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Asus ZenBook UX310UQ (7500U, 940MX, Full HD) Notebook Review

A classy companion! In December of last year, we subjected this laptop's predecessor, the Skylake-based ZenBook, to our extensive series of tests. Now it is the Kaby Lake model's turn to come under our scrutiny. This review reveals how well Asus has harnessed the extra performance power supplied by Intel's new CPU. How much of a performance boost does the Kaby Lake processor provide, precisely?

For the original German review, see here.

Compact computers are very popular, and thanks to recent technological advances, they no longer have to be sheepish about their performance power. We wrote an exhaustive review of this device's predecessor, the Asus ZenBook UX310UQ-GL011T, at the end of last year. Now the successor's time has come.

Our test device carries an additional "FC396T" in its name, which indicates that the computer is equipped with an Intel Core i7-7500U with 16 GB of DDR RAM and 512 GB of flash storage. The elegant case is also home to a dedicated GPU (Nvidia GeForce 940MX) and a 1 TB conventional hard drive.

The computer's appearance has not changed - its case and input devices are identical to those of the Asus ZenBook UX310UQ-GL011T. All the novelty is tucked away inside. Our test device is also available in alternative configurations. The smallest CPU on Asus's list is the Intel Core i3-7100U. This ZenBook series also includes models with or without a dedicated GPU. The devices that lack an Nvidia GeForce 940MX have to render visual output with nothing more than the CPU's built-in Intel HD Graphics 620. In terms of displays, Asus is offering the consumer a choice between two models. One is the FHD panel built into our test device; the other is a display with a QHD+ resolution (3200x1800 pixels).

As of the publication of this article, our test device is on the market for 1299 Euros (~$1375). In this review, we will compare the ZenBook to other subnotebooks with price tags between 1000 and 1300 Euros (~$1050-1375). This of course includes the laptop's immediate predecessor, which serves as a measuring stick for the new CPU's performance boost. The lineup also encompasses another model that is structurally identical, but lacks a dedicated graphics card - the Asus ZenBook UX310UA-FC347T.

Here we have compiled a table of the devices that will serve as references throughout our review.

Asus ZenBook UX310UQ-GL011T Asus ZenBook UX310UA-FC347T iGP Asus ZenBook UX3410UA Acer Swift 7 SF713-51 Dell XPS 13 9360 FHD i5
CPU Intel Core i7-6500U Intel Core i7-7500U Intel Core i7-7500U Intel Core i5-7Y54 Intel Core i5-7200U
GPU Nvidia GeForce 940MX Intel HD Graphics 620 Intel HD Graphics 620 Intel HD Graphics 615 Intel HD Graphics 620
RAM 16 GB DDR4-2133 16 GB DDR4-2133 16 GB DDR4-2133 8 GB DDR3-1866 8 GB DDR3-1866
Preis 1.199 Euro 999 Euro 1.199 Euro 1.299 Euro 1.050 USD
Asus UX310UQ-FC396T (ZenBook UX310 Series)
Processor
Intel Core i7-7500U 2 x 2.7 - 3.5 GHz, Kaby Lake
Graphics adapter
NVIDIA GeForce 940MX - 2048 MB VRAM, Core: 1242 MHz, Memory: 900 MHz, DDR3 (Micron), ForceWare 378.49, Nvidia Optimus, Intel HD Graphics 620
Memory
16 GB 
, 8 GB soldered, 1 memory bank occupied, DDR4 2133, Samsung
Display
13.30 inch 16:9, 1920 x 1080 pixel 166 PPI, AU Optronics AUO272D, IPS, LED, glossy: no
Mainboard
Intel Kaby Lake-U Premium PCH
Storage
SanDisk SD8SN8U512G1002, 512 GB 
, + Seagate, 1000 ST1000LM035-1RK172 1000 GB HDD @ 5400 rpm, 1352 GB free
Soundcard
Conexant SmartAudio HD
Connections
2 USB 2.0, 1 USB 3.0 / 3.1 Gen1, 1 USB 3.1 Gen2, 1 HDMI, Audio Connections: Audio in/out combined, 3.5 mm jack, Card Reader: SD/SDHC/SDXC, Brightness Sensor
Networking
Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 8260 (a/b/g/n = Wi-Fi 4/ac = Wi-Fi 5/), Bluetooth 4.1
Size
height x width x depth (in mm): 18.35 x 323 x 223 ( = 0.72 x 12.72 x 8.78 in)
Battery
48 Wh, 4211 mAh Lithium-Ion
Operating System
Microsoft Windows 10 Home 64 Bit
Camera
Webcam: HD 720p
Additional features
Speakers: Stereo (below), Keyboard: Chiclet, Keyboard Light: yes, Asus bag, Power supply, 24 Months Warranty
Weight
1.454 kg ( = 51.29 oz / 3.21 pounds), Power Supply: 220 g ( = 7.76 oz / 0.49 pounds)
Price
1299 EUR
Note: The manufacturer may use components from different suppliers including display panels, drives or memory sticks with similar specifications.

 

Size Comparison

323 mm / 12.7 inch 223 mm / 8.78 inch 18.95 mm / 0.746 inch 1.3 kg2.94 lbs323 mm / 12.7 inch 223 mm / 8.78 inch 18.35 mm / 0.722 inch 1.5 kg3.21 lbs323 mm / 12.7 inch 223 mm / 8.78 inch 18.35 mm / 0.722 inch 1.5 kg3.23 lbs323 mm / 12.7 inch 223 mm / 8.78 inch 18.35 mm / 0.722 inch 1.4 kg2.98 lbs324.6 mm / 12.8 inch 229.6 mm / 9.04 inch 9.98 mm / 0.3929 inch 1.1 kg2.43 lbs304 mm / 12 inch 201 mm / 7.91 inch 15 mm / 0.591 inch 1.2 kg2.71 lbs297 mm / 11.7 inch 210 mm / 8.27 inch 1 mm / 0.03937 inch 5.7 g0.01257 lbs
SD Card Reader
average JPG Copy Test (av. of 3 runs)
Dell XPS 13 9360 FHD i5
 
107.8 MB/s +227%
Asus Zenbook UX310UQ-GL011T
 
34 MB/s +3%
Asus UX310UQ-FC396T
 
33 MB/s
Asus Zenbook UX3410UA
 
32.9 MB/s 0%
Asus Zenbook UX310UA-FC347T iGP
 
32 MB/s -3%
maximum AS SSD Seq Read Test (1GB)
Dell XPS 13 9360 FHD i5
 
250.6 MB/s +553%
Asus Zenbook UX310UQ-GL011T
 
39.7 MB/s +3%
Asus Zenbook UX3410UA
 
38.49 MB/s 0%
Asus UX310UQ-FC396T
 
38.4 MB/s
Asus Zenbook UX310UA-FC347T iGP
 
38.3 MB/s 0%

Communication

Wi-Fi: 801.11 ac + Bluetooth
Wi-Fi: 801.11 ac + Bluetooth

An Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 8260 module takes care of communication with the external world. This module also features the ability to connect with other devices via Bluetooth (4.1). The WLAN connection's theoretical gross data transfer rate for 2x 801.11 ac is 867 MBit/s. We recorded the Asus ZenBook UX310UQ's send speed at 662 MBit/s, and it received data at a good 512 MBit/s. Transferring large amounts of data should not be a problem at fast speeds like these. The computer did not behave abnormally at any point in our test. Establishing a wired network connection is only possible with a USB adapter. We tested an adapter that communicated via the USB Type-C port and encountered no issues. With a wired connection, we were able to transfer data at up to 1000 MBit/s.

