Asus ZenBook Flip S UX370UA (i5, 256 GB, FHD) Convertible Review
For the original German review, click here.
The Asus ZenBook Flip S UX370UA is a 13-inch convertible. It is equipped with an Intel CPU of the Kaby Lake generation. There are two models available: the Intel Core i5-7200U and the Intel Core i7-7500U. The processors can be accompanied by either 8 or 16 GB of RAM and storage options range up to 1 TB. Asus even offers a choice of displays for the ZenBook Flip S: A Full HD screen or a 4K panel.
Our test unit is the entry-level model and is equipped with the Intel Core i5-7200U with 8 GB of RAM and a 256-GB SSD. This configuration seems to be currently not available in the US. The i7-Model with 16 GB of RAM and a 512 GB SSD is available for about $1400. Asus offers two color options: a combination of blue and gold or gray and silver. The very deep blue of our test unit is nicely complemented by gold highlights and the notebook really looks very fancy and memorable. But as optics alone do not make a good laptop, we will be taking a closer look at how its hardware components work together and compare this with some competitors. You will find an overview of the devices we have chosen in the table below.
| Samsung Galaxy Book 12 | Microsoft Surface Pro 2017 | Fujitsu Lifebook P727 | Lenovo Ideapad Miix 720 | Dell Latitude 5289 | |
| CPU | Intel Core i5-7200U | Intel Core i7-7300U | Intel Core i7-7600U | Intel Core i7-7500U | Intel Core i7-7300U |
| GPU | Intel HD Graphics 620 | Intel HD Graphics 620 | Intel HD Graphics 620 | Intel HD Graphics 620 | Intel HD Graphics 620 |
| Panel | 12-inch 2160 x 1440 | 12.3-inch 2736 x 1824 | 12.5-inch 1920 x 1080 | 12-inch 2880 x 1920 | 12.5-inch 1920 x 1080 |
| RAM | 8 GB | 8 GB | 16 GB | 16 GB | 8 GB |
| Storage | 256-GB SSD | 256-GB SSD | 512-GB SSD | 1024-GB SSD | 256-GBSSD |
| Score | 88 % | 90 % | 84 % | 85 % | 84 % |
Case
The case of the Asus ZenBook Flip S UX370UA is made entirely of aluminum and is available in Royal Blue or Smoky Grey. Certain elements and edges of the blue model are highlighted with a strong gold while the gray case appears to be a little more modest. Overall, the aluminum case is stable, but the base can be warped a little. The center of the keyboard also gives way a little under pressure. The display cover, on the other hand, seems to be a lot more stable and hardly warps at all. It compensates pressure very well and no waves appear on screen. The two 360-degree hinges keep the display in position and in tablet mode, the display is additionally held in place by a magnet. The device looks very slim, has a very good build and the color combination of blue and gold is quite impressive.
Size Comparison
Although the Asus ZenBook Flip S UX370UA has the largest footprint compared to the other devices, the device still only weighs 1.1 kg (~24.3 lb). Only the Microsoft Surface Pro 2017 can keep up with this. Our convertible is a little thicker than the Samsung Galaxy Book 12 at 10.9 mm (~0.42 in), but the Asus ZenBook Flip S UX370UA still looks very slim.
Connectivity
Due to its very slim build, the Asus ZenBook Flip S UX370UA can only offer us two USB 3.1 Type-C ports, which are positioned towards the back, one at each side of the device. There is also a 3.5 mm audio jack on the left side. Asus has not given the ZenBook Flip S a lot more than that. If you would like to connect further external devices, you will have to resort to a docking station or adapters. We tested a USB-to-RJ45 adapter as well as an HDMI adapter, which both worked very well.
Communication
In the Asus ZenBook Flip S Ux370UA, the most important data transfer possibility is the Wi-Fi connection. This is taken care of by the Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 8260 module, which also offers Bluetooth 4.1. The speeds we measured are quite satisfactory, although competition does slightly better downstream. But the Asus ZenBook Flip S UX370UA has decent speeds at 671 MBit/s and 518 MBit/s. There were no interruptions or other problems during testing.
Security
The issue of security has not been forgotten and so the Asus ZenBook Flip S UX370UA is equipped with a Trusted Platform Module (TPM 2.0) as well as a fingerprint scanner. This is easy to set up for logging-in via Windows Hello.
Accessories
The scope of delivery of our device includes a suitable power supply as well as an input pen. Asus also supplies buyers with a laptop sleeve that protects the device during transport. Buyers have the option of buying a Universal Dock, which unites all important ports and lets you expand the meagre port selection as necessary.
