ASUS ZenBook Flip UX360 review – focuses on what’s important

office-1

The new ASUS ZenBook Flip UX360 is probably the best upgrade we’ve seen on a notebook. It adopts a considerably higher price than its UX305 predecessor, of course, while adding tons of new features, updated hardware and overall better user experience. The UX305 turns convertible with a 360-degree rotatable hinge – yep, conveniently named UX360 – offers even more detailed QHD+ (3200×1800) resolution to the 13.3-inch diagonal, better CPU options and integrates USB-C connector along with a micro HDMI.

However, we see a slight increase in weight and thickness but hardly noticeable. And this is probably due to the larger battery capacity and the touchscreen. We really hope the UX360 will prove a worthy successor to the old UX305 as the latter set the bar pretty high when we last reviewed ASUS’ fanless ultrabook. Here’s how the machine did in our tests.

You can check here for more pricing and information about ASUS ZenBook Flip’s configurations: http://amzn.to/29e5y6r

Contents


Retail package

The retail package contains the notebook itself, an AC adapter, and a bunch of user manuals.

IMG_2682

Design and construction

The new ZenBook Flip is largely the same as its predecessor in terms of design which is great news. It’s as sturdy and elegant as we remember. The all-aluminum construction feels amazing and gives you the notion of handling a high-end ultrabook.


IMG_2685

IMG_2695

Starting with the lid, it’s covered in brushed aluminum with ASUS’ logo in the middle. It doesn’t give in too much under pressure and doesn’t cause any ripples on the LCD screen. The hinge is tightened enough for you to open the laptop with just one hand. But, of course, the annoying wobbling effect when using the touchscreen in laptop mode is present. It’s not as prominent as other models we’ve tested, but it’s there. Speaking of the screen, we would have really appreciated if the bezels were a bit thinner. The bottom cover feels good as well but adopts anodized aluminum instead of brushed metal plate like the lid. We’ve also noticed that there are no heat-dispersing grills anywhere. Yes, we know that the passive cooling system doesn’t require those, but we’ve seen them on a good number of devices so it will be interesting to see how the CPU will handle load. There are, however, two grills meant for the stereo loudspeakers.


IMG_2755

IMG_2759

IMG_2762

IMG_2763


IMG_2752

IMG_2754

Despite the 13.9 mm thick profile, the curved sides adopt a good number of connectivity options. The left side adopts one USB 3.0 port accompanied by an SD card reader, volume rocker, and the power button so you can easily reach them when using the device in tablet mode. As for the right side, it holds the rest of the essential ports – USB 3.0, USB-C, micro HDMI, 3.5 mm audio jack, and the DC power jack.


IMG_2742

IMG_2746

IMG_2713

IMG_2731

Opening the notebook reveals the interior that adopts the same anodized aluminum as its predecessor (UX305) adding to the premium feel and look. Palms rest comfortably on the laptop and remain cool during prolonged usage. You will find 5 silicone legs positioned around the edges of the keyboard tray in order to provide better stability when using the device in presentation mode. As for the keyboard and touchpad – again absolutely no complaints. The touchpad feels responsive, the surface is nice and large enough for normal operation. The same goes for the keyboard – wide keys, decent spacing and plenty of key travel. The only thing missing, though, is the LED backlight. Or we are getting a bit picky?


IMG_2702

IMG_2747

IMG_2715-1

In the end, the ASUS ZenBook Flip offers unmatched design and build quality for the asking price. In fact, we can easily say that the laptop can go against Lenovo’s Yoga 900S in terms of functionality, build quality and user experience but, of course, can’t compete with it when it comes to mobility. The Yoga 900S is a 12.5-inch device after all which might be the main reason why the ZenBook’s keyboard is better.

Disassembly, maintenance, internals and upgrade options

The disassembly of the notebook isn’t hard but it’s a bit tricky. You need torx screwdriver and you have to remove two of the silicone legs/caps on the bottom in order to reach the rest of the screws.


DSC09371

DSC09373

Also, watch out for the cables attached to the keyboard.


