Asus Zenbook 13 UX 331 UN review

Asus Zenbook 13 UX 331 UN review - Core i5-8250U CPU and Nvidia MX150 graphics. Summary: The ZenBook UX331Un seems like a safe bet if you're looking for a lightweight and compact laptop with a good screen, good keyboard, and hardware to handle daily tasks, but gaming demands more when it counts. Also charges. While there is nothing wrong with it, it is not great at anything and everything can be improved to some degree, from build quality, choice of panel, and battery size. Read on for the full story.

• Revised Price: From $ 999
• Compact and lightweight
• Good looking and pretty well done
• Decent IPS screen, as long as you keep it indoors
• Solid hardware configuration and performance
• It runs amazingly quiet
• High demand cold fan
• Decent battery life
• The keyboard takes time to use
• No Thunderbolt 3 or full-size SD card reader
• A clock-down version of the Nvidia MX150 chip is available
• Active fan all the time
• Moves hot with demanding games and loads
• Ugly vga camera

The second half of 2017 is finally the right time to buy a versatile ultraportable laptop that can handle standard everyday activities like browsing, movies, or music, but also gaming, graphics editing, and some other demanding tasks and that's because Intel has introduced its first quad-core ULV platforms and Nvidia has updated its entry-level dedicated graphics. The Asus ZenBook UX331Un is a superior device that keeps these hardware firsts in a compact and lightweight 13-inch body.

The result is a significant advance over what was available in previous years. We have spent some time with the Zenbook UX331 and you can find all our impressions below. You should know up front that Asus will offer this laptop in many hardware variants. We're talking about the pre-production base-level model in the article, which has a matte FHD IPS display, a Core i5-8250U processor, and Nvidia MX150 graphics. Read on to find out where this laptop shines and where it falls short.

The UX331UN will be available with or without a Core i5-8250U or Core i7-8550U processor (both low-voltage quad-core Keblek-R), 8 or 16GB of DDR4 memory (soldered to motherboard), Nvidia graphics. With M.2 SATA or M.2 NVMe storage, and three display options to choose from: FHD matte and touch panels, as well as a UHD IPS touchscreen. In our opinion, the best buy is the Core i5-8250U model with MX150 graphics, 16GB of RAM, NVMe storage and a matte FHD IPS display. Our test unit only gets 8GB of RAM and SATA storage, but is otherwise similar to the ideal configuration, especially since the SSDs can be replaced with a faster drive.

Design and look first

This laptop is thinner and lighter than the Dell XPS 13 and the lower weight is the first thing you'll see when you take it out of the box. However, it is not as compact as the XPS 13 and it does not have as robust a build. You might be wondering why I compare this to XPS 13. Well, I am very familiar with the XPS, which has been my ultraportable pick for years, and the XPS is for many benchmarks in thin and light 13-inch notebooks where it is planned to the Zenbook UX331 also competes.

Anyway, although the lid and main body of the UX331UN have some flex, I don't think potential buyers should worry about that. Build quality is good, just solid with few options. Metal is used for the entire case, with a glossy finish for the top-lid (Asus calls it glossy, but it's not that bad) and the classic smooth finish for the interior, sides, and bottom that we have. have seen. Last Zen Book. The internal chassis is still made of plastic.

Which is partly responsible for the flex, with Asus choosing to use a thin sheet of metal on the hood. On the other hand, these two help you lose weight, so you lose something, you gain some (albeit little) status. Our overall sample is meticulously crafted and crafted, except for the fact that the bottom is not yet level on the sides, except for a few gaps and sharp edges, as you can see in the pictures below.

You should be aware that our unit is a pre-production sample, but I have discussed this type of issue on the vast majority of Zenbooks in previous years, so I hope it is on retail UX331s as well. For whatever reason, Asus has a hard time connecting these two parts correctly. You could say I'm picky, and maybe too, but when these edges bite your fingers, you'll understand that this little look is quite annoying in everyday wear.

Going back to the form factor, this Zenbook is still one of the most compact 13-inches available on the market, and the XPS 13's extra mm in length and width actually leaves room for a slightly larger palm rest and plenty of room on the back. higher. The bezel really places the webcam on the screen, where it should be.. Before I go over the impressions collected from using this laptop in recent weeks, I must also add that Asus offers it in two nice and unique color options.

