Asus ZenBook 15: An Almost Bezel-Less Ultrabook With Great Performance

At Computex 2019, ASUS introduced its latest ZenBook 15 that are more compact than all of its predecessors. Another noticeable change is that the device has ASUS’s ScreenPad in the place of the regular trackpad, with a touchscreen.

The specs on papers seem promising enough, but what matters is how the new ZenBook works in real life.

Design & Build

The ZenBook 15 might not look that way, but it has MIL-STD-810G standards to prove its durability. While this is no way of telling users to handle it without care, tests have proven that the device is more durable against humidity, temperature, and altitude.

The ASUS’s ErgoLift hinge is there to make sure that users have a better angle to write anything, as well as better thermal management.

The lid of the ZenBook 15 is made out of aluminum while the base is polycarbonates but with a metal-like finish. This combination makes the device looks less premium than the MacBook and the like, but it will give ZenBook 15 an edge in heat management.

ASUS still uses their signature champagne and blue on this device and the results are stunning. The labels of the keys have a shade of gold and a strip of also gold mesh on the top of the keyboard.

The look might be appealing, but unfortunately, it will show the user’s fingerprints. To add to the print problem, the glaring white sticker near the trackpad makes all the concentric design seems like a waste.

Display & Webcam

While a bezel-less display is not possible on this ZenBook 15, you will have something really close, thanks to ASUS’s NanoEdge display. However, the company has a better way of hiding the webcam, rather than placing it to the bottom.

ASUS has taken advantage of the ErgoLiftto get the bottom bezel out of the way when the laptop is opened. There is a 3D IR sensor next to the webcam at the top so that users can unlock the device even when there is not enough light around.

With ZenBook 15, you have a FullHD IPS LCD display, plus a glossy finish, which can pose a problem for users who use the device in a well-lit environment. However, its advantages lie in the excellent color reproduction and viewing angle.

Performance & Audio

Under the hood, the testing device we got has an NVIDIA GTX 1650 Max-Q GPU, an Intel Core i7-8565U processor, a 1TB PCIe 3.0 SSD, and 16GB of DDR4 RAM. Here is a clearer explanation of the specs. You can open lots of tabs on Chrome without a single hiccup. Chrome with Spotify in the background is not an issue, and neither is the combination of Chrome, Spotify, and Illustrator.

With the mid-range GPU, ZenBook 15 can satisfy most casual gamers. Games like FarCry 5 runs without a single frame drop, but the device can heat up quite quickly. For graphics-intensive tasks like video editing and the like, you can count on the power of this device.

ZenBook 15 offers users a dual-speaker setup. However, the positions of these speakers mean that they cannot get as loud as those of laptops that have the top-facing positions. If you want a better experience or are in a place where you cannot make too much noise, plugging in a pair of headphones via the 3.5mm jack is a good option. Bluetooth 5.0 is also available.

Keyboard & Trackpad

ZenBook 15 features ASUS’s ScreenPad 2.0, meaning you will have a 5.65-inch display with 2160x1080 resolution. While the main display is a fingerprint magnet, this extra screen has a matte treatment to avoid the above problem and enhance visibility. This can be put as a more radical approach to the same idea Apple has with the Touch Bars.

The ScreenPad can serve as another, smaller display, which can host a browser or play songs without you dividing part of the main screen for these purposes. Users also have lots of ScreenPad companion apps that can be used when a specific main app is opened. For example, when you use Microsoft Word, you will have a second display showing editing shortcuts. The API has been opened up for developers so that the ScreenPad might bring even more benefits to users in the future.

The ZenBook 15’s keyboard is backlit at the base. While this design makes no difference to the functionality, the overall appearance of the laptop is affected.

Battery Life

ASUS said that the 71Wh 8-cell Lithium-polymer battery of this laptop could sustain it for up to 15 hours but in reality, what you have is not even close to that amount of time. In tests, ZenBook 15 can last a maximum of 9 hours with only writing, browsing, and music playing in the background. For longer battery life, users may disable the ScreenPad to save some energy.

There is a USB Type-C port, but the laptop cannot be charged in this way. On the plus side, the 65W charger does save you some time filling up the battery.

Connectivity

In terms of connectivity, you can always rely on the wide range of ports the laptop has. Here is the full list: a USB 3.1 Gen 2 Type-A (up to 10Gbps) port, a USB 3.1 Gen 2 Type-C (display support) port, an HDMI port, a full-sized SD card reader, and a USB 3.1 Gen 1 Type-A (up to 5Gbps) port.

Verdict

Overall, ZenBook 15 is a laptop with decent battery life, great performance, and an appealing design. The ScreenPad still feels like a half-hearted effort, and even without it, not many users will miss its absence.

This laptop is an easy recommendation for anyone needing a powerful laptop. If budget is your problem, the ZenBook 14 is a reliable alternative with less durable battery and a worse GPU, but come with a similar experience.

The price for the base model is Rs. 1,19,990 and no information on the cost of the top variant have been released yet.