Asus UX Series

With the recent announced UX21 and UX31 Ultrabooks, provided by the Taiwanese manufacturer Asus and marketed under the self-created term Zenbook, the already existing UX series moves back to the foreground. In 2009 Asus showed the slim notebook UX50V with energy efficient hardware and a 15-inch display. Today, three years after the first device of this series Asus presents two devices in the Ultrabook-class with 11.6 - and 13.3-inch display. The category Ultrabook itself was launched by Intel to the fire up the market of the top dog Apple with its MacBook Air 11 and MacBook Air 13.
Significant milestones for this project are a sleek design, fast and energy-saving hardware as well as a decent battery lifetime. Asus uses a alloy-chassis, a solid state drive and a lithium-polymer battery, which is integrated. In the first reviews for the two new devices the available ports, the bright screen and the minimalistic background noises in idle-usage models are highlighted. Disadvantages are the reflective surface of the display and the missing option to expand the integrated hardware.
Asus offers the Zenbook UX21 (11.6 inches) and the UX31 with the larger 13.3-inch screen from 999 € (MSRP) upwards. In regard to other devices you’ll see that Asus only sell premium devices at the moment. Acer offers the Aspire S3 Ultrabook already from 799 € (MSRP) upwards. But in comparison the devices from Asus get a better result in the most reviews out there.
Processor: Intel Core 2 Solo SU3500, Intel Core i5 2467M, Intel Core i5 2537M, Intel Core i5 2557M, Intel Core i7 2677MGraphics Adapter: Intel HD Graphics (Sandy Bridge), Intel HD Graphics 3000, NVIDIA GeForce G 105M
Display: 11.6 inch, 13.0 inch, 13.3 inch, 15.6 inch
Weight: 1.1kg, 1.147kg, 1.148kg, 1.2kg, 1.3kg, 1.4kg, 2.6kg
Price: 800, 900, 999, 1000, 1100, 1200, 1300 euro
Average of 83 scores (from 135 reviews)
mobility: 72%, workmanship: 89%, ergonomy: 77%, emissions: 83%
Asus UX50V
Notebook Specifications
Notebook: Asus UX50VProcessor: Intel Core 2 Solo SU3500
Graphics Adapter: NVIDIA GeForce G 105M 512 MB
Display: 15.6 inch, 16:9, 1366x768 pixels
Weight: 2.6kg
Price: 900 euro
Links: Asus homepage Asus notebook section UX50V (Model)
Average Score:
Average of 8 scores (from 11 reviews)
Judge a book by its cover? Asus wants to poach in the starter sector of multimedia notebooks with glossy piano lacquer, a snazzy design and a switchable graphic solution. Or don't they? Is the 15.6 inch notebook UX50V more an office device that looks good but is barely suitable for multimedia due to the weak hardware? We released the designer laptop on our test course and made our verdict without being blinded by its looks.
Source: Reg Hardware

Although attractive, we weren’t hugely impressed with the keyboard, while the design of the trackpad buttons is woeful. And despite its ability to switch to a discrete graphics chip, the Nvidia Geforce G105M isn’t up to much in terms of gaming. If you’re happy sacrificing power and a fair wedge of cash for style, the UX50V will probably appeal. But we think Asus has its work cut out in persuading customers to shell out £999 for its latest catwalk queen.
Single Review, online available, Long, Date: 08/25/2009
Rating: Total score: 60%
Source: CNet

The Asus UX50V-RX05 is closer to an oversized Netbook than a mainstream laptop. If you took the Asus Eee PC 1005HA and doubled its weight and price, you'd basically end up with the UX50V. This 15.6-inch laptop shares many design cues with the Eee PC 1005HA, with its sleek profile, tapered edges, and glossy chassis. Unfortunately, it also shares roughly the same performance profile as a Netbook, thanks to its underpowered, single-core CPU. With its low-end single-core processor, dedicated GeForce graphics, and 16:9 display, the unquestionably sleek, entertainment-minded Asus UX50V-RX05 is a good fit for a specific user profile: the movie lover/sometime gamer.
Single Review, online available, Long, Date: 08/06/2009
Rating: Total score: 53% performance: 30% features: 50% mobility: 50%
Source: CNet

According to Asus, the UX series is 'an intricately crafted series of notebooks that provide both contemporary style and effortless computing on the go'. In human speak, that means they're thin and light, look awesome and have funky new components. The UX50V, reviewed here, is being sold by online retailers for around £910. The Asus UX50V is great to look at, but it's let down by relatively average performance and design features that detract from the overall user experience. Its shiny finish will appeal to magpies and those with design degrees, but the cheaper, slightly less attractive MSI X340 -- or indeed an Apple MacBook -- might be better options.
75
Single Review, online available, Medium, Date: 07/03/2009
Rating: Total score: 75%
Source: Techradar

A stylish and high-quality offering from Asus, but not the fastest machine. Asus' UX range is aimed at the high end of the laptop market, and targets rivals such as Sony's VAIO range. The UX50V is a compact and stylish 15.6-inch machine, offering impressive quality and a distinctive design. The Asus UX50V offers a lot of style and quality for the money. It's also a comfortable choice with decent 3D power on offer. Whether it's stunted by the single-core processor remains to be seen, but it's still an impressive start.
80
Single Review, online available, Short, Date: 07/01/2009
Rating: Total score: 80%
Source: Notebookcheck
DE→ENSingle Review, online available, Long, Date: 10/08/2009
Rating: Total score: 76% performance: 67% display: 60% mobility: 78% workmanship: 80% ergonomy: 75% emissions: 85%
Source: c't - 19/09

Comparison, online available, Very Long, Date: 09/01/2009
Rating: performance: 35% display: 70% mobility: 80% ergonomy: 40% emissions: 90%
Source: Notebookjournal
DE→ENSingle Review, online available, Long, Date: 07/02/2009
Rating: Total score: 80% price: 70% performance: 50% features: 50% display: 30% mobility: 60% workmanship: 90% ergonomy: 70%
Source: MuyComputer
ES→ENSingle Review, online available, Medium, Date: 05/25/2009
Rating: Total score: 88%
Source: Les Numeriques
FR→ENSingle Review, online available, Medium, Date: 08/14/2009
Rating: Total score: 60% performance: 60% mobility: 40% ergonomy: 60%
Source: NotebookTV.hu
HU→ENSingle Review, online available, Long, Date: 09/14/2009
Rating: price: 70% emissions: 60%
Source: Kiến Thức Laptop
VN→ENSingle Review, online available, Long, Date: 07/10/2009
Rating: performance: 70% mobility: 60%
Asus UX21
Notebook Specifications
Notebook: Asus UX21Processor: Intel Core i7 2677M
Graphics Adapter: Intel HD Graphics 3000
Display: 11.6 inch, 16:9, 1366x768 pixels
Weight: 1.147kg
Price: 1100 euro
Links: Asus homepage Asus notebook section UX21 (Model)
Average Score:
Average of 5 scores (from 15 reviews)
Perfection. The power version of the Zenbook, with a Core i7, is as handy as a netbook but faster than most multimedia machines. How is this possible with a build height of 17 millimeters? The lightning-fast ADATA SSD sets the standard higher than ever.
Source: Hot Hardware

