The ZenBook Pro 15 UX580 is a powerful yet fairly compact and portable 15-inch notebook.
What’s this?
This is the ZenBook Pro 15 UX580, ASUS’ answer to the new 15-inch Apple MacBook Pro. The two have a lot in common, as this review unravels. Essentially, the ZenBook Pro 15 UX580 is a powerful and relatively compact and portable premium 15-inch notebook.
How powerful is it?
The ZenBook Pro 15 UX580 comes with Intel’s newest and most powerful mobile processor ever, the hexa-core Core i9-8950HK. It has a base clock speed of 2.9GHz and can be boosted to 4.5GHz. It also has a large 12MB L3 cache. Apple offers the same processor in its newest 15-inch MacBook Pro. Complementing the processor is 16GB of RAM, a 1TB PCIe SSD, and an NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Ti GPU with 4GB of GDDR5 memory. For its size, it is a beast of a notebook. This is also the only SKU that ASUS offers now.
You said it was compact and premium?
Here is the ZenBook Pro 15 next to the 7.5mm thick iPhone 8 Plus.
Yes, relatively speaking, of course. It measures 18.9mm thick and weighs 1.88kg, which is quite similar to the 15-inch MacBook Pro. Look around yourself, you will struggle to find that many notebooks with comparable hardware that is as thin and as light.
As for the premium side of things, it has an all aluminum body with rose gold bevels around the keyboard. It feels solidly put together and well constructed. There's no mistaking that the ZenBook Pro 15 is a high-end notebook. While it's good, it still doesn't feel quite as good as a MacBook Pro. But then, nothing really does.
What display does it have?
The 15.6-inch 4K display supports touch inputs and is vivid, vibrant, and crisp.
It comes with a 15.6-inch 4K touchscreen display that supports 100% of the Adobe RGB color space. It also has bezels that are just 7.3mm thick, giving it an 83% screen-to-body ratio. It isn’t as dramatic looking as Dell’s InfinityEdge display but it still looks pretty swanky. It is definitely a match for the Retina displays found on Apple's MacBook Pro notebooks.
The display also supports the ASUS Pen (sold separately at S$69), which offers up to 1,024 levels of pressure sensitivity and supports writing angles of up to 45 degrees. The functionality of this is doubtful though since the display cannot fold flat which makes writing with the pen unnatural.
What about ports?
The two USB-C Thunderbolt 3 ports are on the left while the other two USB Type-A USB 3.1 ports are on the right.
I/O connectivity is one of the ZenBook Pro 15’s strongest suits. It has two USB Type-A ports supporting USB 3.1 Gen 2 (up to 10Gbps each) and two USB-C Thunderbolt 3 ports (up to 40Gbps each). On top of that, it also has a full-size HDMI port and a microSD card slot. The lack of a full-size SD card slot is a little disappointing but an increasing number of notebooks these days are ditching full-size SD card slots in favor of microSD card slots to shave precious millimeters off their thickness. Our advice? Photographers, it's time to embrace the microsSD card and use an adapter to mount it in your camera.
ASUS says the ZenBook Pro 15 has integrated gigabit-class Wi-Fi, what’s that about?
The Wi-Fi adapter within the notebook is the new Intel Wireless-AC 9560. It is a 2x2 adapter but it supports 802.11ac Wave 2 and 160MHz channels. This means that if you have a compatible 802.11ac Wave 2 router, like the ASUS ROG Rapture GT-AC5300 and ASUS RT-AC88U, you can get data transfer speeds of up to 866Mbps per stream. In other words, the ZenBook Pro 15’s can support a maximum data transfer of 1,732Mbps - hence gigabit-class Wi-Fi.
I hear it has a ScreenPad. What is that?
The idea of the ScreenPad is that it changes to suit the user's needs.
