Asus ZenBook S UX391UA Review Roundup

Asus’ newest ZenBook, the Zenbook S UX391UA (say that three times fast) is here. Is the new super-compact device worth the hefty price tag, or is it better left for the bargain bin? Today we’re going to round up the best features of the new ZenBook and let you know what we think. After all, competition in the laptop market is fierce at the moment, and you shouldn’t waste your time or money on a sub-par product! Let’s talk about the newest release from Asus.

Design

The Zenbook S UX391UA is compact. As in, incredibly compact. If you’re the type of person who often works in coffee shops or is on the move a lot, this is a plus. The main design feature here is the ErgoLift hinge. In English, that’s the hinge that lifts the bottom part of the laptop when it’s unfolded. The lift makes it easier to type on the small keyboard and also helps ventilate the laptop. Overall, the design could be described as understated, subtle and soft. That said, it is also quite stylish.

Specs

The Zenbook S UX391UA comes standard with a 4K display and a touchscreen. It also sports a 512GB SSD for storing data, and an i7 processor. All said, it’s a pretty hefty machine! That’s not even mentioning the 16GB of memory the ZenBook sports. It’s not going to be the strongest computer for gaming, for what it’s worth. It sports a 128MB (shared) Intel UHD Graphics 620, which will allow it to play basic games at best. However, most in the market for gaming laptops wouldn’t consider an ulta-compact option like this to begin with.

Price

This is the biggest sticking point. Despite the i7 processor, 4K display and great design, the Zenbook S UX391UA feels too expensive at $1500. Oddly, the ZenBook doesn’t feel like it brings enough compared to the competition. In fact, there are even computers in Asus’ own range that outpace the Zenbook S UX391UA for the price!

Zenbook S UX391UA Bottom Line

The bottom line on this ultra-compact computer: pass unless you really like the design. Generally speaking, ultra-compacts just shouldn’t cost so much. Perhaps in a year or so the price will drop and make this a worthy pickup. Until then, however, stick to the less pricy competition and get a similar (if not better) computer for your money. Better luck next time, ZenBook!