From one point of view, the Asus Zenbook UX21's closest competitor would be the 11-inch Apple MacBook Air. Looking at specifications and features alone, the UX21 lines up quite nicely versus Apple's offering. In about the same price range (as our machine was configured), you get additional wired Ethernet connectivity and standard external display output, both of which aren't options for Apple's product.
Single Review, online available, Long, Date: 11/01/2011
Source: AnandTech

Given the lack of any Intel-specific Ultrabook software I'm hesitant to even call this thing an Ultrabook. There's also the fact that, at least in the case of Intel Rapid Start Technology, being more of an Ultrabook in that sense would've been a step back in performance. In fact, I see no real reason to use that brand at all—which is likely why ASUS ended up calling it a Zenbook to begin with.
Single Review, online available, Long, Date: 10/22/2011
Source: CNet

The Zenbook is Asus' first foray into the Ultrabook world, offering powerful guts wrapped up in a super-slim and sturdy aluminium shell. The Asus Zenbook UX21 is not only slim, light and attractive but also offers fantastic performance for a very reasonable price. It's very difficult to find much wrong with it.
Single Review, online available, Long, Date: 10/19/2011
Rating: Total score: 90%
Source: It Pro

The Asus ZenBook has a lot of promise and it'll be interesting to see if it lives up to its stated five hour battery life. Both the UX21 and UX31 will be available on October 21st, so it's likely to beat rival ultrabooks from Acer and Toshbia to market. Even better, at £849 inc VAT for the 11in model and £949 for the 13in version, the Zenbook either matches or undercuts Apple's pricing for the MacBook Air range. We would be lying if we said we weren’t tempted. We'll bring you a full review as soon as we can.
Comparison, online available, Short, Date: 10/12/2011
Source: IT Reviews

Lush to look at, the ZenBook just oozes class - which is why the price, while still placing these models into the premium bracket, came as a bit of a surprise. The 11.6in UX21 costs £849, while the 13.3in UX31 sells for £999 - coincidentally, the prices of Apple's two entry-level MacBook Air models. But spec for spec, the ZenBooks outclass their Apple competition by some margin, doubling the capacity of the SSD to 128GB and upping the processor in the £999 model to an Intel Core i7 against the Air's i5. Expensive they may be, but to those seeking the ultimate in PC style we reckon the new Asus ZenBooks are worth every penny. Check back on ITReviews soon, when we put the ZenBooks through their paces in a full lab-tested review.
Comparison, online available, Short, Date: 10/12/2011
Rating: Total score: 100%
Source: Pocket Lint

From our brief play with the Zenbook it looks like Asus has got a rather tasty gadget on its hands. There isn't much else, short of the Samsung Series 9 which can't quite boast the looks or build of the Zenbook. Expect more when Pocket-lint gets a lengthier play with the Zenbook.
Comparison, online available, Very Short, Date: 10/12/2011
Source: Trusted Reviews

The UX21 is a seriously impressive device. Its design is stunning and it packs in all the essentials for a great ultraportable notebook, or ultrabook. We would've liked to see Asus squeeze a memory card reader in there, and ThunderBolt would've been particularly nice, but these are hardly to be expected. All that remains to be seen is how its battery life holds up and how much it retails for when it arrives later this year.
Single Review, online available, Very Short, Date: 09/14/2011
Source: Notebookinfo
DE→ENSingle Review, online available, Medium, Date: 11/03/2011
Rating: Total score: 87% performance: 80% display: 95% mobility: 85% ergonomy: 95% emissions: 78%
Source: Notebookcheck
DE→ENSingle Review, online available, Long, Date: 11/01/2011
Rating: Total score: 86% performance: 80% display: 60% mobility: 91% workmanship: 97% ergonomy: 89% emissions: 83%
Source: c't - 25/11

light, considerable fan noise, bright screen
Comparison, , Long, Date: 11/01/2011
Source: HardwareLuxx
DE→ENPositive: weight, workmanship, performance, fast SSD, bright display; negative: weak contrast and colours of display
Single Review, online available, Long, Date: 10/26/2011
Source: Zoom
RU→ENSingle Review, online available, Medium, Date: 10/13/2011
Source: Geeks.hu
HU→ENSingle Review, online available, Medium, Date: 01/23/2012
Rating: Total score: 100%
Source: The Hikaku
JA→ENSingle Review, online available, Medium, Date: 11/05/2011
Source: Notegear
KO→ENSingle Review, online available, Very Long, Date: 02/04/2012
Asus ZenBook UX31E-RY010V
Notebook Specifications
Notebook: Asus ZenBook UX31E-RY010VProcessor: Intel Core i7 2677M
Graphics Adapter: Intel HD Graphics 3000
Display: 13.3 inch, 16:9, 1600x900 pixels
Weight: 1.3kg
Price: 1200 euro
Links: Asus homepage Asus notebook section ZenBook UX31E-RY010V (Model)
Average Score:
Average of 15 scores (from 25 reviews)
Source: PC Advisor

The Asus Zenbook UX31E is impressive. It's an excellent performer, it's attractive and light, and it plays back multimedia well. Unfortunately, its screen is off-colour and its touchpad needs more work.
Single Review, online available, Very Short, Date: 03/01/2012
Rating: Total score: 80% price: 70% features: 80% ergonomy: 80%
Source: Trusted Reviews

Asus’ 13in Zenbook comes very close to being the ultimate Ultrabook. It sports a nice design, solid aluminium build, superb connectivity, high-resolution screen, great keyboard and touchpad, class-leading audio and premium accessories such as the stylish sleeve – and all for under £1,000. Given this, its lack of keyboard backlighting can easily be overlooked. Unfortunately, its screen’s poor viewing angles are trickier to forgive, keeping the UX31 from a Recommended Award by a kitten’s whisker.
Single Review, online available, Long, Date: 12/20/2011
Rating: Total score: 80% price: 90% performance: 80% features: 80% display: 70% mobility: 70% emissions: 80%
Source: PC World India

There's no doubt that the Asus Zenbook UX31 is a stylish and solid laptop that should appeal to those of you who want good performance out of a thin-and-light unit. However, we feel that it has been rushed to market and that its user friendliness suffers as a result. Its input devices are not very good, it doesn't have a backlit keyboard, we found it uncomfortable to type on and we had to fiddle with drivers to get things working properly out of the box. This is disappointing, especially considering all the hype behind this product.
Single Review, online available, Short, Date: 12/19/2011
Rating: Total score: 79%
Source: Reg Hardware

The bad points? I don’t like the restricted viewing angle on the display, and the case doesn’t immediately snap shut when you close it in your hands - the Zenbook just gapes back open a little unless you put it on a tabletop and press the case shut for a couple of seconds. The good points? Everything else: usability, connectivity, build quality, slimline profile and power management. The UX31E is a cracking good Ultrabook and worth the money.
Single Review, online available, Medium, Date: 12/15/2011
Rating: Total score: 85%
Source: CNet

The Asus Zenbook UX31 is Asus' first foray into the ultrabook world, offering a powerful Intel Core i7 processor wrapped up in a super-slim, sturdy aluminium shell. The Asus Zenbook UX31 is incredibly slim, light and great to look at. With an Intel Core i7 processor at its heart, it packs a powerful punch and still manages to undercut Apple's MacBook Air.
Single Review, online available, Long, Date: 11/09/2011
Rating: Total score: 80%
Source: Mobile Tech Review