The slate gray we have here and the royal blue in ours. Recently tested on the ZenBook UX 370, as well as seen on other Zenbooks. Although this blue model looks beautiful, I think that the glitter and fingerprints on the glossy lid of this version will show up much easier, so I would personally go for the gray model if possible. BTW, I don't understand why Asus keeps pushing these glossy cap liners. They may not scratch as easily as a standard metal surface.

At least that's my impression, but otherwise they show a lot of imperfections and are difficult to keep clean. At least the NIL plastic used on the Zenbook UX430 is a step-by-step on this unit, but personally, I prefer the standard metallic finish on the MacBook, XPS lines, or Zenbook UX550. Anyway, I had a great time using this compact laptop. I didn't really notice any more weight loss than my XPS 13, but if you're coming from an older laptop.

You'll only enjoy toting a 2.5-pound computer (and an additional .25 charger). On the other hand, it is very easy to lift the screen with one hand and it has a good mechanical sound when closing. There's a crease on the front for your fingers to hold and the edges are blunt and friendly, both around the screen and on the inside. The hinge allows for easy adjustment of the screen, but also keeps it firmly in place.

It only goes back to about 145 degrees, and that can be limited when using a laptop on your lap or thighs. It's good enough for desktop use though, where the rubber feet on the bottom also help keep the computer in good shape despite the reduced weight. Speaking of the following, it's somewhat simple, with some air intake cutouts and speaker cutouts on the front. Given the hardware inside and an overall height of just 13.9mm.

Its input cutouts aren't ideal emo and can cause problems, but we'll get to that in another section. Hot air is pumped through the louvers behind the hinge and there is at least enough room here to allow adequate airflow. Port selection is fine, but not good for this time of year. You'll find two USB A slots and a full-size HDMI connector on the sides (1.4 according to the official website, which means it won't power a 4K 60Hz display).

There's a USB-C port too, but no Thunderbolt 3 support, and the cherry on top is the lack of a full-size SD card reader replaced by just a microSD card reader. Regular users have no problem with this type of I / O, with HDMI for video output and enough USB slots for everyday use. The lack of Thunderbolt 3, the lack of an HDMI 2.0 connection, and the lack of a full-size card reader, on the other hand, may draw professionals to something else and is a problem as 13-inch devices are something to offer. They are, if not all.

Keyboard and trackpad

The keyboard on this laptop has a lot to do with my XPS 13 and a mixed bag keyboard. The keys are well spaced and adequately sized and the layout is good, with slightly larger arrow keys than other laptops in this class. We had to test the European model with left-to-left scrolling and long input, but of course it is different in each region. My grip is what it sounds like with this keyboard - the response is mostly good, but there is something that is not suitable for me.

The keys travel 1.4mm along the frame according to the official page, but they feel inferior on the Zenbook UX550. They're also slightly spongy and require a firm hit to work, which in some cases means they don't register a click that isn't fully directed and depressed. In other words, this keyboard is inefficient, which means that I can only type faster than average and with average precision, even with a few thousand words in the bag.

So overall, if you're a heavy typist, there are ultraports with better keyboards. However, the average user should be fine with this one. Compared to my XPS 13, the keyboard on the Zenbook UX331 was a bit slow for me, but for different reasons, in terms of inaccuracy. With the XPS it has a shallow response, being a high resistance and a slight flex in the body that takes its toll.

However, the UX331 writes very quietly and the keys are undoubtedly backlit, with three levels of brightness to choose from. The lights are activated by pressing a key or by sliding your fingers on the top of the trackpad. As for the mouse, Asus chose one of their standard click buttons with Asus touchpad drivers, which means that there are very few customization options available. It covers a smooth, shiny square surface with pretty bevel edges.

So it looks nice to the touch and is easy to find in the dark. The experience provided is very good, and even precise glides work very well. The screen is sometimes weakened when placing one finger on the surface and swiping with the other, although the cursor does not always register correctly in this case due to the light and soft touches. On the one hand, because the border between the laptop clickpad and the front is very narrow.

