The best Asus laptops of 2021

The best Asus laptops of 2021

The best Asus laptops of 2021

The best Asus laptops have come out of their shell. These days, beyond delivering performance at a more affordable price than the competition, these portables now boast high-quality builds and top-notch designs that rival that of Dell’s or Apple’s. No wonder they’re among the best laptops of the year.

The Taiwanese firm may be known for making some of the best PCs and PC components but it’s also putting out the best Asus laptops that look as great as they perform. These machines are quite capable, with a high-quality build, top-notch design, and impressive performance. And while some of them are admittedly pricier than the others, they’re still more affordable than the competition.

So be sure to take a look at the best Asus laptops of 2021, led by the stunning ROG Zephyrus line, one of the top gaming laptops available at the moment. If you’re in the market for one of the best Chromebooks or are searching for one of the best Ultrabooks, there are some great choices here as well.

Asus ROG Zephyrus G15 GA503

(Image credit: Asus)

1. Asus ROG Zephyrus G15

Desktop-replacement performance

CPU: AMD Ryzen 7 5800H – 9 5900HS | Graphics: Nvidia GeForce RTX 3060 – 3080 | RAM: Up to 32GB | Screen: 15.6-inch QHD (1440p), 165Hz, 3ms, 300 nits | Storage: 1TB

Outstanding performance
Incredible battery life
Great price
No webcam
Tenkeyless keyboard

The Asus ROG Zephyrus line has produced some of the best gaming laptops out there, and the new ROG Zephyrus G15 is no exception. Fitted with the latest and most powerful AMD Ryzen and Nvidia RTX 3000 series, they’re incredibly powerful and able to see you through the most demanding games. Of course, that legendary battery life has made an appearance, as well as that stylish chassis. If you want a high-performing gaming laptop that’s affordably priced to boot, nothing beats this one.

Read the full review: Asus ROG Zephyrus G15

Asus Chromebook Flip

Image credit: TechRadar (Image credit: Asus)

2. Asus Chromebook Flip

Premium Chromebook specs, economic Chromebook pricing

CPU: Intel Pentium 4405Y – Intel Core m3-6Y30 | Graphics: Intel HD Graphics 515 | RAM: 4GB | Screen: 12.5-inch, FHD (1,920 x 1,080) LED backlit anti-glare | Storage: 32GB – 64GB eMMC

Elegant tablet mode
Tactile keyboard
No out-of-box Android app support
Middling speakers

The best Asus laptops aren’t just premium all-singing, all-dancing devices with huge price tags, as the excellent Asus Chromebook Flip C302 demonstrates. The Asus Chromebook Flip C302 brings a lot of what we love about Asus laptops to an affordable Chromebook that’s ideal for day-to-day tasks and for students working on their homework. That means it’s got excellent build quality, a fantastic design, and packs some great hardware that makes it one of the best Chromebooks out there, with an Intel Core processor, full 1080p display, touchscreen, backlit keyboard, and USB-C port.

Read the full review: Asus Chromebook Flip

Asus ROG Strix G15

(Image credit: Future)

3. Asus ROG Strix G15 AMD Advantage Edition

AMD’s swing at the high-end

CPU: AMD Ryzen 9 5900HX | Graphics: AMD Radeon RX 6800M | RAM: 16GB | Screen: 15.6-inch FHD (1080pp), 300Hz | Storage: 512GB SSD

Excellent performance
Jaw-dropping battery life
Some growing pains

Powerful great-value laptops aren’t exactly a dime a dozen, so when one does come out every now and then, we’re only too happy to test it out. The Asus ROG Strix G15 AMD Advantage Edition isn’t just one of the best Asus gaming laptops; it’s also one of the latest best value laptops to hit the streets. It’s AMD’s successful swing at the high-end, boasting AMD’s top processor and GPU. But, it isn’t just its performance that takes center stage here. That battery life is astounding as well, especially considering those powerful specs.

