Computers

ASUS Zen AiO Pro review

Published

February 7, 2017

Marvin Velasco

ASUS has this all-in-one desktop computer that may seem kinda expensive at first (it’s $2,000!), but it’s as easy to use and set up as a regular laptop, plus it’s much more powerful. Check it out!

This is the Zen AiO Pro, which goes by the model name Z240IC. Like its name implies, it has everything you need in the package: a full-fledged Windows 10-powered computer within a large 23.8-inch 4K monitor, and both a wireless keyboard and mouse bundled inside.

Sounds a lot like an Apple iMac or Microsoft’s new Surface Studio, right? Well, ASUS does some things better and is targeting different needs, which we’ll get into now.

Look at how big and spacious the display is!

Being made of solid aluminum and weighing 7.3kg doesn’t make this travel-friendly, though

There’s more than enough room on the screen for multiple windows

A 4K resolution (3840 x 2160 pixels) on a bright 23.8-inch display is no joke!

The back is sleek too, and has all the ports you need

Let’s see: SD card reader, microphone and headphone ports, Ethernet, two HDMI ports, four USB 3.0 ports, one USB 2.0 port, and a single USB-C port — whew!

Here’s a closer look at some of the ports

The old-school USB 2.0 port (the black one) seems out of place, but it’s perfect for the receiver of the wireless keyboard and mouse

The keyboard and mouse are as basic as they come, but get the job done

The keyboard is squishy and the mouse is bland, but you can always replace them with something better

So, what exactly is powering this thing?

Our unit came with a sixth-generation Intel Core i7 processor, 16GB of memory, and an NVIDIA GeForce GTX 960M to run everything. Not a bad setup, but the components are nearly two years old, and the newer chipsets from Intel and NVIDIA smoke their predecessors. Still, this configuration is enough to edit videos and photos, and even play visually intensive games on medium settings.

I was curious, so I ran The Witcher 3 and the new Doom game to see just how well they run on ASUS’ AiO PC. The Witcher 3 with its strong demand for processing power worked smoothly enough on medium settings with the more advanced options like shadows and hair effects toned down. Doom was a little more forgiving on medium settings, and would let me turn up some graphics options to pull off prettier visuals at around 40 frames per second. Not something a hardcore gamer would like to hear, but definitely satisfactory for casual gamers who enjoy the newer 3D games.

Do note that these games were played on a downscaled Full HD 1080p resolution to handle the intense graphics. A GTX 960M is in no way good enough to take on 4K gaming, which is better left for real desktop graphics cards like the GTX 1080. On the bright side, the downward-firing speakers have a strong punch to them, and are generous in the bass department — perfect for Netflix and YouTube watching, as well.

But the most impressive pair of components in the Zen AiO Pro are the 128GB SSD and 1TB HDD. If you read our explainer on the two storage mediums, you’d know this is the most optimized setup you can get. By having the operating system run on the faster SSD, boot-ups and navigating through the system are consistently fast, and you still have 1TB of space on the HDD for all your personal files and large apps.

Is this your GadgetMatch?

This is one of those instances when you have to think long and hard before making a purchase. On one hand, the Zen AiO Pro is built for nearly every sort of task and is complete out the box; on the other hand, it’s far more expensive than conventional desktop computers and you could easily build one for a fraction of the price with even better components.

You’re paying for the convenience here; being able to plug in this computer with a single cable and nothing more is such a relief in a small office space or tight apartment. It’s so well made too, and the fact you don’t have to go out and buy a separate keyboard-mouse combo makes the deal even sweeter.

Then again, you could buy a premium laptop like the ZenBook 3 for less than this, and it would also save space and run through apps nearly as well — you’d just have to give up the desktop-level display and gaming performance.

The model we reviewed is available in the Philippines for PhP 99,995, which matches the average international price of $2,000. There are more affordable configurations out there with slower processors and weaker graphics cards, but it totally depends on where you reside.

SEE ALSO: ASUS ZenBook 3 review

[irp posts=”10098″ name=”ASUS ZenBook 3 review”]

Computers

ASUS, ROG announce 2026 desktops, AiO availabilities in PH

For gaming, heavy workloads, modern setups

Published

February 12, 2026

GadgetMatch

ASUS and ROG have announced the availabilities of their latest 2026 desktops and all-in-one (AiO) PCs in the Philippines.

Headlining the lineup is the ASUS V600 All-in-One PC, the latest addition to the AiO series. It has a sleek aesthetic and is powered by up to an AMD Ryzen AI 5 330 processor, capable of handling demanding workloads with ease.

This processor is paired with AMD Radeon 820M graphics, up to 16GB DDR5 memory, and up to 512GB SSD storage.

The V600 has a 23.8-inch FHD IPS 178-degree view display with a wide 93% screen-to-body ratio, anti-glare coating, and is certified for eye comfort.

