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The bottom line: Our quick verdict on the ASUS ZenBook 3
ASUS's latest ultraportable the ZenBook 3 is often compared to Apple's 12-inch MacBook. And can you blame people? The laptop is even thinner and lighter than Apple's two-pound wonder, but just as fast and with longer battery life. And it comes with a mini dock in the box, adding precisely the sort of ports you'd be missing on the MacBook (and would only have access to if you paid extra for an adapter). On paper, then, it's precisely the computer Windows-using travelers have been looking for. Depending on your needs, that may still be the case, but in practice we found the ZenBook 3 isn't everything we hoped it would be. In particular, we found the keyboard and trackpad uncomfortable to use, and we had some concerns about the build quality too. It's possible you'll disagree with us there, but you owe it to yourself to get some hands-on time with the machine at a local store before buying, if at all possible.
ASUS ZenBook 3 review: A powerful MacBook competitor with issues
Apple's tiny MacBook was a revelation when it debuted last year. It was thinner and lighter than most ultraportables on the market, and its refined design brought over some cues from Apple's mobile hardware. So it was only a matter of time before a PC maker took a swing at a similar design. Enter the ASUS ZenBook 3, a minuscule machine that promises to be just as portable as the MacBook while packing in much faster hardware. But while ASUS has proved it can sell powerful machines for far less than the competition, it's less experienced when it comes to delivering truly premium hardware. The ZenBook 3, while attractive on the surface, is a reminder that ASUS still has a lot to learn.
ASUS' ZenBook 3 vs. the updated MacBook: Which packs more punch?
The 12-inch MacBook is attractive and compact, but not without compromises. When the original came out last spring, our reviewer Dana Wollman took issue with its lackluster performance and lack of ports outside of a USB-C connection. Still, the MacBook was good enough to warrant a refresh in 2016 that delivered more battery life and improved performance. Now, ASUS is getting in on the minimalist act with its new ZenBook 3. At a glance, the new MacBook and ZenBook 3 seem quite similar indeed, with small, lightweight designs and, well, not many ports. While we'll certainly put the Zenbook 3 through its paces in a full review, a quick peek at the specs reveals two machines similar in profile, but with the potential for very different performance.
Catch up with Computex 2016: Day one
Computex is typically ASUS' show. Every year, the Taiwanese company takes to Taipei to unload a host of its wares and, in the process, steal the lion's share of the show's headlines. Well, 2016 is no different as ASUS has taken the wraps off a slew of devices including an ultraportable that's thinner than Apple's own MacBook, Surface-like 2-in-1 PCs, three new ZenFones, a charming robot assistant for the home and a me-too mobile VR headset. Don't fret if you whiled away the holiday weekend and need to get up to speed on day one of the show -- we've got you covered in the video above and the gallery below.
Hands-on video with the ASUS ZenBook 3: so, so thin
We didn't expect much from yet another ASUS ultraportable, but the ZenBook 3 is seriously impressive. Weighing in at two pounds and measuring 11.9mm thick, it's both thinner and lighter than Apple's already crazy portable MacBook. It also packs in speedy Core i5 and Core i7 processors, so you won't have to worry about it being underpowered like the MacBook's Core M CPU. Above, watch our hands-on video of the ZenBook 3, and be sure to check our announcement post for deeper impressions.
ASUS' ZenBook 3 is thinner, lighter and faster than the MacBook
How much more can ASUS shave off of the ZenBook, its flagship ultraportable? Apparently, quite a bit. The company's new ZenBook 3, announced today at Computex, clocks in at just two pounds and 11.9mm (0.46 inches) thick. In comparison, the previous ZenBook UX305 weighed 2.64 pounds and measured 12.9mm thick (0.51 inches). Sure, those might just seem like incremental improvements, but they're remarkable when you consider just how insanely thin and light the previous model was. Most impressively, the ZenBook 3 just barely edges out Apple's svelte MacBook, which weighs 2.03lbs and is 13.2mm (0.52 inches) thick, all while packing in a larger 12.5-inch display.
