Asus Zenbook UX305

Processor Intel® Core™ M processor
Operating System Windows 8.1 Pro
Windows 8.1
Graphics Intel HD Graphics 5300
Display 13.3in IPS
QHD+ (3,200 x 1,800); LED backlit, multi-touch
FHD (1,920 x 1,200); LED backlit, optional multi-touch
RAM 4GB / 8GB
Storage 128GB or 256GB SSD
Connectivity 802.11a/g/n/ac dual-band Wi-Fi
Bluetooth 4.0
Input 3x USB 3.0
1x Micro HDMI out
1x 3.5mm headphone/mic combo jack
1x Micro SD card slot
Camera Front-facing HD 720p CMOS
Audio ASUS SonicMaster Premium technology
Bang & Olufsen ICEpower® speakers
Sonica Master Technology
High quality microphone
Battery 45Wh Li-Polymer
Dimensions 324 x 226 x 12.3mm
Weight 1.2kg
Colors Obsidian Stone, Ceramic Alloy



Source: Notebooks & Ultrabooks - ASUS ZenBook UX305 - ASUS
Further information and additional pictures (in German): IFA: Asus Zenbook UX305 - dünnstes 13-Zoll-Ultrabook [Hands On Video] - GIZMODO DE

 

Both display options seem to come with a matt finish.
There is a high probability the machine comes with a fanless design.

I would like to learn more about the CPU and GPU power of the Broadwell Core M processors compared to that of the Haswell i5 processors that come in popular ultrabooks like the Asus UX303LN, Samsung 900X3G and Apple Macbook Air.

 

Is this out yet? Seems exactly like the laptop I was looking to buy.

 

The guy in the Gizmodo video says the notebook is likely to hit stores around christmas.
The entry version is expected to cost around 800-900€.

 

Hi,

I have a Lenovo Yoga now but due to some issues I wanted to try to switch over to an Asus Zenbook. Is the 305 the newest one about to be released? And is it considered a better and upgraded version of the UX301 and UX303?

 

I think the UX303LN would definitely be considered an upgrade to the UX301. But, I don't know were the 305 fits into the scheme of things. It will use an "M" processor which is certainly NOT a performance upgrade over the 301 or the 303. It has the potential to give longer battery life, but I think Asus has decreased the battery size, so that advantage will likely not be realized. Anyway, I guess we will have to wait until the 303 is closer to release and some reviews start to appear to know what the 303s role will be.

Jim

 

Thanks Jim!

But hasn't the UX303LN already been released?

I found it on some online stores, I think Amazon has it too? It says: ASUS ZENBOOK UX303LN DB71T - Core i7 2 GHz - 13.3″ 3200 x 1800 - 12 GB RAM

 

Yes, it has been out about a month. But, supplies have been low. I think the 305 is supposed to be out late this year.

Jim

 

Do you know any actual physical stores that will carry the UX303 in the US?

 

Really looking forward to the release since I am searching for a notebook quite a while (3-4 months).

But I am not sure whether I should order 1 notebook of the 1st lot or not. Would not be the 1st notebook with failures from the beginning.

 

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Why is Asus releasing an i7 Haswell Zenbook NX500 when they are planning to release an M chip Zenbook UX305???

 

If it's going to have an M 5Y10a it's gonna b a turtle on performance! Not sure why Asus will even release such a Low performance chip? Unless it comes w an option for the the 5Y70 I ain't biting !

 

Hi, I hoped you were wrong but I just found this test http://http://mobilenet.cz/clanky/budoucnost-prave-prichazi-prvni-test-intel-core-m-v-notebooku-18225 and this video http://https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q-ngTxlkZZ4
I know it's far cheaper than Lenovo Yoga 3 pro but I hoped it'd be less sluggish

 

Hi everyone. Got my hands on a Zenbook UX305 pre-production unit, so if you have any questions, shoot. If not, I'll have a detailed article on the site by the end of next week.

 

Battery life! Specifically battery life while internet browsing.

Also, do you have the 3200x or 1920x model?

I look forward to the article.

 

there's no dedicated graphic on this model? I

 

No, no dedicated graphics, only a Core M fanless processor. I have the higher end version with the 3200 x 1800 px display. Will have plenty of details on battery life in the review.

 

Hello Mike, if you have enough time I'd like to know how it performs in light photo editing (vs core i5 Y and core i5 U Haswell) ?

