By Gadjo Cardenas Sevilla
As far as Ultrabooks go, the ASUS ZenBook UX310 adheres to the traditional look and feel of a notebook. This means it does away with the flip-reversible-convertible functionality that many of its PC competitors are bringing but focuses on what an essential premium notebook experience should be.
The ASUS ZenBook UX310 is refreshingly predictable in that it is a traditional clamshell-design notebook. This Ultrabook class notebook is ASUS' flagship for Windows 8 users who want a great screen, a good keyboard, decent battery life and a reliable notebook that doesn't morph into anything else.
At a slight 2.6 pounds, the ASUS ZenBook UX310 features the latest 3th Generation Intel Core i7 Haswell processor which enables improved battery life (up to 8 hours) and powerful overall performance. 8GB of RAM and 512GB of SSD storage plus Intel's integrated graphics (HD Graphics 5100/4000)
| round out the key features of this flagship ultrabook. |
The aluminum chassis is precise and feels really good. The island-style keyboard is fast and responsive and one of the better ones we've experienced on a Windows notebook. The 13.3" Up to 2560*1440 WQHD Touch display is bright and saturated and super dense. This is the closest thing to Apple's Retina Display in the PC market.
ASUS has gone all out to set the ZenBook UX310 apart in terms of the way it looks and feels. They've reinforced the aluminum case and cover with Scratch-resistant Corning Gorilla Glass design means never having to worry about scratches.
The lucite effect on the ZenBook's glass covered is quite unique even if it isn't the first Ultrabook to put Gorilla Glass up on the cover ( HP's Spectre earned that distinction).
In terms of power, performance and I/O, the ZenBook is representative of the high-end in today's Windows's 8 ultrabooks. It has more than enough power or juice to replace your desktop for most tasks. It also proved to be a great option for watching movies on-the-go.
The ZenBook UX310 costs around US $1973.00 which makes it a premium Ultrabook. It might be priced out of bounds for most users and the generous helping of Gorilla Glass, plus that stunning touch-screen are premium features that you won't find on any other notebook in this class. So, all-in-all, this is great value for the money.
The ASUS ZenBook UX310 doesn't scrimp on any features or specifications and really does offer a great set of premium specs for the money. The Gorilla Glass treatment may not be for everyone, but it certainly sets this notebook apart from the competition.
Rating: 4 out of 5