ASUS ZENBOOK UX31E Pro Reviews

The ASUS Zenbook UX31E is a beautiful Microsoft Windows powered Ultrabook that is sure to get the ultra portable crowd excited!

In terms of performance, the ASUS Zenbook UX31 manages to keep up with most other Ultrabooks. Their components are more or less the same, with just the internal architecture introducing certain variables that affect overall performance. What we're more interested is the battery performance and portability aspects of an ultraportable notebook. Our tests show that the UX31 lags behind top Ultrabooks from competing brands, likely due to the higher resolution (power hungry) screen that it sports amongst other minor variables. It's not a major concern, but something which you need to bear in mind when getting yourself a super slim and portable machine like the ASUS Zenbook UX31 - especially if you're seeking for the very best in mobility. If it's any consolation, it's actually on par with an Apple MacBook Air running Windows 7 via Boot Camp.

The Asus Zenbook UX31 is an attractive laptop. It’s fast laptop. For the month that I’ve had it, it’s been my favorite computer in the house. But I’m getting ready to box it up and ship it back to Intel and I’m not sure I’m ready to spend $1100 to buy my own Zenbook. Because let’ s face it: It’s better than every other computer I own. But I’m not sure if it’s enough better to consider replacing any my existing desktop or laptop computer. They still largely fill my needs. More importantly, I’m not sure it’s enough better to justify the price tag: It costs more than twice as much as the Asus UL20A I’m still using as my laptop. That’s the problem I think ultrabooks face in the market today. Solid State disks don’t come cheap

Ultrabooks are still a new category of laptop, it appears there are some growing pains associated with them. This laptop is a perfect example. In some ways, it is excellent. Battery life is good, the weight and size of the laptop leads to easy portability, the display is above average, and performance is within striking distance of larger laptops. Among the first run of production Ultrabooks the UX31 stands out. It’s more portable and quicker than the majority of the competition. Yet the chassis isn’t able to properly support the laptop’s slim frame. There are too many creaks and groans, too many surfaces that feel flimsy. And then there’s the keyboard — a amateur effort that feels more like something you’d expect to encounter on a pre-production prototype. These issues might be acceptable if this wasn’t a laptop that was priced over $1,000. The Acer Aspire S3 we reviewed late last year was not perfect in some of these areas, either. But it was and is priced to move, with some models now going for as little as $799. The UX31 is priced more like a laptop that wants to go toe-to-toe with the MacBook Air. And it simply can’t. As a result, potential buyers of the UX31 will have to consider its technical achievements against the weight of its design baggage. For some buyers, the scales will tip in favor of this laptop: It is one of the quickest Ultrabooks, and its portability can’t be ignored. But the design issues keep it from obtaining a broader recommendation.

The most reasonable conclusion is that you have to choose what’s most important, as you simply can’t get it all. You can get an $1100 ASUS UX31E that has similar or slightly better performance compared to the base model $1300 MacBook Air 13, you get a higher resolution and brighter LCD panel, and you get USB 3.0 support along with Windows 7. For $200 more, you get a higher contrast LCD with a 16:10 aspect ratio, Thunderbolt, a backlit keyboard, and OS X. If you already prefer OS X, the choice is very simple, but some Windows users might actually be willing to spend the additional money for an MBA13 ($300 extra when you factor in the Windows license). If I were to recommend just one ultrabook right now, the $1100 ASUS UX31E-DH52 gets my vote, but if you want more performance without breaking the bank, the Acer S3-951-6432 has everything you need except for a good LCD and USB 3.0 priced at $1230. If you want the MacBook equivalent of the Acer, you’ll have to pony up $1700 to get the same CPU and a 256GB SSD, though I’d say the LCD and improved build quality are worth at least $200.

The bad points? I don’t like the restricted viewing angle on the display, and the case doesn’t immediately snap shut when you close it in your hands - the Zenbook just gapes back open a little unless you put it on a tabletop and press the case shut for a couple of seconds. The good points? Everything else: usability, connectivity, build quality, slimline profile and power management. The UX31E is a cracking good Ultrabook and worth the money.

The Asus Zenbook UX31E is impressive: It's an excellent performer, it's attractive and light, and it plays back multimedia well. Unfortunately, its screen is off-color and its touchpad needs some more work (or perhaps another driver update).