Also, a french tech blogger said that UX305 will have core m-5Y10 stepping f0 instead of e0 (like T300FA for example) and so it should perhaps perform better. In the Czech hands-on that I found it seems to be a production unit with e0 (hdwinfo screenshot), but Asus will only sell the UX305 in a few weeks in the Czech Republic so maybe it's a pre-production finally? Here in France the first buyers will receive the Asus UX305 in a few days, and some of them wonder if it would have been a better idea to wait a bit in order to be sure to get a model with a stepping f0 chip. Have you heard something about that stepping story ?

Thank you
(sorry for my bad english)

 

Hi Mike!

I have a couple questions...
1. How is the keyboard? Is there good travel, or have they sacrificed that for slimness?
2. Any idea of a US/Canadian release date? (I'm in Canada)
3. Any idea roughly how much this will cost?

I'm basically trying to decide whether to get a current generation ultrabook (used mainly for typing), or wait for the UX305, which looks really sweet. Oh, also, when will your review be up?

Thanks for your help!

 

The QHD+ display is definitely glossy, not sure about the FHD version.

The keyboard isn't backlit, which is a huge drawback.. why omit such a key feature?

 

THE QHD+ display isn't glossy, is matte. In fact, this laptop will only come with matte displays from what I've been told.

Anyway, here are my impressions: Asus Zenbook UX305 / UX305FA review - the fanless ultraportable . It's overall quite good, except for the trackpad (hopefully something that will be addressed on final retail models). Performance and battery life are just what I was expecting from a Core M 5y10 platform, based on my previous encounters, mostly meh...

If you've got any other questions, let me know. I think I've replied all those posted above in the article. Cheers.

 

Thanks for the review, Mike. Having used the Yoga 3 Pro and returned it, I know the M is not for me. What is the best 13" Asus ultrabooks available right now? UX301LA? I'm confused by the Asus models. I'm looking for one that I can use for some light Photoshop/Lightroom work, watching movies and writing. Thanks very much for all of your reviews!

 

I don't believe there's a BEST laptop. There's a Best Suited for certain tasks, but not a BEST overall.

The UX301LA has a faster processor than what you're going to find on most Windows ultrabooks right now. And it's overall a good device, albeit a bit too expensive for my liking. The UX303LA is also a very nice laptop if you want the dedicated graphics and don't mind about the imperfect display, while the UX301LA is a solid everyday option for the money.

Still, with Broadwell U just around the corner, I personally wouldn't buy a new ultraportable right now, unless really needed. Q2 2015 should bring plenty of interesting devices.

 

Hello, Mike!

I'm not sure if I have questions according to this topic but anyway I will ask you (sorry for probable offtop).
I use pcs and laptops since 1991 and last laptop I bought was hp in 2008. Since then I've been working hard and have not been looking through new technologies at all. Until now. As my laptop stopped working well (audio doesn't work, wi-fi, camera and CD stopped working couple years ago) I started looking for a new laptop. What I need:
- Windows platform;
- Display 13''-15''
- Good graphics and video card (I watch a lot of hd quality videos)
- Good processor.

I use laptop for work only and NBA games (hd quality). I travel a lot that's why I don't want a 17'' display anymore. I don't care about good battery.
I was looking over those ZenBooks but not sure which one is better (I don't want those pad-version laptops with touch-pad displays).

I will apreciate if you help me to choose the right version of the laptop I need. Thank you very much.

 

Check out post # 56 on this page.

http://forum.notebookreview.com/asu.../760176-zenbook-ux303la-owner-s-thread-6.html

It looks like Asus is going to upgrade the UX303 line with the Broadwell U CPU, which should provide better performance than the Broadwell Y CPU in the UX305 line.

Jim

 

well for me its hard to read a pdf with that resolution on my ux305 its way to small.
and you cant change the resolution to 1920 *1080 or a bit more cause all will be mixed up at he screen
otherwise its a real good small book.
but dont install windows10 it will crash the book and you can look how you get the original w8.1 back
lol

 

Hello all,
does anyone know if it is possible to upgrade the SSD to 512gb (via any means possible)? I upgraded my lenovo using an msata slot and was wondering if there is a similar workaround with asus....
Thanks!

 

Having read countless professional and owner reviews of laptops with the Core M I believe that this cpu will be sufficient for a significant proportion of ultrabook buyers. The performance may be better with the FHD display (the review linked used the QHD+ screen and the base model, with matte, non-touch screen has now been upgraded to include 8GB RAM and a 256GB SSD, still at the incredibly low price of $699!! See the quote below from the same review - it was an update to the original review and is quite a game-changer:

" Update: Asus just announced that the UX305FA model with the Core M-5Y10 processor, 8 GB of RAM, 256 GB SSD and a FHD matte panel is available for only $699 in the United States, which makes it much more affordable than any other similar devices. For that kind of money, if you only need a computer for light daily tasks, you’ll hardly find anything better than this Zenbook UX305 right now."

