TOP PICK 
BEST GAMING
BEST CHROMEBOOK
BEST PORTABLE
BEST BUDGET
Model
BLW's Score
92
87
90
89
87
85
MSRP
$949.86
$1,899.50
$155.55
$333.00
$399.00
$233.00
More Information
Processor
Intel Core i5-8250U 1.6GHz
Intel Core i7-7700HQ 2.8 GHz
ARM Rockchip RK3399 2.0GHz
Intel Core i5-8250U 1.6 GHz
Intel Pentium N5000
Intel Atom x5-Z8350 1.44GHz
RAM
8GB DDR4
16GB DDR4
4GB DDR3L
8GB DDR3L
4GB DDR4
4GB DDR3L
Hard Disk
128GB SSD + 1TB HDD
256GB SSD + 1TB HDD
16GB eMMC
256GB SSD
128GB eMMC
128GB eMMC
Display
15.6" FHD (1920 x 1080)
17.3" FHD (1920 x 1080)
10.1" WXGA (1280 x 800)
13.3" FHD (1920 x 1080)
14” HD (1366 x 768)
10.1" WXGA (1280 x 800)
Graphics
Intel UHD Graphics 620
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080
Mali-T860MP4 GPU
NVIDIA GeForce MX150
Intel UHD Graphics 605
Intel HD Graphics
OS
Windows 10
Windows 10
Chrome OS
Windows 10
Windows 10
Windows 10
Weight
3.7 pounds
6.2 pounds
2 pounds
2.6 pounds
3.3 pounds
1.7 pounds
TOP PICK
Model
BLW's Score
92
MSRP
$949.86
More Information
Processor
Intel Core i5-8250U 1.6GHz
RAM
8GB DDR4
Hard Disk
128GB SSD + 1TB HDD
Display
15.6" FHD (1920 x 1080)
Graphics
Intel UHD Graphics 620
OS
Windows 10
Weight
3.7 pounds
BEST GAMING
Model
BLW's Score
87
MSRP
$1,899.50
More Information
Processor
Intel Core i7-7700HQ 2.8 GHz
RAM
16GB DDR4
Hard Disk
256GB SSD + 1TB HDD
Display
17.3" FHD (1920 x 1080)
Graphics
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080
OS
Windows 10
Weight
6.2 pounds
BEST CHROMEBOOK
Model
BLW's Score
90
MSRP
$155.55
More Information
Processor
ARM Rockchip RK3399 2.0GHz
RAM
4GB DDR3L
Hard Disk
16GB eMMC
Display
10.1" WXGA (1280 x 800)
Graphics
Mali-T860MP4 GPU
OS
Chrome OS
Weight
2 pounds
BEST PORTABLE
BLW's Score
89
MSRP
$333.00
More Information
Processor
Intel Core i5-8250U 1.6 GHz
RAM
8GB DDR3L
Hard Disk
256GB SSD
Display
13.3" FHD (1920 x 1080)
Graphics
NVIDIA GeForce MX150
OS
Windows 10
Weight
2.6 pounds
BEST BUDGET
BLW's Score
87
MSRP
$399.00
More Information
Processor
Intel Pentium N5000
RAM
4GB DDR4
Hard Disk
128GB eMMC
Display
14” HD (1366 x 768)
Graphics
Intel UHD Graphics 605
OS
Windows 10
Weight
3.3 pounds
BLW's Score
85
MSRP
$233.00
More Information
Processor
Intel Atom x5-Z8350 1.44GHz
RAM
4GB DDR3L
Hard Disk
128GB eMMC
Display
10.1" WXGA (1280 x 800)
Graphics
Intel HD Graphics
OS
Windows 10
Weight
1.7 pounds
While Asus is not the most well-known name in the PC world, they are fast becoming popular.
Asus makes a wide range of products but when it comes to laptops, the name Asus is far more recognized.
They have a great lineup of laptops and the price tags aren’t outrageous for what you get. From budget laptops to gaming, you are sure to find something in their line to suit you.
Best Asus Laptops By Category
Overall Top Pick:
Asus VivoBook F510UA
This Asus is a remarkable laptop. Plus, when you consider the price, it includes some great specifications. It also looks stylish too, and is much lighter and thinner than previous laptops.
It has a brushed metal casing which is a shiny, glittery gray color, featuring the Asus logo in the center. The shape is like a MacBook Air as it is thicker at the hinges and becomes narrower to the opening end.
Specs
Benefits
One of the biggest benefits of this laptop is the price. Plus, what is included in this price is awesome.