Maintenance
Maintenance work is limited on the Asus ZenBook Flip S UX370UA as most components are not removable due to its slim, compact build. The bottom cover of the base unit can be removed to change the storage device or clean the cooling fan, but we would recommend using specific tools for opening the back, in order to avoid damage to the case. As our test unit was on loan, we have not tried to open the device. There are various instructions on how to open the Asus ZenBook Flip S UX370UA on the internet.
Warranty
The basic warranty is 24 months and includes Pick-Up & Return service. Please see our Guarantees, Return Policies & Warranties FAQ for country-specific information.
Input Devices
Keyboard
The 6-row keyboard fits perfectly to the optical appearance of the device. The keys are set into the device and are flush with the wrist rest. This means that they are protected when the device is used in tablet and presentation mode. The print is easy to read and also fits into the general color concept. The keyboard also has three-level backlighting, which is useful in dark surroundings. The keys themselves are rather large at 17 x 17 mm (~0.67 in) with narrow gaps of 2 mm (~0.08 in). They have short travel, but the pressure point could be a bit stronger. Typing is not too loud - only the space bar is more audible during fast typing.
Touchpad
The touchpad also fits to the appearance of the device and offers sufficient space at 11.4 x 7.2 cm (~4.5 x ~2.8 in). The surface is covered with glass, which enables good gliding. This means that it is easy to navigate quickly and smoothly and reception is good even in the corners. The bottom area of the ClickPad is optically separated by a golden line. This helps visualize the left and right "mouse" key. In order to make sure that right clicks are registered properly, you need to click on the lower third of the touchpad. Left clicks are registered almost on the entire surface and clicks are clearly audible. The touchpad is made very well and there is no wobbling or rattling.
Touchscreen
The 13.3-inch screen of the Asus ZenBook Flip S UX370UA also works as an input device. The Asus Pen can be used to let creativity flow or simply to take quick notes. The combination of touchscreen and Active Pen worked very well in our test. The device responded quickly to inputs and there were no limitations at the edges of the screen.
Display
Our test unit is equipped with an IPS panel from AU Optronics. It has a resolution of 1920x1080 pixels and a diagonal of 13.3 inches. This results in a pixel density of 166 PPI. The touchscreen is protected from scratches by Corning Gorilla glass. As an alternative, Asus also offers this device with a 4K panel.
During our measurements, the display reached an average brightness of 321 cd/m². This result puts the Asus ZenBook Flip S UX370UA on the same level as the Dell Latitude 5289 (320 cd/m²). Our test unit does offer the brightest displays among our comparison devices. Competing devices from Microsoft, Lenovo and Samsung offer better results. Brightness distribution is not perfect either at 86%, but there is only minimal clouding visible on an all-black screen. We did not measure any PWM for regulating display brightness on the Asus ZenBook Flip S.
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Brightness Distribution: 86 %
Center on Battery: 289 cd/m²
Contrast: 1336:1 (Black: 0.25 cd/m²)
ΔE Color 4.24 | 0.5-29.43 Ø4.87
ΔE Greyscale 3.92 | 0.5-98 Ø5.1
90% sRGB (Argyll 1.6.3 3D)
58% AdobeRGB 1998 (Argyll 1.6.3 3D)
64.9% AdobeRGB 1998 (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
90% sRGB (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
64% Display P3 (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
Gamma: 2.68
| Asus ZenBook Flip S UX370 AUO B133HAN04.2, , 1920x1080, 13.3" | Samsung Galaxy Book 12 SM-W728 Samsung SDCA029, , 2160x1440, 12" | Microsoft Surface Pro (2017) i5 LG Display LP123WQ112604, , 2736x1824, 12.3" | Fujitsu Lifebook P727 LP125WF4-SPH1, , 1920x1080, 12.5" | Lenovo Ideapad Miix 720-12IKB AUO B120YAN01 / AUO106F, , 2880x1920, 12" | Dell Latitude 5289 BOE NV12N51, , 1920x1080, 12.5" | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Display | 17% | 7% | 6% | 2% | -31% | |
