Hands-on the razer-thin ASUS ZenBook UX305F

We are happy that we got our hands on the new ASUS ZenBook UX305, which features some new interesting hardware like the Intel Core M-5Y71 processor that enables the notebook to run with fanless design and at the same time fit in a smaller form factor. The new ZenBook from ASUS not only has some astonishing looks, but it’s light and thin as hell – just what we would expect from a fanless ultrabook.

Design

Right from the unboxing to actually touching and opening the notebook you know you’ve spent your money on a premium device. The top of the lid features the all-well known design signature from ASUS, but this time it feels a bit more finely brushed aluminum. ASUS’ logo is also present, so no surprises there. On the other side can be found the 13.3-inch FHD display along with the webcam. It’s worth mentioning that the lid looks a bit thicker than the actual body, not the other way around. Pretty neat, right?


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The bottom of the chassis is clean without any special ornaments. You will only find 4 silicone legs and two discrete grills for dispersing the heat. Enough with the exterior – moving on to the interior. The same matte anodized aluminum is present on the inside with surprisingly big keyboard for such a small form factor. The keys aren’t just big, but also quite comfortable providing long and tactile feedback, also a bit “clicky” – something typical for a mechanical keyboard. However, the touchpad is also big enough, but feels a bit stiff. We will check that in the long-run when writing the detailed review. Also, a considerable i drawback is the lack of keyboard backlight, which is a necessity for this price range.


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Let’s get a bit technical. The ZenBook UX305 has a ultra-thin light design, as mentioned above, but how thin really is? At its thickest point the profile of the ZenBook UX305 measures at 12.3 mm (0.48″) and becomes even thinner at the front end of the machine. The weight is also on the good side – just 1.23 kg (2.7 lbs) making it one of the lightest and compact machines out there. Stay tuned for our detailed review on the ASUS ZenBook UX305F for more useful information about battery life, display quality, performance, temperatures and etc.

Hardware

In terms of hardware the ASUS ZenBook UX305F is offered only with two CPU options, which is quite understandable – it’s a fanless design, after all. The two available CPUs are Intel Core M-5Y10 and the slightly more powerful Core M-5Y71. The available operating memory can go up to 8GB (LPDDR3 1600MHz). You can even bump up your screen with 3200×1800 resolution or settle with the FHD version (1920×1080). Both panels are IPS, though. The integrated GPU is the usual one for the Core M family – Intel HD Graphics 5300. There are also a lot of storage options – 128GB, 256GB, and 512GB.

How it looks on the inside

We’ve provided several pictures of the ultrabook revealing the internals. It’s really easy to open and only 10 screws keeping the lid closed. Also, there are two more hidden beneath the back silicone legs (see the first photo below).


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Despite its fanless design, ASUS has made a few grills in the chassis, located at the back of the machine right next to the hinges. You can see the heat pipes going from the CPU to the grills, so heat management relies only on those heat pipes. Also, opening the cover reveals that the ZenBook UXF305F uses 80mm M.2 SATA SSD, which in our case is 128GB.

Specs sheet


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ProcessorIntel Core M-5Y10a (2-core, 0.80 – 2.00GHz, 4MB cache) / Intel Core M-5Y71 (2-core, 1.20GHz – 2.90GHz, 4MB cache)
RAM4GB (1x 4096MB) – DDR3, 1600Mhz / 8GB (1x 8192MB) – DDR3, 1600Mhz
Graphics cardIntel HD Graphics 5300
HDD/SSD128GB / 256GB / 512GB
Display13.3-inch (33.78 сm) – 1920×1080 (Full HD), matte / 13.3-inch (33.78 сm) – 3200×1800 (QHD+), matte
Optical drive
ConnectivityLAN 10/100 Mbps, Wi-Fi 802.11ac, Bluetooth
Other features
  • 3x USB 3.0
  • built-in webcam
  • built-in microphone
  • 3.5 mm jack for headset
  • micro HDMI
  • SDXC card reader
  • built-in Bang & Olufsen ICEpower, Sonic Master loudspeakers
Battery3-cell 45 Whrs Polymer Battery
Thickness1.23 cm (0.48″)
Weight1.2 kg (2.64 lbs)

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