Networking
iperf3 transmit AX12
Asus Zenbook UX310UA-FC347T iGP
Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 8260 (jseb)
665 MBit/s 0%
Asus UX310UQ-FC396T
Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 8260 (jseb)
662 MBit/s
Dell XPS 13 9360 FHD i5
Killer Wireless-n/a/ac 1535 Wireless Network Adapter
575 MBit/s -13%
Asus Zenbook UX3410UA
Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 8260
469 MBit/s -29%
iperf3 receive AX12
Dell XPS 13 9360 FHD i5
Killer Wireless-n/a/ac 1535 Wireless Network Adapter
525 MBit/s +3%
Asus UX310UQ-FC396T
Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 8260 (jseb)
512 MBit/s
Asus Zenbook UX310UA-FC347T iGP
Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 8260 (jseb)
495 MBit/s -3%
Asus Zenbook UX3410UA
Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 8260
323 MBit/s -37%

Display

Subpixel structure
Subpixel structure
Minor backlight bleeding in the upper-left corner
Minor backlight bleeding in the upper-left corner

Asus has equipped their ZenBook UX310UQ-FC396T with a 13.3-inch IPS panel. Its native resolution is 1920x1080 pixels, resulting in a pixel density of 166 dpi. For those who want a screen with a higher resolution, another version of the ZenBook UX310UQ comes with a QHD+ display (3200x1800 pixels).

The FHD display of our test device is a product of AU Optronics and reaches a very good average brightness of 343 cd/m². The Asus ZenBook UX310UQ-GL011T's TN panel managed only 240 cd/m² here. The Acer Swift 7 and the Dell XPS 13 9360 also boast of displays that offer very good brightness values (344 and 325 cd/m², respectively). As is typical of IPS panels, the contrast ratio is commendably high (1293:1) and the black value commendably low (0.28 cd/m²). Together, these characteristics produce an image with bold, rich colors. Black truly appears black: there is no gray cast over the deep hue when the screen is viewed from a normal angle. The homogeneous brightness distribution (92%) prevents the panel from displaying bright flecks. With a totally black image, we were only able to observe minimal backlight bleeding in the upper-left corner of our test device's screen. Asus employs pulse width modulation (PWM) to regulate the display brightness.

341
cd/m²
353
cd/m²
337
cd/m²
338
cd/m²
362
cd/m²
332
cd/m²
334
cd/m²
352
cd/m²
338
cd/m²
Distribution of brightness
AU Optronics AUO272D tested with X-Rite i1Pro 2
Maximum: 362 cd/m² (Nits) Average: 343 cd/m² Minimum: 21.4 cd/m²
Brightness Distribution: 92 %
Center on Battery: 362 cd/m²
Contrast: 1293:1 (Black: 0.28 cd/m²)
ΔE Color 5.08 | 0.5-29.43 Ø5
ΔE Greyscale 6.21 | 0.57-98 Ø5.3
92% sRGB (Argyll 1.6.3 3D)
60% AdobeRGB 1998 (Argyll 1.6.3 3D)
65.3% AdobeRGB 1998 (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
92.2% sRGB (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
64.1% Display P3 (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
Gamma: 2.4
Asus UX310UQ-FC396T
AU Optronics AUO272D, 1920x1080, 13.30
Asus Zenbook UX310UQ-GL011T
AU Optronics AUO142D, 1920x1080, 13.30
Asus Zenbook UX310UA-FC347T iGP
AU Optronics AUO272D, 1920x1080, 13.30
Asus Zenbook UX3410UA
ChiMei N140HCE-EN1, 1920x1080, 14.00
Acer Swift 7 SF713-51
Chimei Innolux, N133HCE-GP1, 1920x1080, 13.30
Dell XPS 13 9360 FHD i5
Sharp SHP1449 LQ133M1, 1920x1080, 13.30
Display
-4%
-10%
6%
-1%
-22%
Display P3 Coverage
64.1
61.9
-3%
64.2
0%
67.7
6%
64.6
1%
48.94
-24%
sRGB Coverage
92.2
88.3
-4%
65.3
-29%
99.1
7%
89.1
-3%
73.3
-20%
AdobeRGB 1998 Coverage
65.3
63
-4%
65.3
0%
69.4
6%
64.8
-1%
50.5
-23%
Response Times
-38%
-10%
-34%
-15%
-32%
Response Time Grey 50% / Grey 80% *
31 ?(12, 19)
39 ?(20, 19)
-26%
40 ?(12, 28)
-29%
33 ?(14, 19)
-6%
31 ?(14, 17)
-0%
32.8 ?(16, 16.8)
-6%
Response Time Black / White *
21 ?(4, 17)
24 ?(7, 17)
-14%
22 ?(5, 17)
-5%
34 ?(15, 19)
-62%
27 ?(7, 20)
-29%
33.2 ?(10.8, 22.4)
-58%
PWM Frequency
192 ?(10)
50 ?(30)
-74%
200 ?(20)
4%
Screen
-16%
-1%
8%
4%
-3%
Brightness middle
362
247
-32%
358
-1%
376
4%
359
-1%
351.2
-3%
Brightness
343
240
-30%
347
1%
355
3%
344
0%
325
-5%
Brightness Distribution
92
90
-2%
87
-5%
87
-5%
92
0%
89
-3%
Black Level *
0.28
0.43
-54%
0.26
7%
0.32
-14%
0.25
11%
0.195
30%
Contrast
1293
574
-56%
1377
6%
1175
-9%
1436
11%
1801
39%
Colorchecker dE 2000 *
5.08
4.74
7%
5.22
-3%
3.2
37%
4.57
10%
7.4
-46%
Colorchecker dE 2000 max. *
8.95
9.14
-2%
9.19
-3%
7.1
21%
9.25
-3%
9.08
-1%
Greyscale dE 2000 *
6.21
4.87
22%
6.69
-8%
4.4
29%
5.2
16%
6.71
-8%
Gamma
2.4 92%
2.57 86%
2.35 94%
2.12 104%
2.47 89%
2.74 80%
CCT
6817 95%
7450 87%
6745 96%
7440 87%
6887 94%
7222 90%
Color Space (Percent of AdobeRGB 1998)
60
57
-5%
59
-2%
63.78
6%
58
-3%
50.48
-16%
Color Space (Percent of sRGB)
92
88
-4%
91
-1%
98.98
8%
89
-3%
73.31
-20%
Total Average (Program / Settings)
-19% / -18%
-7% / -4%
-7% / 2%
-4% / 0%
-19% / -11%

* ... smaller is better

92% sRGB coverage
92% sRGB coverage
60% AdobeRGB coverage
60% AdobeRGB coverage

Thanks to the computer's IPS panel, the display quality is good. The high contrast (1293:1) together with the low black value (0.28 cd/m²) produce rich colors. In factory default state, the DeltaE 2000 values (ColorChecker 5.08, grayscale 6.21) are significantly above the target range of less than 3. The IPS display also suffers from a slight blue cast. In such cases, calibrating the screen often improves matters. As usual, the ICC profile for this panel is available for download. The link is located directly above the preceding comparison chart.

The display's color space coverage is excellent. At 92% for sRGB and still a good 60% for the AdobeRGB color space, this panel is fully suited for semi-professional use.

Grayscale
Grayscale
Color accuracy
Color accuracy
Color saturation
Color saturation

The high brightness level works wonders in outdoor use. The matte screen surface prevents bothersome reflections and makes work in bright environments much easier. As the images below demonstrate, even in direct sunlight and from an oblique perspective, some of the screen content is still visible. In the shade, the Asus ZenBook UX310UQ-FC396T easily outshines the sun's rays. The panel's glow is even strong enough to display the screen content at a lower brightness setting, enabling the user to conserve battery life.

