Asus Zenbook 13 UX331UN-90NB0GY1-M00230
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Reviews for the Asus Zenbook 13 UX331UN-90NB0GY1-M00230
Source: Pocket Lint Archive.org version
The Asus ZenBook 13 is a fresh look at how bezel light and footprint friendly a laptop can be.
Single Review, online available, Medium, Date: 08/30/2018
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Model: The Asus Zenbook 13 UX331UN-90NB0GY1-M00230 is a lightweight, thin laptop. It is a fresh look at how bezel light and footprint friendly a laptop can be. In 2018 it's a rapid race to see which manufacturer can deliver a laptop with the least bezel. And Asus is competing around when it comes to the ZenBook series, with the late 2018 model sporting a 95 percent screen-to-body ratio. The new ZenBook 13 gives all the elegance and style user expect from a ZenBook and a whole lot more. With a stunning crystal-like finish and a sophisticated modern design that places it in a class of its own. This ultralight marvel is the thinnest laptop on the planet with a high-performance discrete graphics chip, giving it all the pixel-pushing horsepower user need for creativity and entertainment: editing videos, manipulating photos, or just enjoying their favorite movies and games. At its heart is the latest 8th Generation Intel Core i5 processor which can be boosted to 3.7 GHz when needed. It is paired with 8 GB of RAM, a discrete NVIDIA GeForce MX150 graphics card. Fast storage is provided by a 256 GB SATA SSD. So whether users are creating mega-sized office documents, manipulating high-resolution photos, editing videos, or simply taking a break with the latest high-powered games, the ZenBook 13 will hardly keep anyone waiting
In terms of connectivity, the ZenBook 13 isn't so ridiculously thin that it can't fit the goods in. In addition to two full-size USB ports, there's a USB-C, plus a separate charger - which is always handy rather than being forced to switch cables over when charging. There's even an HDMI, microSD card slot (not full size, boo) and a 3.5 mm headphone jack. According to Asus, the 13-inch model's battery should see it live for up to 14 hours per charge. A new feature for the 2018 ZenBook is apparent on its trackpad, too. It functions as a standard trackpad, sure, but hit the little button to the top right corner and it imposes a number pad savvily called NumberPad by Asus which can be used to quickly tap away numbers. The keyboard is no shabby effort either, with decent key depression and a soft backlight to help a user see those digits in the dark. Interestingly, the hinge design of the latest ZenBook also angles the laptop into a slightly angled and more comfortable position the more the clamshell is opened: so close it's perfectly flat, but angled back fully the keyboard sits in a more slanted, ergonomic position. As a conclusion, with the ZenBook 13, a user will always be ready to go anywhere. The ZenBook 13 is not just a superbly capable laptop, it's also a powerful style statement. Featuring lightweight build and decent hardware, it is built for users who are always working remotely.
Hands-on article by Jagadisa Rajarathnam
NVIDIA GeForce MX150: Pascal GP108 based laptop graphics card and mobile version of the desktop GeForce GT 1030. Offers 384 shader cores and usually 2 GB GDDR5 with a 64 Bit memory bus. Manufactured in 14nm.
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.
i5-8550U: Kaby-Lake-Refresh based low power quad-core processor. The four cores are clocked between 1.8 and 4 GHz (Turbo Boost) and support HyperThreading. The integrated GPU is clocked between 300 and 1,150 MHz. The SoC is manufactured in a 14nm+ FinFET process.» Further information can be found in our Comparison of Mobile Processsors.
13.30":
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.
» Further information can be found in our Notebook Purchase Guide.