It is easy for parts of your clothing to come into contact with the surface when you use this device on your lap and especially on your thighs and when this happens, the experience becomes very uncertain. Physical clicks are good and responsive, and the entire surface is clickable, with little resistance towards the lower corners. The ZenBook also has a finger sensor, located in the upper right part of the palm rest, below the arrow keys. Responsive and works fine with Windows Hello.

The screen of Asus Zenbook 13 UX 331

The ZenBook UX331 has a 13.3-inch screen with fairly small bezels all around and three panel options: an IPS FHD in a non-touch and touch version, as well as an IPS UHD touch. Our sample turns out to be ex: non-touch FHD IPS panel and is a very good choice. When I first saw this laptop out of the box, this screen is not completely matte like the previous Zenbook, it is a bit brighter and more reflective. When used outdoors or in bright rooms.

The addition translates to glare, but the amount of grain generally associated with matte panels is also small, so although I'm not necessarily a fan of this type of finish, so I think most of you may like it very much. Compared to standard matte screens, especially if you use your laptop indoors. For the panel, Asus opted for an average AU optronics option, capable of maximum mid-range brightness and contrast and around 275 nits of color reproduction, as you can see below (data taken with the Sypder4 sensor).

We have seen some of this panel in other mid-range ultraportables like the ZenBook UX330, Acer Aspire S13 or Lenovo ThinkPad 13. As an aside, for now, I can't tell you anything about the panel on the Touch FHD and UHD versions, but I'll update this section once I know more. Whether the touchscreen is useful in a foldable laptop is entirely up to you, but what I can say for sure is that the UHD display will be expensive and will affect battery life considerably. But at the end of the day, choose which of the best reefs your boat needs, just keep in mind what each option means.

Hardware, performance and upgrade options

The hardware inside is what really puts this laptop on the map, and the main reason you want to buy it. As we reported earlier, the ZenBook UX331UN will be available in a ton of configurations and we got a test run with an Intel Kabalek-R Core i5-8250U processor and Nvidia MX150 graphics, along with 8GB of DDR4 and 512GB RAM. SATA SSD. It is one of the entry-level models, but as you will see below, it is one of the best priced.

The amount of RAM is a unique issue here as it is soldered onto the motherboard and cannot be upgraded, and although 8GB of memory is enough for everyday use today, if you push this computer through a heavy load or the holds together Let's plan. After a few years, you may want to go for a 16GB configuration. Asus is expected to introduce Core i5 models with 16GB of RAM, as has been reserved in the past only for its i7 models, which are more expensive without spending too much in terms of performance. we will see.

However, this storage can be upgraded and for this you need to cross the entire rear panel. It is held by T5 screws that appear around the side (be careful they are not the same size, note that each one comes from where it was reassembled), but two more Phillips screws hidden under the rear rubber feet. Are too. You'll notice the 80mm M.2 slot, but the battery, the plastic inner frame, the hinge mechanism, and the fact that the wireless chip is one of those new compact variants, and the M.2 model hasn't been used for most Ultraport.

Anyway, in that way, let's focus our attention on the hardware and performance of this laptop. The Intel Core i5-8250U processor is a 15W quad-core model, part of the Intel KabyLake-R series. Intel dropped the base clock speed of its dual-core model to get four cores within this type of TDP, but compensate with higher turbo speeds, and as you will see below and on the Core i5-8250U CPU in this detailed review , this processor is slightly faster than the i5-7200U in single-core load and is a big step forward in multithreading the i5-7200U and i7-7500U CPUs.

The images below show details about the speeds and temperatures recorded with daily activities. CPU clocks: where it should work, it works well and is efficient. When it comes to high load tasks, you will notice that the CPU turbo drops to 2.2 GHz with constant load. While the maximum turbo boost is advertised at 3.4 GHz, this is for one core, when all the cores are running together that speed can be maintained for just a few seconds and then the frequency stabilizes at 2.2 GHz is (roughly capped with the limit TDP 15 W).

The Core i7-8550U behaves very similarly and due to the same TDP limit it doesn't run very fast so it's hard for me to justify the extra payment because it's at least $ 100 more expensive than i5. You may be forced to get 16GB of RAM, as stated above. This setup also comes with Nvidia MX150 graphics, but there's a catch - it's at the bottom. The GPU-Z only mentions a default clock speed of 937 MHz, with boost speeds up to 1038 MHz. But clock speeds in games average around 1250-1300 MHz.

