ASUS, one of the first brands who opted for the term ultrabook and applied its features to its lightweight portable models, continues its idea of providing a lightweight portable design a very characteristic while balancing in.
The recent ASUS Zenbook UX303 with its 13 – inch screen has already gone through the table of tests. We have submitted a few weeks of testing as the main computer to check your strengths and the weak, and to tell thee in our analysis of the ASUS Zenbook UX303.
ASUS Zenbook UX303, main features
The two major segments of laptops that more traction is in the market for their manufacturers are destined to play, and the last ultrabooks designs and almost impossible physical dimensions. But there are still brands that go all out for equipment that could be defined as classic ultrabooks. ASUS is one of them.
| ASUS ZENBOOK UX303 | |
| Screen | 13.3” IPS LCD 1920 x 1080 (QHD + and tactile versions) |
| Processor | Core i5 6200U (2.3 Ghz) |
| Memory | 4GB DDR3L |
| Graphics | Intel HD Graphics 520 |
| Storage | 128 GB SSD SATA-3 |
| Connectivity | Ac Wifi and Bluetooth 4.0 |
| Ports | SD 3 USB 3.0, card reader, headphone jack, full HDMI, MiniDisplayPort |
| Sound | Bang & Olufsen ICEpower |
| Battery | 50 Wh |
| Others | Backlight keyboard |
| Dimensions | 323 x 223 mm x 19.2 mm |
| Weight | 1.45 kg |
The value of this ASUS Zenbook UX303 is balance in performance and features (we miss more RAM standard, and is much appreciated that the hard drive is an SSD), general behavior and design a cost nothing over the top. The version we tested includes screen with matte finish and not touch – type, being a model in which the variety of options both on screen and in combinations of processor, RAM (welded, eye) and hard drive (SSD or classic) are numerous.
Balance in size but complete in ports
Laptops are one of the few electronics products that have managed to secure design patterns and lines brands. Moreover, the Zenbook are the most they have succeeded.
The design language of its metal casing, with finish in brushed aluminum, is easily recognizable from several generations ago with little change. So are the colors of the shells, changing according to the incidence of light and certainly with personality and whose classic tones have joined in this generation other like brown and golden shades, including pink gold.
Overall, Zenbook perfectly conveys the sense of strength and good finish, and it shows for example in the hinge of the screen.
In less subjective aspects, the ASUS Zenbook UX303 is a ultrabook not record -breaking weight (1.45 kg) or thick (2 cm) or extreme dimensions, but that it falls into that league designed equipment to take them everywhere with us. That does not mean that we would have liked mainly find a lower weight.
As for connection ports, sometimes the large land concessions or compromises in the world of ultrabooks, this ASUS Zenbook comes well prepared although it is quite thin. On one side we have two USB 3.0 ports and an SD card reader, while on the other side a third USB 3.0 port is located, the HDMI out, a miniDisplayPort port, headphone output and power connection.
The charger is compact and consistent with what we expect from a team that should be above all comfortable to wear.
Part of the Bang & Olufsen is responsible, with adequate performance both for clarity and for power; although I think I could have given more of itself with a configuration and design of the speakers better off than at the bottom of the chassis.
Screen glare and bright
With 13.3 – inch diagonal closed, ASUS Zenbook screen UX303U supports many options, including matte or glossy finishes, touch technology and up to three resolutions. The unit we tested seems to us one of the most successful of all possible. It has 1080p resolution does not include touch technology but above all we must mention the matte finish of the glass panel that protects the laptop screen.
This matte finish screen (actually an antireflection layer) allows, without being a high-end model, the reflections are not a problem to use this Zenbook outdoors or situations where many other teams are quite insufferable at this level.
The screen uses an IPS panel color (72% NTSC) and quite striking, what helps the Asus Splendid technology, which adjusts the contrast values depending on what content are seeing it. The panel is quite bright, 300 cd / m2, although when we let the brightness is regulated in automatically, should turn up several points manually so that is not too small. Good contrast, above 700: 1.
Accustomed to dealing with ultrabooks screens that are penalized in day to day as its price cuts, the ASUS Zenbook this has left us quite satisfied. Although there are options HD resolution and another with panel QHD +, the model we tested panel 1080p seems to us the most successful because we have a density very appropriate pixel without betting on higher resolution penalizes a key factor in a ultrabook as it is the battery.
A laptop for everyday
If I have spoken several times of “balance” when referring to the behavior of ASUS Zenbook we tested in this analysis so far, I return to that expression to discuss giving him the UX303 model with the configuration that came to the table test: processor Core i5-6200U 2.3 GHz, 4 GB of DDR3 RAM and an SSD of 128 GB.
In the pure and performance, the Core i5 meets the tasks that have to do with video editing or images at a high level, as well as multimedia and office automation. Without fanfare but also to highlight lacking. In Geekbench we have obtained a score of 5944 points and the test of PCMark 8 Home has remained at 2937 points.
When you have tightened your browser to full capacity and many tabs, it has been noticed that in RAM and a fairer than we would like. But in a non – specific domestic or work environment (no players to wait to use the equipment with titles beyond casual) is a computer that meets smoothly, driven no doubt by an SSD which is not exactly fast (about 175 MB / s in writing) but much better than having a classic unit.
Something to keep in mind is that the drive with 128GB of space may fall short for many users. With the same processor, the version with 256 GB RAM also up to 8 GB, seems a better investment. Do not forget that ASUS mounted quite bloatware series, so to earn extra space you have to invest some time to proceed to the elimination of all software pre – loaded and associated with our new team that we will not take advantage.
And the battery? For a processor does not count much needed energy nor a panel to rise excessively resolution, three – cell battery and 50 Wh of this Zenbook can be according to our tests about 6.5 hours continuous video playback and 5 hours mixed use with 50% brightness and connectivity all active time.
Keyboard and Touchpad
Although the ultrabook is mainly intended to bring him forth, the keyboard should not be neglected. And the ASUS Zenbook UX303 has seemed in keeping with the general good to the team. It is kind of island, with slight curvature on the sides and sufficient size to avoid mistakes. The tour is suitable and is very comfortable typing long hours with him but sometimes appreciate it lacks some consistency and robustness.
As for the touchpad it is spacious with good texture that facilitates slide your fingers through it easily and accurate but with some errors due to software more than hardware. In any case the operation of gestures, important Windows 8 and 10, has been adequate.