DSC09375

ssd crop1

Storage upgrade options – M.2 slot only

The notebook houses one M.2 SATA SSD and ASUS offers drives in 128, 256 and 512GB flavors. During the disassembly, we found a Lite-On CV1-8B256 2280 M.2 SSD stick. And while the use of SATA controller makes sense for the more affordable configurations, the Core m5 and m7 setups seem to fall behind the competition. For instance, the similarly priced Lenovo Yoga 900S supports the latest M.2 PCIe NVMe standard.

ssd crop1

SlotUnitPrice
M.2 slotLite-On CV1-8B256Check price
2.5-inch HDD

Other components

The rest of the hardware includes an 8260NGW Intel Wi-Fi module and a huge 54Wh battery that takes most of the space inside the chassis.


DSC09382

DSC09383

DSC09378

Cooling system

The notebook uses a passive cooling system, hence no fans, just heat pipes and a heat sink. It’s strange, though, that the M.2 SSD stick is placed right next to the main exhaust vent where the system heats up the most.

ssd crop

If you need more information regarding internals, upgrade options and disassembly, we suggest visiting our dedicated article here: http://laptopmedia.com/news/inside-asus-zenbook-flip-ux360-disassembly-internal-photos-and-upgrade-options/

Display quality

The unit we are reviewing features a Full HD IPS panel with glossy finish manufactured by AU Optronics with model number B133HAN02.7. The screen measures at 13.3 inches with 16:9 aspect ratio, 166 ppi (pixel density) and 0.153 x 0.153 mm pixel pitch. It can be considered as “Retina” if viewed from a distance equal or greater than 50 cm.

MIcr-ASUS-ZenBook-Flip-UX360

Due to the IPS technology, the display offers excellent viewing angles from a 45-degree angle.

Angles-ASUS-ZenBook-Flip-UX360

The maximum recorded brightness was 261 cd/m2 in the middle of the screen and 258 cd/m2 as average across the surface and a maximum deviation of just 4%. We also measured the maximum color temperature in the middle – 7160K and 7090K as an average value which means that colors will appear a bit colder than the standard 6500K white point would offer. Also, the screen scored pretty well in our color deviation test with dE2000 being only 1.2 in the upper-right corner. Values of 4.0 and above are undesirable.

You can see the results from these tests on a 52% (141 cd/m2) screen brightness.

Brightness-52-ASUS-ZenBook-Flip-UX360

To make sure we are on the same page, we would like to give you a little introduction of the sRGB color gamut and the Adobe RGB. Starting with the CIE 1976 Uniform Chromaticity Diagram that represents the visible specter of colors by the human eye giving you a better perception of the color gamut coverage and the color accuracy. Inside the black triangle, you will see the standard color gamut (sRGB) that has been used by millions of people in HDTV and on the web. As for the Adobe RGB, this is used by professional cameras, monitors and etc. for printing. Basically, colors inside the black triangle are used by everyone and this is the essential part of the color quality and color accuracy of a mainstream notebook. Still, we’ve included other color spaces like the famous DCI-P3 standard used by movie studios and the digital UHD Rec.2020 standard. Rec.2020, however, is still a thing of the future and it’s hard to be covered by today’s displays.

You can also see the so-called Michael Pointer (Pointer’s Gamut) gamut representing natural occurring colors perceived by our eyes.

Anyway, the yellow prick line illustrates the sRGB color space covered by the reviewed display which is 86%.

BefGamut-ASUS-ZenBook-Flip-UX360

Below you will see practically the same image but with color circles representing the reference colors and white circles being the result. You can see main and additional colors with 25%, 50%, 75% and 100% saturation inside the sRGB gamut before calibration.


BefColrs-ASUS-ZenBook-Flip-UX360

AftColrs-ASUS-ZenBook-Flip-UX360

The new profile has been set to 140 cd/m2 brightness and 6500K white point and we recorded 1000:1 native contrast ratio and 800:1 after calibration.

Gamma-ASUS-ZenBook-Flip-UX360

We’ve also measured how well the display is able to reproduce really dark parts of an image. It’s essential when watching movies or playing games. The left side of the image represents the display with stock settings while the right one with our custom profile for gaming and multimedia. On the horizontal axis, you will find the grayscale and on the vertical axis the luminance of the display. An essential part of the near black scale right next to pitch black, which in this case is 0.1% of 140 cd/m2 or 0.14 cd/m2.

