Asus Zenbook 14" Laptop model: UX430UA-BH51-CB

Asus Zenbook 14

I had a few things to say about this laptop

Watch the video below to hear why you should (or shouldn't) get it for yourself. I recorded this during the March 15th, 2019 live stream. The video below starts right when we started discussing the Asus Zenbook 14" Laptop.

I make new recommendations according to latest rebates every Friday, and you can see my latest picks here.

Quick Description

This laptop is worth considering, especially if you get a lot of work done away from your desk and need something stylish on your arm to dash from meeting to meeting.

Guillaume's pick!

This laptop stood out to me on 10 occasions while compiling the weekly Tech Worth Buying Newsletter. It was most recently selected 40 days ago, selling for $750.

Other Considerations

Here are a few things about this laptop which could come as a surprise. For each point, you will find how to fix it (if it's an issue) and how much to budget for it. Not every point below will be a concern, but hopefully, we can keep your surprises to a minimum.

Frequently Discounted. This device gets discounted on a regular basis (36.99% of the time to be exact).

No Optical Drive. If you still use CDs, DVDs, or Blu-Ray disks on a regular basis, you will need an external drive to read them with this laptop.$30-$150

No Number Pad. If you primarily work with numbers, the lack of a number pad on this laptop could be inconvenient. You have the option of using an external number pad to remedy that, especially if you only need it on occasion.~$20

Assuming you are starting over fresh, you can expect to spend $90 on accessories, for a total cost of $990.

Available at 2 locations, from $900

Based on 492 days of observation, the Asus Zenbook 14" Laptop usually costs ~$900 in Canada. If you were waiting for this laptop to drop in price, this could be the day you were waiting for.

Scroll down to find charts comparing the Asus Zenbook 14" Laptop to similar devices, to see how well it runs your favorite apps and to find where it can be bought from.

Pricing

History

Here's how this device has been priced up to now:

Here are a few Canadian retailers who currently sell this product:

Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Best Buy or Best Buy at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.

Specs

Here's how the Asus Zenbook 14" Laptop ranks compared to similar devices. The more stars there are, the better (except for the price row).

Laptops

Bang for the Buck4.5/5
Versatility for the Price3.5/5
Price2.5/5
Durability3/5
Power3.5/5
General-purpose power4/5
Graphical power3/5
Memory4/5
Storage2.5/5
Portability4/5
Autonomy3/5
Ease of Maintenance2.5/5

Portable Laptops

Bang for the Buck4/5
Versatility for the Price3.5/5
Price2/5
Durability2.5/5
Power3.5/5
General-purpose power4/5
Graphical power3/5
Memory4/5
Storage2.5/5
Portability4/5
Autonomy3/5
Ease of Maintenance2.5/5

All Smart Devices

Bang for the Buck4/5
Versatility for the Price3.5/5
Price2.5/5
Durability3/5
Power3.5/5
General-purpose power3.5/5
Graphical power2.5/5
Memory4/5
Storage3/5
Portability3.5/5
Autonomy2/5
Ease of Maintenance2.5/5

The Meaty details

The Specs

Operating System: Windows
Processor: Intel Core i5-8250U
Graphics: Intel HD Graphics 620
Memory: 8.00 GB
Storage: 256.00 GB
Screen Size: 14"
Screen Resolution: 1920×1080(157.35ppi)
Dimensions: 32.50 × 22.60 × 1.50 cm
Weight: 1.30 kg

The features

  • Built-in Media Card Reader
  • Webcam / Front-Facing Camera / Selfie Cam
  • Built-in Microphone
  • Built-in Speakers
  • Bluetooth 4
  • Wi-Fi a
  • Wi-Fi ac
  • Wi-Fi b
  • Wi-Fi g
  • Wi-Fi n
  • USB 3
  • 3.5mm Headphone+Microphone combo jack
  • USB 2
  • USB Type-C
  • USB Type-A
  • Multiple Monitor Support
  • Fixed storage: Solid State (very fast)
  • HDMI (Micro)
  • USB 3.1
  • Built-In Keyboard
  • Paired Memory
  • Fingerprint Sensor

Repair / Upgrade Options

Score Ease of Maintenance
Battery Replacement6/10A technician can help you with that
Memory Upgrade0/10Can't be repaired or updated
Data Storage8/10Easy project for an enthusiast
Graphics Upgrade0/10Can't be repaired or updated

What it's capable of

Here are the tasks this computer can handle and how easily it'll breeze through it. A 5-star rating means it should handle the task at a professional level, a 1-star rating means it can do it, but it likely won't be a pleasant experience.

Activities it will handle

  • Web & Communication

    The basics 5/5
    Design Websites 4/5

  • Audio & Visual medias

    The basics 4/5
    Music Production 3/5
    Drawing and Illustrations 4/5
    Photo Editing 3/5
    Video Editing 3/5

  • Texts & Numbers

    The basics 5/5

  • Video Games

    Casual and Mobile Games 5/5
    Enthusiast Games 0/5
    Triple-A Video Games 0/5

  • 3D and CAD

    The basics 1/5

Programs, Apps and Games it will handle

Activity ratings are good but sometimes, you want to be absolutely sure your next purchase will be able to run a specific piece of software.

A 1 star rating means the program'll be usable (according to the developer's own definition; some are more demanding than others); 3 stars mean recommended specs are met with this device; 5 stars will means you will have plenty of overhead to handle uncommon uses of that program like mods, plug-ins and more.

Web & Communication (1 / 1)

More Web & Communication Software

Texts & Numbers (5 / 5)

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Drawing and Illustrations (8 / 10)

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Audio & Visual medias (2 / 2)

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3D and CAD (5 / 9)

More 3D and CAD Software

Music Production (5 / 7)

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Photo Editing (3 / 3)

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Video Editing (4 / 10)

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Video Games (10 / 13)

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Enthusiast Games (20 / 53)

More Enthusiast Games Software

Triple-A Video Games (7 / 56)

More Triple-A Video Games Software

In the same price range

For roughly the same price, you could get one of these. Anything in there sounds like a better deal?

Know someone who's looking for a laptop like this one?

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