surface clones that have been released, the Transformer 3 Pro does it best, and even eclipses the pioneer in a few aspects, such as physical connectivity and audio-visual quality.

This Transformer is also a step above the Core M-equipped convertibles we’ve reviewed recently, thanks to a much more powerful Core i5 processor coupled with plenty of storage and memory. Yet, in spite of all the goodness, you must take some things into consideration before investing in this product.

For one, it’s a little too powerful — yes, you read that right. You don’t need this much processing muscle for surfing the web and light editing. That’s why there’s a plain Transformer 3 with a starting price of only $799. What’s the difference? It has a more energy-efficient Core M processor and a single USB Type-C port, but comes with two additional speakers and an even thinner frame.

And, no matter how you look at it, the Transformer 3 Pro is expensive. For the same price, you could afford an ASUS gaming laptop with a real graphics card and better keyboard-trackpad combo. Sure, you’d end up with a heftier notebook without a touchscreen, but it’s far more capable in all other aspects.

[irp posts=”8791″ name=”ASUS ZenFone 3 Deluxe review”]

Laptops

MacBook Neo officially arrives at Power Mac Center

Nationwide limited-time offers available

Published

April 24, 2026

Manila Connoisseur

The all-new MacBook Neo has officially arrived in the Philippines through Power Mac Center. Simultaneous launch events were held at Greenbelt 3 and SM Megamall.

Customers who lined up for the launch received an event-exclusive bundle which includes an AirPods Pro 2 and AirTag 4-pack, as well as over PhP 12,000 worth of freebies for those with qualified pre-orders.

In addition, those in Greenbelt and SM Megamall who lined up until the evening got a chance to win up to PhP 600,000 worth of prizes (PhP 300,000 per location).

And great news even for those unable to attend: PMC is extending its opening promotions over the coming days.

Now available in Power Mac Center stores nationwide, the MacBook Neo comes with these exclusive offers:

Up to 50% off on a wide selection of accessories until April 30 for sstraight payments
Redeem up to Php 5,000 off (2,500 points) through the 1 Infinite program, no minimum spend, until April 26
UpTrade: Score up to PhP 4,000 additional trade-in value with a MacBook Air (M2 or earlier) until May 10
Complimentary 90-day software fix and free Basecamp training for purchases until April 30

For flexible financing, the MacBook Neo is also available through 0% interest installment plans of up to 36 months. This is through major banks and other financial institutions.

Laptops

Intel launches the new Core Ultra Series 3 processors

Expect new laptops all throughout the year.

Published

April 23, 2026

Luigi Leonardo

The next generation of processors are here. After announcing the new series at CES 2026, Intel has now launched the Intel Core Ultra Series 3 processors for laptops, bringing the next level of AI-based computing to modern laptops.

All built using the Intel 18A process, the Intel Core Ultra Series 3 chipsets will come with an integrated NPU that can deliver up to 50 TOPS. And this is all native to the PC; Intel demonstrated that a laptop infused with the chipset can still operate all of its AI capabilities without an internet connection.

Additionally, Intel is touting the generation’s integrated Xe3 graphics architecture. Already touting the capabilities of graphics on its own, the architecture can also improve performance through the new XeSS. A competitor to NVIDIA’s DLSS and AMD’s FSR, Intel’s XeSS boosts framerate without sacrificing image quality.

Finally, the chipsets work extra hard in the background by extending battery life, despite high workloads. Intel touts that the Series 3 can deliver the best battery life among all Intel-powered AI PCs.

Devices with the chipset are expected to roll out all throughout the whole year. In the Philippines, you can expect new laptops from Acer, Dell, HP, Lenovo, and MSI.

SEE ALSO: Favorite Laptops of 2025

Laptops

ASUS Zenbook S14 (2026) review: The perfect portable buddy

At only 1.1cm thin and 1.2kg light, the Zenbook S14 fits in any daily kit.

Published

April 22, 2026

Luigi Leonardo

As a gamer, thin notebooks are difficult to love. Despite the loss of convenience, the thought of playing all my favorite games in one machine is still more tantalizing. However, with commute times getting longer by the day, it’s now impossible to ignore the importance of portability. Once again, with an ultrathin 1.1cm profile, the ASUS Zenbook S14 makes the perfect everyday commute buddy.