It's still around 250 MHz with an MX150 chip. normal, as stated here or on the Acer Swift 3 we tested a while ago. As a result, the GPU score is lower in this implementation than in other laptops with Nvidia MX150 graphics. Please note that we are working on a pre-production sample here and things may change in final retail units. However, a scaled-down version of the MX150 chip makes sense in slim, compact laptops that will likely have a hard time cooling down to a full speed version.

And even downstream, the MX150 is a significant step up from the integrated Intel chips and Nvidia 940 MX solutions that are available in some other thin and light 13 and 14 inches. However, let's not jump to conclusions right now. The photos below show more details on when and how the CPUs and GPUs work in this unit. Both in benchmarks and games, on add-ons and batteries. You'll notice that when the laptop is plugged in, everything looks solid.

But the CPU throttles so much on battery, in the CineBench, and in games. However, I can see that this laptop is available even without Nvidia graphics, and to simulate that we could potentially disable the Nvidia chip and RARON benchmarks for a ZenBook UX331UU Core i5-8250U setup. Unsurprisingly, these results are roughly 10-20% of what we measured on the Acer Swift 3 with the normal version of the MX150 chip, but still the ZenBook UX331 can handle FHD games well at high settings and any throttle. no way.

The titles we tested. I have tried running similar games on integrated UHD 620 graphics, again disabling the Nvidia chip, but our sample blue screen showed faster in this scenario, so I have no conclusions to share. This article contains more information on the performance of the Intel UHD 620 chip, but all of you should expect marginal gains over the regular Intel HD 620 over the Intel Core i7-7500U CPU.

Noise, heat, connectivity, speakers and others

There is limited space inside the ZenBook UX331, but despite this, the cooling solution implemented is unlike anything we've seen in previous ZenBooks with entry-level dedicated graphics. There is still only one fan and one heat pipe, but the fan and radiator are actually located in the middle, between the components, which means there is a shorter distance between the components and the wings than in previous implementations and The method of cooling both should be more efficient.

I think the airflow is suboptimal with limited intake cutouts at the bottom, but still, given how thin this laptop is, its thermal and acoustic behavior is better than I expected. The fan is active at all times with daily use, but it is quiet. At 37–38 dB, you will hear it in a completely quiet room (33 dB room noise level), but not quite. I didn't notice any burning coils or electrical noise. The fan remains surprisingly quiet with gaming, averaging 41 to 42 dB at head height, while most other laptops exceed 45 dB under similar conditions.

The temperature in the outer range is also average in the normal range. The laptop performs well with everyday use and while parts of the interior reach the high 40s and even the low 50s with gaming, this is not unexpected or unusual for computers with such a build and hardware. However, the fact that the interior is warmer than the bottom is a bit annoying, as it causes your hands to sweat when playing for long periods of time.

I still want Asus to do something to improve fan behavior with low-level usage and allow for a seamless experience. Although the UX331's fan is actually quieter than other Zenbooks we've reviewed in the past, it's still very aggressive and starts up unnecessarily fast with everyday use. Asus for radio went with a dual band Intel 8256 chip which generally works very well. It also performed well in our tests as long as the laptop was placed near the router or at least had a direct line connection to it. But performance dropped to barely usable levels at 30 feet with 2 walls in between.

Please note that our sample is a pre-production unit with early drivers, so you may not run into this problem with the retail model, but you still need to keep an eye on this and make sure when you get it. So your unit works fine. The speakers are placed at the bottom and are similar to the Zenbook UX430 and UX370. The audio assistant software has not worked on our unit, although as a result I cannot conclude on either the volume or the sound quality. However, you should read our reviews of those other two Zenbooks to know what to expect.

The last thing we'll mention here is the webcam. It's positioned at the top of the screen and flanking my mic, but it's the same crappy VGA camera we've seen on the Zenbook UX 490 and UX 390, one I don't want to use unless I have another one. It is not an option. This is one of the things I can't figure out about these laptops - it would probably cost Asus a few bucks to put a decent HD camera on the Zenbook. They still don't go on, so at the end of the day. Nobody will care if the camera is placed where it should be, if it's as bad as one.