Given that the Core M is sufficiently powerful for you (and, again, there is a plethora of evidence that it suits a large proportion of Ultrabook buyers just fine), The Asus UX-305 at $699 represents by a large, large margin the best value in the entire Ultrabook market. The only disappointing "economy" is the exclusion of a backlit keyboard. Never made sense to me when it costs less than $15 to add it. In any event, for anyone who can get past the lack of a backlit trackpad, this is an unbelievably fantastic bargain. Caveat: Asus has had a reputation for quality control problems, especially with brand new models. Since they are obviously trying to sell a model with specs that represent cost for a good many manufacturers with the same specs, you can bet they are cutting corners to reach this retail price point. Change that to Caveat Emptor!!

Observation: without having run the data, I would estimate that the average Ultrabook with Haswell, 8GB, 256GB, when discounted on sites like Microsoftstore.com and other mainstream etailers, has fallen in price by 40% in one year! The question is, are the mfrs getting ahead of themselves to grab market share, or has Intel's known chopping of prices for Haswell chips and the freefall of SSD prices rendered $800-$900 the average price for a Haswell based Ultrabook with i5U cpu? If so - as it appears to be - I would think it will make $1,200 - $1,500 Broadwell UBs a very hard sell, even if they have a few bells and whistles added, including the 40% improvement in the IGP. I would wager the vast majority of buyers would not care about that difference.

Thoughts, anyone?

 

will receive mine this friday. if anything like the xps 13 then the ssd can be upgraded to 512gb for cheap $200

 

I am blown away by the UX 305 Crystal White edition. I went back and forth between it and a Macbook, along with a few other options. Like a Macbook Air, it feels a tad heavier (due to being made out of aluminum) than I would prefer, however it is well worth it. The decent size of the device allows better thermals for the Core M to perform better than it does in other offerings.

PROS: Screen quality, build quality and in hand feel, performance
CONS: Touchpad gestures don't always work, speakers too low, denser weight

The screen is one of the best I have ever seen, and shows no signs of pixel flaws or excessive backlight bleed. The build quality is phenomenal. It came set at 250% scalability, but I dropped it down to 200%. Chrome is set to 110% scaling. The white causes no fingerprints or other residue to show. I see virtual no performance issues. Although the CPU usage can spike when launching an application, even with Chrome running and 5-7 tabs open, CPU usage is fairly low. The trackpad could use a little work, and like my other Asus notebook, some gestures stop working momentarily or take a couple tries. Although with the trackpad gesture responsiveness, the speaker quality is my only other concern. They are far too low and usually need to be at or above 90% to be useful. Luckily, once paired with bluetooth headphones, that problem goes away. Apps being used: Chrome, Tweetium, Office 2013. Chrome is used for Google Play Music, Messenger, MySMS, PocketCasts, Netflix, Plex and YouTube. I can't praise the screen quality enough as it makes me want to watch video everytime I have the machine in my hands.

The only outstanding item to test is battery life. I hope to get an idea over this long weekend.

 

Sounds very attractive but I would advise you keep an open mind and consider, if you havent yet, some of the other truly exceptional new UBs at or near the price point of the UX 305 white edition ($999, I believe). The HP Spectre x360 is in virtually everyone's top 2 or 3 UBs on the mkt - a true masterpiece of design, build, power and battery efficiency. Also, the Dell XPS 13 deserves strong consideration (most pro reviewers rate the Fell and HP #1 and #2, respectively. Also take note of any non-aesthetic differences between the base UX305 and the white edition, as the former list for $699 and the latter $999. Not to sound too cute about this, I believe it generally true that the pro review corps I keep referring to tend to rate the UX305 (base model, for 699) as the #3 best UB in the market due to its amazing value. One other approach I would feel remiss not to suggest here are the numerous Haswell based UBs from Samsung, Acer, Dell and Asus. These are still widely available at close out prices, $300 - $500 off their original list prices, yielding i5, 8GB, 256 GB, FHD or QHD IPS displays for as little as $799, even less with special promotions.

Please don't see this as raining on your parade regarding the UX305 White model; it's a fine piece of kit and I see nothing wrong with paying a little extra for purely aesthetic differences (not saying there are no hdwe upgrades in the White model - I don't know if there are) because the look and feel of a device you will use every day for hours at a time, for perhaps 2-3 years should be very appealing to you.