Asus’ 13in Zenbook comes very close to being the ultimate Ultrabook. It sports a nice design, solid aluminium build, superb connectivity, high-resolution screen, great keyboard and touchpad, class-leading audio and premium accessories such as the stylish sleeve – and all for under £1,000. Given this, its lack of keyboard backlighting can easily be overlooked. Unfortunately, its screen’s poor viewing angles are trickier to forgive, keeping the UX31 from a Recommended Award by a kitten’s whisker.

As a rule of thumb, a manufacturer's first attempt at a new product is usually its worst, and in knowing that we've been left pleasantly surprised by the Zenbook UX31. The Ultrabook should still be rough around the edges, but ASUS has developed a machine that's gorgeously designed, well-put together and, generally, excellent in use. Combining an Intel Core i7 processor and a SandForce-powered SATA 6Gbps SSD delivers stunning performance, and the low-power components enable the system to deliver a healthy amount of battery life, too. But it isn't quite the perfect start, as ASUS's machine does fall short in a few key areas. Despite offering a class-leading 1,600x900 resolution, the UX31 display offers poor viewing angles, while the system's keyboard isn't backlit and feels a touch too shallow. Factor in a dozen-too-many pre-installed applications and the out-the-box experience isn't as refined as it might have been. This isn't quite the ultimate ultra-thin PC, but it's a terrific start, and one that suggests that while 2011 has been dominated by tablets, 2012 could well be the year of the Ultrabook.

After the first Ultrabook left us feeling lukewarm, we grew hopeful that maybe, just maybe, ASUS' Zenbooks would get it right. While the S3 has little more to offer than a low price point, the UX31 has an arresting design and SATA III SSD that promises superior battery life and performance. And it still manages to undercut the Air by two hundred dollars, even though the two have similar specs. So is the UX31 everything we thought it would be? For the most part, yes. With the exception of one nagging design quirk, it's as stunning in person as it is in the press shots. It's fast -- faster than the Air, arguably -- and its battery life is comparable. It offers the highest-res display we've seen in an Ultrabook and the sound quality is disarmingly good. The MacBook Air still gets high marks -- not least because of its reliable trackpad and comfier (backlit!) keyboard. But if you can deal with the UX31's shallow keys and have faith that ASUS will find its way with the touchpad, we have a feeling you'll be very happy with this guy. It's true, we still need to take a closer look at what Lenovo and Toshiba have to offer, but for now this is indeed the Ultrabook they need to beat.

The Asus Zenbook UX31E is impressive. It's an excellent performer, it's attractive and light, and it plays back multimedia well. Unfortunately, its screen is off-colour and its touchpad needs more work.

fter the somewhat disappointing Acer Aspire S3, the Asus UX31 was a bit worrying at first. Fortunately for us, the 13.3-inch Zenbook performs admirably and was able to hit each spot that the Acer Ultrabook missed. For one, the top quality magnesium alloy construct as well as the comfortable keyboard are definitely worthy of the premium $1000+ USD price tag. The especially high brightness and native resolution of the screen deserve another mention here as well. It’s easy to see that much care and consideration went into the physical build and impression of the ultrathin design. We can safely say that this Asus notebook can take a small amount of beating here and there with moderate use and still look practically new.

Lush to look at, the ZenBook just oozes class - which is why the price, while still placing these models into the premium bracket, came as a bit of a surprise. The 11.6in UX21 costs £849, while the 13.3in UX31 sells for £999 - coincidentally, the prices of Apple's two entry-level MacBook Air models. But spec for spec, the ZenBooks outclass their Apple competition by some margin, doubling the capacity of the SSD to 128GB and upping the processor in the £999 model to an Intel Core i7 against the Air's i5. Expensive they may be, but to those seeking the ultimate in PC style we reckon the new Asus ZenBooks are worth every penny. Check back on ITReviews soon, when we put the ZenBooks through their paces in a full lab-tested review.

It's safe to say the Zenbook is an extremely impressive first showing. If the aforementioned kinks get addressed (especially the temperamental touchpad), I might even be tempted to pick one of these babies up for myself. Or perhaps I'll wait for those $600, Ivy Bridge-powered ultrabooks Asus has been quietly teasing. Either way, this is a very exciting time for the industry. If more manufacturers manage to serve up Apple-like build quality with these kinds of features and prices, the world of Windows notebooks could soon change for the better.