| Display P3 Coverage | 64 | 77.3 21% | 67.6 6% | 67.2 5% | 65.2 2% | 42.79 -33% |
| sRGB Coverage | 90 | 92.8 3% | 99 10% | 97.5 8% | 91 1% | 64.3 -29% |
| AdobeRGB 1998 Coverage | 64.9 | 83.1 28% | 69.1 6% | 69.1 6% | 66.1 2% | 44.21 -32% |
| Response Times | 61% | 3% | 5% | 8% | -1% | |
| Response Time Grey 50% / Grey 80% * | 44 ? | 4 ? 91% | 42 ? 5% | 44 ? -0% | 45 ? -2% | 42 ? 5% |
| Response Time Black / White * | 29 ? | 20 ? 31% | 29 ? -0% | 26 ? 10% | 24 ? 17% | 31 ? -7% |
| PWM Frequency | 250 ? | 21000 | 531 ? | |||
| Screen | 100% | 11% | -18% | -13% | -7% | |
| Brightness middle | 334 | 376 13% | 417 25% | 303 -9% | 406 22% | 336 1% |
| Brightness | 321 | 378 18% | 401 25% | 272 -15% | 396 23% | 320 0% |
| Brightness Distribution | 86 | 91 6% | 88 2% | 79 -8% | 88 2% | 90 5% |
| Black Level * | 0.25 | 0.03 88% | 0.29 -16% | 0.46 -84% | 0.3 -20% | 0.34 -36% |
| Contrast | 1336 | 12533 838% | 1438 8% | 659 -51% | 1353 1% | 988 -26% |
| Colorchecker dE 2000 * | 4.24 | 4.1 3% | 3.63 14% | 3.94 7% | 5.28 -25% | 3.45 19% |
| Colorchecker dE 2000 max. * | 6.03 | 6.45 -7% | 6.74 -12% | 6.57 -9% | 9.83 -63% | 7.95 -32% |
| Greyscale dE 2000 * | 3.92 | 3.64 7% | 2.18 44% | 5.14 -31% | 6.71 -71% | 1.68 57% |
| Gamma | 2.68 82% | 2.58 85% | 3.09 71% | 2.31 95% | 2.29 96% | 2.49 88% |
| CCT | 6758 96% | 7113 91% | 6767 96% | 6521 100% | 6532 100% | 6782 96% |
| Color Space (Percent of AdobeRGB 1998) | 58 | 74 28% | 63 9% | 63 9% | 59 2% | 41 -29% |
| Color Space (Percent of sRGB) | 90 | 93 3% | 99 10% | 98 9% | 91 1% | 64 -29% |
| Total Average (Program / Settings) | 59% /
78% | 7% /
9% | -2% /
-10% | -1% /
-7% | -13% /
-11% |
* ... smaller is better
The display quality can be said to be very good. The low black value (0.25), combined with the measured brightness, means that the screen has a good contrast ratio (1336:1). The colors appear vivid, which can also be due to the glossy screen. Ex-works, the average DeltaE-2000 deviation to the sRGB color space is 4.24 (ColorChecker) respectively 3.92 (gray scales). You can also see a light blue cast, which is typical for an IPS screen. Calibrating can reduce these issues quite well. As usual, the suitable ICC profile is available for download (above the comparison table).
The display covers 90% of the sRGB color space and 58% of the AdobeRGB color space. This means that the Asus ZenBook Flip S UX370UA is quite suitable for semi-professional image processing.
The Corning-Gorilla glass surface of the display is prone to reflections, which limits the devices outdoor usage. Nonetheless, it is theoretically possible, especially if you keep to the shade.
Display Response Times
| ↔ Response Time Black to White | ||
|---|---|---|
| 29 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined | ↗ 18 ms rise |  |
| ↘ 11 ms fall | ||
| The screen shows relatively slow response rates in our tests and may be too slow for gamers. In comparison, all tested devices range from 0.1 (minimum) to 240 (maximum) ms. » 75 % of all devices are better. This means that the measured response time is worse than the average of all tested devices (20.7 ms). | ||
| ↔ Response Time 50% Grey to 80% Grey | ||
| 44 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined | ↗ 22 ms rise |  |
| ↘ 22 ms fall | ||
| The screen shows slow response rates in our tests and will be unsatisfactory for gamers. In comparison, all tested devices range from 0.165 (minimum) to 636 (maximum) ms. » 71 % of all devices are better. This means that the measured response time is worse than the average of all tested devices (32.5 ms). | ||
Screen Flickering / PWM (Pulse-Width Modulation)
| Screen flickering / PWM not detected | ||
In comparison: 53 % of all tested devices do not use PWM to dim the display. If PWM was detected, an average of 8492 (minimum: 5 - maximum: 343500) Hz was measured. | ||
The viewing angle can be considered typical for an IPS screen. There were only minor problems in the four corner images, where you can see a light veil. The screen is easy to read from all other viewing angles.
