Asus’ ZenBook range has always been a favourite at Expert Reviews so it should come as no surprise that we’re already smitten with the Asus ZenBook Flip S. Building on last year’s ZenBook Flip UX360CA, which scooped four stars and a Recommended award in our review, the ZenBook Flip S is truly a gorgeous machine to behold.
Asus’ main selling point for the ZenBook Flip S is its ludicrously thin design but, despite the fact that it’s only 10.9 mm thick (making it the slimmest 2-in-1 on the market), Asus has somehow managed to squeeze in a 360-degree hinge and full-fat Kaby Lake Core i5 and i7 U-series processors as well.
I didn’t get to put the ZenBook Flip S through its paces during my brief hands-on session with it, but you can rest assured we’ll give it the once over when we get a chance to review it ahead of its release later this year.
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Asus ZenBook Flip S hands-on review: Design
Available in either a metallic matte grey or blue and accented with gold trim, you haven't seen a convertible notebook ever look this good. From afar its aerospace-grade aluminium looks understated but up close it sings.
It’s a truly beautiful piece of hardware and it looks just as good once you switch it on thanks to the ZenBook Flip S’ best feature: its 13.3in 4K multitouch screen.
Build quality is exceptional, too. Despite its light weight, the ZenBook Flip S feels fantastically solid and its 360-degree “ErgoLift” hinges are particularly impressive, with a silky smooth, high quality feel.
Asus ZenBook Flip S hands-on review: Specs and performance
The Asus ZenBook Flip S isn’t just about looks; beneath its sleek stylings lies a powerful, capable laptop. There are both Intel i5 or i7 variants (both U-series processors), backed up with up to 16GB LPDDR3 RAM and fast PCIe SSDs up to 1TB in capacity.
There’s no room for full-sized ports around the Flip S’ slim edges but you do get a pair of USB Type-C ports here for the connection of 4K external displays, power and external hard disks and thumb drives. And, for those whose connectivity needs are more stringent, Asus supplies a dongle in the box that adds an extra HDMI and full-sized USB 3 socket.
Asus is using a new 39Wh lithium-polymer battery in the Flip S that it says charges to 60% in under 50 minutes. We won’t know exactly how long the battery will last in real-world conditions until we get a chance to run it through our tests, but I’d be surprised if it lasted any longer than most of the other ultraportable Core i5/i7 U-series Windows laptops we’ve tested – that’s between seven and eight hours of video playback.
Asus ZenBook Flip S hands-on review: Verdict
Asus may be using the ZenBook Flip S’ svelte frame as its major selling point, branding it the thinnest convertible ever. But this laptop is more than just a one-trick pony, including a fantastic display, great build quality and impressive-looking specs as well.
There’s no release date yet or official UK price (expect it to be in the region of £1,000 or more) but it's already shaping up to be a great addition to the ZenBook lineup.
