Buying guide for best asus laptops

Along with the likes of Dell, Hewlett Packard, and Microsoft, computer hardware manufacturer ASUS has made a name for itself by bringing high-quality, well-designed laptops and some of the best Chromebooks on the market at prices that make their competitors nervous.

Whether you want your next laptop to be a multitasking workhorse or just a casual machine for browsing the web, our shopping guide will help you find the best ASUS laptop for you.

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Read on for our full guide to ASUS laptops to discover which one will best fit your requirements. Then, when you're ready to buy, head to the top of the page to see our five favorites.

ASUS was named after Pegasus, the winged horse from Greek mythology.

ASUS laptop uses

• Gaming: For avid PC gamers, a powerful video card and processor (CPU) are a must for gaming performance. ASUS makes some of the best gaming laptops around, with large, vivid screens, monster graphics cards, and high-end processors. We touch on some of our favorites later in this guide, including the ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14 line with MaxQ.
• Working: Anyone whose job involves a keyboard knows how important it is to have a stable, fast computer, especially when multitasking. For ASUS, that means laptops that are durable and dependable. If you spend your day working with software, on the web, or both, you want a reliable machine that can keep up with you.
• Traveling: Some ASUS laptops emphasize portability, which is a plus for those who must lug their computer everywhere they go. The so-called “Ultrabook” category of laptops was practically invented by Apple’s MacBook Air, and it isn’t hard to see how that MacBook inspired ASUS’ version of the ultrabook in terms of both functionality and design.

ASUS TUF and ROG are lines of gaming laptop items and peripherals from ASUS. ROG stands for “Republic of Gamers,” and TUF stands for “The Ultimate Force.” Both ASUS ROG and TUF gaming products are known for their strength and durability.

Laptop vs. two-in-one

Some ASUS laptops do double-duty as bulky but functional tablets. In the two-in-one ASUS, the screen is typically on a hinge or swivel that allows it to fold over the keyboard.

While the traditional mouse-and-keyboard approach is great for “lean-forward” computer work that involves typing or lots of clicking, using your ASUS laptop in tablet mode is ideal for “lean-back” activities like watching a movie.

If you expect to use your laptop for both kinds of activities, consider a two-in-one.

Windows vs. Chrome

ASUS uses two different operating systems (OS) on their laptops: Microsoft Windows and Google Chrome. As you’re shopping for an ASUS laptop, consider which OS best suits your needs. If you know you want a Chromebook, ASUS has some of the most affordable and best Chromebooks available.

Chrome OS

This turns Google’s Chrome web browser into an entire operating system, complete with the ability to run apps found in the Google Play store. Backed by Google’s world-class cloud-based software suite (including Google’s Search, Docs, Sheets, and Hangouts, among others), this OS is a better choice for those who live their lives in the cloud (or aspire to).

Microsoft Windows

This is ideal for gamers and anyone who has already invested in Windows-based software. It runs full-fledged applications, not just web- or cloud-based apps. Windows also brings the benefit of familiarity.

Keep in mind, however, that Windows consumes a lot more battery life than Chrome, which means a Windows-based laptop requires more frequent recharging, or a really long battery life, or both!

If you work on your computer at night or in a dark space, consider a laptop with a backlit keyboard. The keys illuminate so you can see as you type, but a backlit keyboard is not so bright that it will disturb your eyes.

Screen size

ASUS primarily adheres to industry norms when it comes to the sizes of their screens. Displays are 11.6, 13.3, and 15.6 inches in size.

• The size of the screen largely determines the weight and power of the laptop. While the screen itself doesn’t weigh a lot or affect the speed of the machine, it defines the size of the laptop enclosure. You can fit a faster processor and a bigger battery in a 15.6-inch laptop than a smaller one. If you do processor-intensive tasks (like editing video or compiling code), you’ll need a larger screen. If you do mostly basic tasks like web browsing and watching video, any size would work well.
• The screen is the biggest battery drain. Larger laptops sometimes compensate for this by using the extra space for bigger batteries. If you plan on using your laptop a lot when it isn’t plugged in, consider how the screen size will impact the battery life.

Accessories

Lap desk: SONGMICS Laptop Desk for Bed and Sofa
If you plan to surf or work from the comfort of your bed or chair, you need a reliable lap desk. This inexpensive SONGMICS item is great for relaxed work and relaxed movie watching: put the laptop in tablet mode, choose a show, and sit back.

Graphics card: ASUS GeForce RTX 2060
If you want to play high-end games or perform other activities that require sophisticated graphics, the ASUS GeForce RTX 2060 plug-in graphics card with a dual fan is a great purchase. For something a little less costly, we also suggest you take a look at the ASUS Cerberus GeForce GTX 1050, which is a rugged and quiet graphics card but perhaps not the best buy for gaming in 4K.

PCEe stands for “Peripheral Component Interconnect Express.” A lot of current offerings from ASUS feature multiple lanes of PCIe SSD for lightning-fast speed. PCIe SSD 3.0 delivers a peak raw bandwidth of 4 GB per second; PCIe SSD 4.0 delivers a bandwidth of 7.9 GB per second.