We like the Asus Zenbook UX31 quite a bit. It's exquisitely thin, superbly light at 2.86 pounds, and it's gorgeous. The build quality is top notch--in fact it's one of the best made notebooks we've seen outside of Apple's store. The laptop is very fast and could work as a main machine if you're not a 3D gamer. For a 13" ultraportable it has a better than average selection of ports, and we love the HDMI and USB 3.0 ports in particular. Though most components are soldered onto the motherboard, we appreciate that it's not hard to open up the notebook to access components. We have no qualms with the keyboard though it's not our favorite, and we actually like the trackpad after updating the firmware and drivers. Lastly, the 1600 x 900 display really sets the Zenbook apart from the crowd and is more conducive to doing serious work on the go. Finally, there's a MacBook Air for Windows folks. That's not to say the Air isn't an excellent machine to run Windows, but the $200 price savings, Windows keyboard, HDMI and USB 3.0 combined with the higher resolution display are a good counter to the Air.
Single Review, online available, Short, Date: 11/01/2011
Rating: Total score: 100%
Source: It Pro

There's no doubt that the Zenbook looks and feels great and has the advantage of a high-resolution screen. It's no MacBook Air-killer though. Its battery doesn't last as long as the Air's and the keyboard and touchpad can be frustrating to use. Even if you're tied to Windows, there are better alternatives such as Toshiba's similarly price 1.5kg Portégé R830 which has far superior battery life. The Zenbook will only appeal to those that want a Windows ultraportable that looks like a MacBook Air and are willing to put up with the Zenbook's flaws to get one. While it's possible Ultrabooks from other manufacturers will do a better job, it'll be tough as the MacBook Air isn't just a collection of components but a result of tight integration between hardware and software. We'll have to wait and see.
Single Review, online available, Very Short, Date: 10/31/2011
Rating: Total score: 63%
Source: Techradar

While price may preclude some from purchasing the Zenbook, we have no problem in recommending it as one of the best ultraportables we've seen. It's certainly a match for the impressive MacBook Air - and a real tonic to those who have wanted a performanceWindowsultraportable at a price point that doesn't require a remortgage. Yes, it's expensive. But it's so worth it.
Single Review, online available, Long, Date: 10/28/2011
Rating: Total score: 90%
Source: T3

Overall we were very impressed with the Asus Zenbook. Neither power nor portability has been sacrificed and features that traditionally suffer, such as audio quality and battery life, have not been neglected. While price may preclude some from purchasing the Zenbook, we have no problem in recommending it as one of the best ultraportables we’ve seen and more than a match for the impressive Macbook Air.
Single Review, online available, Very Short, Date: 10/27/2011
Rating: Total score: 100%
Source: V3.co.uk

If you need to create content on the move and require Windows 7, the Zenbook is a good option and is definitely more useful than any tablet or hybrid. The £999 price tag is not cheap, but it's still £100 less than the 13in MacBook Air model with a Core i7 processor and 128GB SSD. However, it might be worth waiting to see whether the Zenbook is bested by Ultrabook offerings from Acer, Lenovo and Toshiba.
Single Review, online available, Medium, Date: 10/27/2011
Rating: Total score: 80%
Source: PC Pro

Whether it’s these nagging design details, or the more serious flaws in its construction, the Zenbook UX31E makes some big trade-offs. There’s no doubt it gets some things emphatically right – the beauty, brawn and stamina are all worthy of praise – but it’s inconsistent in the most crucial aspects of any laptop’s design. That makes it impossible to fully recommend right now, but one thing is for sure: the battle of the Ultrabooks has only just begun.
Single Review, online available, Very Short, Date: 10/25/2011
Rating: Total score: 67% price: 67% performance: 83% features: 67% ergonomy: 67%
Source: Gadgetmix

This performance chart clearly depicts Asus UX-31 to be a great performer, trailing only behind MacBook Air and way above average. (Picture provided by Cnet). So, it seems the Asus UX-31 Zenbook is a very creditable alternative to the Macbook Air, and a better deal than the Acer Aspire S3.
Single Review, online available, Medium, Date: 10/25/2011
Source: It Pro

The Asus ZenBook has a lot of promise and it'll be interesting to see if it lives up to its stated five hour battery life. Both the UX21 and UX31 will be available on October 21st, so it's likely to beat rival ultrabooks from Acer and Toshbia to market. Even better, at £849 inc VAT for the 11in model and £949 for the 13in version, the Zenbook either matches or undercuts Apple's pricing for the MacBook Air range. We would be lying if we said we weren’t tempted. We'll bring you a full review as soon as we can.
Comparison, online available, Short, Date: 10/12/2011
Source: IT Reviews

Lush to look at, the ZenBook just oozes class - which is why the price, while still placing these models into the premium bracket, came as a bit of a surprise. The 11.6in UX21 costs £849, while the 13.3in UX31 sells for £999 - coincidentally, the prices of Apple's two entry-level MacBook Air models. But spec for spec, the ZenBooks outclass their Apple competition by some margin, doubling the capacity of the SSD to 128GB and upping the processor in the £999 model to an Intel Core i7 against the Air's i5. Expensive they may be, but to those seeking the ultimate in PC style we reckon the new Asus ZenBooks are worth every penny. Check back on ITReviews soon, when we put the ZenBooks through their paces in a full lab-tested review.
Comparison, online available, Short, Date: 10/12/2011
Rating: Total score: 100%
Source: Pocket Lint

From our brief play with the Zenbook it looks like Asus has got a rather tasty gadget on its hands. There isn't much else, short of the Samsung Series 9 which can't quite boast the looks or build of the Zenbook. Expect more when Pocket-lint gets a lengthier play with the Zenbook.
Comparison, online available, Very Short, Date: 10/12/2011
Source: Tom's Hardware
DE→ENComparison, online available, Long, Date: 01/26/2012
Source: SFT - 12/11

Comparison, , Length Unknown, Date: 12/01/2011
Rating: Total score: 96%
Source: Netzwelt
DE→ENexcellent workmanship, glossy display, bad keyboard, good price
Single Review, online available, Medium, Date: 01/27/2012
Source: Cyberbloc
DE→ENfair price
Single Review, online available, Short, Date: 12/01/2011
Source: PC Welt
DE→ENperformance, battery runtime, display workmanship and weight good but expensive
Single Review, online available, Medium, Date: 10/20/2011
Source: Chip.de
DE→ENpositive: display, workmanship, light, thin, SSD; negative: graphic performance
Single Review, online available, Medium, Date: 10/13/2011
Source: Notebook Italia
IT→ENSingle Review, online available, Long, Date: 03/31/2012
Source: PCM
NL→ENSingle Review, online available, Short, Date: 03/16/2012
Rating: Total score: 90%
Source: 01Net
FR→ENSingle Review, online available, Medium, Date: 12/07/2011
Rating: Total score: 100%
Source: The Hikaku
JA→ENSingle Review, online available, Medium, Date: 11/06/2011
Asus ZenBook UX31E-RY009V
Notebook Specifications
Notebook: Asus ZenBook UX31E-RY009VProcessor: Intel Core i5 2557M
Graphics Adapter: Intel HD Graphics 3000
Display: 13.3 inch, 16:9, 1366x768 pixels
Weight: 1.4kg
Price: 1000 euro
Links: Asus homepage Asus notebook section
Average Score:
Average of 5 scores (from 10 reviews)
Source: Fudzilla

