This New ZenBook is the latest upgrade to an existing series of 14-inch Ultrabooks by Asus, and compared to its predecessors, this version packs a lot more punch. The Asus ZenBook 14 comes with an Intel Core i7-8565u Quad Core processor, and an Nvidia Geforce MX150 GPU that makes it fit for both everyday use, and also for a good chunk of heavy lifting when required. It is for these reasons and a lot more that it takes the top spot on our list of the best ultrabook you can buy today.
Why We Like It – Asus ZenBook 14
Built for the upwardly mobile, the Asus ZenBook 14 is a charm to behold. It spots a 14 hour battery life for those who are always on the move, a 14 inch Full HD display that covers over 100% of the sRGB color space, and a Nvidia Geforce graphics card to support the most demanding graphic work you need to get done. Compare the Asus to our Lifetouch Note Netbook look okay (tough resistive screen will be a nightmare) review to see how it stacks up.
- Nvidia Geforce GPU
- Great design
- Small form factor – great portability
- Not a touchscreen display
- Dim display
Performance
The Asus ZenBook is well built for performance. Its Intel Core i7-8565u processor has a base clock frequency of 1.8Ghz, but it can be turbo boosted to 4.6Ghz for faster processing. The same can also be said for the Dell XPS 13 and its Core i5 processor, but to a smaller degree. In terms of storage, the Asus ZenBook comes with an SSD that has a storage capacity of up to 1 TB, & that together with 16 GB of RAM means you’ll be able to store a lot of stuff on your laptop, and access everything a lot faster as well. The Asus ZenBook does allow for gaming every now and then, but it is certainly no match for the Razer Blade Stealth 13. The laptop also has a decent range of connectivity options that include a USB-C port, a USB 3.1 port, a HDMI connector, a USB 2.0 port and a microSD card reader.
Related: If you’re looking for a great 2-in-1 Ultrabook then you might be interested in our HP Spectre x360 review.
Design
The Asus ZenBook is by all standards a very sleek laptop. Compared to the Microsoft Surface 2, It has a premium feel, and a very small footprint. Its display bezels are very thin at 2.9 mm on the sides, yielding to a screen-to-body ratio of 92%. The New ZenBook also spots an Ergolift Hinge that has the back of its chassis lift off a few millimetres whenever you open the laptop. This results in a keyboard that’s lifted at an angle of 3 degrees, which significantly improves the typing experience. As good as the laptop looks, it’s also been proven to be quite sturdy and has indeed achieved military-grade durability. This means it’ll easily survive a few drops to the floor.
Related: If you’re interested in an Ultrabook for gaming then definitely read our Razer Blade Stealth 13 review.
Value
The Asus ZenBook packs a three-cell lithium-polymer battery that’ll last 14 hours, but practically speaking, this is about 5-6 hours of use using normal brightness until the next charge. Like we mentioned earlier, the laptop isn’t also quite built for gaming, but it will allow for the occasional session or two without any objections thanks to its capable graphics card. The laptop also supports faster and more stable WiFi connections thanks to its Asus WiFi Master Technology, with speeds of up to 1734Mbps. The Asus ZenBook also offers facial recognition capability that allows you to login using just your face, but unlike the Lenovo Yoga 720, it does not feature a touchscreen display.
Asus ZenBook 14 Wrap Up
We used the Asus ZenBook UX433FN as our review unit, and we’ll be sure to do another review as soon as Asus drops the next latest model from the same line so that we can keep you updated on the kind of features and specs to expect. For now, this New ZenBook remains our top pick for the best ultrabook in the market.
