If you’re looking for an affordable everyday sleek companion laptop that you need to do presentations, browse the web, check social media, and watch videos, the ASUS ZenBook UX305 is a standout option that you need to consider. With the base model selling for just Php34,995 (more powerful unit sells for Php46,995), this is a superb laptop choice for the modern-day urban professional.
Here are the two configurations with their respective prices:
Base Model
- Intel Core-M 1.1GHz Processor
- 4GB DDR3L RAM
- 128GB SATA3 M.2 SSD
- Intel HD Graphics 5300
- 13.3 inch IPS Display, 16:9, FHD
- 3 x USB 3.0 ports, SD/SDXC card reader, micro HDMI port
- SRP: Php34,995
Premium Model
- Intel Core M-5Y71 1.2GHz Processor
- 8GB DDR3L RAM
- 256GB SATA3 M.2 SSD
- Intel HD Graphics 5300
- 13.3 inch IPS Display, 16:9, FHDÂ pixels
- 3 x USB 3.0 ports, SD/SDXC card reader, micro HDMI port
- SRP: Php46,995
As you can see from the specifications, these laptops aren’t made for gaming or heavy duty apps that require a lot of power. If you’re specifically looking for a machine that can do that stop reading this review and you might want to check out the ASUS Republic of Gamers laptop that we reviewed recently. So who is this laptop for?
Perfectly Designed for People Who Bring Their Laptops Everywhere
At just 12mm thin and weighing in at just 2.64 lbs., the ASUS ZenBook UX305 was made for people who bring their laptops with them all the time.
This used to be the bag that we would carry around with our 15-inch MacBook Pro Retina:
While it served as our workhorse machine, it was also our only laptop so we had to carry the thing with us when we would do presentations or when we needed to work off-site.
This is the bag we use when we carry the ASUS UX305.
Win.
It’s for People Who Use their Laptops for Basic Everyday Activities
As we mentioned earlier, if you’re a heavy gamer or someone who does a lot of photo and video editing, skip this. We tried playing DOTA 2 and Heroes of the Storm and while we were able to get the games running, it wasn’t a great or enjoyable experience. We lowered the settings drastically low and there were still instances of lag spikes and slowdowns due to the graphics card and the processor.
This laptop is worth considering if you usually just use your laptop for web browsing, social media, media consumption (video, text, audio), light photo manipulation, and basic office work (Microsoft Office). However please note for video and audio that you might want to bring headphones or portable speakers with you. The external speakers on this thing are not that good. :/
The keys on the keyboard were tactile and responsive. Spacing was also spot on so it was great to hammer out documents and blog articles (like this one!) on it.
Our only issue with the keyboard really was that it wasn’t backlit. Since we’re kinda used to that already it’s a bit of a sore point not to have it anymore in this laptop. We believe that backlit keyboards should be a minimum standard already.
No problems with the trackpad. It was spacious enough so we didn’t have any major issues with it. Though we did use a mouse a lot thanks to the multiple USB ports.
There’s no hassle with USB compatibility which is an issue with the 12-inch MacBook. With this machine you have a full suite of ports in this machine: 3 x USB 3.0 ports, SD/SDXC card reader, and a micro HDMI port.
For the display we get a 13.3 inch IPS screen with FHDÂ resolution. It’s matte covered by default which means that you get minimal glare with it. Unfortunately it’s not a touchscreen display so if you’re a fan of that tech for laptops you also might want to check other alternatives.
It’s for People Who Put a Premium on Design and Build
While this laptop sells for Php34,000+, it doesn’t look generic or cheap. ASUS has been very successful in making beautiful products and they carried that tradition with the ASUS ZenBook UX305. The all-metal casing is simply gorgeous. It looks like you paid two times the actual SRP!
Our only gripe with the design is that it soaks up fingerprints and even oil like crazy. If you’re the OC type you’ll end up wiping this to no end, hehe. Fortunately ASUS thought of that so they put in a nice envelope type sleeve in the box which you can use to slip in the laptop in when you’re not using it or when you want to carry it around.
A Great But for the People It Was Meant For
So what’s our verdict? Personally… we love it! Why? Because it was made for people like us. We’re part of an industry where we go out of the office a lot to present to clients and do our work off-site (that’s my advertising background). On the flip side, when we’re doing Unbox, we’re always out covering events and we usually do our articles in coffee shops. It’s a alternative to the MacBook Air or the 12-inch MacBook.
The ASUS UX305 was clearly made for a specific target market and it will most likely appeal only that group of people. For the more demanding users it’s really a no-brainer to consider other options because this isn’t for you.