Read the full review: Asus ROG Strix G15 AMD Advantage Edition

Asus ROG Zephyrus M15 GU502

(Image credit: Asus)

4. Asus ROG Zephyrus M15 GU502

Intel’s latest mobile tech brings its A-game

CPU: 10th-generation Intel Core i7 | Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660Ti – RTX 2070 Super | RAM: 16GB | Screen: 15.6-inch 4K UHD (3840 x 2160) 16:9 anti-glare display, 60Hz – 15.6-inch Full HD (1,920 x 1,080) IPS, 144Hz | Storage: 1TB M.2 NVMe PCIe 3.0 SSD

Excellent battery life
Good gaming performance
Fast screen
Not the most powerful
You’re paying a lot for the design

Those in the market for a mid-range gaming device might adore the Asus ROG Zephyrus M15 GU502. It’s a great-looking piece of kit, serving as another entry to Asus’ much-vaunted ROG Zephyrus lineup of stylishly thin, and light gaming laptops. And, that fast screen makes it a joy for gamers with a predilection for fast-paced games. But, does it measure up to the most powerful laptops out there? While not cutting-edge, the Asus ROG Zephyrus M15 GU502’s specs are decent for graphically intensive games and its battery can last a while, which makes it the best Asus laptop if you’re not looking for a, maxed out machine.

Read the full review: Asus ROG Zephyrus M15 GU502

Asus VivoBook S15

(Image credit: Asus)

5. Asus VivoBook S15

Thin, light and capable

CPU: up to 10th-generation Intel Core i7 – i9 | Graphics: Intel UHD 620 | RAM: 8GB / 12GB / 16GB 2400MHz DDR4 | Screen: 15.6” LED-backlit Full HD (1920 x 1080) 16:9 IPS level wide-view technology | Storage: 256GB / 512GB / 1TB PCIe SSD

Bright, colorful 15.6-inch screen
Weighs just 1.8kg
Powerful i7 processor
Merely average battery life
Only 1080p resolution
ScreenPad is a bit weird

In a nutshell, the Asus VivoBook S15 is one of the best laptops we’ve tested in recent months. Short of handling heavy-duty gaming, this is an extremely capable laptop that’s just as impressive as the 16-inch MacBook Pro, but is smaller, lighter and considerably less expensive. If you’re looking for a powerful laptop without paying a premium, this is among the very few out there worth considering. And, you’re getting a vivid screen, an ErgoLift hinge for a better typing position and that legendary ASUS ScreenPad to improve your productivity with it. So you’re basically getting a feature-rich laptop for considerably less than its rivals.

Read the full review: Asus VivoBook S15

Asus ZenBook Flip 15

Image credit: TechRadar (Image credit: Asus)

6. Asus ZenBook Flip 15

A capable and premium 2-in-1 laptop

CPU: 10th-generation Intel Core i5 – i7 | Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 with Max-Q | RAM: 8GB – 16GB LPDDR3 2133MHz | Screen: 15.6″ (16:9) LED-backlit FHD (1920×1080) – 4K UHD (3840×2160) 60Hz Glare Touchscreen | Storage: 512GB – 1TB PCIe Gen3 SSD

Incredibly thin and light
Vibrant, glare-free screen
Weak sauce graphics
Tinny speakers

If you are looking for a great all-rounder that ticks a lot of boxes, then you’ll appreciate the Asus ZenBook Flip 15. This premium laptop delivers all the right basics and a few innovative extras on top of that. Among the best Asus laptops out there, this 2-in-1 top-notcher boasts powerful specs – including a discrete graphics card – as well as a stunning touchscreen display, a flawless design, plenty of ports, facial recognition login, and a portable chassis. As for its extras, if the unique 360-degree ErgoLift hinge, Asus ScreenPad, Harman Kardon speakers and Alexa integration don’t impress you, we don’t know what will.

