The Asus Zenbook line has always struck a nice balance between performance and affordability, and it looks like Asus is doubling down on that effort with even more UX305 models. The new iterations are hot on the heels of the first Skylake UX305, which features a Core m CPU.
While some options offer more affordable iterations, the top end is by far the most interesting. The Zenbook UX305CA-OHM7 boasts an Intel Core m7-6Y75 CPU, a dual-core chip with Hyper-Threading, a 1.2GHz base clock, and a 3.1GHz Turbo Boost, which is paired with 8GB of RAM. Notably, the screen is a 3,200 x 1,800 IPS panel, but with integrated HD 5300 graphics. For storage, the UX305CA is equipped with a 512GB M.2 SSD, rounding out the specs on a very frugal $1,099.
It’s worth noting that this system is similarly specced to the limited edition Crystal White edition of the UX305 that Asus only sold 200 of in early 2015. Apparently the rush for the high-resolution offering was enough to cause Asus to rethink the decision, bringing back the configuration as a second chance for anyone who missed it the first time around.
That’s not the only new Skylake offering though, there’s also the UX305CA-EHM1, which lacks the boosted resolution of the OHM7 in favor of a more traditional 1080p display. It’s powered by an Intel Core m3-6Y30, a dual-core chip with Hyper-Threading, a 900Mhz base clock, and a 2.2GHz Turbo Boost, with 8GB of RAM and a 256GB SSD. It also costs just $699, the same original retails as the Broadwell UX305.
The older Broadwell models are now offered with larger storage options too, just another piece of the ever-expanding Zenbook line. The Core m-5Y10 powered UX305FA now has the optional upgrade to a 512GB SSD, and costs just $799.
Asus is really flexing the versatility of the Zenbook line here, but is also investing in the UX305 as a model, and it’s not hard to see why. The specs are much more competitive than a lot of the super-cheap laptops hitting the market lately, and spending a bit more on a laptop can go a really long way. The UX305 still won’t break the bank, and comes in well under a lot of the ultrabooks, while still providing a satisfying computing experience.