ASUS laptop prices

Under $500: Most ASUS laptops for the budget market cost $500 or less. They are commonly built with the Chrome operating system and equipped with just the basics. You can have your choice among various ASUS Chromebook Flips in this price range, for example. Choose one with a smaller 11-inch screen with 32GB of storage in the $300 range, or choose one of the same size with 64GB of storage for a few hundred dollars more.

Between $999 and $1,300: Mid-range to high-end ASUS laptops that feature faster processors and run Windows usually start around $999 and can get as expensive as $1,300. You are more likely to see Intel Core i7 processors in this range, but there are some great choices without Intel Core i7, too.  If you’re looking for an affordable gaming laptop, we suggest you check out a ASUS TUF gaming laptop, the F17, which has a 17.3-inch screen, 512 GB, and an Intel Core i5 — a step down from the Intel Core i7 — to see if its specs would give you the gaming experience you desire.

Over $1,300: ASUS makes some sweet laptops in the top-end range, including the fantastic ASUS ROG Strix Scar G15 gaming laptop computer and the ASUS ZenBook Pro Duo, both of which cost well over $2,000. (We’ll discuss the ASUS ROG Strix Scar and ZenBook Pro in a bit more in depth in the FAQ.)

Although ASUS is most commonly known for its laptop and desktop computers, the company also manufactures dozens of other tech products, including wireless routers, rack mount servers, monitors, and smartphones.

FAQ

Q. Can I run Word, Excel, or PowerPoint on a Chromebook?

A. The current version of Office suite of software products is Office Online, web-based versions of applications like Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and OneNote. Office Online is fully compatible with Chrome OS and can be downloaded from the Google Play Store.

Q. I’m an avid gamer. Should I buy a laptop or a desktop computer?

A. Both are good choices for any computer gamer. Keep in mind that while a desktop can theoretically run a faster processor and be upgraded more easily, a laptop is portable and holds more of its resale value. Because laptops require smaller CPUs, they are often a generation or two behind the fastest available desktop processors.

We like the ASUS’ line of gaming laptops, which are affordable and deliver admirable gaming performance. One of the best gaming laptops lines include ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14 gaming computers, which come with a 14-inch display and impressive power. If you want something a little bigger, the ASUS ROG Strix Scar G15 gaming notebook offers a 15.6-inch display and an amazing experience.

Q. What upgrades can I make to an ASUS laptop?

A. Some ASUS models allow users to easily upgrade the RAM and, in some cases, the hard drive. Before beginning any upgrades, check the user manual to make certain they’re supported. Some changes will void the warranty or permanently damage the laptop.

Q. Can I install Windows 10 on a Chromebook?

A. Officially, Chromebooks don’t support the installation of a third-party operating system such as Windows, Linux, or Mac OS X. Some users have found workarounds and successfully installed other operating systems, but doing so requires a decent amount of technical knowhow, and it definitely voids the laptop’s warranty.

Q. Can I get an ultrabook from ASUS?

A. Yes, ASUS has its own line of ultrabooks called ZenBooks. One of our favorites is the ASUS ZenBook Pro Duo, which has an extended workspace (part of the screen shifts down to the keypad area), an Intel Core i7 processor, the ability to open multiple apps at once and to visually navigate them while multitasking, thin bezels, a touchscreen, and an awesome and responsive stylus.

The ZenBook Pro is on the pricey side, so if you want something a bit scaled-down that’s still great, check out the ASUS ZenBook 13. For a fraction of the price of the ZenBook Pro, the ASUS ZenBook 13 has a smaller OLED screen (13.3 inches) and no touchscreen,  but it does have an Intel Core i7 processor, Thunderbolt 4, built-in facial recognition camera, thin bezels, and number pad.

Another choice we like is the ASUS Zenbook Flip. For hundreds of dollars less than the ZenBook Pro Duo, the ASUS ZenBook Flip is a 2-in-1 touchscreen laptop with LED backlighting, 256GB SSD, and a flash stylus. For a slightly higher cost, you can get the ASUS ZenBook Flip with 512GB SSD.

Q. How will I know if the laptop I’m interested in takes a USB or a USB-C cord?

A. This is important information that should be displayed in the product specs. Look for the words “Hardware interface” or a similar term to know whether the computer has USB or USB-C ports. This should also tell you if the laptop takes HDMI, Bluetooth, and other types of inputs.

Q. How can I choose between a laptop with AMD Ryzen 7 and one with AMD Ryzen 9?

A. When looking at the specs of a potential buy, you may see the terms “AMD Ryzen 7 3700X” or “AMD Ryzen 9 3900X.” This refers to the processor inside the computer. Both are great processors, but Ryzen 7 is geared more toward web surfing and light gaming, whereas Ryzen 9 is geared more toward those who need 12-core performance. For the average user, Ryzen 9 is a bit over-the-top, but there are those who need it.

Q. What is the difference between an ASUS Chromebook Flip and an ASUS ZenBook Flip?

A. The names are similar, but these two machines are not quite the same. The ZenBook is more compact and weighs significantly less than the ASUS Chromebook Flip, so if you must carry it around, you might prefer the lighter choice. It also has a slightly bigger battery and more pixels per inch (PPI) on its screen. The ASUS Chromebook Flip has thinner bezels and can receive input via touchpad.