With the 15.6-inch viewing and Tru2Life video technology, you’re sure to enjoy watching content. It can handle most video and codec forms and has a clear and bright display.
The VivoBook also features the NanoEdge bezel which is Asus’ own. This has an 80 percent body to screen ratio giving you a wider display. To offer such a small bezel on a low budget laptop is rare.
It’s very lightweight and easy to carry around, at only 3.7 pounds. It has the integrated Intel UHD 620 graphics that enable it to perform some decent graphic based tasks. Plus, you have the latest 8th gen processor, allowing you to see some great performance from the laptop.
Stack all that with its brilliant battery life and you have the reason this is our choice as the overall best Asus laptop
Drawbacks
It handles multitasking well with the hard disk drive (HDD). Had they included a solid state drive (SSD) instead it would have been much better. The efficiency would have been far superior and the speed of data transfer improved.
This wouldn’t be an ideal laptop for gamers as there is no additional GPU. While the integrated coprocessor is good, it won’t meet the expectations of a true gamer. Having said that, it can handle mediocre level games well.
Extra Features
- Fingerprint sensor for added security
- Asus Tru2Life video technology
- VGA camera front-facing
- Microphone/headphone port
- Windows 10 home variant pre-installed
- Built-in stereo speakers
Buying Advice
Not all laptops come with the latest 8th gen Intel core processor, a great display and long battery life.
Asus has achieved this and, for the price, this is definitely one of the best you can get your hands on.
Unless you’re looking for a gaming laptop, this should be up there at the top of your list. It includes some amazing specifications and will meet the needs of most, whether for business or personal use.
Best Asus Chromebook:
Asus Chromebook Flip C101PA-DB02
Chromebooks are a different breed of laptop. Running on Google’s Chrome OS, they’re designed for use while connected to the internet.
Most of the applications and documents on a Chromebook live in the cloud.
This Asus Chromebook Flip C101PA-DB02 is lightweight aluminum and comes in an attractive design. It features a 10.1-inch touch screen and has awesome battery life. With the aluminum body and black keyboard and bezel, it resembles the MacBook Pro.
Specs
Benefits
Not only does it have an epic design, but a great price tag too. Definitely, a Chromebook that gives you superb value. This Chromebook is one of the smallest and lightest there is, and built in a sturdy and durable design.
This is a great 2-in-1 with 360 degree hinges that supports four modes of use:
- Traditional notebook
- Tablet
- Stand
- Tent
The display for a Chromebook is above average and will allow you to see some sharp visuals and solid colors. The keyboard is comfortable to use and, despite it being small, the keys are well spaced.
The audio output is surprisingly good and not what you would expect in a low budget Chromebook. Even in noisy environments, you’re able to comfortably hear videos and music.
The Rockchip 3399 is designed specifically for Chromebook and running Android apps alongside 4GB of RAM. It handles playing a video, while at the same time having numerous other tabs open, without seeing it slow down.
Drawbacks
Its small size makes it less appealing to adults and more desirable for kids or students.
Watching content is great but if looking from an awkward angle, the gloss of the screen can create glare and impair viewing.
The camera does well in low light but videos sometimes seem grainy and washed out. While good for video chats, you’re not going to be taking any awesome selfies.
Extra Features
- Bluetooth 4.0
- Microphone/headphone port
- Micro SD card slot
Buying Advice
It’s a great design and has a superb set of specifications, capable of performing well.
Another attractive feature is the price.
With everything they have packed into this versatile Chromebook, it won’t disappoint.
Perhaps not such a good choice for adults due to its size, especially for regular use. Probably more ideal for kids and students. The battery life of this Chromebook is above average and is sure to see them through a full day of classes.
Best Portable:
Asus ZenBook 13 Ultra Slim 4.0. UX330UA
Our pick of the best portable Asus laptop has to be this one.
Asus claims this ZenBook is the world’s thinnest laptop with a standalone graphics chip. Normally one so thin would come with integrated graphics because they are power-efficient and cheaper.
While the ZenBook is not a full-on gaming laptop or a graphics workstation, games will run smoother and faster. It’s also possible to make fast work of tasks you wouldn’t normally consider doing on a portable laptop.
Specs
Benefits
The display provides you with a good amount of color and brilliant brightness with a crisp picture. To go with this, the sound system is great too, with clear vocals and clean sounds that enhance your viewing.
With the Intel core i5 included alongside the 8GB of RAM, you have guaranteed great power, allowing for easy multitasking.
The ZenBook comes with the MX150 chip and, although this is an entry level, it has 2GB of memory. The designers of the chip, NVIDIA, say it can give four times better performance than integrated memory. You get improved video and photo editing and a much more superior gaming experience.
