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Asus UX21

Specifications

Asus UX21
Asus UX21 (UX Series)
Processor
Intel Core i7-2677M 2 x 1.8 - 2.9 GHz (Intel Core i7)
Graphics adapter
Memory
4 GB 
Display
11.60 inch 16:9, 1366 x 768 pixel, P116NWR1 R2, glossy: yes
Mainboard
Intel QS67 Express Chipset
Storage
ADATA XM11, 128 GB 
, 128GB 6Gb/s
Soundcard
Realtek ALC269
Connections
1 USB 2.0, 1 USB 3.0 / 3.1 Gen1, 1 VGA, 1 HDMI, Audio Connections: line out
Networking
ASIX AX88772B USB2.0 to Fast Ethernet (10/100MBit/s), Atheros AR9485WB-EG Wireless Network Adapter (b/g/n = Wi-Fi 4/), Bluetooth 4.0+HS Atheros AR3012
Size
height x width x depth (in mm): 17 x 299 x 196 ( = 0.67 x 11.77 x 7.72 in)
Battery
35 Wh Lithium-Polymer, 6 cell, built-in
Operating System
Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium 64 Bit
Camera
Webcam: 0.3MP
Additional features
leather slim case, Ethernet dongle USB 2.0, VGA dongle D-Sub, 24 Months Warranty
Weight
1.147 kg ( = 40.46 oz / 2.53 pounds), Power Supply: 179 g ( = 6.31 oz / 0.39 pounds)
Price
1100 Euro

 

Pricecompare

Average Score: 91.5% - very good
Average of 6 scores (from 15 reviews)
price: - %, performance: 80%, features: 60%, display: 74% mobility: 89%, workmanship: 97%, ergonomy: 91%, emissions: 82%

Reviews for the Asus UX21

86% Review Asus Zenbook UX21E Ultrabook | Notebookcheck
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.
Asus Zenbook UX21 Ultrabook, The New Thin
Source: Hot Hardware English Archive.org version
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
ASUS Zenbook (UX21) Review
Source: AnandTech English Archive.org version
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
90% Asus Zenbook UX21 review
Source: CNet English Archive.org version
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%
Asus Zenbook review: First Look
Source: It Pro English Archive.org version
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
100% Asus ZenBook UX21 and UX31 hands-on first look review
Source: IT Reviews English Archive.org version
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%
Asus Zenbook UX21 and UX31 Ultrabook pictures and hands-on
Source: Pocket Lint English Archive.org version
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
Asus UX21 first look
Source: Trusted Reviews English Archive.org version
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

Foreign Reviews

87% ASUS Zenbook UX21E-KX008V
Source: Notebookinfo German DE→EN Archive.org version
Single Review, online available, Medium, Date: 11/03/2011
Rating: Total score: 87% performance: 80% display: 95% mobility: 85% ergonomy: 95% emissions: 78%
86% Test Asus Zenbook UX21E Ultrabook
Source: Notebookcheck German DE→EN Archive.org version
Single Review, online available, Long, Date: 11/01/2011
Rating: Total score: 86% performance: 80% display: 60% mobility: 91% workmanship: 97% ergonomy: 89% emissions: 83%
Verdünnisiert
Source: c't - 25/11 German
light, considerable fan noise, bright screen
Comparison, , Long, Date: 11/01/2011
ASUS ZenBook UX21
Source: HardwareLuxx German DE→EN Archive.org version
Positive: weight, workmanship, performance, fast SSD, bright display; negative: weak contrast and colours of display
Single Review, online available, Long, Date: 10/26/2011
Стальной первопроходец ASUS Ultrabook UX 21/31: первый взгляд на ультрабук
Source: Zoom RU→EN Archive.org version
Single Review, online available, Medium, Date: 10/13/2011
100% ASUS Zenbook UX21 ultrabook teszt
Source: Geeks.hu HU→EN Archive.org version
Single Review, online available, Medium, Date: 01/23/2012
Rating: Total score: 100%
ASUS ZENBOOK UX21(UX21E-KX128)の実機レビュー
Source: The Hikaku JA→EN Archive.org version
Single Review, online available, Medium, Date: 11/05/2011
인텔 i7 프로세서로 무장한 11인치 울트라북 - 아수스 젠북 UX21 (성능편)
Source: Notegear KO→EN Archive.org version
Single Review, online available, Very Long, Date: 02/04/2012

Comment

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.

