Featuring a generous selection of processor choices from Intel, the Asus ZenBook 14 UX431 integrates the NVIDIA GeForce MX150 graphics adapter without being heavy or bulky. Its specs also include up to 16 GB of memory and 1 TB of internal storage, as well as a quad-speaker Harmon Kardon-certified audio system.
https://www.notebookcheck.net/Asus-redefines-luxury-on-a-budget-with-the-ZenBook-14-UX431.392201.0.html
Budget = SATA SSD, USB 2.0, class 6 microSD, HDMI 1.4, 47Wh battery, touchpad gimmick, cosmetic speaker branding, 1 plastic fan and 1 tiny heat pipe
Luxury = NVMe SSDs, x2 TB3, total USB PD, UHS-II full SD, HDMI 2.1, 78Wh battery, big touchpad, 500+ nits touchscreen, actually good speakers, socketed RAM and WiFi, 2 metal fans and 2 large heat pipes, extra various microscopic attention to detail that serves to improve user experience e.g. good keyboard layout, 180 degree hinge.
"luxury on a budget" makes no sense. Pick one and stick to it.
I know it sounds like a thing that should not be. This is the advertising line used by Asus, not mine. ;) I totally agree with you, otherwise, but I also must admit that it doesn't look that bad (and I usually don't enjoy the stuff designed by Asus at all).
I like the design and improved build as well. What bothers me is the price above all. Competitors offer TB3, PCIe SSD, USB-C PD and big batteries on their mid-range consumer line, e.g. Lenovo Ideapad and Yoga 700. Those laptops start around $800 USD while Zenbooks are typically $1100+ for i5, MX150 and options included.
And I just plainly disagree with many of their decisions. Inclined typing for instance is uncomfortable and unnatural whereas declined typing is actually far better for extended typing in my experience.
1080p display is not luxury.
1080p for a 14-inch display is more than enough, if you ask me. And yes, you are right - 1080p is rather "on a budget" than "luxury" if we are dead-serious. ;)
The new 1080p display on Elitebook x360 830 G5 begs to differ - 1000 nits brightness, 100% sRGB color gamut, matte anti-glare, Wacom AES 2.0 active pen input supported, 10 finger multi-touch, Sure View privacy enabled, and probably the first laptop screen to be HDR10 capable
HP also offers similar 700 nits 1080p displays on Elitebook and ZBook. They are also better than most other higher resolution screens in the market.
Then there are 1080p 144Hz IPS screens on gaming laptops. Cost aside, high refresh rates a lot harder to achieve on higher resolution for scientific reasons.
My point is, in 2019 going luxury on FHD display is a lot more practical and inexpensive than on something like UHD.
I would totally go with a luxury full HD display instead of an average 4K. I guess there are more like us out there. Too bad many manufacturers go for the first numbers that the average user goes for - screen size and resolution, leaving the brightness levels, refresh rate, and the other goodies in the background.