Display Response Times

Display response times show how fast the screen is able to change from one color to the next. Slow response times can lead to afterimages and can cause moving objects to appear blurry (ghosting). Gamers of fast-paced 3D titles should pay special attention to fast response times.
       Response Time Black to White
21 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined↗ 4 ms rise
↘ 17 ms fall
The screen shows good response rates in our tests, but may be too slow for competitive gamers.
In comparison, all tested devices range from 0.1 (minimum) to 240 (maximum) ms. » 40 % of all devices are better.
This means that the measured response time is similar to the average of all tested devices (21.6 ms).
       Response Time 50% Grey to 80% Grey
31 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined↗ 12 ms rise
↘ 19 ms fall
The screen shows slow response rates in our tests and will be unsatisfactory for gamers.
In comparison, all tested devices range from 0.2 (minimum) to 636 (maximum) ms. » 35 % of all devices are better.
This means that the measured response time is similar to the average of all tested devices (33.9 ms).

Screen Flickering / PWM (Pulse-Width Modulation)

To dim the screen, some notebooks will simply cycle the backlight on and off in rapid succession - a method called Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) . This cycling frequency should ideally be undetectable to the human eye. If said frequency is too low, users with sensitive eyes may experience strain or headaches or even notice the flickering altogether.
Screen flickering / PWM detected 192 Hz ≤ 10 % brightness setting

The display backlight flickers at 192 Hz (worst case, e.g., utilizing PWM) Flickering detected at a brightness setting of 10 % and below. There should be no flickering or PWM above this brightness setting.

The frequency of 192 Hz is relatively low, so sensitive users will likely notice flickering and experience eyestrain at the stated brightness setting and below.

In comparison: 53 % of all tested devices do not use PWM to dim the display. If PWM was detected, an average of 18110 (minimum: 5 - maximum: 3846000) Hz was measured.

When it comes to viewing angles, there is hardly anything to criticize. Our test image is easily visible from any position. Minor distortions appear in the four pictures in which the panel is simultaneously viewed from the side and tilted 45° backwards or forwards. In these cases, the colors are sapped of their otherwise rich saturation. In normal use however, users will not face any limitations here, as they will never view the screen from these angles.

Viewing angles: Asus ZenBook UX310UQ-FC396T
Viewing angles: Asus ZenBook UX310UQ-FC396T

Performance

Asus's ZenBooks are designed for mobile use. Even with its slender case, the Asus ZenBook UX310UQ-FC396T is fitted with a fast Intel Core i7-7500U processor and a generous 16 GB of RAM. This combination produces a fast system that runs office and multimedia applications at high speeds. With a total of 1.5 TB of storage space, the average user will not run out of room anytime soon. The 1.5 TB is the total storage of two separate drives: a 512 GB SSD and a 1 TB HDD.

Like its predecessor, the Asus ZenBook UX310UQ-GL011T, our test device has an Nvidia GeForce 940MX on board. Potential buyers should not expect too much of this graphics chip, however, as it is a mere entry-level model.

CPU-Z
CPU-Z
CPU-Z
CPU-Z
CPU-Z
CPU-Z
GPU-Z
GPU-Z
GPU-Z
GPU-Z
HWiNFO
DPC-Latenzen
Intel Extreme Tuning Utility

Processor

The Intel Core i7-7500U is soldered to the motherboard.
The Intel Core i7-7500U is soldered to the motherboard.

For the laptop's advertised uses, the Intel Core i7-7500U offers more than enough performance power. The processor is part of the current Kaby Lake series. The Asus ZenBook UX310UQ-GL011T was equipped with a Skylake model in the shape of the Intel Core i7-6500U - a processor that was also quite potent in its time.

The Intel Core i7-7500U is a dual-core processor that, thanks to Hyperthreading, is able to process 4 threads simultaneously. It has a TDP of 15 watts and a base clock frequency of 2.7 GHz. Depending on the CPU temperature and level of load, the clock rate can be increased to up to 3.5 GHz.

The Cinebench R15 benchmarks clearly demonstrate that the Kaby Lake processor's single-core performance has increased by about 10% compared to its Skylake predecessor. The performance advantage is a little lower in the Multithread benchmark.

Cinebench R10
Cinebench R10
Cinebench R11.5
Cinebench R11.5
Cinebench R15
Cinebench R15
Jetstream 1.1
Jetstream 1.1
Octane V2
Octane V2
Mozilla Kraken 1.1
Mozilla Kraken 1.1
Cinebench R15
CPU Single 64Bit
Asus Zenbook UX310UA-FC347T iGP
Intel Core i7-7500U, 2700 MHz
146 Points +1%
Asus UX310UQ-FC396T
Intel Core i7-7500U, 2700 MHz
145 Points
Asus Zenbook UX3410UA
Intel Core i7-7500U, 2700 MHz
142 Points -2%
Asus Zenbook UX310UQ-GL011T
Intel Core i7-6500U, 2500 MHz
130 Points -10%
Dell XPS 13 9360 FHD i5
Intel Core i5-7200U, 2500 MHz
124 Points -14%
Acer Swift 7 SF713-51
Intel Core i5-7Y54, 1200 MHz
111 Points -23%
CPU Multi 64Bit
Asus Zenbook UX3410UA
Intel Core i7-7500U, 2700 MHz
368 Points +10%
Asus Zenbook UX310UA-FC347T iGP
Intel Core i7-7500U, 2700 MHz
346 Points +3%
Asus UX310UQ-FC396T
Intel Core i7-7500U, 2700 MHz
336 Points
Asus Zenbook UX310UQ-GL011T
Intel Core i7-6500U, 2500 MHz
327 Points -3%
Dell XPS 13 9360 FHD i5
Intel Core i5-7200U, 2500 MHz
318 Points -5%
Acer Swift 7 SF713-51
Intel Core i5-7Y54, 1200 MHz
207 Points -38%
Cinebench R11.5
CPU Single 64Bit
Asus Zenbook UX310UA-FC347T iGP
Intel Core i7-7500U, 2700 MHz
1.66 Points +1%
Asus UX310UQ-FC396T
Intel Core i7-7500U, 2700 MHz
1.65 Points
Asus Zenbook UX310UQ-GL011T
Intel Core i7-6500U, 2500 MHz
1.48 Points -10%
Dell XPS 13 9360 FHD i5
Intel Core i5-7200U, 2500 MHz
1.45 Points -12%
Acer Swift 7 SF713-51
Intel Core i5-7Y54, 1200 MHz
1.27 Points -23%
CPU Multi 64Bit
Asus Zenbook UX310UA-FC347T iGP
Intel Core i7-7500U, 2700 MHz
3.8 Points +2%
Asus UX310UQ-FC396T
Intel Core i7-7500U, 2700 MHz
3.73 Points
Dell XPS 13 9360 FHD i5
Intel Core i5-7200U, 2500 MHz
3.61 Points -3%
Asus Zenbook UX310UQ-GL011T
Intel Core i7-6500U, 2500 MHz
3.15 Points -16%
Acer Swift 7 SF713-51
Intel Core i5-7Y54, 1200 MHz
2.32 Points -38%
Cinebench R10
Rendering Single CPUs 64Bit
Asus UX310UQ-FC396T
Intel Core i7-7500U, 2700 MHz
7305 Points
Asus Zenbook UX310UA-FC347T iGP
Intel Core i7-7500U, 2700 MHz
7274 Points 0%
Asus Zenbook UX310UQ-GL011T
Intel Core i7-6500U, 2500 MHz
6407 Points -12%
Acer Swift 7 SF713-51
Intel Core i5-7Y54, 1200 MHz
5545 Points -24%
Rendering Multiple CPUs 64Bit
Asus Zenbook UX310UA-FC347T iGP
Intel Core i7-7500U, 2700 MHz
15817 Points +1%
Asus UX310UQ-FC396T
Intel Core i7-7500U, 2700 MHz
15619 Points
Asus Zenbook UX310UQ-GL011T
Intel Core i7-6500U, 2500 MHz
14075 Points -10%
Acer Swift 7 SF713-51
Intel Core i5-7Y54, 1200 MHz
8756 Points -44%
JetStream 1.1 - Total Score
Asus UX310UQ-FC396T
Intel Core i7-7500U, 2700 MHz
240.3 Points
Asus Zenbook UX310UA-FC347T iGP
Intel Core i7-7500U, 2700 MHz
237.1 Points -1%
Asus Zenbook UX310UQ-GL011T
Intel Core i7-6500U, 2500 MHz
209 Points -13%
Asus Zenbook UX3410UA
Intel Core i7-7500U, 2700 MHz
206.6 Points -14%
Acer Swift 7 SF713-51
Intel Core i5-7Y54, 1200 MHz
184.5 Points -23%
Octane V2 - Total Score
Asus UX310UQ-FC396T
Intel Core i7-7500U, 2700 MHz
36353 Points
Asus Zenbook UX310UA-FC347T iGP
Intel Core i7-7500U, 2700 MHz
35740 Points -2%
Dell XPS 13 9360 FHD i5
Intel Core i5-7200U, 2500 MHz
31023 Points -15%
Asus Zenbook UX3410UA
Intel Core i7-7500U, 2700 MHz
29985 Points -18%
Asus Zenbook UX310UQ-GL011T
Intel Core i7-6500U, 2500 MHz
29762 Points -18%
Acer Swift 7 SF713-51
Intel Core i5-7Y54, 1200 MHz
25796 Points -29%
Mozilla Kraken 1.1 - Total
Acer Swift 7 SF713-51
Intel Core i5-7Y54, 1200 MHz
1309 ms * -24%
Asus Zenbook UX310UQ-GL011T
Intel Core i7-6500U, 2500 MHz
1196 ms * -14%
Asus Zenbook UX3410UA
Intel Core i7-7500U, 2700 MHz
1173 ms * -11%
Asus Zenbook UX310UA-FC347T iGP
Intel Core i7-7500U, 2700 MHz
1056 ms * -0%
Asus UX310UQ-FC396T
Intel Core i7-7500U, 2700 MHz
1053 ms *