Read the full review: Asus ZenBook Flip 15

Asus TUF A15

(Image credit: Asus)

7. Asus TUF A15

The new affordable gaming king

CPU: AMD Ryzen 5 4600H – 7 4800H | Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 Ti — RTX 2060 | RAM: Up to 32GB | Screen: 15.6″ (16:9) FHD (1920×1080) 60Hz – 144Hz Anti-Glare IPS-level Panel | Storage: 1TB HDD + 256GB/512GB/1TB SSD

Great 1080p performance
New AMD processors
Very good battery life
Noisy fans
Design won’t be for everyone

Budget-minded gamers have another excellent option in their hands. While Asus TUF A15’s price tag isn’t exactly bargain basement, it is among the best Asus laptops for those who can stretch their budget just a bit for the sake of performance. This laptop touts not just an excellent display with a 144Hz refresh rate option and fantastic battery life, but also AMD’s latest chips and Nvidia’s best graphics cards for gaming in the budget and mid-range sphere. This gaming laptop is never going to compete with the most powerful out there, but it’s an excellent value for gamers who don’t really care to.

Read the full review: Asus TUF A15

Asus ZenBook Duo 14 UX482E

(Image credit: Future)

8. Asus ZenBook Duo 14 UX482E

The future of laptops?

CPU: 11th-gen Intel Core i5 – i7 | Graphics: Intel Iris Xe Graphics, NVIDIA GeForce MX450 | RAM: Up to 32GB | Screen: 14.0-inch FHD 1920 x 1080 16:9, IPS-level Panel anti-glare touchscreen display, 400nits | Storage: up to 1TB M.2 NVMe PCIe 3.0 SSD

ScreenPad Plus is better
Slim and light design
Great performance
Keyboard placement is awkward
ScreenPad Plus still isn’t for everyone

The Asus ZenBook Duo 14 UX482E’s dual-screen format sets it apart from everything else, and that second screen isn’t a mere curio either. It’s now more useful and customizable than ever, and its functionality should expand in due time. That’s on top of giving you a second screen to spread out. With or without that second screen, this is also one capable laptop, touting impressive specs for plenty of power, as well as a beautiful main screen and an awesome battery life. This is a game-changer of a laptop, for sure, with plenty of potential that we’re sure to come with updates.

Read the full review: Asus ZenBook Duo 14 UX482E

Asus ZenBook 3

(Image credit: Asus)

9. Asus ZenBook 3

The best all-round Asus laptop

CPU: Intel Core i5 – i7 | Graphics: Intel HD Graphics 620 | RAM: 16GB | Screen: 12.5-inch FHD (1,920 x 1,080) | Storage: 512GB SSD

Crystal clear display
Lightweight and very portable
Weird fingerprint sensor placement
A single USB-C port

If you’re looking for the very best all-around Asus laptop, then the Asus ZenBook 3 is the one to get. This is an exceptionally light Asus laptop, measuring less than half an inch thick, and weighing only two pounds. Asus’s ZenBook range of ultra-thin laptops have shown the world how to do gorgeously designed thin and light laptops right, all the while packing with powerful components. It’s a pricey laptop, to be sure, but if you’re after the very best of what Asus has to offer, the ZenBook 3 is a fantastic choice.

Read the full review: Asus ZenBook 3

ASUS ZenBook 13 UX333FAC

(Image credit: ASUS)

10. ASUS ZenBook 13 UX333FAC

A 13-inch laptop with a number pad

CPU: Intel Core i7 10510U | Graphics: Intel UHD Graphics 620 | RAM: 16 GB | Screen: 13.3″ (16:9) LED-backlit FHD (1920×1080) 60Hz | Storage: 512GB SSD

Has a Numpad
Really compact
Long battery life
Weird keyboard layout
No Thunderbolt 3

Asus is offering another reason to go for 13-inch laptops – the numeric pad that’s understandably a constant no-show on most laptops. The ASUS ZenBook 13 UX333FAC has found a way to add the feature, albeit a virtual one, on its trackpad, which now acts like Apple’s Touch Bar to accommodate it. But, it isn’t the only feature this laptop boasts. It’s got excellent battery life, a thin bezel display, and an impressive performance in a sophisticated chassis that you can easily show off at business meetings. The keyboard is slightly cramped and the display is non-touch, but it’s pretty affordable so those aren’t deal-breakers.