Asus ZenBook 14 UX431FL-AN012T
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Average of 1 scores (from 1 reviews)
Reviews for the Asus ZenBook 14 UX431FL-AN012T
Source: Tweakers NL→EN Archive.org version
Single Review, online available, Very Long, Date: 08/19/2019
Rating: Total score: 80%
Comment
Model: The release of the Asus ZenBook series has received much positive feedback from the community due to its sophisticated design, which can be amicably acquired at a very budget-friendly price point. The Asus ZenBook 14 (UX431) is the newest addition to be included into the brand’s long running lineup as it is one of the most premium products to be released in the year of 2019 by Asus. The Asus ZenBook 14 UX431FL-AN012T in particular has demonstrated much prowess and promise when it comes to performance as well as in the promotion of work productivity. It comes with a super-compact 14-inch NanoEdge display. This NanoEdge design is a product of an ultra-narrow bezel being fitted into the fine structure of the svelte chassis. This enables the display of the Asus ZenBook 14 UX431FL-AN012T to reach maximum viewing comfort, while still being able to project anti-glare immersive visuals with lesser distraction to the user’s eyes. This ideology plays directly into enhancing the quality of life of an Asus PC user while still retaining every other aspect that has garnered much reputation from gathered feedback. The ultra-narrow bezels on both aligned sides are shrunk down to a minimal 6.5 millimeters, which also proportionally cuts down on the overall size of the Asus ZenBook 14 UX431FL-AN012T. This vision stays imminently true to the concept behind the ZenBook prior to its initial launch due to the idea of creating a lineup, which is not only work-oriented, but also convenient and practical to commute around with. Not only that, the Asus ZenBook 14 UX431FL-AN012T looks absolutely impeccable in the brand new Utopia Blue color on a spun-metal finish, which perfects the look with a quiet serenity as well as a respectable degree of upper-class sophistication.
Performance of the Asus ZenBook 14 UX431FL-AN012T is being handled by an Intel Core i7-8565U processor and an NVIDIA GeForce MX150 graphics card. Both of these core components are splendid in their own regard. For instance, the Intel Core i7-8565U processor unit is capable of clocking at a performance rate of 1.8 GHz and up to 4.6 GHz upon the activation of Intel Turbo Boost technology. The NVIDIA GeForce 150 GPU on the other hand provides an additional 2 GB of dedicated GDDR5 memory, which paves the way to some light gaming for interested users. However, it is important to note that neither the NVIDIA GeForce 150 GPU nor the Asus ZenBook 14 UX431FL-AN012T are capable of sustaining modern Triple A (AAA) games that require better components in order to properly launch.
Hands-on article by Jagadisa Rajarathnam
NVIDIA GeForce MX250: Successor of the MX150 and still based on the same Pascal GP108 chip (similar to the desktop GT 1030) but with higher clock speeds. Available in two versions, a normal 25 Watt version and a low power version with 10 Watt TDP and reduced performance. The 25 Watt version e.g. offers a 21% higher boost clock than the old MX150 leading to a 5% performance gain.
Modern games should be playable with these graphics cards at low settings and resolutions. Casual gamers may be happy 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.
i7-8565U: Whiskey Lake based low power quad-core processor (technically identical to Kaby Lake but produced in a further improved 14nm++ process). The four cores are clocked between 1.8 and 4.6 GHz (Turbo Boost) and support HyperThreading.» Further information can be found in our Comparison of Mobile Processsors.
14.00":
There are hardly any tablets in this display size range anymore. For subnotebooks, on the other hand, it is the standard format.
The advantage of subnotebooks is that the entire laptop can be small and therefore easily portable. The smaller display also has the advantage of requiring less power, which further improves battery life and thus mobility. The disadvantage is that reading texts is more strenuous on the eyes. High resolutions are more likely to be found in standard laptops.
» 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.
80%: This rating is not earth-shattering. This rating must actually be seen as average, since there are about as many devices with worse ratings as better ones. A purchase recommendation can only be seen with a lot of goodwill, unless it is about websites that generally rate strictly.
» Further information can be found in our Notebook Purchase Guide.