* ... smaller is better

Cinebench R10 Shading 32Bit
4244
Cinebench R10 Rendering Multiple CPUs 32Bit
12098
Cinebench R10 Rendering Single 32Bit
5563
Cinebench R10 Shading 64Bit
4328 Points
Cinebench R10 Rendering Multiple CPUs 64Bit
15619 Points
Cinebench R10 Rendering Single CPUs 64Bit
7305 Points
Cinebench R11.5 CPU Single 64Bit
1.65 Points
Cinebench R11.5 CPU Multi 64Bit
3.73 Points
Cinebench R11.5 OpenGL 64Bit
48.84 fps
Cinebench R15 OpenGL 64Bit
65.7 fps
Cinebench R15 Ref. Match 64Bit
99.6 %
Cinebench R15 CPU Multi 64Bit
336 Points
Cinebench R15 CPU Single 64Bit
145 Points
Help

System Performance

Subjectively, the system's overall performance is more than satisfactory. The PCMark 8 benchmark results substantiate our experience. On average, the Asus ZenBook UX310UQ-FC396T scored about 7% better than its predecessor model (the Asus ZenBook UX310UQ-GL011T). With 16 GB of RAM, our test device also possesses enough reserves to easily process applications that consume significant chunks of system memory. Note: 8 GB of RAM are soldered to the laptop's motherboard, so the system memory can only be expanded by installing another module.

PCMark 8 Home
PCMark 8 Creative
PCMark 8 Work
PCMark 8 Storage
PCMark 7
PCMark Vantage
PCMark 8
Home Score Accelerated v2
Asus UX310UQ-FC396T
Intel Core i7-7500U, 2700 MHz, SanDisk SD8SN8U512G1002
4028 Points
Asus Zenbook UX310UA-FC347T iGP
Intel Core i7-7500U, 2700 MHz, Micron SSD 1100 (MTFDDAV256TBN)
3980 Points -1%
Asus Zenbook UX3410UA
Intel Core i7-7500U, 2700 MHz, SanDisk SD8SN8U512G1002
3965 Points -2%
Asus Zenbook UX310UQ-GL011T
Intel Core i7-6500U, 2500 MHz, SanDisk SD8SNAT256G1002
3769 Points -6%
Dell XPS 13 9360 FHD i5
Intel Core i5-7200U, 2500 MHz, Toshiba NVMe THNSN5256GPUK
3535 Points -12%
Acer Swift 7 SF713-51
Intel Core i5-7Y54, 1200 MHz, Kingston RBU-SNS4180S3256GG
3064 Points -24%
Work Score Accelerated v2
Asus Zenbook UX3410UA
Intel Core i7-7500U, 2700 MHz, SanDisk SD8SN8U512G1002
5033 Points +2%
Asus Zenbook UX310UA-FC347T iGP
Intel Core i7-7500U, 2700 MHz, Micron SSD 1100 (MTFDDAV256TBN)
4990 Points +1%
Asus UX310UQ-FC396T
Intel Core i7-7500U, 2700 MHz, SanDisk SD8SN8U512G1002
4947 Points
Asus Zenbook UX310UQ-GL011T
Intel Core i7-6500U, 2500 MHz, SanDisk SD8SNAT256G1002
4603 Points -7%
Dell XPS 13 9360 FHD i5
Intel Core i5-7200U, 2500 MHz, Toshiba NVMe THNSN5256GPUK
4568 Points -8%
Creative Score Accelerated v2
Asus Zenbook UX310UA-FC347T iGP
Intel Core i7-7500U, 2700 MHz, Micron SSD 1100 (MTFDDAV256TBN)
4931 Points +2%
Asus UX310UQ-FC396T
Intel Core i7-7500U, 2700 MHz, SanDisk SD8SN8U512G1002
4814 Points
Asus Zenbook UX310UQ-GL011T
Intel Core i7-6500U, 2500 MHz, SanDisk SD8SNAT256G1002
4440 Points -8%
Dell XPS 13 9360 FHD i5
Intel Core i5-7200U, 2500 MHz, Toshiba NVMe THNSN5256GPUK
4211 Points -13%
Acer Swift 7 SF713-51
Intel Core i5-7Y54, 1200 MHz, Kingston RBU-SNS4180S3256GG
3429 Points -29%
PCMark 7
Productivity
Asus UX310UQ-FC396T
Intel Core i7-7500U, 2700 MHz, SanDisk SD8SN8U512G1002
4866 Points
Asus Zenbook UX310UA-FC347T iGP
Intel Core i7-7500U, 2700 MHz, Micron SSD 1100 (MTFDDAV256TBN)
4844 Points 0%
Asus Zenbook UX310UQ-GL011T
Intel Core i7-6500U, 2500 MHz, SanDisk SD8SNAT256G1002
3933 Points -19%
Acer Swift 7 SF713-51
Intel Core i5-7Y54, 1200 MHz, Kingston RBU-SNS4180S3256GG
3499 Points -28%
Score
Asus Zenbook UX310UA-FC347T iGP
Intel Core i7-7500U, 2700 MHz, Micron SSD 1100 (MTFDDAV256TBN)
5857 Points +2%
Asus UX310UQ-FC396T
Intel Core i7-7500U, 2700 MHz, SanDisk SD8SN8U512G1002
5731 Points
Asus Zenbook UX310UQ-GL011T
Intel Core i7-6500U, 2500 MHz, SanDisk SD8SNAT256G1002
5305 Points -7%
Acer Swift 7 SF713-51
Intel Core i5-7Y54, 1200 MHz, Kingston RBU-SNS4180S3256GG
4857 Points -15%
PCMark Vantage Result
17448 points
PCMark 7 Score
5731 points
PCMark 8 Home Score Accelerated v2
4028 points
PCMark 8 Creative Score Accelerated v2
4814 points
PCMark 8 Work Score Accelerated v2
4947 points
Help

Storage Devices

The 1 TB conventional HDD offers plenty of room.
The 1 TB conventional HDD offers plenty of room.