ScreenPad is a 5.5-inch clickable trackpad (the same size as an iPhone 8 Plus) that doubles up as a touchscreen Full-HD display. Yup, you heard that right. It changes depending on what apps you are using and can even be configured to work as an extended display. It won't be a stretch to say that it takes the idea of Apple’s Touch Bar to the extremes. Though it sounds large, the ScreenPad is actually dwarfed by the trackpad on Apple's 15-inch MacBook Pro, which measures an incredible 7.25 inches.
So what can you do with the ScreenPad?
Pressing F6 lets you cycle through the various ScreenPad/trackpad modes.
There are two modes of usage. The first is that it can function as a second display. You can configure it as an extended display or use it to mirror your primary display. In extended display mode, you can drag Windows to it or open apps on it. But at 5.5-inches, it is too small to do any serious kind of work even if you turn up the magnification in the display settings. That said, I found it to be great for watching videos.
A Full-HD display in your trackpad!
When running Excel, you can access some commonly used shortcuts through the ScreenPad. It isn't super useful to be honest.
The second mode is called ScreenPad mode and in this mode, it runs ScreenPad apps that can adapt to what you are doing. If you run Microsoft Word, for example, the ScreenPad will show Word formatting options. Or you could use it to run apps that independent of what you are doing on the main screen. There is a Spotify app that makes it convenient for users to control their Spotify playback. There is also a calculator app and calendar app.
Here is the ScreenPad running a calculator app.
Though the ScreenPad was probably inspired by Apple’s Touch Bar, there are some key differences. The Touch Bar was designed mainly to complement the main screen and cannot run apps in the same way that the ScreedPad can. This makes the ScreenPad more flexible. It can be configured to show controls that complement the main app that is running or it can be used to run other apps for easier multitasking. The above-mentioned calendar, calculator, and Spotify apps, as simple as they are, can be considered standalone apps. But more importantly, they make it easy for users to run apps alongside their main apps.
So is it really useful?
I found the ScreenPad to be best for watching videos. Here's Godzilla!
It really depends on your personal usage patterns and habits. Personally, I don’t find it all that useful for two reasons. The first reason is that the display is too small to be used as an extended display. You have to squint to make out text and so it is really only big enough to be used for video. Furthermore, navigating apps and windows on the ScreenPad is a little clumsy as you will have to rely on your trackpad pointer, which appears as a tiny arrow on the ScreenPad display. The problem is compounded by the fact that the pointer on the ScreenPad does not always mirror your finger inputs 100%, which makes it difficult to determine if the pointer is actually pointing in the right place since your finger will certainly be blocking a portion of the ScreenPad.
The second reason is that I’m a touch typist and I don’t look down at the keyboard when I type. Furthermore, I rely more on keyboard shortcuts for my usual workflow and I try not to use the trackpad (or mouse) if I can. So as you can see, my personal workflow habits and patterns limit the usefulness of the ScreenPad since it isn’t tactile and forces me to look down from the screen.
Of course, all of what I mentioned won’t be a problem if you have better eyesight than I do and if you are the kind that looks at the keyboard while you type. Like I said, the usefulness of the ScreenPad is highly dependent on your personal usage patterns and habits. That said, I’m willing to bet that most professionals will feel the same way as I do about the ScreenPad.
To make the ScreenPad more useful, ASUS is making the SDK of the ScreenPad publicly available in the hopes that it would be picked up by developers. But looking at the state of Apple's Touch Bar today, I won't keep my hopes up.
So how does the ZenBook Pro 15 perform?
In a word: good. Thanks to its Core i9 processor, the generous amount of memory, and discrete GeForce GTX 1050 Ti GPU, the ZenBook Pro 15 performed significantly better than your typical ultraportable class notebook. It was mostly on a par with the new 15-inch MacBook Pro, which can be spec’d with the same Core i9 processor.