Performance
The Asus ZenBook Flip S UX370UA is equipped with a Kaby Lake CPU and has a minimum of 8 GB of RAM. The Intel Core i5-7200U, which our test unit is equipped with, is the "smallest" model available. Alternatively, the Asus ZenBook Flip S UX370UA is also available with the slightly faster Intel Core i7-7500U. Both devices have to make do with the integrated graphics unit Intel HD Graphics 620 - they do not have dedicated graphics. But this is not necessary for the device's intended areas of use; for this, the performance of the widespread compact SoC is entirely sufficient. The storage device is a speedy SSD, which ensures a smoothly running system.
Processor
By now, a lot of devices have been equipped with the Intel Core i5-7200U. It is a dual-core processor that supports Hyperthreading, which means that the device can multi-task very well. The base clock rate is 2.5 GHz, which can increase to 3.1 GHz under load. The processor appears to not quite reach its full potential during our test, which indicates that there could be a thermal limit that restricts performance under constant load. The Samsung Galaxy Book 12 is also based on the Intel Core i5-7200U and has slightly better results for Multithread performance (6%).
You can find further benchmarks for the Intel Core i5-7200U here.
We run the Cinebench R15 Multi loop in order to test CPU performance under constant load. At the beginning, the Intel Core i5-7200U was able to score 302 points. But due to the constant heat development, the result dropped with every run and eventually settled at around 260 points. This means that the processor performance decreased by 14% during our test.
| Cinebench R11.5 | |
| CPU Single 64Bit | |
| Asus ZenBook Flip S UX370 | |
| CPU Multi 64Bit | |
| Asus ZenBook Flip S UX370 | |
| JetStream 1.1 - Total Score | |
| Microsoft Surface Pro (2017) i5 | |
| Asus ZenBook Flip S UX370 | |
| Fujitsu Lifebook P727 | |
| Lenovo Ideapad Miix 720-12IKB | |
| Dell Latitude 5289 | |
| Octane V2 - Total Score | |
| Microsoft Surface Pro (2017) i5 | |
| Dell Latitude 5289 | |
| Lenovo Ideapad Miix 720-12IKB | |
| Asus ZenBook Flip S UX370 | |
| Fujitsu Lifebook P727 | |
| Mozilla Kraken 1.1 - Total | |
| Dell Latitude 5289 | |
| Fujitsu Lifebook P727 | |
| Asus ZenBook Flip S UX370 | |
| Lenovo Ideapad Miix 720-12IKB | |
* ... smaller is better
System Performance
After the rather disillusioning CPU performance, the Asus ZenBook Flip S UX370UA manages slightly better results during the Cinebench R15 benchmark. The supposedly faster systems such as the Microsoft Surface Pro or the Lenovo IdeaPad Miix lagged behind by 10 to 20% during the PCMark 8. Once again, the Asus ZenBook Flip S beat the Microsoft Surface Pro in the PCMark 10.
Subjectively, the Asus ZenBook Flip S UX370UA runs very smoothly. The system is quick to boot and ready to go in an instant.
| PCMark 10 | |
| Productivity | |
| Asus ZenBook Flip S UX370 | |
| Microsoft Surface Pro (2017) i5 | |
| Score | |
| Asus ZenBook Flip S UX370 | |
| Microsoft Surface Pro (2017) i5 | |
| PCMark 8 Home Score Accelerated v2 | 3521 points | |
| PCMark 8 Creative Score Accelerated v2 | 4364 points | |
| PCMark 8 Work Score Accelerated v2 | 4559 points | |
| PCMark 10 Score | 3125 points | |
Help | ||
Storage Device
Asus has equipped our test unit with an SSD from SanDisk, which has a capacity of 256 GB and runs at SATA speeds. We measured a sequential read rate of 476 MB/s as well as a sequential write rate of 454 MB/s. But the 4K rate is a lot more important for launching programs and the operating system. Here, the SanDisk SSD reached a satisfying result at 27 MB/s (AS SSD) and 33 MB/S (CrystalDiskMark 3). The M.2 interface also supports SSDs with PCIe speeds. The 1 TB model has a PCIe 3.0 x4 interface, while the smaller storage options (256 and 512 GB) merely work at SATA3 speeds.
