Updated Asus ZenBook Pro Aims At Apple’s 15-Inch MacBook Pro And Dell XPS 15
Apple’s MacBook Pro and Dell’s XPS 15 are currently the hottest-selling laptops that are over 15-inches. However, the recently updated Asus ZenBook Pro presents a challenge to both Apple and Dell. The reviews for Asus’ 4K laptop have been excellent, for the most part.
PC Mag recently rated the ZenBook Pro four stars.
“The Asus ZenBook Pro UX501VW-DS71T is a high-end desktop replacement with a crisp 4K screen, plenty of networking options, best-in-class battery life, and strong performance.”
Even though the review heaps a lot of praise on Asus’ high-end notebook, it notes that the ZenBook Pro doesn’t exactly stand out like it did one year ago since notebooks like the Dell XPS 15 have come out with the same features. The ZenBook Pro, however, costs less with the same configuration.
Trusted Reviews also gave the Asus ZenBook Pro four stars.
“There’s no doubt the Asus ZenBook Pro UX501VW-FJ098T is a seriously expensive laptop. However, taking into account the quality of its screen, its 2D and 3D performance and battery life, it gets almost everything right,” says critic Chris Finnimore.
“I think this is a really good price for such a high-spec laptop. If it’s made anything like the UX305CA then I’m a convert! Comparisons to Mac and XPS are a little harsh — it’s 3mm thicker at most to a MacBook Pro. Doubt it’s even noticeable. It’ll likely fit in any backpack or case that the Mac can,” says MattMe.
Digital Trends also likes the Asus ZenBook Pro, but thinks the Dell XPS 15 is better.
“The XPS 15 can be had for less than the Zenbook Pro, and it’s much more expensive at the same configuration. But the old adage holds true here. You get what you pay for. The Dell’s fresh design, smaller footprint, lower weight, and more premium hardware options make it a winner in a head-to-head comparison, especially since both companies are courting ‘premium’ buyers (at any price).”
The Digital Trends comparison notes, however, that the ZenBook Pro is not only cheaper with the same configurations, but its battery life is better. Battery life has been an issue on the Dell XPS 15. Even though a review on the Inquisitr said the battery life is decent for the XPS 15 last November, several users have complained since.
“I have had my new Dell XPS 15 9550 for about a week and love just about everything about it so far. However, I am feeling a little cheated on the battery life. Advertised for the FHD screen and 84Whr battery, which are the options I have, is up to 17 hours battery life. I have been running my laptop on battery saver mode and have the screen on at about 50% and have only gotten maximum 6 or 6.5 hours,” claimed Efie45 from Reddit.
Reviews from Trusted Reviews, ZDNet, and Gizmodo have also chided the battery life of the 4K version of the Dell XPS 15, but other sites note that the cheaper 1080p version lasts noticeably longer with a full charge. Which laptop would you rather have — the Dell XPS 15 or the new Asus ZenBook Pro? Let us know in the comments section.
[Photo by Mike Flokis/Getty Images]