The UX31 is one of the most refreshing PCs I’ve reviewed in a long time. The design and quality are truly outstanding; ASUS clearly went all-out. The sheer thinness and light weight of the notebook make you want to buy it as soon as it’s picked up. Another major highlight of the notebook is the excellent 1600x900 screen resolution which is remarkable for a 13.3-inch notebook. I was also impressed with the good sound quality and six hours of battery life. The real downsides of the notebook concern the keyboard and touchpad; both take getting used to. The keyboard requires extra pressure; the keys must be 100% pressed otherwise keystrokes do not register. I mastered this after a few days. The touchpad needed a driver update before it became predictable, and even then it is not particularly accurate. I also wish the clicks were quieter. Other things to consider with this notebook are the lack of user-upgradeable parts (there are none) and scarcity of ports (that can be solved with adapters, however).

Aside from one piece, the UX31 is the ultraportable (er, ultrabook) Windows users have been waiting on for oh so long. It’s fast, it’s got great battery life, and it costs less than the MacBook Air. (The $1,399 Core i7 unit I was sent is still $200 less than the equally spec'd Air.) However, that one piece — the trackpad — is so incredibly important to the end experience, that it seems to negate all those other amazing attributes that Asus worked so hard to get right. If you cannot control the core part of the laptop — the actual interface and software — what good is everything else? Yes, Asus is improving the experience little by little and right now the drivers have made the experience tolerable, but I’m not sure “tolerable” is good enough for a machine that costs more than a grand. If you can look past the trackpad issue and have the patience to wait on Asus to adjust the drivers, the UX31 is without a doubt the best Windows ultrabook out there and for $1,119 you get similar build and performance to Apple’s Air. However, until that trackpad issue is really mended, I have to say paying $300 more for the Air or Samsung Series 9 seems like the safer route. Still, something tells me Asus’ excitement about this category and Intel’s support will eventually give us that no-compromise Air competitor.

While price may preclude some from purchasing the Zenbook, we have no problem in recommending it as one of the best ultraportables we've seen. It's certainly a match for the impressive MacBook Air - and a real tonic to those who have wanted a performanceWindowsultraportable at a price point that doesn't require a remortgage. Yes, it's expensive. But it's so worth it.

Whether it’s these nagging design details, or the more serious flaws in its construction, the Zenbook UX31E makes some big trade-offs. There’s no doubt it gets some things emphatically right – the beauty, brawn and stamina are all worthy of praise – but it’s inconsistent in the most crucial aspects of any laptop’s design. That makes it impossible to fully recommend right now, but one thing is for sure: the battle of the Ultrabooks has only just begun.

The Asus Zenbook UX31E is an excellent-looking Windows Ultrabook laptop that matches the MacBook Air step for step with an even better price. Fans of great audio, high-resolution screens and lots of ports will be happy; keyboard/touch pad aficionados will be disappointed.

The Asus Zenbook UX31 is the clear leader in the nascent ultrabook category, with better overall performance and battery life than any competitor. It also has a brilliant display, superb sound, and solid construction.

The ASUS Zenbook UX31 takes a lot of what we loved about the 13-inch MacBook Air--a wafer-thin aluminum chassis, fast performance, instant resume, and good battery life--and adds even better audio and a higher-resolution display. Even better, the UX31 costs $200 less than the Air. The design of the ASUS also looks and feels more premium, thanks to the brushed-metal treatment. However, while we can live with not having a backlit keyboard, the touchpad simply doesn't work as well as it should--and you interact with that the most. The Zenbook UX31 is our favorite Ultrabook so far, but the Air is still our top ultraportable.

Because it’s the first UltraBook we’ve reviewed, it’s impossible to say whether the Asus ZenBook UX31 will be bested by a competitor over the next few months. However, based on what we’ve seen, it’s going to be incredibly difficult to beat – the fantastic design, sturdy build quality and excellent performance make the UX31 an incredibly desirable machine. If you've been waiting for a Windows MacBook Air equivalent, then that wait is over.