Our test device's storage solution consists of an SSD and an HDD. A 512 GB M.2 SSD from SanDisk serves the operating system; plenty of room is available for other files on the 1 TB Seagate hard drive.

The SSD's performance is good: it reaches a read speed of 511 MB/s, and even its write speed hits 455 MB/s. According to the manufacturer's specifications, the SanDisk X400 can read and write sequentially at up to 540 MB/s and 520 MB/s, respectively. The 4K read speed (26 MB/s) is quite good. This indicates that the system can read large chunks of small files very quickly.

As previously mentioned, in addition to the SSD, our test device houses a conventional 2.5-inch hard drive. The Seagate HDD's disks spin at 5400 RPM. We used HD Tune to analyze the HDD's performance and recorded an average transfer rate of 109 MB/s - a normal result for a 5400 RPM hard drive.

The SSD in its slot.
The SSD in its slot.
The M.2 SSD offers 512 GB of storage space.
The M.2 SSD ...
The M.2 SSD offers 512 GB of storage space.
... offers 512 GB of storage space.
AS SSD
AS SSD
CrystalDiskMark (SSD)
CrystalDiskMark (SSD)
ATTO
ATTO
CrystalDiskInfo (SSD)
CrystalDiskInfo (SSD)
CrystalDiskMark (HDD)
CrystalDiskMark (HDD)
HD Tune
HD Tune
CrystalDiskInfo (HDD)
CrystalDiskInfo (HDD)
 
Asus UX310UQ-FC396T
SanDisk SD8SN8U512G1002
Asus Zenbook UX310UQ-GL011T
SanDisk SD8SNAT256G1002
Asus Zenbook UX310UA-FC347T iGP
Micron SSD 1100 (MTFDDAV256TBN)
Asus Zenbook UX3410UA
SanDisk SD8SN8U512G1002
Acer Swift 7 SF713-51
Kingston RBU-SNS4180S3256GG
Dell XPS 13 9360 FHD i5
Toshiba NVMe THNSN5256GPUK
CrystalDiskMark 3.0
-19%
1%
-0%
3%
69%
Read Seq
519
468.1
-10%
489.4
-6%
494.5
-5%
431.2
-17%
1233
138%
Write Seq
468
319.2
-32%
431.6
-8%
461.7
-1%
401
-14%
733
57%
Read 512
344.8
318.6
-8%
356.7
3%
328
-5%
283.7
-18%
1036
200%
Write 512
458
272.8
-40%
389.1
-15%
419.7
-8%
313.6
-32%
439.9
-4%
Read 4k
28.45
22.03
-23%
26.68
-6%
27.53
-3%
36.62
29%
29.31
3%
Write 4k
56.2
72.1
28%
88.7
58%
56.5
1%
76.1
35%
116.9
108%
Read 4k QD32
286
147.4
-48%
246.3
-14%
351
23%
329.4
15%
479.2
68%
Write 4k QD32
257.7
200.2
-22%
251.5
-2%
249.3
-3%
325.6
26%
218.3
-15%
SanDisk SD8SN8U512G1002
Transfer Rate Minimum: 62.8 MB/s
Transfer Rate Maximum: 141.8 MB/s
Transfer Rate Average: 109 MB/s
Access Time: 19.3 ms
Burst Rate: 114.4 MB/s
CPU Usage: 5.4 %

Graphics Card

The graphics chip is tucked away under the heat pipe.
The graphics chip is tucked away under the heat pipe.

The Nvidia GeForce 940MX graphics card installed in the computer gives it a moderate boost in gaming performance. However, the integrated graphics unit reduces the usefulness of the dedicated card. With the introduction of the Kaby Lake series, the integrated chip now carries the name Intel HD Graphics 620. Compared to the Intel HD Graphics 520, the new model performs about 20 to 30% faster.

The Nvidia GeForce 940MX's full performance power is available for the 3DMark Fire Strike benchmark, which explains why the two devices with this GPU top the chart. The almost identical Asus ZenBook UX310UA-FC347T is equipped with only an Intel HD Graphics 620, leaving it in third place with a decidedly lower score in this benchmark. Surprisingly, despite its reliance on an integrated graphics unit, this laptop jumped into first place in the 3DMark Cloud Gate - surpassing even our test device with a dedicated graphics card.

3DMark Ice Storm
3DMark Ice Storm Unlimited
3DMark Ice Storm Extreme
3DMark Cloud Gate
3DMark Sky Diver
3DMark Sky Diver Stress Test
3DMark Fire Strike
3DMark Fire Strike Extreme
3DMark Fire Strike Ultra
3DMark Time Spy
3DMark Time Spy Stress Test
3DMark 11
3DMark Vantage
3DMark 06
3DMark 05
3DMark 03
 
 
3DMark
1280x720 Cloud Gate Standard Graphics
Asus Zenbook UX310UA-FC347T iGP
Intel HD Graphics 620, Intel Core i7-7500U
9364 Points +9%
Asus Zenbook UX3410UA
Intel HD Graphics 620, Intel Core i7-7500U
9307 Points +8%
Asus UX310UQ-FC396T
NVIDIA GeForce 940MX, Intel Core i7-7500U
8594 Points
Asus Zenbook UX310UQ-GL011T
NVIDIA GeForce 940MX, Intel Core i7-6500U
8519 Points -1%
Dell XPS 13 9360 FHD i5
Intel HD Graphics 620, Intel Core i5-7200U
8177 Points -5%
Acer Swift 7 SF713-51
Intel HD Graphics 615, Intel Core i5-7Y54
5541 Points -36%
1920x1080 Fire Strike Graphics
Asus Zenbook UX310UQ-GL011T
NVIDIA GeForce 940MX, Intel Core i7-6500U
1589 Points +1%
Asus UX310UQ-FC396T
NVIDIA GeForce 940MX, Intel Core i7-7500U
1575 Points
Asus Zenbook UX310UA-FC347T iGP
Intel HD Graphics 620, Intel Core i7-7500U
1120 Points -29%
Asus Zenbook UX3410UA
Intel HD Graphics 620, Intel Core i7-7500U
1114 Points -29%
Dell XPS 13 9360 FHD i5
Intel HD Graphics 620, Intel Core i5-7200U
963 Points -39%
Acer Swift 7 SF713-51
Intel HD Graphics 615, Intel Core i5-7Y54
647 Points -59%
3DMark 11 - 1280x720 Performance GPU
Asus Zenbook UX310UQ-GL011T
NVIDIA GeForce 940MX, Intel Core i7-6500U
2321 Points +3%
Asus UX310UQ-FC396T
NVIDIA GeForce 940MX, Intel Core i7-7500U
2249 Points
Asus Zenbook UX3410UA
Intel HD Graphics 620, Intel Core i7-7500U
1666 Points -26%
Asus Zenbook UX310UA-FC347T iGP
Intel HD Graphics 620, Intel Core i7-7500U
1649 Points -27%
Dell XPS 13 9360 FHD i5
Intel HD Graphics 620, Intel Core i5-7200U
1545 Points -31%
Acer Swift 7 SF713-51
Intel HD Graphics 615, Intel Core i5-7Y54
1039 Points -54%
3DMark 03 Standard
28956 points
3DMark 05 Standard
22050 points
3DMark 06 Standard Score
12237 points
3DMark Vantage P Result
7847 points
3DMark 11 Performance
2379 points
3DMark Ice Storm Standard Score
46103 points
3DMark Cloud Gate Standard Score
6810 points
3DMark Fire Strike Score
1396 points
3DMark Fire Strike Extreme Score
716 points
3DMark Time Spy Score
517 points
Help

Gaming Performance

In terms of gaming performance, our ZenBook with its Kaby Lake CPU scored on par with its predecessor. Even with the Nvidia GeForce 940MX, potential buyers should not expect huge gains in performance. This entry-level model is only powerful enough to render older games smoothly. In most cases the system cannot handle more than HD resolution and a medium preset.

