But it also competes directly with the likes of Apple, Dell and HP, and this latest model focuses on no-compromise performance with a quad-core eighth-generation Intel i5 processor and Nvidia GeForce MX150 graphics card, all in a revamped case that’s just over half an inch thick, yet fits in a proper set of ports, a Windows Hello fingerprint reader, and stereo speakers that live up to their Harmon Kardon branding.
The screen is not top quality, but the ZenBook 13 has lots of processing power
The jury’s out on whether the glossy lid feels classier or cheaper than brushed metal, but what we can definitely say is that it picks up more fingerprints than a crime-scene investigators’ convention. Depending on where you buy it, there’s a choice of grey or Asus’s favourite blue.
The whole machine has a solid feel, and we found both the keyboard and the large touchpad very responsive. This could certainly pass for a business-grade laptop, but without the traditional clunkiness.
Shift your attention to the upper half, though, and all’s not so rosy. The bezels around the screen are narrow, but nowhere near as small as in Dell’s Infinity Edge design.
The screen itself falls behind the quality of the XPS 13, covering only 85 percent of the sRGB colour range and with poor accuracy within that. Nor is it anywhere near as bright – although we’ve seen a lot worse, and the matt finish avoids distracting reflections. For general Windows 10 work it’s fine, and games and films don’t look so dull that you’d worry about it. But it rules out the ZenBook 13 for serious photo or video editing.
That’s a shame, because it’s got all the processing power you’d need. Its i5-8250U processor did very well in our tests, beating most other laptops we’ve seen with the same chip.
The reason is its cooling system, which prevented the laptop from overheating. The fans stayed relatively quiet even when working hard, while the MX150 graphics card pulled it well ahead of the XPS 13 in 3D graphics tests. The 256GB SSD wasn’t as quick as we expected, and vastly slower than Dell’s, but still much faster than a hard drive.
If we had to choose, we’d concur with Asus and skimp on this rather than the processor.
VERDICT:
8Total Score
Asus ZenBook 13 (2018) Review
With a better screen, even at a slightly higher price, this could have been the ideal ultra-portable laptop; as it is, it's a near miss
Lenovo's Legion 5 Pro is the upgraded version of our Elite-listed budget gaming laptop, so we've got high hopes for this mid-range machine. It gets off to a good start with its screen, which has an intriguing 16:10 aspect ratio. This gives you ...
HP's new Victus brand offers a more affordable alternative to its high-end Omen line, and this machine is one of the cheapest gaming laptops we've seen for ages. The low price doesn't mean cut-back silicon either. Nvidia's GeForce RTX 3060 has a ...
HP Victus 16-d0097nr review - HP's Victus 16 gaming notebook keeps your focus on the screen, not what's under your fingers. by mark hachman
The HP Victus 16 joins a small but growing crop of gaming notebooks whose ...
The Asus ROG Flow X13 is one of the most exciting gaming laptops on the market right now, as it's not just a laptop. This machine is at its best when you buy it alongside the ROG XG Mobile graphics dock, which turbo-charges its gaming ability. The ...
$669.99 2 used from $669.99in stock