Battery duration

The Zenbook UX331UN has a 50 Wh battery inside and is the average size for this era. Given that the battery life doesn't disappoint and this laptop is so thin and light, I think most potential buyers probably won't complain about it. Here's what you should do with the screen brightness set to around 120 nits (~ 30 flashes). For my part, I loved seeing a bigger battery, even if it had added a bit more weight and thickness.

The 50Wh is still very close to the bare minimum. I'm ready to take on an ultraportable and be a step behind the old Zenbook UX 330, which has a 57 Wh battery. By the way, you should not forget that this base level is Zenbook UX331N. The i7 processor and FHD touchscreen will affect these numbers, and if you opt for a UHD display, you can expect an additional drop of at least 25%, if not more, another reason why the UHD setting is unbalanced. And at least not in my opinion.

Battery life of Asus Zenbook 13 UX 331

The laptop comes with fast charging with a 65 Whats charger and takes about 1 hour 30 minutes to fully recharge. The wall sockets are built in with electrical bricks, with non-retractable plugs, like most other modern Zenbooks.

Price and availability

The ZenBook UX331UN is available worldwide and starts at around $ 999 in the US and EUR 1000 in Europe. With this amount of money you will get a Core i5-8250U configuration with Nvidia MX 150 graphics, 8 GB of RAM and 256 GB of SSD. High-end models are also available. As you read the article, follow this link for up-to-date information on setup and pricing.

Final thoughts

There is a lot to like about this Zenbook UX331UN and there is no real deal breaker. It's light and compact, fairly well built, has a nice screen and trackpad, and is powered by an Intel quad-core processor with plenty of nvidia mx150 graphics while running pretty well, fairly quiet, and fairly efficient. You can squeeze along. But the truth is that to a large extent the Zenbook UX550 is in its category, this laptop is only average in many respects: build, display, typing experience, fan behavior, battery size or IO.

There are some aspects that are good, they are not bad. It also has nothing to brag about. Some users may not accept all of these aspects, while others will have to make up for this Zenbook with a fair price policy. Those of you in the above category who don't care about gaming will find the Dell XPS 13 to be a better value with its impressive matte FHD display, bigger battery, and TB3 connectivity. However, most areas are expected to pay more for this. There's also the popular LG Gram 13 to consider.

Which doesn't have a quad-core processor or dedicated graphics, but it's a well-balanced one with a lighter build, 72 Wh battery, a reasonable price, and a very good one. It is ultra-portable. The 13-inch Lenovo IdeaPad 720s QC log is another cool option out there, and if budget allows, you can also go for some Dell Latitude and Lenovo ThinkPad options. For those of you who are still in the old category, who care about gaming on highly portable laptops.

Well, you will hardly find another option with a similar weight and silhouette, but you will find 13 and 14 inches Along with it, you will get a Nivedita. complete with MX150. Chip, as long as you're ready to live with a big, heavy build. There are updated Acer Swift 3, MSI Prestige PS42, and Zenbook UX333 and UX433 lines (reviewed here and here) that you should check out. All in all, I think the ZenBook UX331 will be a solid buy in the coming months for those of you who really need quad-core hardware and dedicated graphics.

If you're interested in a complete ultraportable. That can handle multitasking and gaming too. I hope Asus moves it in front of the crowd with a solid pricing policy, which will make some of its shortcomings easier to accept as such. Just make sure you understand what you are doing here and where the competition can give you better value for your needs and money. This basically wraps it up, but the comment section is open and you should reach out if you want to add the Asus Zenbook UX331UN, any comments or questions to this review.

Asus Zenbook 13 UX 331 review

Asus ZenBook 13 (UX331) review: Inexpensive laptops are generally not very good, and good laptops are usually very expensive. In fact, the inexpensive market has emerged with large, heavy laptops with weak specifications and no modern conveniences, and the situation has worsened over the years. As the Indian rupee depreciated, the quality of the laptop declined across all price levels. Useful items like large SSDs, backlit keyboards, and USB Type-C ports shouldn't be fancy features, but Rs. 60,000 these days.