BioShock Infinite - 1366x768 Medium Preset
Asus UX310UQ-FC396T
NVIDIA GeForce 940MX, Intel Core i7-7500U
49.4 fps
Asus Zenbook UX310UQ-GL011T
NVIDIA GeForce 940MX, Intel Core i7-6500U
48.7 (13.4min - 140.9max) fps -1%
Asus Zenbook UX310UA-FC347T iGP
Intel HD Graphics 620, Intel Core i7-7500U
34.9 fps -29%
Asus Zenbook UX3410UA
Intel HD Graphics 620, Intel Core i7-7500U
32.7 fps -34%
Acer Swift 7 SF713-51
Intel HD Graphics 615, Intel Core i5-7Y54
22.4 (8.8min - 62max) fps -55%
Battlefield 4 - 1366x768 Medium Preset
Asus UX310UQ-FC396T
NVIDIA GeForce 940MX, Intel Core i7-7500U
44.1 fps
Asus Zenbook UX310UQ-GL011T
NVIDIA GeForce 940MX, Intel Core i7-6500U
43.8 fps -1%
Asus Zenbook UX3410UA
Intel HD Graphics 620, Intel Core i7-7500U
32.9 fps -25%
Asus Zenbook UX310UA-FC347T iGP
Intel HD Graphics 620, Intel Core i7-7500U
30.5 fps -31%
Acer Swift 7 SF713-51
Intel HD Graphics 615, Intel Core i5-7Y54
18.3 fps -59%
The Witcher 3 - 1366x768 Medium Graphics & Postprocessing
Asus Zenbook UX310UA-FC347T iGP
Intel HD Graphics 620, Intel Core i7-7500U
17.1 fps +2%
Asus UX310UQ-FC396T
NVIDIA GeForce 940MX, Intel Core i7-7500U
16.8 fps
Asus Zenbook UX310UQ-GL011T
NVIDIA GeForce 940MX, Intel Core i7-6500U
16.3 fps -3%
Asus Zenbook UX3410UA
Intel HD Graphics 620, Intel Core i7-7500U
10.3 fps -39%
low med. high ultra
BioShock Infinite (2013) 85.3 49.4 39.8 13.6
Battlefield 4 (2013) 67.6 44.1 29.5 11.2
The Witcher 3 (2015) 24.6 16.8 8.9 5.6

Emissions

Sound characteristics
Sound characteristics

System Noise

The noise generated by the small fan that cools the Asus ZenBook UX310UQ-FC396T is not uncomfortably loud. In our tests, the fan ran constantly and emitted 31.1 dB(A) while the system was idling. Under an average level of load, the background noise quickly increased in volume to 38.5 dB(A). When the computer was pushed to its performance limit for an extended period, it generated a maximum noise level of 39.7 dB(A). That level of noise is distinctly audible, but not bothersome. Our comparison chart shows that of the devices equipped with a fan, the Dell XPS 13 9360 is the quietest. The Acer Swift 7 has no active cooling components, so it runs silently by nature. Since it required no testing, there are no results listed for it in the table below.

dB(A) 0102030405060708090Deep BassMiddle BassHigh BassLower RangeMidsHigher MidsLower HighsMid HighsUpper HighsSuper Highs203636.633.635.735.8362534.537.232.534.333.334.5313236.931.431.132.6324032.133.532.732.731.332.15031.830.831.228.929.931.86331.330.53128.831.131.38030.630.228.328.628.230.610031.430.726.928.928.331.412526.827.125.72625.326.816029.229.126.22625.629.220027.22824.824.624.927.225027.427.223.123.723.527.431527.427.823.223.322.927.440025.426.821.321.621.825.450025.526.921.321.120.925.563024.926.420.420.519.924.980028.229.219.620.519.328.2100027.428.72020.118.927.4125026.928.118.51918.226.9160026.928.318.218.918.226.9200029.330.518.518.617.829.3250028.429.418.118.517.628.4315027.428.518.61917.627.4400025.927.518.218.517.625.9500023.424.817.818.417.623.4630022.924.217.918.217.822.9800020.321.117.918.117.820.31000019.419.917.717.817.719.41250018.819.317.617.717.518.81600018.518.617.818.117.718.5SPL38.539.731.131.530.838.5N33.41.61.61.53median 26.9median 27.5median 18.6median 19median 18.2median 26.9Delta2.42.52.11.82.42.4hearing rangehide median Fan NoiseAsus UX310UQ-FC396T
The CPU and GPU are cooled with just a heat pipe and a fan.
The CPU and GPU are cooled ...
The CPU and GPU are cooled with just a heat pipe and a fan.
... with just a heat pipe and a fan.

Noise Level

Idle
31.1 / 31.1 / 31.5 dB(A)
HDD
31.3 dB(A)
Load
38.5 / 39.7 dB(A)
  red to green bar
 
 
30 dB
silent
40 dB(A)
audible
50 dB(A)
loud
 
min: dark, med: mid, max: light   Audix TM1, Arta (15 cm distance)   environment noise: 30.7 dB(A)
Asus UX310UQ-FC396T
Intel Core i7-7500U, GeForce 940MX
Asus Zenbook UX310UQ-GL011T
Intel Core i7-6500U, GeForce 940MX
Asus Zenbook UX310UA-FC347T iGP
Intel Core i7-7500U, HD Graphics 620
Asus Zenbook UX3410UA
Intel Core i7-7500U, HD Graphics 620
Acer Swift 7 SF713-51
Intel Core i5-7Y54, HD Graphics 615
Dell XPS 13 9360 FHD i5
Intel Core i5-7200U, HD Graphics 620
Noise
2%
4%
-4%
12%
off / environment *
30.7
30.5
1%
30.7
-0%
29.9
3%
Idle Minimum *
31.1
30.5
2%
30.9
1%
29.9
4%
28.9
7%
Idle Average *
31.1
30.5
2%
30.9
1%
29.9
4%
28.9
7%
Idle Maximum *
31.5
31.5
-0%
30.9
2%
35.2
-12%
28.9
8%
Load Average *
38.5
36.2
6%
35.6
8%
43.5
-13%
30.9
20%
Load Maximum *
39.7
40
-1%
34.1
14%
43.8
-10%
33.5
16%

* ... smaller is better

Temperature

3DMark 11 after the stress test
3DMark 11 after the stress test

Our test device's case temperatures proved to be somewhat higher than those of its predecessor. While the system idled, all of our measurements remained significantly below the 30°C line (86 °F). Under load the picture looked a little different - we measured one hotspot at a maximum of 42.4°C (108.3°F) on the underside of the computer near the fan output.