We illustrate the first five levels of the gray (1%-5% white), right after black level, using the five boxes on the image below. Keep in mind that whether you can distinguish them or not strongly depends on the settings of your current display, the calibration, the viewing angle and the surrounding light conditions.

NBS-ASUS-ZenBook-Flip-UX360

Below you can see the results from the accuracy color checker with 24 commonly used colors like light and dark human skin, blue sky, green grass, orange etc. The results are before and after calibration.


bef-ColorChecker-ASUS-ZenBook-Flip-UX360

Aft-ColorChecker-ASUS-ZenBook-Flip-UX360

Gaming capabilities (Response time)

We test the reaction time of the pixels with the usual “black-to-white” and “white-to-black” method from 10% to 90% and reverse.

We recorded Fall Time + Rise Time = 18 ms.

RESPTime-ASUS-ZenBook-Flip-UX360

PWM (Screen flickering)

We’ve detected PWM only at really low levels of brightness (below 25%), which is equivalent to 70 cd/m2. So you may experience flickering only if you use the display at extremely low levels of brightness. Usually, 70 cd/m2 can be used only in pitch black or really dark rooms/environments. However, the emitted light pulsates at aggressively low frequency (200Hz) so we suggest you keep the slider above 25% at all times.

PWM-ASUS-ZenBook-Flip-UX360

Conclusion

While the display of the ASUS ZenBook Flip has its drawbacks and drags behind its predecessor (ZenBook UX305) by a few percents, it’s still an excellent IPS panel with good properties and holds an edge over the Full HD Lenovo Yoga 900S. It has wide sRGB gamut – or at least enough for a good multimedia experience and general browsing – high contrast ratio, and relatively accurate color reproduction out of the box. The maximum brightness might prove insufficient when used outdoors – and considering the form factor of the device, it might be often – but still enough for good visibility indoors. And finally, the absence of PWM from 26 to 100% luminance is a great plus to consider. Just remember to keep the slider above 25% to avoid any eye strain after long hours of use.

Buy our display profiles

Since our profiles are tailored for each individual display model, this article and its respective profile package is meant for ASUS ZenBook Flip UX360 configurations with 13.3″ AU Optronics B133HAN02.7 (FHD, 1920 × 1080) AH-IPS screen, which setups can be found at Amazon: http://amzn.to/29e5y6r

*Should you have problems with downloading the purchased file, try using a different browser to open the link you’ll receive via e-mail. If the download target is a .php file instead of an archive, change the file extension to .zip or contact us at [email protected].

Read more about the profiles HERE.

[edd_item edd_id_1=’65201′ edd_id_2=’65205′ edd_id_3=’65208′ edd_id_4=’65212′]

Sound

The loudspeakers provide good sound quality without any major distortions throughout low and high frequencies and are loud enough to enjoy a movie or an album every now and then.

Sound-ASUS-ZenBook-Flip-UX360

Specs sheet

The specs sheet listed below may differ depending on your region


ProcessorIntel Core M5-6Y54 (2-core, 1.20 – 2.70 GHz, 4MB cache)
RAM8GB (1x 8192MB) – LPDDR3, 1866MHz
Graphics cardIntel HD Graphics 515
HDD/SSD256GB M.2 SATA SSD
Display13.3-inch (33.78 сm) – 1920×1080 (Full HD) IPS touchscreen, glossy
Optical drive
ConnectivityLAN 10/100 Mbps, Wi-Fi 802.11ac, Bluetooth 4.1
Other features
  • 2x USB 3.0
  • 1x USB-C 3.1
  • built-in webcam
  • built-in microphone
  • 3.5 mm jack for headset
  • mini DisplayPort
  • SD card reader
  • built-in Bang & Olufsen ICEpower, Sonic Master loudspeakers
Battery3-cell 54 Wh Polymer Battery
Thickness13.9 cm (0.55″)
Weight1.3 kg (2.87 lbs)


ASUS ZenBook Flip UX360CA configurations


Software

The notebook came with pre-installed Windows 10 (64-bit) and if you are planning to do a clean install of the OS, we suggest downloading the latest drivers from ASUS’ official support page.