What's more, for those who come with laptops every day and often travel with a very heavy backpack full of gear, we really appreciate its weight. With rare exceptions (like the unusually low MacBook Air prices we've seen during recent holiday season sales), any laptop that's powerful and inexpensive weighs less than 1.5 kilograms. Asus brought us almost all the features we were looking for in 2015, its 1.2kg Zenbook UX305 is priced at just Rs. 50,000.

However, the company went high-end with its Zenbook line. It is only now that we have a true successor in the form of the ZenBook 13 (UX331). It's a bit more expensive, unfortunately, but it ties the budget and premium categories together with great specs, useful features, and a weight of just 0.98kg. This sounds too good to be true, so we had to call this model in for review. Here we think after having a good time with him.

Asus ZenBook 13 (UX331) design

For laptops with a 13.3-inch screen, the ZenBook 13 (UX331) is surprisingly small and light. It's one thing to know from reading Asus official description that this laptop weighs 0.98kg, but you really need to understand how much light there really is for the laptop. For comparison, the MacBook Air (2010-2017), considered by most to be an ultraportable, weighs 1.35 kg and is also about 1 cm wider and deeper.

Most of the other laptop models that come close to that weight, like Apple's MacBook, use weak hardware and are much more expensive. In fact, the ZenBook 13 (UX331) is in the same weight class as the 12.9-inch iPad Pro or the Microsoft Surface Pro tablet. If you are used to carrying a laptop every day, you will literally feel a great weight on your shoulders. This is something that should immediately appeal to those who travel a lot or make a fuss.

However, if you are thinking that there should be compensation, then you would be correct. The ZenBook 13 (UX331) doesn't feel as close to other devices as we just compared. Despite being a metal body, this laptop bends and flexes the degree of speech. It's not garish, but we wouldn't be comfortable putting too much weight on it or throwing it into a bag without too much padding. The hinge is not very stiff and the lid does not seem like it can take a very harsh treatment. After spending time with this laptop.

We have to say that it is a little less attractive in real life, to count. Fortunately, you get a protective case in the retail box. The edges of the Zenbook 13 (UX331) appear to be glued together, but this is just a clever trim. Asus didn't try to lose weight. The body is almost uniformly thick at 139mm, leaving plenty of room for full-size ports. You get a USB 3.0 Type-A port on both sides, a USB 3.1 (Gen 1, 5Gbps) Type-C port.

And an HDMI video output, a 3.5mm audio jack, and a power input. There is also a microSD card slot; an SD slot would be better, but since other ultraportables have sunk this feature, we'll take what we can. Asus kindly includes a USB Ethernet dongle as well, which is great to see. Asus sells this laptop in India in two color options: Rose Gold and Deep Dive Blue. The latter is more neutral and will have broader appeal, but we didn't find our Rose Gold review unit either.

The trademark brushed metal pattern of concentric circles we've seen on other Zenbook models is missing here, and there are no borders or accent colors anywhere. This is a sensible, less premium look that we have come to expect from the Zenbook lineup. The body color extends to the interior of the laptop, except for the black plastic frame that surrounds the screen and keyboard keys. The display is not bright, which means that it is not reflected in the resentment under the interior lighting.

This is great for productivity, but the colors don't stand out too much. The keyboard has a standard layout, with nothing on it. Keyboard backlighting is always appreciated, but there are only two brightness levels to choose from. The arrow keys are all divided into a row, but they are wider than normal, which makes up for this to some extent. The power button is built into the upper right corner and, as with other ZenBooks, it is slightly tighter than the other keys, reducing the chance of accidental pressing. A nice touch is the fingerprint sensor just below the arrow keys.

Asus Zenbook 13 (UX331) specifications and software

Laptops This small and lightweight PC typically uses Intel's Y-series CPUs under 5W, which require no fans and are not as powerful as your conventional meters. However, the ZenBook 13 (UX331) somehow manages to fit into a 15W U-series processor designed for more typical thin and light laptops, as well as the cooling mechanisms required for it. The only other laptop that can handle it is the 0.97kg Acer Swift 5, which is lighter, but significantly more expensive.

You can choose between a Core i5-8250U and a Core i7-8550U. We're reviewing the entry-level setup of this laptop, so we have the former, which has a base speed of 1.6GHz and a maximum turbo speed of 3.4GHz in short bursts. Both CPU options are based on the Cabi Lake upgrade platform and both have four cores with Hyper-Threading. Both also have the same integrated Intel UHD Graphics 620 GPU.

