ASUS ZenBook Flip 15 UX564P Review
The ASUS Zenbook Flip range is a stylish set of lifestyle notebooks that boast some incredible performance and features. For starters, you can pick them up in a 4K OLED panel model and with the additional tablet mode, the notebook can turn into a hybrid touch-screen device that is great for designers and everyday users. The range also packs either a GTX 1650 Ti MaxQ or a 1650 MaxQ which means you can get in some casual gaming while you’re at it too.
This ASUS Zenbook Flip review is based on the full HD, GTX 1050 Max-Q model. While ideally, it would have been great to cover the best 4K OLED variation, this full HD version is a lot more affordable making it an ideal option for those looking for a notebook slash tablet without breaking the bank. Keep in mind that it will still set you back R30,000. However, no matter the model you pick up, you will still get the same design, incredible 90% screen-to-body ratio display the tablet hybrid mode.
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Watch our ASUS ZenBook Flip 15 review down below
ASUS ZenBook Flip 15 Tech Specs
- Display: 15.6-inch FHD 1920×1080 16:9 LED / 15.6-inch 4K 3840×2160 16:9 OLED
- 300 nits of brightness
- 100% Pantone Validated
- 90% screen-to-body ratio
- Stylus Support
- CPU: Intel Core-i7-11370H Processor 3.3GHz
- Overclockable up to 4.8GHz
- GPU: Intel Iris Xe Graphics + NVIDIA GTX 1650 MaxQ with 4GB DDR6
- Also available in NVIDIA GTX 1650 Ti MaxQ
- RAM: 16GB DDR4 onboard
- Upgradeable with another 16GB (32GB in total)
- Storage: 512GB NVMe PCIe 3.0 SSD
- IO / Ports
- 1x USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A
- 2x Thunderbolt 4 supports display
- 1x micro HDMI 2.0b
- 1x 3.5mm Combo Audio Jack
- 1x DC-in
- SD 4.0 card reader
- Network: Wi-Fi 6 802.11ax + BlueTooth 5.0
- Keyboard: Backlit Chiclet Keyboard
- 1.4mm key-travel
- Audio:
- Smart Amp Technology
- Built-in speaker
- Built-in array microphone
- harman/kardon (Premium)
- with Cortana and Alexa voice-recognition support
- Battery: 96WHr, 6-Cell Li-ion
- Charged through 120W AC Adapter
- Dimensions: 1.90Kgs / 35.60 x 23.08 x 1.99
ASUS ZenBook Flip 15 UX564P Design
Before I get into the design of the ASUS ZenBook Flip 15 UX564P we should cover the box and its contents. ASUS ships the notebook in a pretty eco-friendly box and inside of it you get the notebook, stylus, manuals, carrying pouch and charger. However, the review unit we got did not come with the sleeve so I can’t share any information about that with you.
When it comes to the ASUS ZenBook Flip 15 UX564P notebook, the moment it was in front of me I knew it was an ASUS device. The sleek chamfered edges and thin design is true to the ZenBook range and it is one of the most stylish notebooks you can get. I have always compared the ZenBook range to Apple’s MacBook range when it comes to the sheer simplicity of the design and the Flip is no exception.
The outer shell is made from solid metal. The same material is used throughout the notebook but the inner sheet features a sleek brushed steel finish that makes it stand out from the other panels. Give that the ASUS ZenBook Flip 15 UX564P is designed to be flipped around, the design had to complement its flexibility and it does just that. Opening up the notebook is the same as most devices on the market. However, the display helps lift the device off the desk thanks to its two-in-one kickstand support. This is a staple from ASUS in most of its notebooks these days.
The display portion of the notebook includes a hard glass panel that makes it possible to be used as a touchscreen at the same time. It is quite reflective and seems to feature no sort of anti-reflective manufacturing techniques whatsoever. This could prove to be an issue if you sit against a window or bright room. The display panel flips over to the other side quite easily and does not require much force. Windows seems to automatically disable the keyboard and touchpad when it hits the 180-degree mark to avoid touching and pressing keys while holding the bottom of the device.
Once flipped, the ASUS ZenBook Flip 15 UX564P rests flat on the table thanks to four tiny little feet on the bottom. These feet act as support for the display when you close the device too so it helps to have them around for both positions. When closed, it stops the display from pushing against the keyboard and when in tablet mode, prevents the keyboard from touching the table.
When it comes to the ports on the ASUS ZenBook Flip 15 UX564P, the notebook offers everything you would need for daily use and more. On the left-hand side, there’s a USB A and HDMI port. A little down from that you will find an SD card reader. On the opposite side, there’s a power port, two Thunderbolt 4 display ports, a headphone and microphone combo port and the power switch.
