Las Vegas, CES (January 6, 2019) — ASUS today is excited to unveil the ZenBook 14 UX431 that balances value and performance to deliver a sleek ultrabook that doesn’t compromise on power. This premium design unit is packed full of the latest technology that includes Intel® 8th Generation Core™ processors, NVIDIA GeForce MX150™ graphics, up to 16GB of RAM, ample storage space with PCIe based SSDs and the latest connectivity options.
Beautifully Blue
The ZenBook 14 UX431’s exterior exudes sophistication without screaming for attention. Its Utopia Blue color and spun metal finish are decidedly industrial while still being distinctly Zen. Lifting the lid reveals a 14-inch glass panel with a Full HD 1920x1080 resolution. The IPS panel offers great viewing angles and uniform color, whether the user is sitting square in front of their computer at work, or lounging to one side watching their favorite streaming service.
For a more immersive experience, ASUS NanoEdge display technology shrinks the bezels on either side down to just 6.5 mm while also cutting down on the laptop’s overall size. Thanks to the narrow bezels, we were able to squeeze the 14-inch screen into a slim and sleek 13” chassis. Portability is about size as much as weight, though, and the UX431 is just under 1.45kg, making it easy to slip into your bag or tuck under your arm and carry anywhere.
Despite its good looks, the ZenBook 14 UX431 prioritizes function alongside form, and we made some thoughtful tweaks to ensure the design serves more than just aesthetics. The ErgoLift hinge automatically lifts the keyboard up at an angle when you open the laptop, creating a more comfortable typing position while improving airflow under the chassis for better cooling.
Finally, the touchpad pulls double duty by displaying an illuminated NumberPad. Unique to ASUS laptops, the numpad is right at your fingertips for convenient data entry and calculations, but it doesn’t add any unnecessary width to the keyboard and can be turned on or off with a tap, so it’s not a distraction when you’re working on other projects.
The Workaholic
When you’re taking notes in a meeting, tabbing over to check an email, and then switching over to edit a video presentation, capable hardware is what helps maintain smooth performance. Intel’s 8th Generation Core i3, i5, and i7 CPU options offer up to four Hyper-Threaded cores that run at frequencies as high as 4.6 GHz thanks to Turbo Boost technology. The integrated UHD Graphics 620 engine is ample for photo editing and video streaming, but upgrading to discrete NVIDIA GeForce MX150 graphics with 2GB of dedicated GDDR5 memory makes light gaming an enjoyable option in your downtime after work.
These days, 8GB of system memory is a common luxury for mobile multi-tasking, but the ZenBook 14 UX431 is available with up to 16GB of RAM to ensure seamless switching between tasks. On top of that, several solid state storage options provide a powerful combination of low latency and high capacity. Even with a spacious drive, everything you install will launch lightning fast.
Audio That Comes Alive
Ultra-portable laptops can squeeze a lot into their compact form factors, but awesome speakers typically aren’t high on the list. A slim chassis means space is limited, and the position of the speakers themselves usually doesn’t help. Deciding that a slim chassis does not necessarily mean a compromise in audio quality, the ASUS Golden Ear team engineered a quad-speaker audio system for the ZenBook 14 UX431. Users can now enjoy louder volume, rich depth and surround-sound effects compared to laptops of a similar size. Plus the UX431 is certified by audio specialists Harman Kardon to ensure the very best sound for all kinds of content.
This powerful quad-speaker array delivers clearer sound via two upward-firing high-frequency speakers that flank the keyboard, and two downward firing speakers that pump the bass straight down. The bass speakers work in tandem with the ErgoLift hinge to provide deeper, cleaner bass, and the high-frequency speakers on top blast the audio straight up and out into the room. The speaker system of ZenBook 14 UX431 is also driven by a smart amplifier that allows the maximum volume possible while preventing long-term damage to the sensitive voice coils of the speakers.
Streaming movies, videos and music is much more enjoyable with great audio quality. ASUS SonicMaster tuning optimizes the entire speaker system to ensure crisp, clean sound with powerful bass that feels like it belongs in a much bigger laptop.
Mobility Without Bounds
Users spend all day on their laptops, so ASUS made sure to get the little details right by focusing on maximizing productivity. The large battery will take you from early morning email at home to after-hours brainstorming with your coworkers. Plus the ZenBook 14 UX431 features a 2x2 Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac) configuration, allowing you to stay in contact with everyone, move huge files to and from the cloud in record time or stream video without a hitch.
We carefully loaded the ZenBook 14 UX431 with I/O befitting a flexible workhorse. There’s one USB 2.0 Type-A port for your mouse, and the USB 3.1 Type-A and Type-C™ ports readily accommodate external storage, flash drives, printers, and other peripherals. You can connect to a second monitor at your desk or in the conference room via HDMI, and the SD card slot lets you pop your camera’s memory card into the laptop without the need for a USB adapter.