Intel's ultrabook platform has been around for 9 months now and is still in its infancy as a mobile computing platform. As Intel stated in its press sheet during Computex 2011, the company envisions a "no-compromise, complete, satisfying and secure user experience all in one mobile device."
Single Review, online available, Long, Date: 04/01/2012
Source: Maximum PC

RIPE APPLE Sub-$1K; attractive, sturdy lid; decent performance. ROAD APPLE Plastic insides don't match aluminum outside; no USB 3.0; uses HDD; narrow vertical viewing angle.
Comparison, online available, Medium, Date: 02/06/2012
Rating: Total score: 90%
Source: Maximum PC

With the Asus UX31E, all the fuss about Ultrabooks starts to make sense. Its all-metal chassis, cut from a single sheet of aluminum, is undeniably handsome. And while this attractive metal wedge that’s just .71 inches at its thickest brings to mind the fine craftsmanship of a MacBook Air, it’s by no means a knockoff. The UX31E possesses a unique character that’s admirable in its own right. And at $1,050, it’s $250 less than its similarly spec’d Apple counterpart.
Single Review, online available, Very Short, Date: 01/13/2012
Rating: Total score: 90%
Source: Pocket Lint

The Zenbook is a good package, but with a laptop, not being able to type comfortably and use a reliable trackpad is kind of a deal breaker. Definitely one to try before you buy.
Single Review, online available, Short, Date: 10/21/2011
Rating: Total score: 70%
Source: Engadget

After the first Ultrabook left us feeling lukewarm, we grew hopeful that maybe, just maybe, ASUS' Zenbooks would get it right. While the S3 has little more to offer than a low price point, the UX31 has an arresting design and SATA III SSD that promises superior battery life and performance.
Single Review, online available, Long, Date: 10/21/2011
Source: Laptop Mag

The ASUS Zenbook UX31 takes a lot of what we loved about the 13-inch MacBook Air--a wafer-thin aluminum chassis, fast performance, instant resume, and good battery life--and adds even better audio and a higher-resolution display. Even better, the UX31 costs $200 less than the Air. The design of the ASUS also looks and feels more premium, thanks to the brushed-metal treatment. However, while we can live with not having a backlit keyboard, the touchpad simply doesn't work as well as it should--and you interact with that the most. The Zenbook UX31 is our favorite Ultrabook so far, but the Air is still our top ultraportable.
Single Review, online available, Medium, Date: 10/19/2011
Rating: Total score: 70%
Source: Notebookinfo
DE→ENSingle Review, online available, Medium, Date: 11/23/2011
Rating: Total score: 91% performance: 75% display: 95% mobility: 100% ergonomy: 95% emissions: 90%
Source: Tinh Te
VN→ENSingle Review, online available, Short, Date: 11/17/2011
Source: Laptop.bg
BU→ENPositive: weight, battery, processor performance, sound, display; negative: graphic performance
Single Review, online available, Medium, Date: 12/03/2011
Source: Datormagazin
SV→ENpositive: strong performance, solid, thin, light; negative: no keyboard backlight
Single Review, online available, Medium, Date: 10/24/2011
Asus Zenbook UX31E-DH52B
Notebook Specifications
Notebook: Asus Zenbook UX31E-DH52BProcessor: Intel Core i5 2557M
Graphics Adapter: Intel HD Graphics 3000
Display: 13.3 inch, 16:9, 1600x900 pixels
Weight: 1.4kg
Price: 999 euro
Links: Asus homepage Asus notebook section
Average Score:
Average of 8 scores (from 11 reviews)
True Ultrabook experience. The Ultrabook market is still at its infant stages, but Asus have thrown everything they can to make the best first impressions with their ultrathin Zenbook lineup. Find out here if this sleek, 13.3-inch full aluminum alloy notebook is worthy of the Ultrabook name and the $1000 price tag.
Source: Legit Reviews

After spending some time with the ASUS Zenbook we must saw that we are amazed with how responsive and fast this notebook feels and it looks gorgeous. ASUS has really stepped up the game when it comes to fit and finish of their products and the quality of the great workmanship is really starting to pay off. The ASUS Zenbook UX31E is amazingly thin and after traveling through the airport with one it is hard to want to use anything besides an Ultrabook now!
Single Review, online available, Very Long, Date: 04/17/2012
Source: Fudzilla

Intel's ultrabook platform and the ASUS ZenBook UX31E are fine examples of a sleek, minimalist computing philosophy that is much more than the typical critic's response of "a MacBook Air plus Microsoft Windows," and we believe the ultrabook ecosystem will only become more enticing to consumers as average selling prices (ASPs) decrease over time.
Single Review, online available, Short, Date: 04/01/2012
Source: Digital Trends

This laptop is a perfect example. In some ways, it is excellent. Battery life is good, the weight and size of the laptop leads to easy portability, the display is above average, and performance is within striking distance of larger laptops. Among the first run of production Ultrabooks the UX31 stands out. It’s more portable and quicker than the majority of the competition.
Single Review, online available, Long, Date: 02/14/2012
Rating: Total score: 75%
Source: PC Advisor

The Asus Zenbook UX31E is impressive. It's an excellent performer, it's attractive and light, and it plays back multimedia well. Unfortunately, its screen is off-colour and its touchpad needs more work.
Single Review, online available, Very Short, Date: 11/17/2011
Rating: Total score: 80%
Source: PC World

The Asus Zenbook UX31E is impressive: It's an excellent performer, it's attractive and light, and it plays back multimedia well. Unfortunately, its screen is off-color and its touchpad needs some more work (or perhaps another driver update).
Single Review, online available, Very Short, Date: 11/16/2011
Rating: Total score: 80%
Source: IT Reviews

It is hard not to like the Asus UX31 for its superb chassis design and top-notch processor. And while the screen is good, we felt a little bit let down by the keyboard, and we'd have liked a larger storage drive.
Single Review, online available, Very Short, Date: 11/14/2011
Rating: Total score: 80%
Source: Pocket Lint

The Zenbook is a good package, but with a laptop, not being able to type comfortably and use a reliable trackpad is kind of a deal breaker. Definitely one to try before you buy.
Single Review, online available, Short, Date: 11/14/2011
Rating: Total score: 70%
Source: PC Mag

Perhaps the most exciting aspects of the Zenbook are the near-instant boot and wake times—two seconds from standby mode—and the amount of time that the Zenbook can stay at the ready. The Asus Zenbook UX21 (UX21E-DH52) is estimated to be able to spend a full two weeks in standby mode, and to last seven hours while browsing the Web.
Single Review, online available, Very Short, Date: 10/31/2011
Source: Notebookreview.com