| Asus ZenBook Flip S UX370 SanDisk SD8SN8U256G1002 | Samsung Galaxy Book 12 SM-W728 Samsung SSD PM871a MZNLN256HMHQ | Microsoft Surface Pro (2017) i5 Samsung PM971 KUS030202M | Fujitsu Lifebook P727 Samsung CM871A MZNTN512HDJH | Lenovo Ideapad Miix 720-12IKB Samsung SSD PM961 1TB M.2 PCIe 3.0 x4 NVMe (MZVLW1T0) | Dell Latitude 5289 SanDisk X400 256GB, SATA (SD8SB8U-256G) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CrystalDiskMark 3.0 | 28% | 60% | 25% | 227% | -18% | |
| Read Seq | 455.9 | 511 12% | 723 59% | 513 13% | 2408 428% | 423.7 -7% |
| Write Seq | 432.5 | 473.7 10% | 853 97% | 467.7 8% | 1702 294% | 406.4 -6% |
| Read 512 | 315.7 | 443.7 41% | 225 -29% | 379.8 20% | 1301 312% | 260.8 -17% |
| Write 512 | 291.5 | 395.4 36% | 445 53% | 399.1 37% | 1288 342% | 255.6 -12% |
| Read 4k | 29.7 | 40.46 36% | 46 55% | 38.74 30% | 53.6 80% | 22.73 -23% |
| Write 4k | 57 | 91.9 61% | 125 119% | 89.8 58% | 162.2 185% | 27.92 -51% |
| Read 4k QD32 | 385.4 | 289.1 -25% | 423 10% | 337.1 -13% | 504 31% | 306.2 -21% |
| Write 4k QD32 | 170.8 | 260.7 53% | 373 118% | 254.2 49% | 420.8 146% | 158.8 -7% |
Graphics
The Intel HD Graphics 620 is responsible for handling graphics. It has a base clock rate of 1000 MHz and the graphics unit also benefits from the working memory, which works in Dual Channel Mode. This means that the Intel HD Graphics 620 can reach its full potential. The 3D performance of the graphics unit in our Asus ZenBook Flip S UX370UA is quite respectable. Our test unit is at the top of the comparison table together with the Dell Latitude 5289.
You can find further benchmarks for the Intel HD Graphics 620 here.
| 3DMark | |
| 1280x720 Cloud Gate Standard Graphics | |
| Asus ZenBook Flip S UX370 | |
| Dell Latitude 5289 | |
| Samsung Galaxy Book 12 SM-W728 | |
| Lenovo Ideapad Miix 720-12IKB | |
| Microsoft Surface Pro (2017) i5 | |
| Fujitsu Lifebook P727 | |
| 1920x1080 Fire Strike Graphics | |
| Dell Latitude 5289 | |
| Asus ZenBook Flip S UX370 | |
| Samsung Galaxy Book 12 SM-W728 | |
| Microsoft Surface Pro (2017) i5 | |
| Fujitsu Lifebook P727 | |
| 3DMark 11 - 1280x720 Performance GPU | |
| Dell Latitude 5289 | |
| Asus ZenBook Flip S UX370 | |
| Samsung Galaxy Book 12 SM-W728 | |
| Fujitsu Lifebook P727 | |
| Lenovo Ideapad Miix 720-12IKB | |
| 3DMark 11 Performance | 1743 points | |
| 3DMark Ice Storm Standard Score | 66764 points | |
| 3DMark Cloud Gate Standard Score | 6475 points | |
| 3DMark Fire Strike Score | 963 points | |
| 3DMark Fire Strike Extreme Score | 435 points | |
| 3DMark Time Spy Score | 380 points | |
Help | ||
Gaming Performance
Although the 3D performance of the Asus ZenBook Flip S UX370UA is a lot better in the synthetic benchmarks than its competition, you cannot expect too much from it. More demanding 3D games cannot be played smoothly on the convertible. But the Intel HD Graphics 620 should be sufficient for less graphically demanding games, like the ones you can find in the Windows Store.
| low | med. | high | ultra | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BioShock Infinite (2013) | 57.7 | 31.4 | 26.3 | 8.15 |
| Battlefield 4 (2013) | 41.2 | 27.9 | 18.4 | 6.3 |
| Rise of the Tomb Raider (2016) | 20.8 | 12.3 | 7.1 | 4.6 |
Emissions
System Noise
The Asus ZenBook Flip S UX370UA has an active cooling unit, which transports the produced heat out of the device through the ventilation slots on the left side of the device. This cooling fan does not start running until the device is under a certain load. While idling, the fan remains still and the device works silently. The maximum noise we measured was 34.2 dB(A), which still was not bothersome. Our device is averagely loud compared to its competitors.
