Let’s meet for a new test of the Asus ZenBook S13 UX392FN. This 13.9-inch ultrabook that combines the superlatives (the thinnest screen frame, the best optimized screen / case ratio and the thinnest body with GPU …) is certainly light, elegant and rather powerful. but that goes with a low power graphics card (10W against 25W usually), a welded RAM and the absence of Thunderbolt 3.
Here are the technical characteristics of the tested model:
Slab | 13.9 “Full HD IPS LED NanoEdge (1920×1080, brilliant) |
Processor | Intel Core i7-8565U Whiskey Lake (1.8 GHz, 4 cores, TDP 15W) |
Installed RAM (max) | 8 GB LPDDR3 2133 MHz (soldered) |
Storage space | PCIe 512 GB NVMe M.2 SSD |
Graphic card | NVIDIA GeForce MX150 2GB GDDR5 dedicated, Intel UHD 620 integrated into the processor and Optimus |
Optical reader | – |
Audio system | 2 speakers Harman Kardon Sonic Master |
webcam | Yes, HD with microphone |
Network | Wi-Fi ac (2×2) |
Bluetooth | Yes, Bluetooth 5.0 |
Card reader | MicroSD |
Video output (s) | – |
Fingerprint reader | Yes, Windows Hello compatible |
Entries exits) | Headphone / Mic Combo |
USB | 1 USB 3.1 Gen2 2 USB 3.1 Type-C Gen2 (DisplayPort) |
Operating system | Windows 10 64-bit |
Drums | Li-ion 3 cells 50Whr |
Autonomy announced | – |
Dimensions (mm) | 316 x 195 x 12.9-14 mm |
Weight | 1.1 kg (with battery) |
Guarantee | 2 years |
Other | Backlit chiclet keyboard, multi-touch touchpad; Asus Mini USB dock pouch provided |
software | Asus applications |
Chassis / Aesthetics
The biggest fear of the tester with borderless designs and high screen / case occupancy ratios is the rigidity of the chassis. An elegant and sexy design is worthless if it is flexible and wobbly like the LG Gram 9. Fortunately, the ZenBook S13 UX392 is surprisingly sturdy lid base despite its ultra-compact size. All areas have no cracking or almost no bending and the hinges and center of the keyboard are firm and produce only slight deformations under pressure.
In terms of size and weight, the Zenbook UX392FN is slightly heavier and wider than the UX391 from last year, while being as thick. On the other hand, the last born enjoys a length of less than 20 mm, which makes it even more compact than its predecessor. Many other 14-inch and even 13.3-inch ultrabooks like the XPS 13 are heavier than the UX392. Exceptions include the LG Gram 14 and the Samsung Notebook 9, but these super-lightweight alternatives do not have a dedicated graphics card.
Connectors
Connectivity has changed compared to Zenbook UX391. There’s a MicroSD (slow) drive and a standard size Type-A USB port, but we say goodbye to the Thunderbolt 3. There’s no built-in HDMI port either. Users will have to turn to the two USB Type-C gen2 ports for video output. The selection is limited, as you would expect from an ultrabook of less than 14 inches. Charging is done via one of two Type-C USB ports on the left edge.
Maintenance
The plate under the PC is held in place by 4 Torx screws. It is relatively simple to remove, not being too tight on the edges and corners. However, once inside, maintenance is limited to port M.2 2280 (SSD) because the RAM and Wifi module are soldered to the motherboard.
Keyboard / Touchpad
The organization and typing experience of the keyboard have not changed compared to the Zenbook UX391. The return and operation of the keys remains satisfactory with a relatively limited noise, with the exception of the key Space stronger. It is a pity that the arrow keys are always compacted that said. A white backlight on three levels is included and the print of the beige beige letters provides a better contrast on the silver / white keys. Regarding the touchpad, it does not excite the tester with its small area, integrated mouse clicks shallow and spongy and a surface that tends to stick the fingers for an uneven gliding experience. The tester is also a little disappointed not to cross the NumPad feature installed on the ZenBook UX333 / 433/533 series.
Screen
Asus only offers one screen option on its Zenbook S13 UX392, this is a 13.9-inch full HD screen (1920 x 1080 px) IPS brilliant. Interestingly, Asus has changed its slab supplier from AU Optronics on the UX391 to Tianma for the UX392. And that’s a very good thing since the UX392 has a much better contrast, color, response time and color accuracy than the UX391. The brightness is very satisfactory (462 cd / m²), as is the contrast ratio (1412: 1) and the sRGB spectrum is almost entirely covered (96%) with a Delta E less than 2. Very slight retro leaks -lighting are present but are not really noticeable.
performances
Built around a latest-generation low-power Quad Core i7, 8 GB of RAM and a 512 GB NVMe SSD, the tested model is designed for digital creation with support for everyday use and multi-core tasks and great system responsiveness thanks to fast RAM and storage. Note however that the processor is not exploited at its maximum inside this Zenbook S13 with a Turbo Boost frequency that drops very quickly during testing. The tester also wants to emphasize the small difference between the capabilities of Core i5 and Core i7 in this case, not really justifying the higher price of the second.
As for the NVIDIA GeForce MX150 graphics card, it is the lightest version (10W, 1D12) but it is a real plus compared to a GeForce 940MX or an integrated Intel UHD 620. Apart from the support that it provides for the work taking advantage of the GPU acceleration, it also allows to play occasionally fairly light titles by limiting the details.
Temperatures / Noise
During small jobs, such as browsing or playing video, the noise of ventilation remains low at 29 dB without pulses. Fully exploited, ventilation is heard to 41.1 dB. This is stronger than the XPS 13, the Lenovo Yoga C930 or the latest UX391 but all these pre-cited PCs do not have a dedicated graphics solution. The Asus Zenbook UX392 heats when it rotates, at rest as at the time of play. In this last use the central keys of the keyboard and the wrist rest can reach 38 ° C and 30 ° C respectively, which remains the order of the reasonable.
Autonomy
The capacity of the battery is the same as on the Asus UX391 (50 Whr) and the autonomy in current use does not move with 8 hours and 30 minutes. The full charge takes about 2 hours.
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