The UX31 is one of the most refreshing PCs I’ve reviewed in a long time. The design and quality are truly outstanding; ASUS clearly went all-out. The sheer thinness and light weight of the notebook make you want to buy it as soon as it’s picked up. Another major highlight of the notebook is the excellent 1600x900 screen resolution which is remarkable for a 13.3-inch notebook. I was also impressed with the good sound quality and six hours of battery life. The real downsides of the notebook concern the keyboard and touchpad; both take getting used to. The keyboard requires extra pressure; the keys must be 100% pressed otherwise keystrokes do not register. I mastered this after a few days. The touchpad needed a driver update before it became predictable, and even then it is not particularly accurate. I also wish the clicks were quieter. Other things to consider with this notebook are the lack of user-upgradeable parts (there are none) and scarcity of ports (that can be solved with adapters, however).
Single Review, online available, Long, Date: 10/27/2011
Rating: Total score: 60% price: 70% performance: 60% features: 60% mobility: 70% ergonomy: 90%
Source: CNet

If imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, then the MacBook Air should be positively blushing right around now. The Asus Zenbook UX31E is an excellent-looking Windows Ultrabook laptop that matches the MacBook Air step for step with an even better price. Fans of great audio, high-resolution screens and lots of ports will be happy; keyboard/touch pad aficionados will be disappointed.
Single Review, online available, Long, Date: 10/25/2011
Rating: Total score: 80% performance: 80% mobility: 80%
Source: PC Mag

The Asus Zenbook UX31 may be early to the ultrabook party, being one of only two on the market, but it tops the spiritual progenitors of the ultrabook category, the Apple MacBook Air 13-inch and the Samsung Series 9. While it may not be as affordable as the Acer Aspire S3, it more than makes up for it in superior construction, a fuller feature set, and stronger performance. With models on the horizon from Toshiba and Lenovo (both coming in November), it may face some stiff competition soon, but for the time being, the Zenbook UX31 is our Editors' Choice and the ultrabook to beat.
Single Review, online available, Very Short, Date: 10/24/2011
Rating: Total score: 80%
Asus Zenbook UX31E-DH53
Notebook Specifications
Notebook: Asus Zenbook UX31E-DH53Processor: Intel Core i5 2557M
Graphics Adapter: Intel HD Graphics (Sandy Bridge)
Display: 13.3 inch, 16:9, 1600x900 pixels
Weight: 1.3kg
Price: 1100 euro
Links: Asus homepage Asus notebook section
Average Score:
Average of 2 scores (from 3 reviews)
Source: Liliputing

The Asus Zenbook UX31 is an attractive laptop. It’s a fast laptop. For the month that I’ve had it, it’s been my favorite computer in the house. But I’m getting ready to box it up and ship it back to Intel and I’m not sure I’m ready to spend $1100 to buy my own Zenbook.
Single Review, online available, Medium, Date: 02/16/2012
Source: Techreview Source

The Asus Zenbook UX31 may be early to the ultrabook party, being one of only two on the market, but it tops the spiritual progenitors of the ultrabook category, the Apple MacBook Air 13-inch and the Samsung Series 9. While it may not be as affordable as the Acer Aspire S3, it more than makes up for it in superior construction, a fuller feature set, and stronger performance. With models on the horizon from Toshiba and Lenovo (both coming in November), it may face some stiff competition soon, but for the time being, the Zenbook UX31 is our Editors' Choice and the ultrabook to beat.
Single Review, online available, Very Short, Date: 10/26/2011
Rating: Total score: 80%
Source: CNet

If imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, then the MacBook Air should be positively blushing right around now. The Asus Zenbook UX31E is an excellent-looking Windows Ultrabook laptop that matches the MacBook Air step for step with an even better price. Fans of great audio, high-resolution screens and lots of ports will be happy; keyboard/touch pad aficionados will be disappointed.
Single Review, online available, Long, Date: 10/25/2011
Rating: Total score: 80% performance: 80% mobility: 80%
Asus Zenbook UX21E-KX004V
Notebook Specifications
Notebook: Asus Zenbook UX21E-KX004VProcessor: Intel Core i5 2467M
Graphics Adapter: Intel HD Graphics 3000
Display: 11.6 inch, 16:9, 1366x768 pixels
Weight: 1.148kg
Price: 1000 euro
Links: Asus homepage Asus notebook section
Average Score:
Average of 10 scores (from 16 reviews)
Source: PC Pro

For all its faults, it isn’t hard to appreciate the Zenbook UX21’s talents. The mediocre display disappoints, but for a first effort this shows immense potential. Pretty, portable and powerful, it’s as fine an Ultrabook as you’ll find for the money.
Single Review, online available, Very Short, Date: 03/08/2012
Rating: Total score: 67% price: 83% performance: 67% features: 67% ergonomy: 67%
Source: Reg Hardware

The Asus Zenbook UX21E is thinner, lighter and much more fun to use than I thought possible for an 11in notebook. Built to last and to impress, it manages to look amazing and cute at the same time. If the viewing angle on the display had been a few degrees wider, I would have rated the computer 90 per cent: I liked it that much. Asus also deserves kudos for including a tough slipcase, a USB-to-Ethernet adapter and a mini VGA-to-VGA adapter in the box, rather than charging for these as optional extras.
Single Review, online available, Short, Date: 02/09/2012
Rating: Total score: 85%
Source: Computer Active

The Asus Zenbook would be a great laptop for use while travelling due to its good battery life and low weight, but its poorly designed touchpad and keyboard make it frustrating to use. It's not a bad laptop, but better buys are available.
Single Review, online available, Very Short, Date: 02/01/2012
Rating: Total score: 60%
Source: Digital Versus

The UX21E is slightly disappointing. While the MacBook Air 11.6-inch is a bit more expensive, it also has a longer battery life, is more powerful and has a better quality screen, webcam, keyboard and audio section. While the UX31E – 13-3-inch version – is almost on a par with the same-size Air, the same can't be said for the UX21E.
Single Review, online available, Medium, Date: 12/23/2011
Rating: Total score: 60%
Source: Fudzilla

Frankly, we all laughed when we heard Intel’s price targets for ultrabooks. In theory ultrabooks are simply MacBook Air clones manufactured by Intel partners that are not as experienced with ultrathin and light machines as Apple. Well, the UX21E is quite a good machine.
Single Review, online available, Long, Date: 11/30/2011
Source: Fudzilla

Frankly, we all laughed when we heard Intel’s price targets for ultrabooks. In theory ultrabooks are simply MacBook Air clones manufactured by Intel partners that are not as experienced with ultrathin and light machines as Apple. Well, the UX21E is quite a good machine. It comes with a 128GB SSD drive, it costs €200 more than the flagship 64GB iPad, but it is still a good 150 euro cheaper than a comparable MacBook Air with the same Core i5, 4GB of RAM and 128GB SSD.
Single Review, online available, Medium, Date: 11/30/2011
Source: Techradar

As a piece of modern laptop engineering, the Asus Zenbook UX21 is sublime. Only Apple has previously been able to make something this sleek, light, powerful and desirable, and for those who want to stick with Windows, this moment could not have come soon enough.
Single Review, online available, Long, Date: 11/17/2011
Rating: Total score: 80%
Source: Gadgetmix