When it comes to the keyboard and trackpad, the ASUS ZenBook Flip 15 packs a pretty impressive full keyboard with some decent backlit lighting. The keys look good, there’s a great amount of space between them all and the number pad makes a huge difference if you use it. I do every day. The trackpad is also amazing. It is a fairly large pad that includes enough room to perform all sorts of gestures on Windows 10.
I have big hands and I could swipe, slide and pinch four fingers with ease here. The touchpad is 13cm long and 6.5cm high which is great. Unfortunately, while this model makes use of the same sized pad as the ZenBook Flip UX563, it does not function in any other way besides touch. You can use it as a shortcut panel, number pad or anything of the sort. This is not one of those fancy touchpads ASUS included in other models.
Lastly, there’s the stylus which is great. It features two buttons and a lightweight design. It supports 1024 pressure sensitivity as well as a 45-degree angle tilt which means it can detect shading and other side tilts you may use for writing and design. In general, it feels great to use on the device both with the display in tablet and in notebook mode. ASUS says it should last a year with one battery charge and two hours of use per day. It used quad-A batteries which mean you will need to change them when it dies.
ASUS ZenBook Flip 15 UX564P Performance
The ASUS ZenBook Flip 15 packs quite a powerful CPU which enables it to whisk through Windows 10 apps and programs with ease. Average use was a breeze with the notebook performing strongly while doing daily web activities and even some photo editing and resizing. I never had any major hiccups at all while doing daily work.
As for the tests, I ran PCMark 10 that gave me the following scores. Essentials totalled at 9,532, Productivity at 9,008, and Digital Content Creation at 6,263. This was a total score of 5,830.
For gaming sake, I also ran 3D Mark across Time Spy and Fire Strike Ultra. The scores were as follow.
- Time Spy
- Graphics Score: 3,064
- CPU Score: 5,307
- Fire Strike Ultra
- Graphics Score: 1,712
- Physics Score: 14,529
- Combines Score, 1,009
I also ran the Final Fantasy XV Windows 10 Benchmark tool just to see how well this GTX 1650 MaxQ could perform. It gave me a score of 3121. What does this mean? Well, you won’t be able to play the latest games on super-high settings using the ASUS ZenBook Flip 15 UX564P. However, you could get away with medium to high settings across some titles.
The ASUS ZenBook Flip 15 UX564P also means that any design work looks fantastic on the display. It gets bright enough and delivers some impressive colour accuracy that will make all designers very happy. However, there is an issue here. While the ASUS ZenBook Flip 15 UX564P boasts a “portable tablet mode”, it doesn’t always feel like it belongs. Turning the device into the tablet feels cumbersome as the hinge is stiff, my fingers went all over the display and even when folded, it is bulky and oddly shaped to be useful.
It does not feel comfortable on your lap thanks to its weight and the vents and ports take away from the experience a little. I get what ASUS was trying to do here but the whole hybrid notebook design philosophy has not changed since I owned a very similar Acer notebook back in 2016. These devices can’t replace an iPad or dedicated slim tablet hardware. Notebooks are notebooks and tablets and tablets. The ASUS ZenBook Flip 15 UX564P does very little to deliver any sort of comfortable form factor or switch up the landscape.
Don’t get me wrong, the tablet mode is good and if you’re going to use it then great for you. It is just not as portable, comfortable and accessible as ASUS hoped it would be. There are way better devices out there that offer sleek and lightweight designs and they are tablets, nothing more. However, with that being said, the ASUS ZenBook Flip 15 UX564P excels in so many ways. The battery life is great and can easily get you through 10 hours of use and web browsing before needing a charge. You can get even more by lowering the brightness of the display and choosing a power management mode. I even managed to get close to 12 hours during my testing.
There is a market out there for this ASUS ZenBook Flip 15. However, ASUS still has some work to do before it is the go-to notebook hybrid. The display is glossy, the tablet mode feels heavy and clumsy and the lack of storage and RAM upgrades can be an issue for users. However, underneath that all, the ASUS ZenBook Flip 15 does pack a great CPU that will carry your workload just fine. You just need to really want the tablet aspect of this notebook to invest in it.
ASUS ZenBook Flip 15 UX564P Verdict
I have a love-hate relationship with the ASUS ZenBook Flip 15. For the most part, it is a pretty powerful notebook with some impressive specs. However, I could not help but feel that the tablet mode feels a bit cumbersome to get to and work with. I own an iPad Pro and it is sleek and lightweight, this is far from it. The lack of upgradable storage and RAM is also a bummer. Thankfully, the overall design of the ASUS ZenBook Flip 15 is sleek and portable and the CPU is a monster. You just need to warrant spending R30,000 on this notebook for a tablet mode that is better experienced on an actual tablet.
This ASUS ZenBook Flip 15 UX564P review was based on a unit sent to us by ASUS. It retails in SA starting at R30,000
