ASUS taichi 31 Hybrid Review

The ASUS Taichi 31 Hybrid is the best-performing convertible ultrabook in the whole lot of available ultrabook in the market. The product operates on Windows 8 Pro OS, supported by Intel Core i7 3517U processor at a speed of 1.90GHz and a 4GB DDR3 RAM. It is a very powerful laptop with an innovative design of two screens placed back to back that can be used in four different modes – mirror, tablet, laptop and dual screen. 

                        The display is full HD of 13.3 inch, 16:9 ratio at a resolution of 1920 x 1080p. The outer screen is gorilla glass, which is scratch-proof, but prone to smears and smudges. The ultrabook is extremely lightweight at 1.57 kg for two screens. The design is sturdy on a brushed aluminum body which boasts of a light and sleek look, yet the broad bezel for the notebook screen is not very good. 

                           The audio quality of the device, enhanced by Bang and Olufsen, is really good. Sadly enough, the ultrabook’s battery life of only two hours doesn’t support its features at all. It comes with a chiclet keyboard amid backlight, 265GB SSD, integrated Intel HD Graphics 4000, a 5MP camera and a stylus pen. The ultrabook is Wi-Fi and Bluetooth enabled. There are a numerous ports, two USB  3.0 ports, one micro HDMI port, one mini VGA port and a  SD/MMC card slot, but it lacks a LAN port. 

              The ASUS Taichi 31 Hybrid performs extremely well, and  is way better than Sony VAIO 11 and Acer Aspire S7. But one cannot expect a good show for heavy graphics programs and games. Bottom Line: The ultrabook deserves a try because of its innovative features and design of two screens placed back to back. Yet, one should keep a check for its price.

Price in India : Rs 1, 39,999

 Key Specs: Intel Core i7 3517U Processor 1.90 GHz, Windows 8 Pro,  13.3” 16:9 Full HD (1920x1080) Display, 4 GB DDR3 RAM, 256 GB  SSD, Integrated Intel HD Graphics 4000, Web Cam, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth,  Bang & Olufsen Audio, 2 x USB 3.0 port(s), 1 x micro HDMI, 1 x Mini VGA Port , SD/MMC card slot, Stylus Pen.

 Pros: Innovative use of the two 1080p screens, Great audio quality, Lightweight, stylus support, good performance, Dual Camera. 

Cons: Very expensive, No SD card slot, low battery life; Gorilla glass prone to smears and smudges, Broad bezel for notebook screen.