It wakes from sleep in two seconds and cold-boots in 21, excellent. It even auto-saves documents when battery life falls to 5%. Thrashing the UX21 delivers shutdown after 2hrs 24 mins, buzt sensible usage gives over five hours of battery life. The UX21 costs $1199.99. Its big brother, the 13″ Zenbook UX31, features an i7 processor, but performancewise there’s nothing in it.
Single Review, online available, Medium, Date: 10/31/2011
Source: Chip.de
DE→ENSingle Review, online available, Medium, Date: 02/22/2012
Rating: Total score: 64% price: 42% performance: 75% features: 56% display: 93% mobility: 53% ergonomy: 69%
Source: Onlinekosten.de
DE→ENSingle Review, online available, Long, Date: 01/29/2012
Rating: Total score: 82% performance: 87% features: 67% display: 87% mobility: 70% workmanship: 100% ergonomy: 70%
Source: Notebookjournal
DE→ENSingle Review, online available, Long, Date: 11/04/2011
Rating: performance: 90% features: 30% display: 70% mobility: 50% workmanship: 90% ergonomy: 50%
Source: Ocaholic.ch
DE→ENSingle Review, online available, Very Long, Date: 11/04/2011
Rating: Total score: 50%
Source: 01Net
FR→ENSingle Review, online available, Short, Date: 11/18/2011
Rating: Total score: 80%
Source: Sohoa VN Express
VN→ENSingle Review, online available, Medium, Date: 11/15/2011
Source: Komputer for alle
DA→ENSingle Review, online available, Very Short, Date: 01/19/2012
Rating: Total score: 90%
Source: Datormagazin
SV→ENSingle Review, online available, Very Short, Date: 01/25/2012
Asus Zenbook UX21E-DH71
Notebook Specifications
Notebook: Asus Zenbook UX21E-DH71Processor: Intel Core i7 2677M
Graphics Adapter: Intel HD Graphics 3000
Display: 11.6 inch, 16:9, 1366x768 pixels
Weight: 1.2kg
Price: 1200 euro
Links: Asus homepage Asus notebook section
Average Score:
Average of 1 scores (from 2 reviews)
Source: Inside HW

If you’re expecting new technology to use its first models to penetrate the market and make way for later revisions, containing a bunch of issues and child diseases typical of such devices – you’ll find none of that here. Intel has done their part of the job flawlessly, ASUS has done their best to add their own touch to the concoction, and the result speaks for itself – Zenbook is a worthy introduction to the ultrabook age by all means. The only reason to keep you away from this PC is a high price, one that requires a more sizeable budget than usual.
Single Review, online available, Medium, Date: 12/23/2011
Source: Computer Shopper

It's not every day that we see a whole new category of notebook computers emerge. Nonetheless, here in late 2011, off we go headfirst into the "ultrabook" era. This sleek and modern-looking ultrabook is an impressive, MacBook Air-style thin wonder. It will make an excellent travel companion for anyone demanding power and extreme portability.
Single Review, online available, Long, Date: 11/07/2011
Rating: Total score: 80%
Asus UX31E-RY012V
Notebook Specifications
Notebook: Asus UX31E-RY012VProcessor: Intel Core i7 2677M
Graphics Adapter: Intel HD Graphics 3000
Display: 13.3 inch, 16:9, 1600x900 pixels
Weight: 1.3kg
Links: Asus homepage Asus notebook section
Average Score:
Average of 8 scores (from 13 reviews)
Source: Hardware Zone

So we’re going to make it really easy for you readers to decide whether or not to get yourself an ASUS Zenbook UX31. It's really sexy, very robust, and it's an Ultrabook. Just in case you haven’t caught up on reading our Ultrabook guide, we pit the reference recommendations against the ASUS counterpart - Ultrabooks should ideally measure under 20mm in thickness (UX31 is 17mm), weigh under 1.5kg (UX31 is 1.3kg) and they're fast (instant resume with SSDs).
Single Review, online available, Long, Date: 01/17/2012
Rating: Total score: 85% price: 75% performance: 80% mobility: 85%
Source: Tech2.in.com

The Zenbook UX31 is priced at Rs. 89,999 (MRP). For those on-the-go; a powerful battery coupled with portability is always a brilliant feature to have in your laptop and the Zenbook does exactly that. However, the biggest drawback the UX31 has is the glitchy keyboard and trackpad. If you’re paying big bucks for a notebook, you’d pretty much get at least a decent keyboard. In comparison to the Lenovo U300s, this one definitely has better looks and performance. But, simply for the want of a better keyboard and trackpad, we would recommend the U300s over the Zenbook UX31.
Single Review, online available, Medium, Date: 12/23/2011
Rating: Total score: 65%
Source: Hexus

As a rule of thumb, a manufacturer's first attempt at a new product is usually its worst, and in knowing that we've been left pleasantly surprised by the Zenbook UX31. The Ultrabook should still be rough around the edges, but ASUS has developed a machine that's gorgeously designed, well-put together and, generally, excellent in use.
Single Review, online available, Long, Date: 11/25/2011
Rating: Total score: 80%
Source: Computerbild - 9/12

Comparison, , Medium, Date: 04/01/2012
Rating: Total score: 84%
Source: PC Go - 2/12

Single Review, , Very Short, Date: 01/01/2012
Rating: Total score: 85%
Source: Notebookjournal
DE→ENSingle Review, online available, Long, Date: 12/12/2011
Rating: performance: 90% features: 30% display: 70% mobility: 50% workmanship: 70% ergonomy: 50%
Source: ZDNet
DE→ENComparison, online available, Long, Date: 12/06/2011
Source: 3DNews.ru
RU→ENPositive: design, resolution, speakers
Single Review, online available, Medium, Date: 11/08/2011
Source: Hi-Tech Mail
RU→ENstrong CPU, weak GPU, small, good battery runtime, recommended for purchase
Single Review, online available, Medium, Date: 11/02/2011
Source: Notebook.cz
CZ→ENPositive: SSD, workmanship, design, mobility; negative: no keyboard-backlit
Single Review, online available, Medium, Date: 12/08/2011
Source: Dinside
NO→ENSingle Review, online available, Short, Date: 10/27/2011
Rating: Total score: 83%
Source: Laptopworld.dk
DA→ENSingle Review, online available, Short, Date: 12/05/2011
Rating: Total score: 60%
Asus Zenbook UX31E-DH72
Notebook Specifications
Notebook: Asus Zenbook UX31E-DH72Processor: Intel Core i7 2677M
Graphics Adapter: Intel HD Graphics 3000
Display: 13.3 inch, 16:9, 1600x900 pixels
Weight: 1.3kg
Price: 1200 euro
Links: Asus homepage Asus notebook section
Average Score:
Average of 5 scores (from 8 reviews)
Source: T Break

Ultimately the ASUS Zenbook is a tough sell in this market. The competition from Apple’s side is very tough, despite the higher price tag, as many people will see value added (and brand name) with the MacBook Air. Meanwhile those who don’t want to shell out AED 6k on a slim laptop have a much cheaper, and still respectably fast, alternative with the Toshiba Portege Z830.
Single Review, online available, Long, Date: 01/30/2012
Rating: Total score: 70%
Source: AnandTech

We’ve now looked at three 13.3” ultrabooks, plus the MacBook Air 11 and 13, and the ASUS UX21E. I’ve also had some hands on time at a local store with a Samsung Series 9, so that covers much of the ultrabook market right now. Unfortunately, I haven’t had a chance to see any of the Lenovo IdeaPad U300/U400 offerings or any other ultrabooks in person (yet), so I’ll have to leave them out of consideration.
Comparison, online available, Long, Date: 12/21/2011
Source: Digital Versus

