- Chelsea Tang
Asus Singapore Announces Wi-Fi 7-Ready ROG Rapture GT-BE98, Ultracompact NUC PCs, Gaming Peripherals
Asus is expanding its lineup of products in Singapore in a major way.
The Taiwanese hardware maker announced the launch of a wide range of products in the country, including new routers, PCs and ROG-branded gaming peripherals. Below is a list of all the products launched:
ROG Rapture GT-BE98
First up is the ROG Rapture GT-BE98, a gaming-focused router that supports Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be) connectivity. It features new 320MHz channels in the 6GHz band and 4096-QAM, which significantly increases network capacity and throughput, with speeds of up to 25Gbps. Multi-link Operation links to multiple bands simultaneously, enabling stable internet connections and efficient data transfers.
The router also comes with eight external antennas, ensuring optimal coverage. For connectivity, it has a number of wired ports, including a 10 Gigabit WAN/LAN, along with four 2.5 Gigabit WAN/LAN. It also includes a USB 3.2 Gen 1 port and a USB 2.0 port.
The ROG Rapture GT-BE98 is releasing sometime in the end of March 2024 for S$1,099.
ROG NUC
Next up is the first-of-its-kind ROG NUC, an ultracompact gaming PC housing Intel Core Ultra 9 or Ultra 7 processors and Nvidia RTX 4070 or 4060 discrete graphics. This powerhouse additionally includes a 2.5-liter chassis that's designed for quick system access to make upgrades and cleaning quick and easy. Asus touts that the ROG NUC is the "ultimate choice for gamers" who are in the market for a compact desktop that doesn't compromise on the performance front.
The ROG NUC is hitting stores by early June 2024, though pricing details have yet to be announced.
ROG Swift OLED PG34WCDM
For an immersive gaming experience, Asus has the ROG Swift OLED PG34WCDM, a 34-inch
ultrawide 800R curved monitor with a 240Hz refresh rate and 0.03 ms GTG response time. Under the hood, the monitor has a custom heatsink and improved airflow design to help reduce operating temperatures and minimise the potential for burn-in, ensuring longevity. It also delivers deliver 30% brighter imagery compared to previous models thanks to new OLED display technology.
The ROG Swift OLED PG34WCDM is arriving in mid-February 2024 for S$1,899.
ROG Falchion RX Low Profile
The ROG Falchion RX Low Profile, meanwhile, is a compact, 65% gaming keyboard that incorporates the arrow and
navigation keys within its 26.5 mm-profile, 60% frame. It features pre-lubed ROG RX Low-Profile optical
switches, two silicone dampening layers and UV-coated ABS keycaps to deliver what Asus touts is an unprecedented typing experience. The keyboard's switches are also designed with unique hollow square stem, four corner latches and X-stabilizer, resulting in consistent keystrokes with near-zero debounce delay. Other features include a multi-functional touch panel, tri-mode connectivity and the ability to toggle between MacOS or Windows modes.
The ROG Falchion RX Low Profile will retail for $289, but availability details have yet to be announced.
ROG Cetra True Wireless SpeedNova
The ROG Cetra True Wireless SpeedNova are gaming earbuds that feature 2.4 GHz wireless technology, providing users with ultralow-latency gaming audio. It features high-resolution, 24-bit / 96 kHz audio that’s further
enhanced by Dirac Opteo technology. On top of this, it includes Adaptive ANC with Auto mode to optimise and adjust active noise-cancellation levels based on various factors like the in-ear fit, the shape of the wearer's ear canal and the ambient noise. It also includes AI microphones to deliver clear call quality at all times. Users can enjoy up to 46 hours of battery life, wireless charging and in-case charging, as well as customisable RGB lighting.
ROG Cetra True Wireless SpeedNova will retail for S$349, but availability details have yet to be announced.
ROG Carnyx
Last among the gaming-focused releases is the ROG Carnyx, a professional-grade USB cardioid microphone that features a 25 mm condenser capsule and a 192 kHz / 24-bit sampling rate to deliver high-fidelity audio. It includes a high-pass filter to reduce low-frequency noise to enhance voice clarity, a pop filter to prevent vocal plosives and a metal shock mount that minimises external vibrations. Other features include a touch mute button, a multi-functional control knob to adjust various settings and customisable RGB lighting effects.
The ROG Carnyx will retail for S$299, but availability details have yet to be announced.
ZenWiFi BQ16 and ZenWiFi BQ16 Pro
Apart from gaming, Asus also launched more productivity-focused hardware, chief of which are the new Wi-Fi 7-ready ZenWiFi BQ16 and ZenWiFi BQ16 Pro mesh routers. These routers are powered by quad-band AiMesh technology, which unlocks Wi-Fi 7 potential across all bands. That means users can enjoy faster speeds and more stable connections.
The ZenWiFi BQ16 Pro, in particular, allows users to dedicate one 6 GHz or 5 GHz band as backhaul to enjoy an AI-enhanced connection with minimised congestion. The router additionally features 12 internal antennas and
16 front-end modules to compensate for Wi-Fi dead zones in all directions, as well as robust heat
dissipation and security features for improved reliability.
Parents can also use the Smart Home Master, a a set of feature-rich subnetworks for IoT devices, VPNs and parental control via SSIDs, to manage kids' screen time without the need to access each individual device that's connected to the router. The VPN Network, meanwhile, can provide a shortcut to a user's favourite VPN service by connecting through the subnetwork.
Both ZenWiFi BQ16 and ZenWiFi BQ16 Pro are due out sometime in the end of March 2024, priced at S$899 and S$1,699 respectively.
ASUS NUC 14 Pro+ and NUC 14 Pro
The ASUS NUC 14 Pro+ is another ultracompact PC that features an aluminum chassis that comes in a sleek 5 x 4-inch form factor. Inside, it houses a first-of-its-kind Intel Core Ultra 9 processor with AI features to handle the most demanding workloads. It also includes a range of connectivity ports for users to connect peripherals and displays, among other devices.
The NUC 14 Pro is a similarly capable ultracompact PC but instead of an Intel Core Ultra 9 processor, it's powered by Intel Core Ultra 7. It’s the first AI-ready NUC that features high-speed Intel Wi-Fi 6E AX211, Intel vPro Enterprise and support for up to four external displays.
Asus doesn't have availability and pricing details yet for the NUC 14 Pro+. The NUC 14 Pro, on the other hand, is releasing in mid-April 2024, though it doesn't have a price yet.
ASUS ExpertCenter PN65
Sticking to mini PCs, the ExpertCenter PN65 is a powerhouse that's powered by the latest Intel Core Ultra mobile processor with Intel Arc Graphics. It features dual-channel DDR5 memory, dual PCIe 4.0 support and a host of port options, including HDMI, DisplayPort 1.4, COM, VGA and Intel 2.5Gbps LAN. Also it supports quad-display output and 8K UHD resolution at up to 60Hz.
The ExpertCenter PN65 is releasing mid-April 2024, though pricing details have yet to be announced.
Asus announced the launch of a wide range of products in Singapore, including new routers, PCs and ROG-branded gaming peripherals. Below is a list of all the products launched:
Chief of which is perhaps the ROG Rapture GT-BE98, a Wi-Fi 7-ready router that features new 320MHz channels in the 6GHz band and 4096-QAM, which enable it to reach speeds of up to 25Gbps.
It's due out sometime in the end of March 2024 for S$1,099.