Noise Level
| Idle |
| 30.5 / 30.5 / 30.5 dB(A) |
| Load |
| 34.2 / 32.5 dB(A) |
 | ||
30 dB silent 40 dB(A) audible 50 dB(A) loud |
||
min:  , med:  , max:  Audix TM1, Arta (15 cm distance) environment noise: 30.5 dB(A) | ||
| Asus ZenBook Flip S UX370 HD Graphics 620, i5-7200U, SanDisk SD8SN8U256G1002 | Samsung Galaxy Book 12 SM-W728 HD Graphics 620, i5-7200U, Samsung SSD PM871a MZNLN256HMHQ | Microsoft Surface Pro (2017) i5 HD Graphics 620, i5-7300U, Samsung PM971 KUS030202M | Fujitsu Lifebook P727 HD Graphics 620, i7-7600U, Samsung CM871A MZNTN512HDJH | Lenovo Ideapad Miix 720-12IKB HD Graphics 620, i7-7500U, Samsung SSD PM961 1TB M.2 PCIe 3.0 x4 NVMe (MZVLW1T0) | Dell Latitude 5289 HD Graphics 620, i5-7300U, SanDisk X400 256GB, SATA (SD8SB8U-256G) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Noise | 3% | 4% | -5% | -2% | ||
| off / environment * | 30.5 | 30.3 1% | 30 2% | 30.4 -0% | 30.5 -0% | |
| Idle Minimum * | 30.5 | 30 2% | 30.4 -0% | 30.5 -0% | ||
| Idle Average * | 30.5 | 30.3 1% | 30 2% | 32.4 -6% | 30.5 -0% | |
| Idle Maximum * | 30.5 | 30 2% | 32.4 -6% | 30.5 -0% | ||
| Load Average * | 34.2 | 31.7 7% | 30.8 10% | 36 -5% | 36 -5% | |
| Load Maximum * | 32.5 | 31.7 2% | 30.8 5% | 36.3 -12% | 34.6 -6% |
* ... smaller is better
Temperature
The active cooling system transports heat out of the case quite well, which means that the latter does not heat up excessively. We measured a hot spot of 41.5 °C (~106.7 °F) max on the bottom of the base unit. The Samsung Galaxy Book 12 had significantly higher temperatures at 56.3 °C (~133 °F).
The processor heated up to a maximum 67 °C (~152.6 °F) during our stress test with "Prime95". At first it clocked at the maximum frequency of 3.1 GHz, but it took only a few seconds for the processor to start throttling and the clock rate eventually settled at around 1.8 GHz. This is significantly below the base clock rate of 2.5 GHz. We noticed that after the processor heated up to over 60 °C (~140 °F), the system began to throttle. The Asus ZenBook Flip S UX370UA managed only 1330 points during a second run of the 3DMark 11 right after the stress test. This is a loss of about 400 points compared to a cold start.
(+) The maximum temperature on the upper side is 39.5 °C / 103 F, compared to the average of 35.3 °C / 96 F, ranging from 19.6 to 60 °C for the class Convertible.
(±) The bottom heats up to a maximum of 41.5 °C / 107 F, compared to the average of 36.8 °C / 98 F
(+) In idle usage, the average temperature for the upper side is 22 °C / 72 F, compared to the device average of 30.2 °C / 86 F.
(+) The palmrests and touchpad are cooler than skin temperature with a maximum of 30.5 °C / 86.9 F and are therefore cool to the touch.
(-) The average temperature of the palmrest area of similar devices was 28 °C / 82.4 F (-2.5 °C / -4.5 F).