In contrast to the S3, here the casing hasn’t been designed to create the impression of being in aluminium. At last, a serious competitor to the Apple MacBook Air 13.3-inch! While Asus still has a few things to perfect (battery life, audio and screen quality) to put itself on an equal footing with its competitor, the UX31E ultrabook is more powerful, has better cooling and, best of all, costs less.
Single Review, online available, Medium, Date: 11/30/2011
Rating: Total score: 80%
Source: notebookforums.com

Despite the price we liked it a lot. The apps look and run great, Windows 7 boots very fast and shuts down quickly, basic graphic tasks are being handled very well by the Intel HD 3000 chip and the fact that the laptop weighs next to nothing and is incredibly thin makes it worth the higher price tag. It’s main rival is the 13.3″ Macbook Pro which oddly enough starts at “just” 1299$ but we reccomend reading the whole review and decide for yourself whether the ZENBOOK is worth your bucks.
Single Review, online available, Very Short, Date: 11/21/2011
Rating: Total score: 80% performance: 100% features: 90% display: 100% ergonomy: 100%
Source: HardwareLuxx
DE→ENPositiv: workmanship, case, weight, keyboward, SSD, display; negative: display with low contrast
Single Review, online available, Long, Date: 12/15/2011
Source: Komputer for alle
DA→ENSingle Review, online available, Very Short, Date: 01/23/2012
Rating: Total score: 80%
Source: Notegear
KO→ENSingle Review, online available, Very Long, Date: 12/28/2011
Rating: Total score: 92%
Source: Notegear
KO→ENSingle Review, online available, Very Long, Date: 12/20/2011
Asus Zenbook UX31-RSL8
Notebook Specifications
Notebook: Asus Zenbook UX31-RSL8Processor: Intel Core i5 2467M
Graphics Adapter: Intel HD Graphics (Sandy Bridge)
Display: 13.3 inch, 16:9, 1366x768 pixels
Weight: 1.3kg
Price: 1100 euro
Links: Asus homepage Asus notebook section
Average Score:
Average of 1 scores (from 1 reviews)
Source: PC Mag

The Asus Zenbook UX31-RSL8 tops the spiritual progenitors of the ultrabook category, the Apple MacBook Air 13-inch and the Samsung Series 9. While it may not be as affordable as the Acer Aspire S3 or the Protégé Z835-P330, it more than makes up for it in superior construction, a fuller feature set, and stronger performance. With models on the horizon, it may face some stiff competition soon, but for the time being, the Zenbook UX31-RSL8 is our Editors' Choice and the ultrabook to beat.
Single Review, online available, Very Short, Date: 11/23/2011
Rating: Total score: 80%
Asus UX21E-KX004X
Notebook Specifications
Notebook: Asus UX21E-KX004XProcessor: Intel Core i5 2537M
Graphics Adapter: Intel HD Graphics 3000
Display: 11.6 inch, 16:9, 1366x768 pixels
Weight: 1.1kg
Price: 1000 euro
Links: Asus homepage Asus notebook section
Source: c't - 3/12

battery runtime very good, office performance good, 3D gaming performance bad, display satisfying, noise emissions bad
Comparison, , Long, Date: 02/01/2012
Asus UX21E-KX008V
Notebook Specifications
Notebook: Asus UX21E-KX008VProcessor: Intel Core i7 2677M
Graphics Adapter: Intel HD Graphics 3000
Display: 11.6 inch, 16:9, 1366x768 pixels
Weight: 1.1kg
Price: 1200 euro
Links: Asus homepage Asus notebook section
Average Score:
Average of 2 scores (from 5 reviews)
Source: PCM
NL→ENSingle Review, online available, Short, Date: 11/25/2011
Rating: Total score: 80%
Source: NotebookTV.hu
HU→ENSingle Review, online available, Medium, Date: 12/13/2011
Rating: Total score: 90%
Source: enet.com.cn
zh-CN→ENSingle Review, online available, Long, Date: 11/29/2011
Source: Itsvet
HR→ENPositive: Design, Sandy Bridge configuration, display, performance
Single Review, online available, Short, Date: 12/08/2011
Source: Notegear
KO→ENSingle Review, online available, Very Long, Date: 01/27/2012
Asus UX31E-RY009V
Notebook Specifications
Notebook: Asus UX31E-RY009VProcessor: Intel Core i5 2557M
Graphics Adapter: Intel HD Graphics 3000
Display: 13.3 inch, 16:9, 1600x900 pixels
Weight: 1.4kg
Price: 1000 euro
Links: Asus homepage Asus notebook section
Average Score:
Average of 4 scores (from 6 reviews)
Source: Geek.com

The i5 version of the UX31, which was tested for this review is available for just under $1,000 which makes it on-par with the rest of the Ultrabook realm. When compared to the 13″ Macbook Air, the Zenbook is $300 cheaper, but given the lack of backlit keys, lower quality microphone and touchpad, and the core i5 processor over the Air’s core i7, the decrease in price is matched by the decrease in quality.
Single Review, online available, Medium, Date: 03/23/2012
Source: APC Mag

One of the Intel requirements for Ultrabooks is anti-theft hardware. Used in combination with anti-theft software provided by companies such as McAfee, this hardware communicates with an Intel security server and is able to shut down and remotely lock the notebook if it's stolen. But while anti-theft technology is part of the Ultrabook spec, it's a premium service that's purchased through the notebook retailer, not Intel or ASUS.
Single Review, online available, Short, Date: 03/03/2012
Rating: Total score: 90%
Source: Chip.de - 2/12

Comparison, , Medium, Date: 01/01/2012
Rating: Total score: 75% performance: 73% features: 62% display: 100% mobility: 75% ergonomy: 80%
Source: Connect - 1/12

Single Review, , Medium, Date: 12/01/2011
Rating: Total score: 100% features: 100% ergonomy: 100%
Source: c't - 3/12

Battery runtime very good, office performance good, 3D-gaming performance bad, display satisfying, noise emissions satisfying
Comparison, , Long, Date: 02/01/2012
Source: Erenumerique
FR→ENSingle Review, online available, Medium, Date: 12/15/2011
Rating: Total score: 90%
Asus UX31E-RY010V
Notebook Specifications
Notebook: Asus UX31E-RY010VProcessor: Intel Core i7 2677M
Graphics Adapter: Intel HD Graphics 3000
Display: 13.0 inch, 16:9, 1600x900 pixels
Weight: 1.3kg
Price: 1300 euro
Links: Asus homepage Asus notebook section
Average Score:
Average of 2 scores (from 4 reviews)
Source: PC Games Hardware - 1/12

Comparison, , Length Unknown, Date: 01/01/2012
Rating: Total score: 96%
Source: Business & IT - 1/12

Comparison, , Length Unknown, Date: 01/01/2012
Rating: features: 100% ergonomy: 100%
Source: Chip.de - 1/12

Single Review, , Very Short, Date: 01/01/2012
Rating: Total score: 76% performance: 86% features: 63% display: 98% mobility: 72% ergonomy: 80%
Source: PC Masters
DE→ENgood display, keyboard, SSD and workmanship; mediocre battery runtime, bad touchpad, gets hot, few USB
Single Review, online available, Long, Date: 03/24/2012
Asus UX21E-KX002V
Notebook Specifications
Notebook: Asus UX21E-KX002VProcessor: Intel Core i5 2467M
Graphics Adapter: Intel HD Graphics 3000
Display: 11.6 inch, 16:9, 1366x768 pixels
Weight: 1.1kg
Price: 800 euro
Links: Asus homepage Asus notebook section
Average Score:
Average of 2 scores (from 2 reviews)
Source: PC Advisor

