Asus ZenBook UX305CA Review: Thin And Light, Great Battery Life

The Asus ZenBook UX305CA looks much like last year’s model. It’s a tiny laptop at only 12.8 inches by 8.9 inches, and it is very thin – just half an inch at its thickest point. The edges are tapered, making the ZenBook UX305CA look even thinner than it already is. And because it’s so light (just 2.65 pounds), you’ll hardly notice the weight when you lift it to toss it into your bag.


Speaking of portability, the power adapter is quite small. Our only gripe there is that the power outlet prongs are right on the adapter, so that it crowds your power outlet. That could be a pain if you’re looking for outlets in public places, like an airport. It’s not likely to be a deal breaker, but it’s worth mentioning.

The aluminum chassis is very sturdy and is often cool to the touch. When it’s new, the chassis positively shines, but some of that luster wears off as it starts to pick up fingerprints. We’ve seen worse fingerprint magnets (notably any systems with the glossy, piano-black finish that occasionally becomes trendy), but if you’re a stickler for cleanliness, the fingerprints might strain your patience.


Although the QHD+ 3200x1800 display on pricier versions of the UX305CA are undoubtedly better displays than the 1920x1080 screen on the model featured here, we don’t have any major complaints about the more affordable, lower-resolution screen. It is reasonably bright and the viewing angles are fine for watching video with a friend.


The front and back edges of the ZenBook UX305CA are free of ports and slots, but the back edge has two tiny feet on them. They’re hardly noticeable when the system is closed, but when you open the lid, the feet push the back of the ZenBook off the table, creating just a slight angle for the keyboard.


The left side of the ultrabook features two of the three USB 3.0 ports and the SDXC card reader. The rest of the edge appears empty, but it isn’t: speakers sit on the underside of the system, near each of these edges. Because Asus created tapered edges, these bottom speakers sit practically on the edge of the laptop and point somewhat outward.


The power port sits on the right side of the system, next to the micro HDMI port, the other USB 3.0 port, and the headphone/mic jack. This USB port has the Charger+ feature.


The bottom of the ZenBook UX305CA has four sizeable rubber feet to grip your work surface. Ten tiny screws hold the bottom panel in place. You can remove it with the proper tools, but it’s clear Asus doesn’t expect the typical user to open the UX305CA’s back panel.