Intel HD Graphics 3000: Integrated graphics card in the Intel Sandy Bridge processors (Core ix-2xxx). The HD 3000 is the faster (internally GT2 called) version with 12 Execution Units (EUs).

Only some 3D games with very low demands are playable with these cards.

» Further information can be found in our Comparison of Mobile Graphics Cards and the corresponding Benchmark List.


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.» Further information can be found in our Comparison of Mobile Processsors.


11.60":

This is a standard display format for tablet computers or small convertibles. You see more on the screen than on a smartphone but you can't use big resolutions well. On the other hand, mobility is not a problem.

» To find out how fine a display is, see our DPI List.


Asus: ASUSTeK Computer Inc. is a major Taiwanese computer hardware manufacturer based in Taipei, founded in 1989. Under the Asus brand name, the company manufactures a wide range of products, including laptops, desktops, motherboards, graphics cards, monitors, smartphones and networking equipment, complete systems and PC components for end users.

Under the ROG (Republic of Gamers) brand name, ASUS manufactures gaming laptops known by gamers for their powerful specifications, dedicated graphics cards, high refresh rate displays and advanced cooling systems.

Beyond gaming, a wide range of notebooks are offered for different needs and budgets, from ultra-slim and lightweight ultrabooks to versatile 2-in-1 convertibles and budget-friendly options. In 2023, Asus had a 7% global market share of the PC market.

Customer satisfaction with ASUS notebooks concerns performance, the features, and the good price-performance ratio of ASUS notebooks. However, as with any brand, there are occasional reports of problems such as overheating, driver compatibility, or build quality issues.


91.5%: There are not very many models that are rated better. Most of the assessments are in percentage ranges below that. The tested product is not considered perfect, but the sources give a clear purchase recommendation.


» Further information can be found in our Notebook Purchase Guide.

 

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Devices with the same GPU

Lenovo IdeaPad S300-59359324
HD Graphics 3000, Celeron 887, 13.30", 1.8 kg
Samsung 900X3D-A01US
HD Graphics 3000, Core i5 2537M, 13.30", 1.1 kg
Samsung 530U3B-A02US
HD Graphics 3000, Core i5 2467M, 13.30", 1.5 kg
Acer Aspire S3-391-6046
HD Graphics 3000, Core i3 2367M, 13.30", 1.4 kg
Samsung 530U3B-A01RS
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Lenovo IdeaPad U310-59-348996
HD Graphics 3000, Core i3 2377M, 13.30", 1.7 kg
HP Envy 6t-1000
HD Graphics 3000, Core i5 2467M, 15.60", 2.1 kg
Toshiba Satellite L830-10G
HD Graphics 3000, Core i3 2367M, 13.30", 1.9 kg
Samsung 530U3B-A01NL
HD Graphics 3000, Core i5 2467M, 13.30", 1.4 kg
Sony Vaio SVS1311E3E
HD Graphics 3000, Core i3 2350M, 13.30", 1.7 kg
Asus UX32A-R3001V
HD Graphics 3000, Core i3 2367M, 13.30", 1.5 kg
Asus UX32A-DB31
HD Graphics 3000, Core i3 2367M, 13.30", 1.5 kg
Fujitsu LifeBook UH55
HD Graphics 3000, Core i3 2367M, 13.30", 1.6 kg
Current Prices
Stefan Hinum, 2011-09-29 (Update: 2012-05-26)