| Asus ZenBook Flip S UX370 HD Graphics 620, i5-7200U, SanDisk SD8SN8U256G1002 | Samsung Galaxy Book 12 SM-W728 HD Graphics 620, i5-7200U, Samsung SSD PM871a MZNLN256HMHQ | Microsoft Surface Pro (2017) i5 HD Graphics 620, i5-7300U, Samsung PM971 KUS030202M | Fujitsu Lifebook P727 HD Graphics 620, i7-7600U, Samsung CM871A MZNTN512HDJH | Lenovo Ideapad Miix 720-12IKB HD Graphics 620, i7-7500U, Samsung SSD PM961 1TB M.2 PCIe 3.0 x4 NVMe (MZVLW1T0) | Dell Latitude 5289 HD Graphics 620, i5-7300U, SanDisk X400 256GB, SATA (SD8SB8U-256G) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Heat | -35% | -23% | -2% | -27% | -19% | |
| Maximum Upper Side * | 39.5 | 52.5 -33% | 39.2 1% | 42.2 -7% | 42 -6% | 49 -24% |
| Maximum Bottom * | 41.5 | 56.3 -36% | 40.3 3% | 43.1 -4% | 43.6 -5% | 44.4 -7% |
| Idle Upper Side * | 23.1 | 31.4 -36% | 37 -60% | 22.5 3% | 32.8 -42% | 28.6 -24% |
| Idle Bottom * | 23.6 | 32.2 -36% | 32.3 -37% | 23.3 1% | 36.4 -54% | 28.3 -20% |
* ... smaller is better
Speakers
Asus has placed the speakers in the front area, below the wrist rest. The speakers come from Harman/Kardon and offer a good sound, considering their compact build. Ideally, the convertible should be placed on a hard surface, as the sound is dampened noticeably on a soft surface. As usual, mids and highs are stronger, but bass frequencies are at least present, which is often not the case. The maximum volume is more than enough at 80.1 dB(A). The speakers are also ideal for speech, so nothing should get in the way of video calls.
Asus ZenBook Flip S UX370 audio analysis
(±) | speaker loudness is average but good (73.4 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(±) | reduced bass - on average 13.8% lower than median
(±) | linearity of bass is average (9.3% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(+) | balanced mids - only 4.3% away from median
(±) | linearity of mids is average (7% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(±) | higher highs - on average 5.8% higher than median
(±) | linearity of highs is average (7% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(±) | linearity of overall sound is average (19.5% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 46% of all tested devices in this class were better, 6% similar, 48% worse
» The best had a delta of 6%, average was 20%, worst was 57%
Compared to all devices tested
» 46% of all tested devices were better, 7% similar, 47% worse
» The best had a delta of 4%, average was 24%, worst was 134%
Microsoft Surface Pro (2017) i5 audio analysis
(-) | not very loud speakers (68 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(±) | reduced bass - on average 9.7% lower than median
(±) | linearity of bass is average (7% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(+) | balanced mids - only 4.6% away from median
(+) | mids are linear (6.3% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(+) | balanced highs - only 2.1% away from median
(+) | highs are linear (5.2% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(±) | linearity of overall sound is average (18.2% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 37% of all tested devices in this class were better, 7% similar, 55% worse
» The best had a delta of 6%, average was 20%, worst was 57%
Compared to all devices tested
» 36% of all tested devices were better, 8% similar, 56% worse
» The best had a delta of 4%, average was 24%, worst was 134%
Frequency diagram in comparison (checkboxes can be turned on/off!)
Energy Management
Power Consumption
The power consumption of the Asus ZenBook Flip S UX370UA is the lowest among all comparison devices. A look at the comparison table shows that only the Dell Latitude 5289 (-2%) can keep up with our test unit. While idling, our test unit contents itself with 2.6 to 8.3 watts, although we did measure a maximum consumption of 29 watts under load. We were not that happy with power consumption during standby, which was 2.2 watts. Some of our comparison devices did a better job here. The 45-watt power supply is large enough to cover the device's needs. The notebook can be charged via either of the USB Type-C ports.
