Affordable and Portable: Asus X205TA-UH01-BK Laptop Review

Table of Contents:

1. Introduction
2. Design and Build Quality
3. Ports and Connectivity
4. Boot-up Test Comparison
5. Display Quality
6. Keyboard and Trackpad Performance
7. Processor Performance
8. Graphics Performance
9. Storage Performance
10. Battery Life
11. Audio Quality
12. Wireless Connection
13. Pros and Cons
14. Conclusion

Introduction

Hey, what's up YouTube? It's me Andrew here, and today I'm doing my full review on the all-new Asus X205TA laptop. In this review, I will cover every aspect of this budget laptop, from its design and performance to its pros and cons. So, let's get started!

Design and Build Quality

The Asus X205TA features a dark blue plastic finish on its exterior, which feels surprisingly Durable considering its price range. The navy blue finish on the interior, along with the black chiclet-style keyboard, gives it a sleek and professional look. Weighing only 2.2 pounds and measuring 0.69 inches thick, this laptop is compact and lightweight, perfect for on-the-go use. However, users should be careful when placing it on a table, as the plastic pins on the backside could potentially scratch the surface.

Ports and Connectivity

On the left side of the laptop, you will find the AC charging port, microSD card slot, micro HDMI port, and headset microphone jack combo. While these ports are functional, it's worth noting that the HP Stream 11, a competing budget laptop, offers a full-size SD card slot and HDMI port, making it slightly more convenient. Nonetheless, the Asus X205TA's ports provide sufficient connectivity options for everyday use.

Boot-up Test Comparison

To evaluate the boot-up speed of the Asus X205TA and compare it to the HP Stream 11, I conducted a boot-up test. The Asus logo appeared first, followed by the HP logo. The Asus X205TA booted up in approximately 19 to 20 seconds, while the HP Stream 11 took around 25 seconds. Therefore, the Asus X205TA wins in terms of boot-up speed.

Display Quality

Both the Asus X205TA and the HP Stream 11 feature an 11.6-inch display with a resolution of 1366 x 768. However, there is a slight difference between the two. The Asus X205TA has a glossy display, while the HP Stream 11 has a matte display. Although both displays have mediocre color accuracy and contrast ratios, the Asus X205TA has a slight edge with its sharper and brighter image. The color accuracy on the Asus X205TA is also slightly better compared to the HP Stream 11.

Keyboard and Trackpad Performance

The Asus X205TA features a standard black chiclet-style keyboard, which offers decent key travel and tactile feedback. However, compared to the HP Stream 11, the keyboard on the Asus X205TA feels slightly less comfortable. As for the trackpad, it is designed and engineered by Asus, and I must say it's quite impressive. The two-finger scrolling is smooth and precise, and the multi-touch functionality works surprisingly well for a budget laptop.

Processor Performance

Powered by the Intel Atom Z3735F quad-core processor clocked at 1.33GHz with a boost up to 1.83GHz, the Asus X205TA handles basic productivity tasks with ease. Whether you're browsing the web, using Microsoft Office, or watching Netflix videos, this processor runs smoothly without any hiccups. In terms of Geekbench 3 performance scores, the Asus X205TA scored 773 for the single-core test and 2,200 for the multi-core test. Although the HP Stream 11 has a slightly better single-core performance, the multi-core performance of the Asus X205TA is significantly faster.

Graphics Performance

The Asus X205TA is equipped with Intel HD Graphics based on the Bay Trail architecture. To test its graphics performance, I played Minecraft with Optifine installed. With Optifine, Minecraft is playable on this laptop, averaging around 35 to 45 frames per Second. However, some scenes may dip to around 15 to 25 frames per second. It's worth mentioning that this Recording is based on Mineplex, which puts additional pressure on the graphics card. Overall, the Asus X205TA provides satisfactory graphics performance for casual gaming.

Storage Performance

The Asus X205TA comes with 32GB of eMMC flash storage. In terms of sequential read speed, it scored 88.32 megabytes per second, while the sequential write speed was 53.53 megabytes per second. These speeds, although not as impressive as those of the HP Stream 11, are still faster than traditional 5400 RPM hard drives. After installing Minecraft and a few benchmarking software, there was approximately 12.8GB of free space left on the eMMC flash storage.

Battery Life

One of the Asus X205TA's standout features is its impressive battery life. Thanks to the power-efficient Intel Atom processor, this laptop can last around 10 to 11 hours on a full charge, with the screen brightness set at around 70%. In comparison, the HP Stream 11 offers only around 6 to 7 hours of battery life on a full charge. Therefore, if long battery life is a priority for you, the Asus X205TA is a great choice.

Audio Quality

The Asus X205TA has two bottom-facing speakers, but unfortunately, the sound quality is below average. In comparison, the HP Stream 11 provides much better sound quality. Therefore, if audio performance is important to you, you may want to consider alternatives to the Asus X205TA.

Wireless Connection

The Broadcom 802.11a/b/g/n wireless card in the Asus X205TA has been performing flawlessly, providing a solid and stable wireless connection. Whether you're browsing the web, streaming videos, or downloading files, the wireless performance is impressive for a laptop in this price range.

Pros and Cons

Pros:

1. Affordable price
2. Lightweight and portable
3. Solid build quality
4. Impressive battery life
5. Smooth trackpad performance
6. Satisfactory processor and graphics performance

Cons:

1. Below-average audio quality
2. Limited storage capacity
3. Micro SD card slot and micro HDMI port may not be ideal for some users

Conclusion

In conclusion, the Asus X205TA is a solid budget laptop that offers decent performance and portability. With its affordable price, lightweight design, and impressive battery life, it is well-suited for basic productivity tasks and on-the-go use. While it may have some drawbacks, such as mediocre audio quality and limited storage capacity, these compromises are understandable given its price range. If you're looking for an affordable laptop that gets the job done without breaking the bank, the Asus X205TA is definitely worth considering.

Highlights:

• Affordable price
• Lightweight and portable design
• Solid build quality
• Impressive battery life
• Smooth trackpad performance
• Satisfactory processor and graphics performance

FAQ:

Q: Does the Asus X205TA have a backlit keyboard? A: No, the Asus X205TA does not have a backlit keyboard.

Q: Can the storage capacity of the Asus X205TA be expanded? A: Yes, you can expand the storage capacity by using an external storage device such as a USB flash drive or an external hard drive.

Q: Can the Asus X205TA handle video editing? A: Due to its limited processing power and storage capacity, the Asus X205TA is not ideal for video editing. It is better suited for basic productivity tasks and casual use.