How about some Ultrabooks? We got Ultrabooks. Thin, light, and metal brushed with their characteristic circular pattern. They are proud of that design, proud enough to cover it, the top of the lid, with a layer of Corning Gorilla Glass 3 to protect it from scratches and gouges. It feels a little absurd to say, but covering metal in glass for increased durability seems to make sense and could help your premium laptop look new for longer.

These 13.3-inch laptops come in two resolutions: 1920×1080 Full HD is the lower offering, with 2560×1440 for higher-end tastes. Both monitors are IPS-based with 10-point multi-touch capabilities.

The raw specifications for the UX301 are:

  • Intel Core i5-4200U or i7-4500U or i7-4558U
  • 4GB or 8GB DDR3L
  • Intel HD 5100 Graphics
  • SATA 3 SSD (up to 512GB RAID0)
  • 13.3-inch 2560 x 1440 WQHD or 1920 x 1080 Full HD IPS multitouch
  • 802.11ac (dual-band), Bluetooth 4.0
  • Mini DisplayPort, Micro-HDMI 1.4
  • 2x USB3.0, 3.5mm headphone/mic, SD card reader
  • Windows 8 or Windows 8 Pro

For the UX302:

  • Intel Core i5-4200U or i7-4500U
  • 4GB DDR3L
  • Intel HD 4400 or NVIDIA GeForce GT 730M (2GB)
  • Up to a 750GB HDD with 16 GB SSD cache
  • 1920 x 1080 Full HD IPS multitouch
  • 802.11ac (dual-band), Bluetooth 4.0
  • Mini Displayport, HDMI 1.4
  • 3x USB 3.0, 3.5mm headphone/mic, SD card reader
  • Windows 8 or Windows 8 Pro

The UX301 seems to be the more-premium device with obviously higher specs, at least for options, despite being almost 2mm thinner (15.5mm vs 17.2 for the UX302) and a quarter of a pound lighter (1.38kg vs 1.5 kg for the UX302). Both models are listed as a 50W battery, which I assume means 50Wh since watts are not a unit of electrical storage, but I am not entirely sure.

No information about pricing and availability has been released.

Press release after the break.

ASUS Announces Zenbook UX301 and UX302 with Sleek Glass Finish

Premium specifications with ultra-high resolution displays and a lid protected by Corning Gorilla Glass 3 make Zenbook the most desirable Ultrabook ever

Berlin, Germany (4th September, 2013) — ASUS today announced Zenbook UX301 and UX302, two flagship Ultrabooks™ with a beautiful sleek design and a lid protected by scratch-resistant Corning® Gorilla® Glass 3 with Native Damage Resistance™.

First glimpsed at Computex 2013, the new Zenbook UX301 and UX302 are next-generation Ultrabooks based on the award-winning Zenbook, launched in 2011. The new models feature a metallic ‘spun’ metal design that’s a Zenbook hallmark, but a layer of Corning Gorilla Glass 3 adds a sheer high-gloss finish that’s as hard-wearing as it is stunning.

Corning Gorilla Glass 3 has the same durability and thinness as Gorilla Glass 2, but Corning’s proprietary NDR glass composition gives superior scratch resistance, reduced scratch visibility and improved toughness. Corning Gorilla Glass 3 has three times the scratch resistance of Gorilla Glass 2 and offers a 40% reduction in the number of highly visible scratches, with a 40% improvement in retained strength if a deep scratch does occur.

Premium specifications for astonishing performance

A 13.3-inch display available with a 1920 x 1080 Full HD or 2560 x 1440 WQHD resolution means the new ASUS Zenbook gives incredibly sharp images and text. IPS (In-Plane Switching) display technology also ensures rich and accurate color with wide 178-degree viewing angles, while 10-point multi-touch gives smooth and responsive fingertip control with Windows 8.

4th generation Intel® Core™ processors offering seamless multi-tasking performance and outstanding energy efficiency power the new Zenbooks. A high-end 28W Core i7-4558U dual-core option makes light work of even the most demanding applications, while optional 512GB RAID0 SSD storage turbo-charges performance even more. Models feature either Intel Iris™ graphics, or NVIDIA® GeForce® GT 730M graphics with Optimus technology for incredible game visuals at high resolution and detail settings.

Available in Moonstone White and Sapphire Blue, Zenbook UX301 features 802.11ac Wi-Fi for high-speed wireless data rates, and comprehensive connectivity options include USB 3.0 and Bluetooth 4.0. All models feature a backlit keyboard with automatic light level control and large multi-touch touchpads with full support for Windows 8 gestures. ASUS SonicMaster audio technology is also standard on all models, for rich and detailed sound with video, music and games.

AVAILABILITY & PRICING

Please contact your local ASUS representative for further information.