The keyboard is comfortable to use so you can achieve a good level of productivity when working. The battery life, although not as efficient as the older version, is still a lengthy 8 hours.
For a portable laptop, it is a relatively decent price.
Drawbacks
The touch-pad is a little slippery and the clicks feel somewhat spongy. Almost as if something was trapped beneath, and that left me disappointed.
The camera is not the best and selfies can come out looking slightly fuzzy.
You only get a basic installation of Windows 10 that includes some Asus utilities.
Extra Features
- Intel dual band wireless
- Bluetooth 4.1
- 2 year international warranty
Buying Advice
The Asus ZenBook gives you clean and crisp viewing with clear sounds and a keyboard that is comfortable to use. All of which will make your productivity effortless. Yes, the touch-pad lets it down slightly but that’s probably something you can easily live with.
While the battery life is not as efficient as the previous model, this is due to the improvement in the processor. I’m sure you’ll be able to handle less battery time for much better performance.
All in all, this is a great looking laptop with an affordable price tag which will offer you awesome performance and productivity.
Best Budget:
Asus TP401MA-AB21T VivoBook Flip
The Asus VivoBook Flip is a slim and compact 2-in-1 laptop.
It has a display cover made from metal with a plastic base. It features the Intel Pentium N5000 dual core processor and comes with Windows 10 pre-installed.
It has both keyboard and touchscreen. You can use the screen with either your fingers or a stylus. Both stylish and practical, it offers some good specifications and features. The price for what you get is why we chose it as the best budget Asus laptop.
Specs
Benefits
This is a slim design at only 0.6 inches thick and has no fan, which cuts down operating noise. This means it’s really good when it comes to watching movies or offering presentations.
With the versatile hinges you get four viewing modes:
- Laptop
- Tablet
- Tent
- Stand
It runs using Windows 10 S, so you get a high level of security on a cloud-based app system. You can also upgrade it to Windows Home. ASUS recommends further upgrading to Windows Pro for extra security and features.
With the 128GB of storage, you have quite a unique laptop that will provide sufficiently for both professional or personal use. It also comes with integrated SuperBattery technology, which protects the battery and extends its life. Depending on your usage, you could see the battery lasting all day long. However, we were seeing 4-6 hours under typical use.
The display gives you distinct features and colors, with the NanoEdge technology and full HD. Add this to the quality sound output and this laptop has you covered.
Drawbacks
With the plastic base unit, it isn’t as sturdy as some other laptops.
Not ideal for frequent gamers as it won’t meet their graphics needs.
Because of the micro USB and HDMI ports, it may be necessary to carry adapters around in order to use them.
Extra Features
- Micro HDMI port
- Micro USB 2.0 port
- Microphone/headphone port
- Fingerprint reader
Buying Advice
At such an affordable price, this laptop is good for both professional and personal use.
It has some great specifications and a superb display. The adaptability and portability is the reason it is our choice as the best budget Asus laptop.
The storage will easily carry the workload of students and business needs and, If required, you can expand storage. It works quickly and quietly due to the fanless design. With the superb touchscreen and full HD, what more do you need?
Best For Gaming:
Asus Rog Strix GL702V
If you want to get the best from your gaming experience, you need a quality laptop capable of powerful performance.
This gaming laptop will not disappoint.
We have chosen the Rog Strix as the best Asus gaming laptop for good reason. Not only does it have an awesome rugged look that you want to see in a gaming laptop, it also includes amazing specifications.
Specs
Benefits
There are some really good benefits with this gaming laptop. First of all, it has a great look with a black brushed metal finish, a cool logo and the inscription “Republic of Gamers”. A serious looking piece of gaming equipment that no one will mistake for the average laptop.
It has the latest 7th generation Intel Core i7 processor as well as NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080 graphics.
It has a great display size of 17.3 inches, which gamers need for that captivating view. The laptop uses fast 120 Hz wide view panel that includes NVIDIA G-Sync technology and the impressive GTX1080 graphics card.
This gives you brilliant synchronize and refresh rates. All this reduces any lagging and frame stutter to provide you with smooth viewing.
The keyboard is backlit and the keystrokes are extremely responsive and hit the mark every time. The speakers provide a clear crisp sound and the laptop has built-in smart amplifier technology. This gives you excellent control over the sound quality and output.
Another reason for this being one of the best gaming laptops is the VR compatibility. This Asus laptop is able to handle most leading headsets and give you solid performance with the lowest latency.