Good luck.

 

Thank you for your reply. I didn't love a few things about the Dell XPS 13. Mainly the feel of the casing around the keyboard and trackpad. However, the Dell is lighter than my Asus. The HP is just too heavy for me, and the design is not to my liking. Lightweight, aesthetics and in-hand feel outweigh any sort of performance I am losing. I also tend to not keep my devices for very long. I rarely agree with reviewers, and prefer to go my own way This is one of the times that I am very glad I did.

The white, although not my preferred color, feels and looks amazing. I love the fact that no finger oils or other moisture show on the casing. Also, this is an upgraded model. It has the upgraded Core M 5y71 and 512GB SSD (2 x 256GB partitions) and upgraded AC wireless.

 

Guys, could you *please* try to run the QHD model in 1600x900 resolution? Is there any marginal difference in battery life? I would appreciate if you could try to run some SW tool like HWinfo64 or Battery bar that gives you info on battery discharge rate in mW, that is quite objective. Some people say there is a difference, some don't.

My issue is that I would really appreciate if the laptop could run a bit longer that it does in native QHD resolution (according to reviews) and the 1600x900 should be second ideal resolution for 13" and QHD panel. I am deciding between this and HP spectre (which has a big plus in longer battery life).

Many thanks in advance

 

I don't own the Asus of which you speak, but I have two other QHD+ laptops and have used "Battery Info View," the best real time power usage utility on them both and have not found a change in resolution to have any effect whatsoever on battery usage. The reason, apparently, is that you still have to drive every pixel, even if more of them are lit up with the identical image compared to running it on its native resolution. Still, hopefully you'll get input from others who own the actual machine you are considering.

Fwiw, I previewed the HP x360 and it is just a marvelous piece of kit and essentially every review I have read said it performs virtually flawlessly and better in most respects than other ultrabooks with the same configurations due to the close coordination with Microsoft on the design. Of course, the amazing thing about the Asus is that it is $300 less costly than the HP with the same config, $600 less than the Dell XPS 13 with the same config! Of course, it has the "M" class cpu, that will not perform as well as the Core i cpus of most other Ultrabooks but if your demands are not uniquely for power, I think the M will do you fine. Finally, as you probably know, the UX305 doesn't have a backlit keyboard, something I've come to depend on for 5 years now.

Best of luck. Here's the link for Battery Info View: http://www.nirsoft.net/utils/battery_information_view.html.

 

Many thanks for your reply Jeff! I also think there shouldnt be a major difference in battery life but have seen it in some czech Yoga 2 pro review - where they tested the QHD+ running at native, FHD and 1600x900 resolution and the difference was quite big: 12,66 W in QHD+ and 7,14 W in 1600x900.
http://www.cnews.cz/clanky/jak-se-meni-vydrz-s-ruznym-rozlisenim-displeje-notebooku-test/strana/0/1
But I guess it could have been somewhat specific to that screen type or so. I haven't seen such feedback from other laptops' users.

I know about the flaws of UX305 - lack backlit keyboard being one of them, not very responsive touchpad (maybe configurable with different drivers?) and shorter battery life (for my needs), but otherwise being a great laptop. If I could squeeze at least 7 hours of web usage out of it I would give it a go. But I will probably go for the X360.
HP just bothers me with their options in Czech rep. - I cannot buy X360 with onsite warranty - they push customers to buy "X360 pro" version which has basically only Intel V-pro + Win 8.1 Pro for extra 300 EUR (and then you *can* buy extra onsite warranty for another 160 EUR

 

http://techreport.com/news/29365/asus-updates-zenbook-ux305-with-a-skylake-core-m-cpu
http://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2015...idrange-laptop-gets-much-better-with-skylake/

Anyone have a quick comparo?

 

I just bought my college age son the version that the Microsoft Store seems to only carry in-store, which is the Skylake with QHD and touchscreen. It is priced at $799 less a 10% discount for students, which they don't even verify. It has 7265 AC Wifi.

He has the screen at about 30% because it is so bright, 18 year old eyes of course, and he has gotten 10 hours on the battery with Spotify or Netflix playing.

The touchscreen is one the better ones I have tried. It is very well built and the keyboard spacing is better than the XPS and was $600 cheaper. I have seen nothing negative about the Core M from using it myself with several Office applications open and many Chrome tabs.

I will tell you that there is a bug in Windows 10 that effects touch screen. Turn off the HIBERNATE function. This is a problem across all laptops and supposedly an update is coming to fix it. If you leave HIBERNATE enabled, the Touch Screen device will uninstall.