Unfortunately, unlike the case, the inner components reached disconcertingly high temperatures. After an extended period under full load (Prime95 and FurMark running in parallel for at least an hour), the processor's temperature rose to a substantial 99°C (210.2°F). The clock frequency levelled off at an average of 2.5 GHz. Due to these high internal temperatures, the Asus ZenBook UX310UQ-FC396T struggles with thermal throttling. The Nvidia GeForce 940MX also heated up substantially (86°C; 186.8°F), but its clock rate held steady at 1200 MHz. Directly following the stress test, we ran 3DMark 11 again to determine whether these high temperatures weaken the system performance. The result was surprising, given that the CPU temperatures were just shy of 100°C (212°F) only moments before. With a score of 2404 points, the system did no worse than after a cold boot.

Even so, we would like to have seen Asus construct a more effective cooling system to counteract these high temperatures. It should be noted, however, that the individual components are under a very high level of load in this test. The computer will never reach such high temperatures in everyday use, so there should not be any real danger of a system crash.

Stress test Prime95 + FurMark
Stress test Prime95 + FurMark
Stress test only FurMark
Stress test only FurMark
Stress test only Prime95
Stress test only Prime95
Asus UX310UQ-FC396T
GeForce 940MX, i7-7500U, SanDisk SD8SN8U512G1002
Asus Zenbook UX310UQ-GL011T
GeForce 940MX, 6500U, SanDisk SD8SNAT256G1002
Asus Zenbook UX310UA-FC347T iGP
HD Graphics 620, i7-7500U, Micron SSD 1100 (MTFDDAV256TBN)
Asus Zenbook UX3410UA
HD Graphics 620, i7-7500U, SanDisk SD8SN8U512G1002
Acer Swift 7 SF713-51
HD Graphics 615, i5-7Y54, Kingston RBU-SNS4180S3256GG
Dell XPS 13 9360 FHD i5
HD Graphics 620, i5-7200U, Toshiba NVMe THNSN5256GPUK
Heat
6%
12%
0%
-6%
-6%
Maximum Upper Side *
40
38.5
4%
33.7
16%
39.4
1%
45.7
-14%
43.4
-9%
Maximum Bottom *
42.4
40.4
5%
34.1
20%
35.2
17%
48.7
-15%
49.2
-16%
Idle Upper Side *
23.9
24.8
-4%
25.2
-5%
29.4
-23%
25.5
-7%
26.4
-10%
Idle Bottom *
29.3
23.8
19%
24.1
18%
27.6
6%
25.2
14%
26.4
10%

* ... smaller is better

Max. Load
 32.1 °C
90 F
38.8 °C
102 F
30.6 °C
87 F
 
 34.2 °C
94 F
40 °C
104 F
28 °C
82 F
 
 29 °C
84 F
26.1 °C
79 F
26.7 °C
80 F
 
Maximum: 40 °C = 104 F
Average: 31.7 °C = 89 F
35 °C
95 F
42.4 °C
108 F
35 °C
95 F
31.7 °C
89 F
37.8 °C
100 F
34.6 °C
94 F
28.1 °C
83 F
30.7 °C
87 F
30.2 °C
86 F
Maximum: 42.4 °C = 108 F
Average: 33.9 °C = 93 F
Power Supply (max.)  61 °C = 142 F | Room Temperature 21.9 °C = 71 F | FIRT 550-Pocket
(+) The average temperature for the upper side under maximal load is 31.7 °C / 89 F, compared to the average of 30.7 °C / 87 F for the devices in the class Subnotebook.
(±) The maximum temperature on the upper side is 40 °C / 104 F, compared to the average of 35.9 °C / 97 F, ranging from 21.4 to 59 °C for the class Subnotebook.
(±) The bottom heats up to a maximum of 42.4 °C / 108 F, compared to the average of 39.4 °C / 103 F
(+) In idle usage, the average temperature for the upper side is 22.9 °C / 73 F, compared to the device average of 30.7 °C / 87 F.
(+) The palmrests and touchpad are cooler than skin temperature with a maximum of 29 °C / 84.2 F and are therefore cool to the touch.
(±) The average temperature of the palmrest area of similar devices was 28.3 °C / 82.9 F (-0.7 °C / -1.3 F).

Speakers

Speaker characteristics
Speaker characteristics
AudioWizard
AudioWizard

The two stereo speakers are manufactured by Harman/Kardon and are located on the front edge of the device. The sound streams out of the case through the perforated zones incorporated into the base plate. If the laptop is sitting on a soft surface, the sound is noticeably muffled. The little speakers simply are not loud enough to create a rich sound experience. The mid and high tones outbalance the bass. But for applications such as video chats, the integrated audio solution is certainly satisfactory. Those who want to fully savour the rich tones in music or movies will need to use an external sound system. The audio wizard that comes with the OS allows the user to customize the sound, but the software cannot perform miracles.

dB(A) 0102030405060708090Deep BassMiddle BassHigh BassLower RangeMidsHigher MidsLower HighsMid HighsUpper HighsSuper Highs2036.535.836.52536.833.336.83137.832.637.84038.831.338.85039.229.939.26340.831.140.88041.328.241.310042.928.342.912544.825.344.81604725.64720050.424.950.425055.723.555.731558.922.958.940058.821.858.85006020.96063062.819.962.880063.919.363.9100063.318.963.3125065.918.265.9160067.718.267.7200069.117.869.1250070.717.670.7315071.817.671.8400072.917.672.9500072.317.672.3630070.617.870.6800065.917.865.9100006317.7631250062.217.562.21600062.617.762.6SPL81.230.881.2N48.81.548.8median 63median 18.2median 63Delta6.32.46.335.335.132.931.831.83236.535.132.428.93328.936.328.848.32761.52752.924.860.92462.822.763.32269.521.267.82174.82075.919.472.718.97117.770.117.86917.671.817.668.117.671.417.673.717.670.417.571.617.671.617.669.617.459.717.583.630.662.51.5median 69.6median 17.84.72.4hearing rangehide median Pink NoiseAsus UX310UQ-FC396TApple MacBook 12 (Early 2016) 1.1 GHz
Asus UX310UQ-FC396T audio analysis

(±) | speaker loudness is average but good (72 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(±) | reduced bass - on average 13.1% lower than median
(+) | bass is linear (6.5% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(+) | balanced mids - only 2.8% away from median
(+) | mids are linear (3.3% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(±) | higher highs - on average 6.6% higher than median
(+) | highs are linear (4.3% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(±) | linearity of overall sound is average (16.1% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 33% of all tested devices in this class were better, 4% similar, 63% worse
» The best had a delta of 5%, average was 19%, worst was 53%
Compared to all devices tested
» 21% of all tested devices were better, 5% similar, 74% worse
» The best had a delta of 4%, average was 25%, worst was 134%

Apple MacBook 12 (Early 2016) 1.1 GHz audio analysis

(+) | speakers can play relatively loud (83.6 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(±) | reduced bass - on average 11.3% lower than median
(±) | linearity of bass is average (14.2% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(+) | balanced mids - only 2.4% away from median
(+) | mids are linear (5.5% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(+) | balanced highs - only 2% away from median
(+) | highs are linear (4.5% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(+) | overall sound is linear (10.2% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 5% of all tested devices in this class were better, 2% similar, 93% worse
» The best had a delta of 5%, average was 19%, worst was 53%
Compared to all devices tested
» 3% of all tested devices were better, 1% similar, 96% worse
» The best had a delta of 4%, average was 25%, worst was 134%

Frequenzdiagramm im Vergleich (Checkboxen oben an-/abwählbar!)