Gaming performance was also decent but some ways off when compared to "dedicated" gaming notebooks like the Aftershock APEX-15 mostly because of its slightly less powerful GeForce GTX 1050 Ti GPU. Nevertheless, it will be able to play most games at Full-HD comfortably. Just don't expect it to run modern games smoothly at its native 4K resolution or at extreme graphics settings. Here are some of the notebooks we'll be pegging it against for various comparisons:-
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Graphs and analysis to follow below and here are the benchmarks used:
- PCMark 10
- PCMark 8
- 3DMark
- VRMark
- Deus Ex
- Ashes of Singularity
If you want to check out more charts and find out more about the ZenBook Pro 15's throttling habits, visit our Core i9 throttle wars article where I stress-tested the new 15-inch MacBook Pro and ZenBook Pro 15.
PCMark 10
On PCMark 10, we can see that the ZenBook Pro 15 was a good match for the new 15-inch MacBook Pro which is also powered by the same Core i9 processor. It was also significantly faster than the LG gram 15 which is powered by the less powerful quad-core Core i7-8550U processor.
PCMark 8
The ZenBook Pro 15’s performance on PCMark 8 was good especially on the graphics-intensive workloads like Creative and Apps (Adobe). The GeForce GTX 1050 Ti GPU is heads and shoulders faster than Intel’s integrated graphics solution.
3DMark
Let’s compare the ZenBook Pro 15’s graphics performance against other 15-inch gaming notebooks like the Aftershock APEX-15. We can clearly see that while the GeForce GTX 1050 Ti GPU in the ZenBook Pro 15 is miles better than an integrated GPU (LG gram 15), but it was no match for the APEX-15’s GeForce GTX 1060. The ZenBook Pro 15 trailed even more against the GeForce GTX 1070 GPUs found in the Razer Blade and Aftershock PRIME-15. Its scores were only about 48% that of the Blade’s, but it is what it is based on its specs.
How about against another multimedia workhorse outfitted with a GeForce GTX 1050 Ti GPU too? The ZenBook Pro UX550 launched earlier this year is one such notebook and it performs a tad better than the new ZenBook Pro 15 in gaming benchmarks.
VRMark
No surprises again as the ZenBook Pro 15 trailed the two Aftershock and Razer machines. Its score of 3320 translates to an average frame rate of about 72fps, which is below the target frame rate of 90 fps. In other words, the ZenBook Pro 15 isn’t quite ideal for VR applications. If VR is important to you, definitely opt for a notebook that has a GeForce GTX 1060 at the minimum. Even against another notebook specced with the same GPU, it seems that the ZenBook Pro 15 is trailing it a bit.
Deus Ex
Deus Ex is a graphically intensive game and the ZenBook Pro 15 managed barely playable frame rates. The Aftershock APEX-15 with its more powerful GeForce GTX 1060 GPU was about 70% faster overall. The Razer Blade and Aftershock PRIME-15 were about 220% faster. Clearly, the GeForce GTX 1050 Ti isn’t quite as adept at running games as the GeForce GTX 1060. That said, I think most users would be able to squeak past if they turned the graphics settings or resolution down a little more (for which we've an optimization guide). It’s not ideal, but that's the limitation of the GeForce GTX 1050 Ti. Further to that, once more, the ZenBook Pro 15 was found trailing behind its earlier released model.
Ashes of Singularity
The ZenBook Pro 15 performed a little better on Ashes of Singularity, managing a rather decent 35.9fps at Full-HD resolution with the graphics set to ‘High’ and MSAA set to 8x. You can get even better frame rates if you are willing to sacrifice some graphics quality. Again, the Aftershock and Razer notebooks were much stronger performers because of their more capable GPUs. Still, gaming is entirely possible on the ZenBook Pro 15 as long as you keep your expectations in check and lower the graphics settings.
Right, what about battery life?
Bearing in mind the hardware that it possesses, the ZenBook Pro 15’s battery life of 160 minutes (2 hours and 40 minutes) is actually quite impressive. It outlasted the new 15-inch MacBook Pro, which has very similar specifications, by 11 minutes or 7%. What makes it even more admirable is that the ZenBook Pro 15 actually has a smaller battery than the MacBook Pro. Granted, it still is a large battery, but its longer battery life can be explained by its considerably lower power consumption of 26.63W.