The 50 TOPs NPU PC is also part of the Copilot+ family, making it efficient for AI computing tasks. Other features include ASUS AI Noise-Cancelling and Adaptive Lock.

Price: PhP 56,995

ASUS V500 Mini Tower

Meanwhile, the ASUS V500 Mini Tower is crafted to blend modern workspaces while delivering dependable performance.

It touts up to an Intel Core 7 240H processor and comes in a Dark Wood color. It operates at as low as 24dB in whisper mode.

An addition, it features up to 80 PLUS Platinum-certified PSU, reducing heat generation and eliminating power-consumption concerns. The PC has support for up to 64GB DDR5 RAM and up to 512GB of SSD storage.

Price: Starts at PhP 41,995

ASUS TUF Gaming TM500

Moreover, the ASUS TUF Gaming TM500 is a compact gaming desktop that delivers power and efficiency in a streamlined form factor.

It is fueled by an AMD Ryzen 7 260 processor, reaching a maximum boost speed of 5.1GHz. Along with up to an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 GPU, users can experience seamless gameplay.

The PC comes with 16GB DDR5 memory, and two more SO-DIMM slots to support up to 64GB of memory. This allows the machine to breeze through memory-heavy workloads, outside of the most demanding AAA titles.

Complementing these hardware is a custom heatsink with 1,218cm2 of total dissipation area, copper heat piping, and 90 mm cooling fan.

Price: Starts at PhP 76,995

ROG GM700

Lastly, the ROG GM700 features the undisputed power and beastly performance of the AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D processor and AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT GPU.

With up to 32GB of memory, the PC can process jaw-dropping visuals at ultra-fast speeds. With up to 2TB of storage, it guarantees swift load times, high frame rates, and freedom from stutters in high-stakes gaming.

The ROG GM700 is also amenable for customization, maintenance, and future-proofing. Users can enjoy an upgrade potential of up to four DDR5 U-DIMM slots and multiple M.2 slots.

Price: starts at PhP 139,995

Computers

3D printing made accessible: Bambu Lab moves closer to everyday consumers

Empowering consumers to create tangible objects

Published

January 29, 2026

GadgetMatch

Photos from Rodneil Quiteles

China-based brand Bambu Lab makes an effort to move closer to everyday consumers in the Philippines with a new retail partner by holding a media and creators roundtable in the Philippines. This was a bid to reshape how consumers perceive and use 3D printing technology.

Established in Shenzhen, China in 2020, Bambu Lab aims to make 3D printing more accessible, practical, and relevant to daily life through printers and other supplies.

The goal is to support practical home use, creative hobbies, product design, and even specialized tools, while putting emphasis on ease of use.

With such optics, Bambu Lab is trying to make consumers feel that there is less deep technical knowledge required and that they can actually create physical objects with 3D printing.

One of their products is the entry-level Bambu Lab A1 mini, which is compact enough to fit on a small desk.

The brand also has more advanced models which are capable of printing multiple colors and materials on a single run.

To complement the hardware ecosystem, Bambu Lab’s open platform MakerWorld lets users browse, select, and print from an extensive library of shared 3D designs directly from their own desktops.

The platform features a wide variety of objects across multiple categories. There’s household items, DIY tools, children’s toys, props, and educational materials.

In the Philippines, Bambu Lab will open its first concept store at One Ayala, Makati City. The concept corner will give mallgoers the opportunity to see the range of 3D printers and consumables firsthand.

Computers

Next-gen AMD Ryzen 7 9850X3D desktop processor out soon

Built for the most demanding titles

Published

January 28, 2026

GadgetMatch

The next-generation AMD Ryzen 7 9850X3D desktop processor will be available for sale starting January 29. It has a standard pricing of US$ 499.

Built for enthusiasts, the latest AMD Ryzen 9000 series processor features a +400MHz improvement to the boost clock, building on the legacy of the 9800X3D.

This makes the “world’s fastest gaming processor” even faster. AMD says their offering boasts of an average 27% gaming performance improvement over the Intel Core Ultra 9 285k.

On paper, the Ryzen 7 9850X3D has a maximum boost clock speed of up to 5.6GHz, and a base clock speed of 4.7GHz.

The new 8-core, 16-thread processor is aided by 2nd Gen 3D V-Cache technology, so a high-frequency memory is not required.

Across an average of more than 30 games played, the FPS difference between a DDR5-4800 and a DDR5-6000 was below 1%.

The AMD Ryzen 7 9850X3D is ideal for running demanding titles, i.e. AAA games, at maximum FPS. Initial checks also suggest the processor stays efficient in spite of higher speeds.

For connectivity, the processor has two memory channels for a maximum 192GB of DDR5 memory. It can also support four USB 3.2 Gen 2s and a USB 2.0.