Slim smart and
Laptops have been usurped by phones, but this new Asus is still a great all-rounder
Given how powerful phones and tablets are now, I’ve got myself out of the habit of lugging a laptop around. However, I still need a good screen and a good keyboard to get heavy-duty tasks done and that means I need a laptop. The ultraportable is an increasingly attractive option for students or working people who need a powerful computer with which it’s easy to travel.
The Asus ZenBook UX331UN is a 13-inch laptop that’s attempting to blend performance and portability. Picking up the ZenBook indicates they’ve certainly got the portability part of that equation right.
Its credentials are solid as it’s pleasingly light at 1.12kg and is just 13.9mm thick. Available in slate grey or royal blue, the body has a crystal-style gloss coating and the casing is finished in spun-metal. It looks great, but it has lovely feel to the frame and the design makes it a genuinely attractive device.
The all-important engine inside is equally as impressive. This ZenBook has the eighth generation Intel Core i7 which can be boosted up to 4.0GHz. With the help of 8GB of RAM it zips through Microsoft office tasks and has decent gaming performance thanks to the NVIDIA GeForce MX150.
Asus have managed to pack plenty of screen in to such a tidy laptop. The NanoEdge screen is full HD and has an impressive viewing angle of 178°, making it easy to share a movie on a plane for instance. The clever part though is the ultrathin 6.86mm bezel and that helps give the immersive feeling of a larger screen. The risk of such thin laptops is a compromise in sturdiness, and though well built I found myself concerned occasionally about how firmly I closed the lid. Also, the audio was a little disappointing but many of us tend to use headphones with a laptop.
The connectivity is great with new reversible USB Type-C connector and two USB 3.1 ports as well as HDMI and microSD card slot.
Asus have done a great job on making something that looks good and doesn’t compromise on specs. Despite being a little pricey, it compares favourably with direct competitors from Dell for instance and if you’re in the market for a Windows 10 laptop that’s as portable as it competent, this is a great option.