What’s also interesting note is how lower the power consumption figures of the LG gram 15 and 2016 13-inch MacBook Pro were. These two notebooks do not have discrete graphics, which explains their considerably lower power consumption figures.
So how does it compare when you take weight and dimensions into account?
Glad you asked. If we take their battery life, dimensions, and weight into account, you can see that the ZenBook Pro 15 is actually quite a portable machine. The gram 15 is the runaway leader because of its long battery life and incredible weight (just over 1kg) but the ZenBook Pro 15’s ratio of 0.85 is actually quite respectable for a 15-inch notebook with a powerful overclockable hexa-core processor and discrete graphics. The 15-inch MacBook Pro managed a better score even though it has a shorter battery life because it is thinner and lighter.
Yes, in the real world, the 15-inch MacBook Pro is noticeably lighter and svelter. But no, the difference isn’t so great that it is an absolute dealbreaker. They are still roughly similar in terms of dimensions and weight. The gram 15, on the other hand, is unbelievable light and it is easily the most portable 15-inch notebook available right now. However, it can’t compete with the ZenBook Pro 15 in the performance stakes. The ZenBook Pro 15 will run multiple rings around the gram 15.
So far so good, the ZenBook Pro 15 must be expensive then?
The keyboard is pleasant and note the fingerprint scanner at the bottom right.
Yes and no. The model we tested is priced at $3,998, which is a lot for a notebook. And honestly, you can get more powerful notebooks for less. It won’t be as portable or well-built, but if performance is your main priority, know that there are other (though not necessarily better) options.
What the ZenBook Pro 15 offers, however, is a tasteful blend of performance and portability. Again, and as I mentioned earlier in the review, you would be hard-pressed to find another notebook with similar specifications, dimensions, and weight. The only other notebook that comes close is the 15-inch MacBook Pro and that is more costly. To get a similarly spec’d MacBook Pro would set you back S$4,968 - a whopping S$970 more. And in that light, the ZenBook Pro 15 actually represents quite good value for money.
Would I recommend it?
If the nearly S$4,000 price tag doesn’t put you off and you have the need for a powerful yet portable 15-inch notebook, then yes. There’s a lot to like about the new ZenBook Pro 15, so much so that I think it’s easier if I list them down simply in bullet form.
- Good performance
- Sharp, vivid 4K touchscreen display
- USB-C Thunderbolt 3 ports
- USB Type-A USB 3.1 Gen 2 ports
- Capable of gaming
- 16GB of RAM and capacious 1TB SSD storage
- Pleasant keyboard
I only have a couple of gripes: the choice of GPU, the lack of a full-size SD card reader, and the arguably superfluous ScreenPad.
Though the GeForce GTX 1050 Ti is perfectly capable of running games, it isn’t quite as capable as the GeForce GTX 1060. As our benchmarks show, the GeForce GTX 1060 is a much more competent gaming GPU. In terms of TDP specifications, only 14W separates the two and I can’t help but wonder if there isn’t any way that ASUS can cram a GeForce GTX 1060 inside the ZenBook Pro 15. It would make it a much more capable gaming machine. As it stands, the only consolation is that there are a good number of Thunderbolt 3 external GPUs available that can help boost graphics performance if you should need it.
The ZenBook Pro 15 might be pricey but it delivers the goods.
The ZenBook Pro 15 certainly looks like its big enough to accommodate a full-size SD card slot so it is puzzling why ASUS would decide to ditch it for a microSD card reader instead. This will likely inconvenience many photographers, a good number of whom still shoot with SD cards.
I also don’t find the ScreenPad to be all that useful. While 5.5-inches might sound large for a trackpad, it is actually too small to be helpful as an extended display. Apart from videos and the occasional useful shortcut, I have little use for the ScreenPad. And as I mentioned earlier, the way it works in extended display mode is unnatural and clumsy.
But despite my misgivings, well-heeled individuals seeking will have a lot to like about the ZenBook Pro 15 especially since few notebooks come close to offering the same levels of performance and portability. If you are looking for the PC equivalent of the new 15-inch MacBook Pro, this is it.
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