Energy Management

Power Consumption

With its newer technology, we would expect our test device to use energy more sparingly than its predecessor. But for the Asus ZenBook UX310UQ-FC396T, exactly the opposite is true. Directly compared to the Asus ZenBook UX310UQ-GL011T, the new Kaby Lake model performs 17% worse. The most striking difference is between the averages while idling. Here our test device devoured 8.2 watts, while its predecessor model made do with a modest 5.6 watts. Under load the usage rates even out, and the differences become negligible. The Acer Swift 7 is considerably more efficient with its power consumption - unsurprisingly, given that it is equipped with very energy-efficient components.

The small power supply delivers a maximum of 65 watts - just enough to keep up with the computer's maximum energy consumption rate.

The power supply delivers a maximum of 65 watts.
The power supply delivers ...
The power supply delivers a maximum of 65 watts.
... a maximum of 65 watts.
Power Consumption
Off / Standbydarklight 0.36 / 0.52 Watt
Idledarkmidlight 4.1 / 8.2 / 8.9 Watt
Load midlight 48 / 64.1 Watt
 color bar
Key: min: dark, med: mid, max: light        Metrahit Energy
Currently we use the Metrahit Energy, a professional single phase power quality and energy measurement digital multimeter, for our measurements. Find out more about it here. All of our test methods can be found here.
Asus UX310UQ-FC396T
i7-7500U, GeForce 940MX, SanDisk SD8SN8U512G1002, IPS, LED, 1920x1080, 13.30
Asus Zenbook UX310UQ-GL011T
6500U, GeForce 940MX, SanDisk SD8SNAT256G1002, TN LED, 1920x1080, 13.30
Asus Zenbook UX310UA-FC347T iGP
i7-7500U, HD Graphics 620, Micron SSD 1100 (MTFDDAV256TBN), IPS, LED, 1920x1080, 13.30
Asus Zenbook UX3410UA
i7-7500U, HD Graphics 620, SanDisk SD8SN8U512G1002, IPS, 1920x1080, 14.00
Acer Swift 7 SF713-51
i5-7Y54, HD Graphics 615, Kingston RBU-SNS4180S3256GG, IPS, WLED, 1920x1080, 13.30
Dell XPS 13 9360 FHD i5
i5-7200U, HD Graphics 620, Toshiba NVMe THNSN5256GPUK, IPS, 1920x1080, 13.30
Power Consumption
17%
23%
22%
37%
40%
Idle Minimum *
4.1
3
27%
3.5
15%
3.7
10%
4.1
-0%
4.1
-0%
Idle Average *
8.2
5.6
32%
6.6
20%
6
27%
6.4
22%
4.2
49%
Idle Maximum *
8.9
6.8
24%
7.5
16%
6.78
24%
6.8
24%
5.1
43%
Load Average *
48
48.7
-1%
34.7
28%
37.3
22%
16
67%
22.1
54%
Load Maximum *
64.1
63
2%
39.6
38%
47.4
26%
18.7
71%
29.4
54%

* ... smaller is better

Battery Life

3DMark 11 in battery mode
3DMark 11 in battery mode

Despite our test device's somewhat higher energy usage, it offers better battery life than its Skylake predecessor. The battery itself has not changed: it has a capacity of 48 Wh and cannot be removed from the device. Under full load, the battery provided enough juice for the computer to run 1:49 hours before the lights went out. In our WLAN test, which simulates something much closer to normal, everyday use, we recorded a run time of 8:50 hours. The battery life is a little shorter when playing an H.264 film, but 7:19 hours is enough time to watch two long movies. The system's 3D performance hardly changes at all in battery mode.

The 48 Wh lithium ion battery is permanently installed.
The 48 Wh lithium ion battery is permanently installed.
Maximum battery life
Maximum battery life
Minimum battery life
Minimum battery life
WLAN battery life
WLAN battery life
H.264 battery life
H.264 battery life
Charge time
Charge time
Battery Runtime
Idle (without WLAN, min brightness)
15h 18min
WiFi Websurfing (Edge: 38.14393.0.0)
8h 50min
Big Buck Bunny H.264 1080p
7h 19min
Load (maximum brightness)
1h 49min
Asus UX310UQ-FC396T
i7-7500U, GeForce 940MX, 48 Wh
Asus Zenbook UX310UQ-GL011T
6500U, GeForce 940MX, 48 Wh
Asus Zenbook UX310UA-FC347T iGP
i7-7500U, HD Graphics 620, 48 Wh
Asus Zenbook UX3410UA
i7-7500U, HD Graphics 620, 48 Wh
Acer Swift 7 SF713-51
i5-7Y54, HD Graphics 615, 41.58 Wh
Dell XPS 13 9360 FHD i5
i5-7200U, HD Graphics 620, 60 Wh
Battery Runtime
-6%
3%
7%
7%
38%
Reader / Idle
918
878
-4%
966
5%
1063
16%
792
-14%
1295
41%
H.264
439
419
-5%
416
-5%
607
38%
410
-7%
WiFi v1.3
530
486
-8%
577
9%
443
-16%
438
-17%
677
28%
Load
109
103
-6%
112
3%
98
-10%
182
67%
157
44%

Pros

+ good battery life
+ good display with stable viewing angles (IPS)
+ appealing choice of materials
+ slim and elegant design
+ both lightweight and stable
+ high system performance
+ total 1.5 TB storage space (SSD+HDD)
+ well-positioned selection of ports and connections
+ USB Type-C
+ Asus sleeve (bag)

Cons

- thermal throttling under load
- dedicated GPU fails to impress
- keys feel somewhat spongy
- average sound quality
- display bounces a little

Verdict

In review: Asus ZenBook UX310UQ-FC396T. Test model courtesy of Cyberport.de
In review: Asus ZenBook UX310UQ-FC396T. Test model courtesy of Cyberport.de

The Asus ZenBook UX310UQ-FC396T retains many of its predecessor's positive attributes, as the laptop's external features have not changed. The Asus ZenBook UX310UQ-FC396T is an elegant, lightweight subnotebook that can boast of excellent manufacturing quality. With its updated Kaby Lake processor, its system performance is slightly better than its predecessor's. The Intel Core i7-7500U offers more than enough power for our ZenBook. It also has ample memory (16 GB of DDR4 RAM), and with a total storage capacity of 1.5 TB, it will be quite some time before the average user runs out of room.

The Asus ZenBook UX310UQ-FC396T's slim and classy design turns heads, and is made of attractive, high-quality materials. Neither the display nor the system performance leave much room for criticism.

In conclusion, we can confirm that Asus has done it again: the ZenBook UX310UQ-FC396T offers both long battery life and enough performance reserves to remain up to speed in the coming years. Its display provides good image quality, and thanks to IPS technology, the screen content looks stable from nearly every angle. A nice bonus: The device that we tested comes with a matching sleeve to protect the computer from dirt and scratches during transport.

Asus UX310UQ-FC396T - 02/24/2017 v6(old)
Sebastian Bade

Chassis
81 /  98 → 83%
Keyboard
81%
Pointing Device
75%
Connectivity
53 / 80 → 67%
Weight
70 / 35-78 → 80%
Battery
90%
Display
88%
Games Performance
63 / 68 → 92%
Application Performance
90 / 87 → 100%
Temperature
93 / 91 → 100%
Noise
89%
Audio
59 / 91 → 65%
Camera
46 / 85 → 54%
Average
75%
84%
Subnotebook - Weighted Average

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> Expert Reviews and News on Laptops, Smartphones and Tech Innovations > Reviews > Asus ZenBook UX310UQ (7500U, 940MX, Full HD) Notebook Review
Sebastian Bade, 2017-03- 3 (Update: 2018-05-15)