Asus has revealed the finalised details of its latest ZenBook designs for non-European markets. The company disclosed full specifications and pricing for both models which target significantly different price points but share the same traits of a sleek design and Ultrabook-style portability. The more affordable model, the ZenBook UX305, starts at $699 while the premium UX501 starts from $1,499. For reference both the UX305 and UX501 have been available in some European countries for a few months already but the North American rollout is of particular significance to the company since it hopes to bring the fight to Apple's MacBook products.
The ASUS ZenBook UX305
The UX305 is the smallest and lightest of the new ZenBooks measuring in at just 12.7mm thick with a weight of 1.2kg. Internally the UX305 is powered by Intel's Core M "Broadwell" processors with a choice of the M5Y71 and 8GB of RAM or the M5Y10 and 4GB of RAM, both sport Intel HD Graphics 5300. ASUS offers a 13.3in IPS panel with a choice of either 1,920 x 1,080 FHD or 3,200x1,800 QHD+ resolutions.
Storage is handled on the device by SATA SSDs in 128GB, 256GB or 512GB capacities and Windows 8.1 is the default operating system of choice. ASUS is pitching the UX305 directly against the new Apple MacBook device which is also based on Intel's Core M processor. Unsurprisingly, the ASUS ZenBook UX305 is significantly cheaper and comes with a full selection of ports - three USB 3.0, one micro HDMI, one SD card reader and an audio jack. By contrast, the Apple MacBook features a single USB type-C port for all connections and charging as well as an audio jack and starts from $1,299.
The ASUS ZenBook UX501
The UX501 targets a different type of user who needs significantly more power, making use of an Intel Core i7 4720HQ and Nvidia GTX 960M by default. Buyers can choose between 2GB or 4GB of VRAM and 4GB or 8GB of system memory. Storage options are also plentiful with a choice of a 128GB or 256GB SATA SSD, a 1TB 5400RPM hard drive or a PCI Express 512GB SSD. ASUS offers an IPS 15.6in panel with a choice of FHD 1,920x1,080 or UHD 3,840x2,160.
At its thickest point the UX501 measures in at 20.3mm and the machine weighs roughly 2kg, though the latter does vary depending on the hardware configuration selected. Connectivity is abundant given ASUS is targeting working professionals, with the UX501 offering USB 3.0, mini Display Port, HDMI, Thunderbolt and an SD card reader. ASUS has squared up the ZenBook Pro UX501 as a direct competitor to the Apple MacBook Pro 15-inch which starts at $1,999. ASUS hopes to win consumers over with more hardware for the money and a lower entry price.