Drawbacks
As far as a gaming laptop goes there are very few drawbacks to mention. The keyboard has a soft touch to allow for great gaming but can be a hindrance when typing. This can make typing tasks a chore but I doubt that gamers are too concerned about that.
The laptop is pretty heavy but anyone used to a good gaming laptop should already know the score on this. Most gaming laptops are on the heavier side.
Battery life is lower than most average laptops but this is not an average laptop. As a gaming laptop, it comes equipped with extraordinary performance and power. This drains battery life quickly. So you can either have an out-of-this-world gaming experience or a battery that lasts longer, but not both.
Extra Features
- RJ45 network interface
- MiniDP interface
- HDMI interface
- USB-C interface
- SD card reader
Buying Advice
The Rog Strix is a great design that not only looks good but performs amazingly. With a large 17-inch display, high-end CPU and GPU, Asus has got gaming covered.
Team this with its VR compatibility and superb sound qualities and your gaming experience is being taken to a whole new level.
While you will be paying a high price to own it, what you get for your money will not disappoint.
Best Asus 2-in-1:
Asus Transformer Mini T102HA-D4-GR
The Asus Transformer is our favorite choice as the best Asus 2-in-1 laptop.
Not only is it extremely portable it will also provide you with the qualities of both a tablet and a mini laptop.
Specs
Benefits
This is a versatile and lightweight 2-in-1 that is ideal for those with a lower budget. This small laptop has a really good design, and a well-built feel to it. It also has the bonus of a fingerprint reader included.
Equipped with Windows 10, it has a bright screen and a battery life that will last you through the day.
The 2-in-1 is simple but elegant, It comes in gray and includes the Asus logo. It has a magnetic keyboard included and features a useful pull-out kickstand which is adjustable. You will also get an active stylus for use with the touchscreen.
The screen has a bright display, perfect for watching content, and the battery life will see you through the full day.
Considering its size, the Transformer Mini offers a great sound output, giving you clear and loud vocals. Team this with the great display and your viewing experience enhances.
Drawbacks
It isn’t an amazingly powerful laptop, but as a 2-in-1 is a great device to suit the changing needs of those who can’t afford both a laptop and a tablet.
The keyboard is small and may be awkward to use for adults with bigger hands, but that is the same with all detachable keyboards.
Extra Features
- Includes stylus pen
- Micro USB
- Micro HDMI
- Headphone jack
Buying Advice
Ideal if you are looking for something which is low budget. If you can’t decide whether you need a laptop or a tablet, then this would be a good choice. With this great little 2-in-1, you get the best of both worlds at a very affordable price.
While it may not be the most amazing laptop, for the price you pay you will be getting a great performance and good quality. Both the display and sound are great for watching content, playing music and browsing.
You have the stylus and keyboard included and have security but ease of access using the fingerprint ID.
You could even produce some fantastic business presentations. With the connectivity features, you can soon have it hooked up to feed an entire conference room in no time.
Overall, this is a really good 2-in-1 that is able to meet the needs of most average users and a great addition for a family. Your kids can use it at school to help with their classes while you use it in the evenings for browsing.
Asus Thin
Student laptops fill a very specific niche in the world of computers, being able to store and run increasingly detailed digital courses while not being either too large or heavy to carry around in a backpack for the duration of the school day. The Asus Thin looks to clear both of these bars at once to become the best notebook computer for this year’s classrooms.
The basics of this laptop are very much on the budget side, with Intel Celeron processors running a modified student version of Windows ten on four gigabytes of RAM. Onboard storage is a modest 64 gigabytes, although the computer compensates for that by being compatible with larger external expansion storage than most smaller notebook computers can handle.
This laptop’s main advantage comes from the minute dimensions into which all of that is compressed - the screen measures only 11” on the diagonal, with a compressed keyboard to allow for all the usual functions and excellent key travel in a smaller space. As the name suggests, the Thin is barely half an inch tall when closed, and sports a hinge that allows it to open to 180 degrees to lay flat alongside papers or school supplies on a desk.
Weight is a factor for student laptops, as they will need to be something that a student can haul in a backpack or satchel on a daily basis. The Thin weighs just a hair over two pounds, making it a breeze to fit in beside your schoolbooks.
Some of what makes this laptop a good fit for students makes it unsuitable for others - for instance, the smaller keyboard and screen can make it uncomfortable to use in an office setting, and the limited components make it a bad choice for heavy tasks. Consider carefully whether this meets your needs before buying.
ASUS VivoBook
At the other end of the spectrum from the Thin is the newest edition of Asus’s flagship VivoBook line, built on a 17.3” frame and packed with a host of powerful features that put it at the front of the pack. VivoBooks are longtime competitors in the high-end field, and this year’s edition is no exception.