A laptop light enough to run with

The Zenbook S14 weighs only 1.2 kilograms. Just from handling it, you can tell that this weight (or lack thereof) makes so much of a difference. You can hardly tell that you’re holding a laptop. The Zenbook series has been known for ultrathin portability, so it’s no surprise that the new S14 has this down to perfection.

If that’s not enough, we put the laptop through a run test. That is, I tried running a 5K with the laptop on my back. It wasn’t a difficult time at all. In fact, I had to pack in more things inside my backpack just to make it feel more impactful.

Ultimately, it didn’t matter how heavy the backpack was. The Zenbook S14 barely contributes to your daily pack. If you had to face a long commute every day, this ultrathin laptop is a perfect match for you.

Ceraluminum: If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it

I’ve said this the last time I had my hands on a Zenbook. Ceraluminum remains one of the most consistently good features of the series. The matte texture once again adds a look that simply stands out.

Though the gray is similar to the shade common today, Ceraluminum feels pleasantly tactile and smooth to the touch. Plus, it’s also durable.

When I stuffed the notebook with an umbrella inside my pack, I intentionally left the notebook without a sleeve to see how the chassis would react with other things. Lo and behold, after running a few kilometers, the Zenbook S14 had no discernible scratches. Besides the portability, it’s a durable beast that fits in any pack.

Fourteen inches of fun

Normally, I prefer larger screens for my laptops. However, the Zenbook S14’s 14-inch 3K Lumina screen was more than enough for what I needed the laptop to be.

Color accuracy was almost spot-on but leaned a bit towards the vivid side. This wasn’t a huge problem for me, but it might be a consideration for those who need absolute accuracy.

Also, while I was doing my run, I did test the screen under the sunlight. In bright situations, the glare became a bit of an issue. The 1100 nits of peak HDR brightness overcame this, though.

The touchscreen capabilities is another useful tool. I don’t usually need touchscreens on laptops, but it’s still useful to have. The experience was smooth and responsive. It was particularly useful for small games like Balatro.

A machine good enough for most things

The Zenbook S14 is no slouch. Under the hood, the notebook touts an Intel Core Ultra 9 386H. For a work device, this seems like overkill. Do you really need a robust processor to get through your workday?

Well, it’s a matter of not knowing what you’ve got until it’s there. This powerful chipset is a godsend for multitasking.

Personally, I prefer working with a lot of windows up at the same time: a word processor, a bunch of tabs for research, another bunch for music or videos, and the usual slew of chatting apps. Despite having so many things up at once, the laptop never seemed like it was struggling to keep up.

The performance is beefed up with up to 32GB of RAM and up to 1TB of internal storage. It’s smooth for everyday use and can last for a long time without needing a cleanup.

That said, the chipset is not enough for gaming, especially for power-hungry games like Call of Duty. However, it’s just enough for lighter fare like Balatro. It’s no great loss, though. Rather, it’s an assurance that you can leave the heavy gaming rig at home but still have a decent machine for quick fixes.

Also, if you’re coming from the previous model, this new version doesn’t really offer much in terms of upgrades. This doesn’t take away from the current model’s capabilities as its own device, but it’s a consideration if you already own the previous model.

The battery life to keep you going

For such a light laptop, the Zenbook S14 still touts a sizable 77Whr battery. ASUS claims that a full charge can last up to 27 hours. On paper, that’s enough to last two working days with some change.

From personal experience, the notebook does last a good amount of time. As I mentioned above, I usually work with several windows up at the same time. Of course, that means more of a load on the battery. When I worked in a café for an entire afternoon, the laptop lasted handily.

While I’m confident that the battery can last from morning to evening based on my experience, I’d still take a charger with me because of the heavy nature of my work. That said, if you’re more used to normal office work, this notebook can get you through the day with no issues.

If you do need a charger, the package comes with a compact brick that barely makes any dent on your kit’s total weight. It’s also rated for 68W wired charging, which can fill the battery up from empty in just around 90 minutes.

Is the ASUS Zenbook S14 your GadgetMatch?

Alas, here’s the rub: The Zenbook S14 isn’t friendly on your wallet. The notebook costs PhP 129,995. For what the notebook is, the price tag feels a bit too much. At that price, you might want to get a hardier device with more robust specs.

Swipe Left if you prefer a daily notebook with top-of-the-line specs, or if you’re a gamer looking for a platform to play on.

However, if you’re looking for the ultimate portable buddy for your daily kit, the Zenbook S14’s impressive weight and profile makes this a Swipe Right.