The 13.3-inch screen has a resolution of 1920x1080. Windows 10 was set to 150 percent scale by default, which we found a bit useless, so we changed it to 100 percent and reclaimed a large amount of usable desktop space. The panel is believed to have a 178 degree viewing angle, and this seemed correct in our experience. Asus claims it can reproduce 72 percent of the NTSC color gamut, which isn't really saying much.

Our review unit has 8GB of RAM and a 256GB SATA SSD which we think is quite generous for the price. One step up, you get a 512GB PCIe SSD with a single CPU, and the high-end variant gives you a Core i7 CPU with a larger SSD. RAM is reduced but at least SSD can be upgraded. You get dual-band 802.11ac Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 4.2. The battery capacity is 50 Wh and the promised runtime for office productivity is 15 hours.

You get loads of apps from Windows 10 Home and Windows Store with demo versions of McAfee LiveSafe and Microsoft Office 365. Asus also includes WPS Office, a product registration app, a battery status app, a battery monitoring app, fan speed, an electronic manual, a service center locator and the Giftbox app store. The app is packed with commonly available free software, but Asus also offers laptop buyers some potentially useful discounts and offers, like 25GB of free Dropbox space for a year.

Asus ZenBook 13 (UX331) performance

We used the ZenBook 13 (UX331) for about a week and it didn't give us any problems. It was able to handle streaming video from popular services without a hitch, and we were able to multitask between dozens of browser tabs and quite a few apps with no problem. The Core i5 processor with its integrated GPU has enough noise for everyday productivity. The keyboard keys were a bit stiff and the trackpad was too soft for our liking, but we got used to both after an hour or two of use.

The benchmark performance was quite respectable. The Cinebench R15's single-core and multi-core scores were 140 and 510 respectively. The POVRay beam tracking setpoint ran in 5 minutes and 59 seconds. The PCMark 10 standard and extended test scenarios gave us 2,853 and 2,076 points respectively. SSD performed well, with CrystalDiskmar reporting 560.5 Mbps sequential read and 268.2 Mbps serial write. Based on graphics tests, we scored 941 points in the 3DMark Fire Strike test and 1920x1080 at Unigine Valley using a medium preset of 15.4 fps.

Which indicates the capabilities of the integrated GPU. You will be able to run older or less intense games at around 30 fps, using 1280x720 as the resolution and lower for medium quality settings. The screen is not of the highest quality in terms of color intensity, gradient, and smoothness of movement, but it is sufficient for casual entertainment. 4K video played well. Despite the Harman / Kardon co-branding, the ZenBook 13 (UX331) speakers were very disappointing.

The sound is loud but harsh, and we can hear the distortion even at 50 percent of the volume level. The left and center part of the keyboard became a bit warmer when handling long benchmarks. Heavy tasks, such as our real-world video encoding and file compression tests, caused the system fan to make a soft but loud screech. That said, this was not an issue with using common days. If you don't do any heavy 3D rendering on this laptop, which would be the case for your target audience for most people, you will probably never listen to a fan.

The battery life is very good. We easily get through an entire workday, much of which was spent online using browser-based tools and applications. We streamed an hour of video and saw the battery level dip by about 10 percent. The heavy Battery Eater Pro test lasted 3 hours and 10 minutes, which is great for such a portable laptop. The 45-watt charger is fairly compact and easy to carry, but it takes a bit of time to get this laptop to 100 percent and it didn't charge through its Type-C port when we tested it.

We're waiting for Asus to release the successor to the ZenBook UX305, and now, here it is. The new Zenbook 13 (UX331) is more expensive, but is consistent with how international currency exchange prices have changed since then. It's thinner, lighter, and more powerful, but it hasn't lost connectivity or flexibility. This is pretty much everything you need to get to work and you can take it anywhere without towing. The only real downside is a lack of physical strength, which means you have to handle this laptop with care.

If you've always wanted a Windows-based alternative to the MacBook Air, the entry-level ZenBook 13 (UX331) has a meat processor, double the storage space, and a variety of more ports. It's quite light, although certainly a very low premium in terms of overall feel. More importantly, it costs a little over half compared to the newly released Retina MacBook Air. Acer Swift 5 and Swift 7 are the only genuine Windows-based options in terms of weight, but they are also priced higher.

