At Computex in Taiwan yesterday ASUS presented the ZenBook S (UX391), which is notable for its low weight but also for its extraordinary hinge.
The ZenBook S UX391, a classic notebook in a rather small form factor, is one of the many new devices we will see from ASUS at the current Computex 2018. Specifically, we are dealing here with a Windows 10 laptop that weighs only 1 kilo and is equipped with a 13.3-inch display.
Even if the lightweight makes the part perfect for mobile use, the most striking feature of the notebook is another: the hinge! Unlike the ZenBook Flip S from last year, which has a 360-degree hinge, this time it is no longer possible to completely flip the display.
Instead, ASUS uses an ErgoLift hinge, which ensures that the keyboard is raised when the notebook is opened. This improves the angle of the keyboard by 5.5 degrees, making writing much more comfortable. However, the technology not only has ergonomic reasons but also serves to improve cooling.
Compared to its predecessor (1.2 kg), the new ZenBook S weighs about one kilo and is significantly lighter, but at 12.9 mm it is also thicker than the previous year’s model. This is probably also due to the thicker battery because the battery life is supposed to increase by two hours, which in the maximum case would correspond to a running time of 13.5 hours.
Inside, the ZenBook S doesn’t differ much from last year’s model: You can choose between FullHD and 4K for the display, Intel Core i5 or Core i7 powers the notebook, there is up to 16 GB RAM and up to 1 TB SSD memory. Here is an overview of the most important specs:
| Display | 13.3-inch “NanoEdge” touch display with up to 4K resolution |
| Processor | Intel Core i5-8250U or Intel Core i7-8550U |
| R.A.M. | 8 or 16 GB RAM |
| Storage | Between 256 GB and 1 TB PCIe x4 SSD |
| Operating system | Windows 10 |
| Battery pack | up to 13.5 hours of battery life |
| Connections | 2 x USB 3.1 Gen 2 (Thunderbolt 3), 1x USB 3.1 Gen 1, jack |
| Mass weight | Height 12.9 mm, about 1 kg |
| Special | MIL-STD-810G Certified, Amazon Alexa Support, Full Metal Unibody, ErgoLift Hinge |
| Colours | Blue, Burgundy Red |
ASUS has also improved the connections: There are now three USB type C ports, two of which support Thunderbolt 3. A connection for a jack plug is also installed, just as we also find a fingerprint sensor again. However, it has now moved from the device side to the trackpad.
The fact that the ASUS ZenBook S is not only handy but also robust can be seen from the MIL-STD-810G certification and Amazon Alexa is also supported. In terms of design, ASUS remains true to itself and its Zen style with concentric circles and also offers us the notebook in a metal case in two very beautiful colour variations: Deep Dive Blue and the very elegant Burgundy Red with golden accents.
From the end of June, the ASUS ZenBook S will also be available in Germany and 1 099 Euro will be communicated as an entry price. For this price you can only count on the FullHD display and also the other components are not yet exhausted. The top model will, therefore, be considerably more expensive.