Review: ASUS ZenBook 13 OLED

Ultra-compact with a multitude of features

ASUS has created its most portable Zenbook in the ZenBook 13 OLED. Weighing just 1.14kg with a slim 13.9mm profile, you can be sure to carry this effortlessly wherever you go. Despite being so thin and compact, it nonetheless has all the standard features you’d find on a similar laptop and then some: HDMI, two Thunderbolt 4 USB-C ports, a USB Type-A, and a microSD card reader. On top of this, ASUS provided ports that allow for 4K UHD external displays and up to 40 Gbps data transferring.

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The model we have on hand came in a cool and sleek Pine Grey that has a nice burst effect on the screen’s exterior emanating from the ASUS logo. Under the hood you’ll find an edge-to-edge ergonomic keyboard for effortless typing due to all of the added room. A precision-engineered ErgoLift hinge will automatically lift and find the perfect angle for your typing when the laptop is opened (also provides increased ventilation so your laptop won’t overheat). Data entry has also never been easier with the NumberPad 2.0 which houses a full-size LED-illuminated numeric keypad into the touchpad. Logging in via face recognition is likewise a seamless process due to the integrated infrared camera and Windows Hello.

Tech specs and long-lasting battery for all-day usage

Performance while multitasking or playing entertainment becomes a breeze with the ZenBook 13 due to its primary specs: an 11th Gen Intel Core i5-1135G7 Processor, Iris X Intel Graphics, quick 512 GB PCIe 3.0 x2 SSDs, 8GB of RAM, Intel WiFi 6 with Gig+, and sound from audio experts Harman Kardon.

When on a call, the ASUS AI noise-canceling feature is able to isolate ambient noises from audible voices. The ClearVoice Mic feature in the MyASUS app can also filter out external noise and ‘normalize’ voices on a conference call in Multi-presenter mode. Meanwhile, the ClearVoice Speaker feature is capable of filtering out virtually all noise apart from human speech — so you’ll truly and clearly be able to understand what an individual person is saying.

The ZenBook 13’s amazing 67Wh battery capacity allows it to stay charged up to 13 hours long with regular usage. When you do run low on battery, the Fast Charge feature can replenish the battery to 60% in just under 50 minutes.

See in true color

In terms of its display, the ZenBook 13’s OLED NanoEdge design features thin bezels that allow for an 88% screen-to-body ratio. This immersion is further built upon with the display’s true-to-life colors and deep blacks that are adaptable to any brightness level (up to 400 nits), providing you with a realistic visual experience every time. To make sure of the aforementioned, ASUS made sure the display had a cinema-grade 100% DCI-P3 color gamut and it is even PANTONE Validated.

The stunning visuals aren’t the only benefit to its user, as the ZenBook 13’s hardware allows rapid response time to ensure blur-free gaming and movie streaming. As an added benefit for your eyes, if you are going to be spending a lot of time with the laptop, its low blue-light levels are TÜV Rheinland-certified for better safety.

Durable, military-grade protection

The ZenBook 13 meets the ultra-demanding MIL-STD-810G U.S. military standard for durability. These tests ensure survival in the harshest of conditions, and even encompass ‘power-on drop’ tests and operation at extremes of altitude and temperature. The ZenBook 13 OLED has also passed ASUS laptop stress tests that far exceed the standards set by the industry.

Verdict

The ASUS ZenBook 13 OLED UX325 is priced at PHP59,995. It definitely feels premium in-hand yet it’s also extremely lightweight and portable. I appreciate the very vivid OLED display especially as a content creator, as it’s important to have a screen that equally reflects one’s vision accurately. It also features an impressive battery life and was pretty sharp performing daily tasks even if it does not contain the most powerful processor. Overall, ASUS’ latest ZenBook offers great value for its top-quality features that reflect in both its aesthetics, build quality and performance.

In the box

• ASUS ZenBook 13 OLED 
• Laptop sleeve
• 65W Type C power adapter
• USB-C to 3.5 mm dongle
• USB-A to RJ45 gigabit ethernet adapter
• User guide
• Warranty card
• MyASUS Guide