ASUS ZenBook 13 UM325UA test (2021): the Ultrabook OLED at 800 euros that completely seduced us

When you recommend an ultrabook in 2021, it's easy to fall back on a MacBook M1 whose performance is excellent.But there are also serious alternatives equipped with Windows 10.This Asus Zenbook 13 UM325UA (2021) sold at 800 euros, equipped with an AMD processor with an OLED screen, is an excellent surprise on paper.Let's go see what he has in his stomach.

Asus Zenbook 13 UM325UA // Source: Frandroid

On March 1, 2021, we published our ASUS ZenBook 13 UX325 (2021) test.With a note of 8/10, we were pleasantly surprised by the size of the machine, its finishes, its performance, but also its OLED screen.He has a lot of assets.

But now, Asus has just marketed the ZenBook 13 UM325.And the letter that changes, an M instead of an X, is important: instead of the Intel CPU, Asus has integrated AMD CPU.For the rest, it's the same machine.Inevitably, we wanted to compare.

ASUS ZenBook 13 UM325UA technical sheet

This copy was loaned to us by Asus, it is equipped by AMD Ryzen 7 5700U

Always a compact design and an OLED screen

This ZenBook 13 is identical to the ZenBook 13 based on Intel, but with two main particularities: it is only offered with a superb OLED screen and, of course, it is powered by a CPU AMD.Visually, this does not change anything apart from the logos stuck on his shell.

Asus Zenbook 13 UM325UA // Source: Frandroid

First observation in hand: the whole shell is made of metal with a textured finish for the external upper part and a smooth and matt interior.Asus opted for a palette of dark gray colors which gives a very sober appearance to the whole, you will have no choice of colors.The brushed exterior recovers, unfortunately, too easily fingerprints.

Asus Zenbook 13 UM325UA // Source: Frandroid

Second observation, it is compact and light, while being practical on a daily basis.It weighs just under 1.2 kg, with fine screen borders and the ergolift hinge mechanism.The latter raises the computer when you open it to improve the cooling system.Unfortunately, the screen can only be tilted at 155 degrees, but it remains largely enough in our opinion.

Despite its size and weight, the connectors offered are complete: two USB-C (but no Thunderbolt), which support the load and the Displayport, an HDMI port on the left, and a micro SD card reader as well asA USB-A port on the right.

Asus Zenbook 13 UM325UA // Source: Frandroid

Due to the absence of headphone jack, ASUS includes a USB-C helmet adapter around 3.5 mm, which may be problematic for some.Personally, I went to wireless and the Bluetooth connection ensures the job with my helmet or my Trueless headphones.Finally, Twin Harman Kardon certified speakers are a correct alternative to the use of headphones.On the side of wireless connectivity, Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.2 are there.

Asus Zenbook 13 UM325UA // Source: Frandroid

In general, discussions on the keyboard and trackpad are quite subjective.Besides, Asus offers a virtual grid that lights up when you press the upper right corner of the trackpad to display the digital pad.Some will say that it is a gadget, and others, that it is better than nothing.Let's start with this glass trackpad.From my point of view, it complies with Microsoft's requirements and it is precise enough for Windows's extensive gestures.I found it pleasant and responsive, so much so that I have nothing to envy to the one who equips the MacBook and who is generally cited as the reference in the category.

Asus Zenbook 13 UM325UA // Source: Frandroid

Regarding the keyboard, it is relatively large despite the reduced size of this laptop.The keys are really large and comfortable.We also appreciate the typography of the touches used which differ from what we are used to seeing;It offers excellent readability.The backlight is correct, with 3 intensity levels.The whole is well spaced with a large travel (1.4 mm).This allows to have an effective and pleasant strike.Only defect for my taste: the shape of the entrance key, but we get used to it.

Asus Zenbook 13 UM325UA // Source: Frandroid

An impressive oled slab

Finally, it's time to mention the OLED screen.It is a non -tactile Full HD Definition Oled slab with a brilliant appearance.Like the Intel version, this screen is a daily delight.If you own an OLED TV or an OLED smartphone, most of you will agree that the sparkling reputation of this technology is well deserved.You just can't get, for the moment, the same image quality, black levels, contrast ratio and wide vision angles on other types of slabs.

This OLED manufactured by Samsung is all that we expect from this technology, with excellent contrast, rich colors, super vision angles and good maximum brightness (around 400 nits).With this infinite contrast and its viewing angles, a very correct brightness, it will be difficult to go back to an IPS slab after making the Zenbook 13 OLED.All the images or videos displayed seem magnified, which is done a little at the expense of the accuracy of the colors.If our probe raised a 6634 k color temperature fairly close to the expected 6,500 k, we notice to the naked eye that saturation is excessive.

