First Look: Asus ZenBook Flip launches in SA for R20,000

You may not have started moving and shaking less following lockdown. Who has the time anyway? Well, Asus’ new entry-level convertible notebook, the ZenBook Flip 13 will do all the moving for you, coming in at just R20,000 locally. 

We’re a big fan of Asus’ notebooks and the Zenbook Flip 13 seems like a great new addition to the family. The Asus ZenBook Flip 13 features a 13.3in FHD NanoEdge touchscreen mounted on a screen panel that’s fitted with dual-360-degree hinges. It’s powered by the latest Intel 11th-gen Core i7 CPU with a hybrid power mode for two types of people: go-hard or go-home full performance or battery-saver for light use. Boost mode will give you up to 40% power increase for more processing-intensive tasks and battery saver will allow for a full day of everyday tasks. 

Its small build makes this the perfect companion if you’re used to working on the move. Typing is comfortable on the small, edge-to-edge keyboard down below that features a keycap distance of 19.05mm. According to Asus, the Zenbook Flip will last up to 14 hours on a charge, and our initial tests tend to agree. More power-intensive tasks will naturally bring that number down, but for everyday tasks, this one’s a beast. 

Touch me, Flip me

As with most convertibles, this one’s aimed at anyone who wants to make use of its tablet-format and touch-capable display. This is especially useful for artists, photographers and designers who will get the most out of this little piece of hardware. Our review unit came with an Asus stylus made for this specific reason. 

Combining the NanoEdge display with the optional Asus Pen and Windows Ink you get as close to an iPad and Apple Pencil as possible without investing in an Apple product. The high-precision touchscreen is used to its optimal capability with the Asus Pen’s 4096 levels of pressure sensitivity. Even if you’re not an artist by heart, this combo works wonders for note-taking if you’re not keen on the full laptop orientation in a quick meeting. 

Asus ZenBook Flip 13 Initial Verdict

Keeping in mind that this little machine is an ultra-portable flippy device, it packs some serious power under the hood. 

Convertible laptops, by their very nature, sacrifice on internals to make them lighter and more compact. That’s not the case here. The Asus ZenBook Flip 13 brings the best of Intel, combined with a comfortable keyboard and portable design to make it the perfect work companion. Although it’s aimed at amateur designers with its tablet mode and the Asus Pen, you won’t have enough beef under the hood to render large files like video or 3D graphics. 

If you decide to stick to light processes, the ZenBook Flip 13 is highly capable, especially with that lekker battery keeping everything up and running. Coming in at just R20,000 for an entry-level model, it’s also one of the most affordable convertible laptops you’ll find in SA.