Battery

We are again met with outstanding battery life but the UX360 takes it one step further compared to its UX305 predecessor. Combining the more energy-efficient – in theory – Skylake Core m5 processor and a larger 54Wh battery unit, the UX360 blows everyone out of the water with extremely long battery runtimes scoring even better than the Yoga 900S, which has a smaller 12.5-inch panel and similar battery capacity and should do better. Also, keep in mind that the QHD variant of the UX360 should bring considerably lower battery performance due to the extra pixels.

All tests were performed with the usual settings: Wi-Fi turned on, battery saver turned on and screen brightness set to 120 cd/m2.

Web browsing

In order to simulate real-life conditions, we used our own script for to automatically browse through over 70 websites.

ux360 net

Outstanding runtime – 543 minutes (9 hours and 3 minutes).

Video playback

For every test like this, we use the same video in HD.

ux360 movie

Again an excellent result – 464 minutes (7 hours and 44 minute).

Gaming

We recently started using F1 2015’s built-in benchmark on loop in order to simulate real-life gaming.

ux360 game

As expected, the gaming test took a toll on the battery but still scored pretty well with 263 minutes (4 hours and 23 minutes) of play time.

CPU – Intel Core m5-6Y54

intel core mThe Core m5-6Y54 CPU is part of the Skylake generation processors and it’s part of the very power efficient SoCs from the m lineup. Due to its extremely low TDP, which can be adjusted from 3.5W up to 7W, but normally being 4.5W, the SoC can be integrated into passively cooled 2-in-1 devices, ultrabooks or tablets. The processor incorporates two cores supporting the crucial Hyper-Threading technology ticking at 1.1 GHz and can go up to 2.7 GHz for one active core and 2.7 GHz for two active cores. It’s manufactured using the latest 14nm FinFET process.

Normally the CPU can reach the core i5-6200U CPU in some short synthetic benchmark tests, but since the CPU is heavily temperature dependent, during prolonged usage the SoC won’t be able to keep up. So its performance relies quite a lot on the passive cooling system of the device.

The SoC also integrates Intel’s HD Graphics 515 GPU, codenamed GT2, with 24 EUs (Execution Units) clocked at 300 MHz and can go up to 900 MHz. Anyway, the whole SoC, including the GPU and memory controller (dual-channel LPDDR3-1866/DDR3L-1600), is rated at 4.5W TDP but it can be lowered down to 3.5W or raised as much as 7W but that’s up to the OEM that builds the machine.

You can browse through our top CPUs ranking: http://laptopmedia.com/top-laptop-cpu-ranking/

Here you will find other useful information and every notebook we’ve tested with this processor: http://laptopmedia.com/processor/intel-core-m5-6y54/


GPU – Intel HD Graphics 515

intel_hd_graphicsNormally, the Intel HD Graphics 515 can be found on the latest Core m Skylake SoCs but it’s considered as a low-end iGPU. It represents the GT2 variants of the Skylake iGPUs and features 24 of the so-called EUs (Execution Units). They are clocked at 300 MHz and can go up to 1000 MHz but that depends on the CPU model.

Intel claims about 40% better performance than the last HD Graphics 5300 (Broadwell) generation GPUs, but that is strongly dependent on the CPU model and the TDP so statistics may vary. However, there are some notable features that come along with the HD Graphics 515 like H.265/HEVC fully hardware decoded and supports outputs like DP 1.2 / eDP 1.3 and HDMI 1.4a. The GPU can handle up to three displays connected simultaneously.

The power consumption of the whole SoC may vary, but most of the time it’s 4.5W. Nevertheless, it can go down to 3.5W or go up to 7W. These numbers include the CPU, iGPU and the memory controller.

You can browse through our top GPUs ranking: http://laptopmedia.com/top-laptop-graphics-ranking/

Here you will find other useful information and every notebook we’ve tested with this GPU:


Temperatures

Since the notebook’s mobile processors relies on passive cooling design, which consists only of heat pipes and a heat sink without any fans, we can’t really expect any miracles because it’s not intended for heavy workload for extended periods of time. However, this two-staged stress test gives us a glimpse of how well the processor is implemented and if the laptop can utilize the full potential of the chip, which is pretty important for a Core m-equipped machine.