We’re inclined to affirm that we do believe in love at first sight. But since that initial look was of the laptop that launched this copy, our heart does stay with the MacBook Air. Make no mistake though, the Asus UX21E Zenbook is the best copy of any Apple portable we’ve seen to date, with fantastic all-metal build and signs of the kind of attention to detail that’s rarely seen outside the Mac maker’s design labs.
Single Review, online available, Very Short, Date: 01/23/2012
Rating: Total score: 80% price: 80% performance: 80% features: 70% ergonomy: 80%
Source: Erenumerique
FR→ENSingle Review, online available, Medium, Date: 11/25/2011
Rating: Total score: 90%
Asus Zenbook UX21E-DH52
Notebook Specifications
Notebook: Asus Zenbook UX21E-DH52Processor: Intel Core i5 2467M
Graphics Adapter: Intel HD Graphics 3000
Display: 11.6 inch, 16:9, 1366x768 pixels
Weight: 1.2kg
Price: 1000 euro
Links: Asus homepage Asus notebook section
Average Score:
Average of 2 scores (from 2 reviews)
Source: Techreview Source

It's hard to imagine a lighter, more elegant, closer-to-desktop-performance package than the Asus Zenbook UX21E-DH52. On the other hand, it's easy to imagine a better value proposition, particularly with both the Toshiba Z835-P330 and HP Folio 13 offering more spacious 13.3-inch screens; more comfortable, backlit keyboards; and lower prices with virtually equal portability (okay, you might notice the HP Folio 13's additional pound in your briefcase, but you'll never notice the Toshiba's additional four ounces). The Asus UX31-RSL8, too, gives you a lot more than the UX21E-DH52 for only $50 extra. For now, consider the UX21E-DH52 as a status symbol—about as small and as stylish as laptops get.
Single Review, online available, Very Short, Date: 02/08/2012
Rating: Total score: 70%
Source: V3.co.uk

The UX21E offers great performance at a reasonable price point of £850, with accessories included. However, it is still difficult to recommend the device to traveling business users based on the limited battery life and very poor trackpad. Business users who are considering investing in an ultrabook should be advised that the Zenbook also ships without enterprise friendly features including Intel's Core vPro technology, a Trusted Platform Module chip and fingerprint scanner. All are included in the Toshiba Portégé Z830 ultrabook together with Windows 7 Professional as standard. The Portégé is better suited to the needs of business users even though it is £300 pricier at £1,155.
Single Review, online available, Medium, Date: 02/02/2012
Rating: Total score: 60%
Comment
Asus: ASUSTeK Computer Incorporated, a Taiwanese multinational company, produces motherboards, graphics cards, optical drives, PDAs, computer monitors, notebook computers, servers, networking products, mobile phones, computer cases, computer components, and computer cooling systems. The company's 2007 revenues reached US$6.9 billion. ASUS also produces components for other manufacturers. The Eee PC initiated the netbook boom in 2008.
NVIDIA GeForce G 105M: Higher clocked 9300M GS and therefore a bit faster. Still manufactured in 65nm. Supports Hybrid-SLI with HybridPower and GeForceBoost (in conjunction with the right Nvidia chipset).
Intel HD Graphics 3000: 3 upcoming (Q1 2011) integrated graphics card in the Intel Sandy Bridge processors (Core ix-2xxx). The 3000 / 200 is the faster internally GT2 called version with 12 Execution Units (EUs).
Intel HD Graphics (Sandy Bridge): Processor graphics card which is integrated in the Sandy Bridge Pentium and Celeron processors. Similar to the desktop HD Graphics 2000 and not related to the old Arrandale processor graphics with the same name.
» Further information can be found in our Comparison of Mobile Graphics Cards and the corresponding Benchmark List.
Intel Core 2 Solo:
SU3500: Power efficient single core processor for small subnotebooks that is based on the Penryn core and includes all features (like Virtualization, C6 state, ...). The performance should be comparable with a 1.7 GHz Athlon II Neo K125.
Intel Core i7: The Intel Core i7 for laptops is based on the LG1156 Core i5/i7 CPU for desktops. The base clock speed of the CPUs is relatively low, but because of a huge Turbo mode, the cores can dynamically overclock to up to 3.2 GHz (920XM). Therefore, the CPU can be as fast as high clocked dual-core CPUs (using single threaded applications) but still offer the advantage of 4 cores. Because of the large TDP of 45 W / 55 W, the CPU is only intended for large laptops.
2677M: Power saving ULV processor clocked at 1.8-2.9 GHz due to Turbo Boost. Offers an integrated HD 3000 clocked at slow 350 / 1200 MHz and a DDR3-1333 memory controller.
Intel Core i5:
2557M: Power saving ULV processor clocked at 1.7-2.7 GHz due to Turbo Boost. Offers an integrated HD 3000 clocked at slow 350 / 1200 MHz and a DDR3-1333 memory controller.
2467M: Power saving ULV processor clocked at 1.6-2.3 GHz due to Turbo boost. Offers an integrated HD 3000 clocked at slow 350 / 1150 MHz and a DDR3-1333 memory controller.
2537M: Power saving ULV processor clocked at 1.4-2.3 GHz due to Turbo boost. Offers an integrated HD 3000 clocked at slow 350 / 900 MHz and a DDR3-1333 memory controller.
13.0: This is a common display format for subnotebooks. Netbooks, UMPC and some subnotebooks have tinier displays. Nevertheless, the majority of standard laptops has a higher format. The advantage of a small display is, that the subnotebook can be small dimensioned and can be carried easily. Further the small display needs few energy, which improves the battery runtime and in consequence the mobility. The disadvantage is that the reading of texts is a bit exhausting for the eyes, especially with high resolutions.
13.3: This is a common display format for subnotebooks. Netbooks, UMPC and some subnotebooks have tinier displays. Nevertheless, the majority of standard laptops has a higher format. The advantage of a small display is, that the subnotebook can be small dimensioned and can be carried easily. Further the small display needs few energy, which improves the battery runtime and in consequence the mobility. The disadvantage is that the reading of texts is a bit exhausting for the eyes, especially with high resolutions.
15.6: 15 inch display-variants are the standard and are used for more than the half of all notebooks. 15.4 inch display with 16:10 are the standard for notebook displays. However nowadays, more and more 16:9 displays with 15.6 inch appear. The reason why so many people like displays with medium size is, that this size is not exhausting for the eyes, does not need too much energy and the laptops can be kept quite compact.
» To find out how fine a display is, see our DPI List.
1.1 kg:
This subnotebook is one of the most lightweight of all notebooks and can be carried very easily. There exist hardly any models in this extreme class of weight. 7-9 inch displays are normal for this class of weight.
2.6 kg:
This notebook is lighter than the average of all notebooks. It is too heavy for sub-notebooks. 14 inch displays are normal for this class of weight.
80.1%: This rating is to be considered as average, because the amount of notebooks with better ratings is about equal like the amount with worse ratings.
» Further information can be found in our Notebook Purchase Guide.



























































