If price isn't a concern at all, you'd be better off with the more expensive Dell XPS 13, Microsoft Surface laptop, or Lenovo Yoga 730. We hope other manufacturers will pay attention and start developing this niche - we like thin and light laptops, but they don't have to be very expensive and they don't have to go that far to get tons of useful features.

Description of Asus Zenbook 13 (UX331)

The sides of the Zenbook 13 - UX331 - seem to have fallen short, but this is just a clever ornament. Asus did not try to lose weight. The body is a constant 139mm thickness and leaves plenty of room for full-size ports. You get a USB 3.0 Type-A port on both sides, a USB 3.1 (Gen 1, 5Gbps) Type-C port, an HDMI video output, a 3.5mm sound accessory, and a power delta. Similarly to open a microSD card, an SD space would have been the best, although thinking about how the different ultraports have added this element.

We will take what we can find. Also, Asus generously incorporates a USB Ethernet dongle, which is extraordinary to see. Asus has moved this PC to India Rose Gold and Deep Dive Blue in two shading options. The final is less conventional and will have a more extensive plot, however we did not find our daily gold audit unit very attractive. The trademark polished metal example of concentric circles we've seen on other Zenbook models is missing here, and there are no slanted edges or lights anywhere.

This is a lower and less premium look than is generally expected from the Zenbook lineup. The detachment of the bodywork extends to the interiors of the PC, separated by a dark plastic cover that incorporates a screen and console keys. The screen isn't bright, which means it's not smart to tilt it under interior lights. This is incredible for profitability, although the signs don't appear particularly. The console has a standard design, without anything strange.

Console backlights are consistently expensive, but there are only two great levels to explore. Those that enter the bolt are completely divided into a line, but they are wider than expected, which largely makes up for that. Power capture is coordinated in the upper right corner, and similarly with separate ZenBooks it's somewhat stiffer than the optional key, to reduce the chance of accidental pressing. A decent touch is the unique fingerprint sensor under the bolt key.

Asus ZenBook 13 (UX331) programming

This happens a bit more often than if Intel's less than 5W Wi-array CPUs are not being used, workstations that don't bother fans and aren't as grounded as their standard partners. The ZenBook 13 (UX331) anyway shows in one way or another how the mill was intended to perform more to fit the 15W U-array processor and the mechanical cooling combination required for that. The other main workstation that works with it is the 0.97kg Acer Swift 5, which is a lighter, although it is quite expensive.

You have a choice between a Core i5-8250U and a Core i7-8550U. We're exploring the section-level design of this workstation, so we have the first one, which has a base speed of 1.6GHz and the highest turbo speed of 3.4GHz in short bursts. Both CPU options depend on the Cabi Lake upgrade phase and both have four hubs with Hyper-Threading. Also, they both have the same integrated Intel UHD Graphics 620 GPU.

The goal is 1920 x 1080 on a 13.3-inch screen. Windows 10 was naturally set to 150 percent scale, which we felt was a bit inefficient, so we changed it to 100 percent and reclaimed a ton of usable workspace. The dash has to be at 178 degrees to see the edges, and from what we know it seems almost correct. Asus claims it can emulate 72 percent of the NTSC shader matrix, which doesn't usually mean much. Our survey unit had 8GB of RAM and a 256GB SATA SSD.

Which we think comes at a very generous cost. In one step, you get a 512GB PCIe SSD with a similar CPU, and the final best variant gives you a Core i7 CPU with a larger SSD. The RAM is soldered in, although the SSD can be upgraded in any case. You get dual-band 802.11ac Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 4.2. The battery limit is 50 Wh and the guaranteed runtime for office efficiency is 15 hours. You get Windows 10 Home with a demo conversion of McAfee LiveSafe and Microsoft Office 365 and a full suite of apps from the Windows Store.

Likewise, in WC Office, Asus, an item registration app, a battery goodness app, a fan speed control app, an electronic manual, a management focus locator, and a gift box app store . This app is regularly loaded with accessible free software, in addition, Asus Workstation offers buyers some potential ancillary limitations and offers, for example, 25GB of free Dropbox space for one year.