Don't expect too much from the ZenBook Pro UX550

Coil whine, backlight bleed, and keyboard flex were some of the issues found. (Source: hpthetallguy)

Many are eagerly awaiting Asus's new ZenBook Pro UX550 as a powerful but portable multimedia workhorse, but initial reports suggest the same kind of issues that have caused users to look to the UX550 may cause them to again have to look elsewhere for their dream machine.

Douglas Black, Published 07/21/2017

Ever since the ZenBook Pro UX550 was announced just ahead of Computex this year in Taipei, the internet was awash with excited fans looking forward to a device that could compete with Dell's XPS 15. Many of those waiting are people who want a professional-looking laptop but have either been burned by QC issues or just need a little more graphical horsepower than the XPS 15 offers. As we've seen before with the Yoga 720 and other laptops, however, those waiting for the "perfect" laptop without issues will have to keep waiting — according to a reddit post by one of the first consumers to receie their UX550, anyway.

A northern European user by the handle "hpthetallguy" reported his disappointment with his new, roughly US$2500 ZenBook Pro. He complained of significant backlight bleed (pictured right), coil whine (see video), and keyboard flex in his post. "I mean, is it too much to ask for when you buy a ~2500USD laptop that the build quality is good?" his post began, noting that he had already returned an XPS 15 9560 due to coil whine. The thread, with 139 comments at the time of writing, is rife with disappointed fans who were waiting for the release of the UX550 with baited breath. It isn't a newsworthy surprise than a laptop has issues, but its perhaps a reminder not to put too much hope in a product without first seeing it in person.

Hopefully the issues experienced by the user will not be indicative of the overall level of quality the much awaited ZenBook Pro UX550 has.