CES 2025 kicked off on January 7th, with PC giants ASUS, Acer, and MSI unveiling their latest products. Although there were not many changes in the lineup of laptop products, each company upgraded multiple products in order to compete in the two major fields of AI and gaming. These upgraded products include gaming laptops, lightweight models, and budget options, all equipped with the latest processors from Intel, AMD, and high-end NVIDIA graphics cards, preparing for advanced AI functionalities.
ASUS: Leading the Way in Gaming Laptops with ROG
ROG Strix: High-End Gaming
ASUS launched the ROG Strix SCAR 16/18 gaming laptops. The appearance maintains the consistent black style and minimalist logo, but adds the AniMe Vision lighting effect, which is loved by ROG Phone users. Users can customize the displayed text content through the application to showcase their personality.
In terms of processors, the highest level is equipped with the Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX processor and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 graphics card. It is touted as the “most powerful gaming laptop” and is the top-of-the-line model in the ROG gaming laptop series.
Another model in the same series is the ROG Strix G16/G18, which lacks the lighting effect in terms of appearance. The processors can be chosen to be equipped with AMD Ryzen 9 or Intel Core Ultra 9, suitable for both AAA games and content creation applications.
ROG Flow Z13: Laptop-Tablet 2-in-1
The ROG Flow Z13 is a 2-in-1 gaming laptop that can also be used as a tablet. It is equipped with an AMD Ryzen AI MAX+ 395 processor and features the ROG-developed Nebula TrueTech gaming screen. If a high-end gaming experience is required, the graphics card can be expanded with the latest ROG external graphics card, the ROG XG Mobile. This allows the use of the high-end computing power of the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 graphics card, achieving performance comparable to desktop gaming.
Acer: Lightweight and Affordable Laptops with AI Processors
Swift Go 14/16 AI: Lightweight AI
Acer’s flagship lightweight laptops, the Swift Go 14 AI and Swift Go 16 AI, are designed for professionals, students, and mobile workers. The body is made of anodized aluminum and weighs only 1.3kg and 1.5kg for the two sizes respectively. The design of the top cover features a double-arrow pattern and offers a choice between OLED or IPS touchscreen displays.
Equipped with the latest AMD Ryzen AI 300 series processors, they are capable of running various AI functions, and the battery life is long enough for up to 24.9 hours of video playback.
Aspire 14 AI: Affordable Office Laptop
The Aspire 14 AI, a budget office laptop, has been upgraded to feature Intel Core Ultra processors with built-in NPUs. The screen can be laid flat at 180 degrees, making it suitable for collaboration among multiple users. With an aluminum body weighing only 1.4kg, it is portable and features a touchscreen display and narrow bezel design to maximize the screen size.
Predator Helios: High-End Gaming
Acer’s gaming brand, Predator, has also been updated. This includes the flagship Predator Helios 16/18 AI and the expanded lineup of mid-range gaming laptops, Helios Neo. The all-new Predator Helios Neo 16S AI laptop offers powerful performance in a thinner and lighter body.
All new models are equipped with the highest Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX processors and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 50 series laptop GPUs, providing an upgraded gaming experience and AI performance.
Copilot+ AI Function
All the above-mentioned new products, as processors are upgraded to Copilot+ PCs, can efficiently run the AI features developed by Microsoft. Features such as Recall allow users to easily find text and image content on their devices. Cocreator in Paint allows users to draw pictures with text and image prompts.
The Live Captions feature provides real-time assistance in translating video calls, videos, and movies. Windows Studio Effects provide the best video conferencing experience, including improving lighting conditions, facial framing, and creative filters.
MSI: Upgrades in Gaming and Business Performance
Titan 18: High-End Gaming
MSI’s highest-end gaming laptop, the Titan 18, has launched a special design called the “Dragon Soul Collector’s Edition”. Inspired by Norse mythology, it features hand-drawn designs and comes with exclusive accessories. The upgraded version is equipped with the latest Intel Core Ultra 200HX series processors and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 50 series graphics cards. With MSI’s self-developed energy adjustment technology, MSI OverBoost Ultra, it can provide up to 270W of extreme performance. The dedicated temperature control and SSD cooling design ensure long-lasting high-performance operation.
Raider, Vector, and Stealth: Classic Series
The classic Raider and Vector series laptops have also been upgraded to feature Intel Core Ultra 200HX series processors and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 50 series graphics cards. The Stealth series has two processor versions: Intel Core Ultra 200HX series or AMD Ryzen AI 300 series processors. The AMD Ryzen AI 300 series processor version is Microsoft Copilot+ PC certified, tailored for AI applications.
Venture/VenturePro: Business Laptops
As for MSI’s new business laptop series, the Venture/VenturePro series offers options ranging from 14 inches to 17 inches. VenturePro is equipped with a dedicated NVIDIA graphics card, providing advanced computing capabilities, and comes with battery-enhancing technology. Compared to using the original battery management, it can extend battery life by approximately 4 to 5 hours.
Editor: Li Xiantai
This article is authorized to be reproduced from DIGITIMES.