The best of CES 2022
Engadget's top picks from 12 categories, and our overall favorite from this year's show.
ASUS Zenbook UX31
88
Engadget Review
The UX31 is the new Ultrabook to beat, thanks to its long battery life, fast performance and welcome extras like a high-res display and Bang & Olufsen speakers.
Dana WollmanOctober 21, 2011
Pros
- Striking designStrong performance, blazing SSDLong battery lifeCrisp 1600 x 900 display, robust speakers
Cons
- Flaky trackpadKeyboard can be frustrating
ASUS
Zenbook
Engadget - Not yet scored
0
Critics
5 reviews80
AVERAGE CRITIC SCORE
Users
14 reviews87
AVERAGE USER SCORE
View All Critic & User Reviews
ASUS Zenbook UX31
- Critic Reviews (5)
- User Reviews (14)
- 80AVERAGE CRITIC SCORE5 ReviewsLaptop Magazine80ASUS Zenbook UX31 ReviewThe 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.PC Mag80Asus Zenbook UX31-RSL8The Asus Zenbook UX31-RSL8 tops the spiritual progenitors of the ultrabook category, the Apple MacBook Air 13-inch and the Samsung Series 9. While it may not be as affordable as the Acer Aspire S3 or the Protégé Z835-P330, it more than makes up for it in superior construction...PC World80Asus Zenbook UX31EThe 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.CNET80Asus Zenbook UX31E-DH52The Asus Zenbook UX31E is an excellent-looking Windows Ultrabook laptop that matches the MacBook Air step for step with an even better price.Engadget80ASUS Zenbook UX31 ReviewSo 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.
- 87AVERAGE USER SCORE14 ReviewsEngadget Reader80February 7, 2014Feedback submitted!Unable to submit feedback!There's a lot to like about this in spite of a few flaws. - EngadgetEngadget Reader90November 4, 2012Feedback submitted!Unable to submit feedback!The best in its category. We highly recommend it. - EngadgetEngadget Reader100October 12, 2012Feedback submitted!Unable to submit feedback!Everything is detailed in the points.Some others: the keyboard is very good. (I have ordered one from France, so it's got a French keyboard)Con:Touchpad. It's OK. Not good, but not that bad. Multifinger gestures usually lag.EDIT:After 2 days of use: - I installed the latest touchpad driver - now it's good. But the lid collects fingerprints very easily - it's a nice touch they gave a screen cleaning little something with it that removes them in seconds.GAMING:It is not made for gaming, but the Intel HD 3000 can do some gaming. I mean the usual multiplayer games are running OK. Command and Conquer Generals - 30+ FPS, high resMinecraft - server runs, the client is very slow (5FPS)AOE - obvious, it runsEngadget Reader90August 19, 2012Feedback submitted!Unable to submit feedback!The best in its category. We highly recommend it. - EngadgetEngadget Reader30July 9, 2012Feedback submitted!Unable to submit feedback!xcvxcvxcEngadget Reader90April 28, 2012Feedback submitted!Unable to submit feedback!I love this machine! One of my best choices I made for a computer ever. Especailly since I got it with a Core i7 processor. The only drawback is the graphics card could be more powerful and you can't open up the computer for expanding the graphics card or memory.From an HTML5/CSS3 Web Designer in NYEngadget Reader100April 16, 2012Feedback submitted!Unable to submit feedback!I bought a UX31 for me and a UX21 for my girlfriend and love both of these so much. The value is incredible, they run extremely fast and smooth, and the design is stunning. I would highly recommend the ZenBook line of Ultrabooks.Engadget Reader90April 9, 2012Feedback submitted!Unable to submit feedback!Best ultrabook as of now (Early 2012)Engadget Reader90April 9, 2012Feedback submitted!Unable to submit feedback!The best in its category. We highly recommend it. - EngadgetEngadget Reader100March 31, 2012Feedback submitted!Unable to submit feedback!A gadget unicorn - EngadgetEngadget Reader90March 21, 2012Feedback submitted!Unable to submit feedback!My only true complaint about this laptop is the keyboard. Even after several months of ownership I have to be extra deliberate when typing for more than a few words on this laptop. The keys just don't always recognize your presses. In all other respects this laptop has been basically exactly what I need from a laptop. That said, I have a pretty specced out desktop PC I use to do basically everything more intensive than light gaming and word processing. While it certainly has plenty of power for its size, it isn't going to outshine and alienware any time soon. In a couple years and a few revisions down the road, I fully plan on buying a newer iteration of this laptop...and hopefully by then the keyboard will have improved.(The top of the review is in error, I have the first run of the UX31, WITHOUT the elan touchpad)Engadget Reader90January 31, 2012Feedback submitted!Unable to submit feedback!The best in its category. We highly recommend it. - EngadgetEngadget Reader90December 26, 2011Feedback submitted!Unable to submit feedback!The best in its category. We highly recommend it. - EngadgetEngadget Reader90November 3, 2011Feedback submitted!Unable to submit feedback!Just received the unit 2 days ago. Loved it from the get go... Boot time from sleep <2s. Cold boot time 15s. System purchased is UX31E with 4G RAM and 256 SSD. External HDMI and VGA connectivity also flawless. Used in a meeting yesterday with HDMI out and Bluetooth presentation "clicker". Received many ooos and ahhhs. I'm getting a solid 6.5 - 7 hours battery life out of the unit. Only one thing I would change... The delete key on the keyboard is right next to the power key, I'd move it somewhere else. Hit power accidentally twice, but luckily the unit is not sensitive to a tap on the power button.
Key Specs
TYPE
Ultraportable
SCREEN SIZE
13.322
SCREEN RESOLUTION
1600 x 900
BUNDLED OS
Windows
CPU FAMILY
Core i5
PROCESSOR SPEED
1.719
SYSTEM RAM
41
POINTING DEVICE
Trackpad
VIDEO OUTPUTS
Hdmi, Vga
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