Technically speaking, it provides an impressive 3.5 gigahertz processor and Intel Core i5 chip set to run Windows 10, and a chunky 12 gigabytes of RAM that make it realistically able to run modern gaming titles or demanding specialized software. The RAM has been given a bandwidth boost to allow for blazing fast internet access, a must for anyone planning to play games, download video content, or upload to websites.
Storage is of particular note in this model, as there are not one but two fully functioning hard drive bays that run the computer on a partition basis. One drive is a high-speed solid state drive that contains the operating system, making the computer boot up and add updates at measurably faster speeds than if it had been a hard disk drive; the other is a standard hard disk drive with a cavernous terabyte of space, allowing the user to store the huge files needed for videos, slideshows, games, and more.
At 17.3” diagonally, this model gives ample room for a full keyboard and number pad, with a bright and clear screen in the same size. A healthy collection of all types of USB ports are available, as well as a microSD card reader and audio jack.
Unfortunately, the size is also one of this model’s greater weaknesses; it is both too large and too heavy to truly be a contender for the mobile computing world, and is likely to be of interest only to those looking for a desktop replacement model. Additionally, the graphics card is somewhat subpar; it is a fairly dated version of AMD rYzen graphics, which can leave most games running slowly or at low settings.
ASUS X512DA
Another example of a VivoBook, this model trades a certain amount of size for improved portability and a more impressive graphics processor. Although it loses some of the features of the previous model, the trade-offs keep it a viable option for school, home, and the office.
This model is a standard 15.6” laptop, and so will be suitable for the more commonly marketed backpacks and briefcases. There is a full size keyboard and number pad for easy and intuitive typing, and a range of pots along the side including USB Tye A, 2.0 and 3.0, ,a combination microphone and audio headset jack, and a microSD card reader.
To keep the price down, this model uses the AMD Ryzen 5 processor instead of a more costly Intel chip, but still delivers quad-core performance of 3.6 gigahertz for Windows 10 pro. There is a 512 gigabyte solid state drive, and AMD Radeon Vega discrete graphics to give it competent gaming capability.
It is worth noting that this model is heavily customizable to meet the needs of any individual user; both the storage and processors can be easily unplugged from the motherboard and replaced with more advanced models, making this laptop a good base for a higher-end computer without forcing the user to actually buy a new machine.
Unfortunately, the main complaint against it - that it doesn’t offer the Intel chipset - can be hard for some users to overlook, especially when the default chip isn’t even the latest of the AMD line. The solid state drive, although easily expanded in a variety of ways, is not large enough to meet the needs of a heavy workload, especially when using specialized programs, and the more powerful graphics card boosts this model’s cost beyond what many are willing to put out for a laptop of its specifications.
Asus ROG Zephyrus G14
Some laptops are built to keep weight and space down, or to provide good value for money, and both have a place in the modern world. The gaming laptop is neither of these, and prefers to trade nearly every other consideration for adding the most powerful components possible to a frame and screen big enough to support serious, long-term gaming.
The Zephyrus is Asus’s edition of a gaming laptop, and makes it clear from the very first technical specifications; 40 gigabytes of RAM on an octa-core processor and a full terabyte of solid state drive make this computer fast and spacious enough for the most demanding titles on the market. These impressive technical specifications are packed into a 14” frame with a backlit keyboard and Windows 10 Home, making for a surprisingly innocuous machine to be holding such an impressive hardware suite.
Graphics are the cornerstone of any good gaming computer, and the Zephyrus hasn’t skimped there either; users will be treated to the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 right out of the box. NVIDIA cards are considered the top of the range across the gaming community, so you know you’ll be playing with the best.
Both USB 3.0 and Type-C ports are included, allowing for easy expansion into accessories of all generations. A headset port with combined microphone and speakers and an integrated HD webcam are helpfully added for those who want to take advantage of the recent trend of live streaming their performance at a particular game.
The one thing that might make a gamer balk at this machine is the lack of a CD drive; as most of the best games are still sold on CDs, not having an integrated drive can be a turn off for those hoping to install their favorite titles in a hurry. Another consideration that can be understandably daunting is the price; at nearly 1,600 USD before taxes and shipping, this machine can leave many people looking for an alternative.
Final Thoughts
As we all know, buying a new laptop can be a headache.
There are so many to choose from and all feature a long list of specifications. The important thing is that you buy the right one based on your usage. That’s where this guide comes in.
We’ve picked out the best Asus laptops, not only considering budgets, but user needs too.