Obviously, you probably know one of the main faults of the OLED: Burn-in or, in French, screen burn.These burned pixels are real, they exist.But know, dear oled-skeptics, that the formation of burn-in needs favorable conditions.In addition, this is not as important as before thanks to the improvements made to the manufacture and compensation carried out by the software part.As a precaution, you never know, we advise you to activate a watch screen after a few minutes.But just as a precaution.

Also note that this OLED screen very much reflects light, which is barely offset by its strong relative light.If you are in a space with a lot of sunny windows or a light spot, it can be painful in the long run.

Top performance

Understand everything between UM325UA, UM325SA and UX325

If you got there, the first thing to understand is what is hidden behind the names used by Asus.It's not simple.

All these models are called Zenbook 13 OLED, but they do not have the same configuration.The UM325UA, for example, uses an AMD Zen 2+ processor: a Ryzen 5 5500U or a Ryzen 7 5700U.As part of this test, we tested the model equipped with a Ryzen 7 5700U.The UM325SA, on the other hand, takes advantage of the latest AMD Zen 3 with the Ryzen 5 5600U or the Ryzen 7 5800U.Finally, there is the UX325 equipped with an 11th generation Intel processor (Core i7-1165g7).If you don't know anything about it, know that all these processors are low -consumption CPUs (15 to 28 watts) who integrate an IGPU with shared shared memory.

Some processors have 4 cores (Core i7-1165g7), others 6 (Ryzen 5,5500u) and others have 8 (Ryzen 7 5700U).Having more hearts does not necessarily mean better performance, there are many other variables that come into play such as the clock frequency, the architecture used, so on.In any case, it remains a shame to have so many different models, because it makes the range unreadable for the general public.Few people will be able to understand the differences between a Ryzen 7 5700U and a Ryzen 7 5800U.However, the first is a Renoir 4000 processor with some improvements, including a better IGPU, while the second uses the new Zen 3 architecture.I grant you, it's not easy to understand.

Being based on Zen 3, the APU Cézanne benefit from its qualities such as improved cache, memory support, higher frequencies, more content TDP or the increase in IPCs (clock cycle instructions).

Asus Zenbook 13 UM325UA // Source: Frandroid

The performances are there

Here, we have tested the AMD Ryzen 7 5700U version that we will be able to compare with the Intel Core i7-1165g7 previously tested as well as the Apple M1, the new market reference on this category of products.

As you can see, our laptop is doing very well: in mono-heart it is better than intel, a little less well in multi-heart.What to remember: the performance is very good for an ultrabook if compact, it will provide the main office tasks without blinking.

On the graphic performance side, AMD does less well than intel.This is certainly where you can really justify the price difference between the Intel and AMD version.If you want to play punctually, the Intel version will provide you with a few more iPS.You can play in HD or Full HD in relative good conditions.

Even the performance of the SSD NVME are there, superior to what we have obtained on the Intel version.

Finally, the only point that can be embarrassing is linked to the heating.This laptop, by its design and its chassis, heats a little too much.In office automation, we can hope to stay at 0 dB, which means that no fan is running.Nevertheless, the two fans light up quickly, even if the noise generated is not very noticeable this remains remarkable against Apple and its M1 processor.

We understand why the fans are running a little too much, the outer shell quickly rises in temperature as soon as you launch tasks that are too greedy in resources.We were able to measure more than 47 degrees Celsius.We do not burn ourselves, but obviously this heating has consequences on the performance over time.

As you can see, the high temperature is located under the screen on the right part.

Autonomy: a record in the world of the PC

Less than 1.2 kilogram, and more precisely 1.14 kg, we could expect an average autonomy.During our autonomy test, the brightness was 200 nits, we were able to go beyond 18 hours.This is really excellent autonomy, we can thus observe the significant gap with the Intel version which was however very correct.Thanks to the OLED screen and the low -consumption AMD chip, this zenbook and its 67 Wh battery is an excellent equation to obtain good autonomy.

It is equipped with a USB-C Compact charger which allows you to fully load the PC in just over an hour.

Asus Zenbook 13 UM325UA // Source: Frandroid

Price and availability of Asus Zenbook 13 UM325UA

Generally, the Ryzen 5 5500U version with 8 GB of RAM memory and 512 GB of SSD is sold at 800 euros TTC.It's an excellent price ... and it explains that stocks leave very quickly.Monitor the main traders, including Darty and Fnac, if you have decided to crack for this laptop.

There are no offers for the moment

The Intel version found between 1000 and 1200 euros is also a good option that offers a little more performance, but less autonomy.