ASUS ZenBook Flip 14 2-in-1 laptop review – power and elegance

ASUS knows a thing or two about computers and laptops and taken that knowledge to the next level to come up with the ZenBook Flip 14 – a 2-in-1 laptop that offers both power and elegance.

The ASUS ZenBook Flip 14, which runs Windows 10, is actually the world’s thinnest 2-in-1 to use discrete graphics so don’t think for a minute that having such a wafer thin product compromises the power at your fingertips.

You have the choice of using it as a laptop or flipping the 360-degree touchscreen display and using it as a tablet or a sketchpad. And you can also position it for easy viewing.

That versatility is thanks to the ErgoLift hinge which allows users position the screen at any angle while lifting and tilting the keyboard into the ideal typing position in laptop mode.

On the design side, ASUS has really done a number here.

It’s just 13.9mm thin and tips the scales at 1.4kg despite having an all metal design and packs a 14-inch display in a small area than plenty of 13-inch models.

We think the company could have gone even further because it has room above and below the screen and bezels that are 7.15mm thick.

Those stats are nothing to sneeze at but we couldn’t help but think there was room to do more.

Either way the screen to body ratio is still a respectable 80 per cent.

The screen itself is remarkable and offers 178-degree viewing angle and a 100 per cent sRGB colour gamut.

And the ASUS TruVivid technology is at work behind the scenes with improved contrast and colour accuracy.

Annoying screen reflection has also been greatly reduced.

The lid has the iconic ASUS Zen-inspired spun metal finish that adds a touch of sophistication whether you choose Icicle Gold or Slate Grey.

No matter how you hold it, you can feel the quality in your hands.

The keyboard is also well-spaced and the backlight allows you to continue to work in low light conditions.

There is only 1.4mm travel in each key so typing is quiet and accurate.

Under the hood, there is also a lot to talk about including the latest 8th Generation Intel Core i7 quad-core processor.

Throw in 16GB RAM and a speedy 512GB SSD with high performance NVIDIA GeForce MX150 discrete graphics and you got a powerhouse that will handle anything you throw at it whether it’s editing videos or photos, creating complicated documents, scouring the internet or passing the time with the latest PC game.

There is a 10-point multi-touch touchscreen aboard the ASUS ZenBook Flip 14 but users can also use the ASUS Pen and create notes, sketch and map your ideas.

On the battery side, the ASUS really delivers.

ASUS says the battery will run for up to 13 hours. We couldn’t quite get that much use during our review but weren’t far off.

It easily got us through the work day but was on the charger if we were up burning the midnight oil that night.

When it comes to connectivity, the ZenBook Flip 14 has got everything you need including a microSD card slot, USB 3.1, USB-C and HDMI.

Security for the ASUS ZenBook Flip 14 is rock solid and that’s thanks to the addition of a fingerprint reader which makes it easy to log in securely.

The ASUS ZenBook Flip 14 starts at $1,388.

VERDICT

The ASUS ZenBook Flip 14 ticks all the boxes with a sleek design, amazing versatility and stunning performance.

85%

Power and elegance

ASUS ZenBook Flip 14

• VERDICT

The ASUS ZenBook Flip 14 ticks all the boxes with a sleek design, amazing versatility and stunning performance.