We start off with 100% CPU load for about an hour. The CPU-Z showed good CPU utilization – the chip ran at 2.4 GHz for some time and slowly went down to 1.3 GHz. This is quite normal as the CPU can run at maximum 2.4 GHz with two active cores and the base frequency is 1.1 GHz. Therefore, no thermal throttling occurred.

ux360 cpu

After an hour of CPU stress test, we started the GPU workload as well and in order to give some headroom for the GPU to perform, the CPU started throttling at 500 MHz but the CPU’s temperature remained the same and didn’t go above 85 °C.

ux360 gpu

Even during extreme conditions, the notebook remained relatively cool and the user won’t feel any discomfort while using it. The temperature was evenly distributed across the interior because of the heat dispersing properties of the aluminum. Keep in mind that during normal usage, these temperatures will be way lower.

temperatures-bottom

Verdict

editor-choiceASUS proved once again that thin, light and elegant ZenBooks are still a thing and keep up with today’s industry standards. There are no corners cut and the notebook provides elevated user experience compared to its predecessor – the UX305. Yes, sure, it costs a bit more but adds tons of other features that the older model didn’t have while keeping what’s important. It has the same nice-looking, premium and sturdy chassis, excellent keyboard – although the LED-backlit illumination is still missing – and touchpad, it’s thin and light and adds a cool 360-degree rotatable hinge design.

On the hardware front, the new Skylake Core m5 processor feels much more responsive and powerful than before. It handles with ease everyday normal tasks like office work, browsing and multimedia. Speaking of which, you will enjoy movies on the Full HD IPS screen with great properties. It’s much better than the lackluster’s Yoga 900S FHD panel. Also, no PWM was recorded from 25% to 100% screen brightness. We doubt you will go under 25% brightness anyways. Especially when the notebook’s display might prove a bit dim when used outdoors.

The battery life is another great thing about this fan-less solution. It beats almost everything we’ve tested so far putting to shame other smaller devices, which in theory should last longer. All in all, the ZenBook Flip UX360 holds up to its legacy and remains one of the best portable 2-in-1 solutions currently on the market. And if you think that $1 299 for this particular model is too much, we suggest getting the base model that sells for around $700 with the Core m3-6Y30, depending on the storage configuration, and it’s a bang for the bucks.

You can check here for more pricing and information about ASUS ZenBook Flip’s configurations: http://amzn.to/29e5y6r

Pros

  • Exceptional build quality
  • Thin and light with 360-degree rotatable hinge, which was absent in the previous model
  • Excellent keyboard and touchpad experience
  • Good CPU utilization
  • Great screen quality
  • No PWM from 25 to 100% screen brightness
  • Unmatched battery performance
  • Well-priced base configurations with the Core m3 CPU


Cons

  • Thinner screen bezels would have been better
  • Slightly dim screen for outdoor usage
  • The M.2 SATA SSD support on the more expensive models doesn’t cut it
  • No keyboard illumination again

Abonnieren
Benachrichtigung von
guest
6 Comments
Inline-Rückmeldungen
Alle Kommentare anzeigen
Jason
Jason
7 Jahre vor

Rossen and Kroum,

Thanks for your in-depth look at this device. I notice in your CPU-Z screenshots that the max temperature that the cores reached was 85 degrees. When temperatures reach this point, do you believe there is any danger posed to the SSD, given its close proximity to the processor?

Thanks,
Jason

Avinandan Banerjee
7 Jahre vor

Thanks a lot for so much In depth review.
I still have concerns about the reliability of Asus in laptops.
Can you suggest me any other brand in the same price range .

Pclicker94
Pclicker94
1 Jahr vor

I may be late, but Acer delivers better laptops. From my experience, they have better build quality (Swift series). Lenovo looks very promising too.

Esau Levi Betancourt
Esau Levi Betancourt
7 Jahre vor

Thanks for this review. Just a quick question: Would you recommend this laptop for photo editing?

Pclicker94
Pclicker94
1 Jahr vor

Keep yourself from this laptop, and here are the cons: Very bad screen colors bleaching screen very hard to disassemble weak build quality, especially the touchpad, and the hinges are horrible (one of the hinges is destroyed by a small amount of force) bad cooling system, and no active fan which makes the PC lag a lot the worst is no keyboard backlight. my 400 USD Acer PC had it. This is a huge dealbreaker. The pros are two, which is: the keyboard. One of the best with high tactility Can be upgraded to 1 TB of storage. But not… Read more »

Last edited 1 Jahr vor by Pclicker94