| Off / Standby | 0.68 / 2.2 Watt |
| Idle | 2.6 / 5.3 / 8.5 Watt |
| Load |
29 / 27 Watt |
   
| |
Key:
min: ,
med: ,
max: Metrahit Energy | |
| Asus ZenBook Flip S UX370 i5-7200U, HD Graphics 620, SanDisk SD8SN8U256G1002, a-Si TFT-LCD, WLED, 1920x1080, 13.3" | Samsung Galaxy Book 12 SM-W728 i5-7200U, HD Graphics 620, Samsung SSD PM871a MZNLN256HMHQ, Super AMOLED, 2160x1440, 12" | Microsoft Surface Pro (2017) i5 i5-7300U, HD Graphics 620, Samsung PM971 KUS030202M, IPS, 2736x1824, 12.3" | Fujitsu Lifebook P727 i7-7600U, HD Graphics 620, Samsung CM871A MZNTN512HDJH, IPS LED, 1920x1080, 12.5" | Lenovo Ideapad Miix 720-12IKB i7-7500U, HD Graphics 620, Samsung SSD PM961 1TB M.2 PCIe 3.0 x4 NVMe (MZVLW1T0), IPS, 2880x1920, 12" | Dell Latitude 5289 i5-7300U, HD Graphics 620, SanDisk X400 256GB, SATA (SD8SB8U-256G), IPS LED, 1920x1080, 12.5" | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Power Consumption | -31% | -14% | -10% | -16% | -2% | |
| Idle Minimum * | 2.6 | 3.9 -50% | 3.6 -38% | 3.9 -50% | 3.5 -35% | 2.7 -4% |
| Idle Average * | 5.3 | 9 -70% | 8.1 -53% | 6.6 -25% | 7.2 -36% | 5.1 4% |
| Idle Maximum * | 8.5 | 11.9 -40% | 8.7 -2% | 6.9 19% | 7.9 7% | 7.6 11% |
| Load Average * | 29 | 27.3 6% | 25.5 12% | 27 7% | 29.6 -2% | 33 -14% |
| Load Maximum * | 27 | 27.9 -3% | 23.5 13% | 27.1 -0% | 30.8 -14% | 29 -7% |
* ... smaller is better
Battery Runtime
Asus has given the ZenBook Flip S UX370UA a 39-watt Lithium-Polymer battery and claims that it has a runtime of 11.5 hours. We managed to top this while idling with 15:37 hours. Under load, the ZenBook requires recharging after just 2.5 hours. The Wi-Fi test is more practically oriented. Here, our test unit managed a runtime of 8:03 hours. The Microsoft Surface Pro and the Dell Latitude 5289 both kept going for longer, which is probably due to their larger batteries. The battery recharges fully in about 2.5 hours. The Asus ZenBook Flip S UX370UA supports "Fast Charging" and the battery should reach 60% within just 49 minutes, which we can confirm.
We also tested the 3D performance on battery and could not notice any disadvantages. The result of the 3DMark 11 was almost identical to when it was on power supply.
| Asus ZenBook Flip S UX370 i5-7200U, HD Graphics 620, 39 Wh | Samsung Galaxy Book 12 SM-W728 i5-7200U, HD Graphics 620, 39 Wh | Microsoft Surface Pro (2017) i5 i5-7300U, HD Graphics 620, 45 Wh | Fujitsu Lifebook P727 i7-7600U, HD Graphics 620, 45 Wh | Lenovo Ideapad Miix 720-12IKB i7-7500U, HD Graphics 620, 41 Wh | Dell Latitude 5289 i5-7300U, HD Graphics 620, 60 Wh | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Battery Runtime | 4% | 27% | -5% | -26% | 41% | |
| Reader / Idle | 937 | 1031 10% | 1054 12% | 941 0% | 713 -24% | 1728 84% |
| H.264 | 421 | 409 -3% | ||||
| WiFi v1.3 | 483 | 744 54% | 353 -27% | 345 -29% | 708 47% | |
| Load | 147 | 168 14% | 164 12% | 111 -24% | 136 -7% |
Verdict
Pros
Cons
The Asus ZenBook Flip S UX370UA is a smart convertible that can score several points with its high-quality choice of material. Inside, however, not much is new. The Intel Core i5-7200U has become rather old by now and the next generation is waiting in the wings. Nonetheless, the Kaby-Lake SoC can handle our tests quite well, although the conservative temperature target does limit the processor performance quite a bit. In the US, the Asus ZenBook Flip S UX370UA is available for $1400 in the configuration with 16 GB of RAM, the Intel i7 processor and a 512 GB SSD. For this price, buyers will get a perfectly built convertible, which is a real looker in the blue and gold color combination.
The Asus ZenBook Flip S UX 370UA has a perfect build and is a good travelling companion due to its light weight. Prolific writers will be happy to hear about the good keyboard.
One disadvantage, however, is the rather small cooling system, which makes the processor lose 14% of its possible performance under constant load. It is also a shame that the device is not equipped with a memory card slot, which would be a great alternative for data transfer and also work as storage expansion. The display gave us ambiguous signs. The reflective surface can be annoying in bright surroundings, but on the other hand, the good color space coverage makes it usable for semi-professional image processing. All in all, we can say that the Asus ZenBook Flip S UX370UA can definitely keep up with its competition in the tested configuration. But as always, you will have to decide for yourself which device is best for you.
Asus ZenBook Flip S UX370
- 10/03/2017 v6 (old)
Sebastian Bade
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