A brand new Asus Zenbook is on the town with an fascinating design and the most recent Intel Core Extremely Lunar Lake processors. Relating to Home windows-based Ultrabooks, the Zenbook has at all times been proper there among the many greatest. Due to this fact, when Asus reached out for a evaluate of the brand new Zenbook S 14 OLED (UX5406), I instantly stated sure. All Zenbook fashions to date have had glorious design, good shows, and first rate battery life. Nonetheless, the brand new Zenbook S 14 takes every little thing up a notch. After utilizing it for about two weeks now, here is why it is now my new favorite Home windows ultrabook.
The brand new Asus Zenbook S 14 OLED was launched in India final month at a beginning worth of Rs. 1,42,990. The highest-end variant we obtained for evaluate comes with 32GB RAM + 1TB storage and is priced at Rs. 1,49, 990. Each choices in India can be found with the Intel Core Extremely 7 258V (Collection 2) CPU and Intel Arc 140V GPU. The chipset additionally has a devoted NPU for AI duties.
Asus Zenbook S 14 OLED (UX5406S) Design: Distinctive
- Dimensions – 31.15 x 21.39 x 1.19 ~ 1.29cm
- Weight – 1.20 kg
- Colors – Zumaia Grey, Scandinavian White
Asus has used a brand new materials for the lid of the Zenbook S 14 OLED. It is known as ‘Ceraluminium’, and it is supposedly one of the best of two worlds – ceramic and aluminium. With out going into an excessive amount of element, the fabric is each powerful and withstands scratches/smudges. And really, the lid hardly attracts any fingerprints. The lid additionally options silver strains operating throughout with the Asus Zenbook brand on the highest left nook. It really stands out amongst all of the boring laptop computer lids on the market.
The ceraluminium lid hardly attracts any fingerprints
The laptop computer additionally has a geometrical grille above the keyboard, which has 2,715 CNC machined vents that boast a novel design. That is additionally claimed to enhance airflow effectivity.
The geometric grille design additionally options the brand new Asus brand
The remainder of the laptop computer options an all-metal construct and comes with US MIL-STD 810H certification. There is not any flex anyplace on the laptop computer. The hinge additionally appears sturdy, and you’ll open the lid with one finger. Nonetheless, the hinge does not go 180 levels. You will discover the consumption vents on the backside and two slits on the edges for two of the 4 audio system. In the meantime, the exhaust ports are on the again.
You get sufficient ports on the Zenbook S 14 OLED
Regardless of being simply 1.2cm thick, Asus has managed so as to add an HDMI 2.1 port, twin USB Kind-C ports, a USB Kind-A port, and a 3.5mm combo audio jack.
Asus Zenbook S 14 OLED (UX5406S) Show: Nice for enterprise and pleasure
- Dimension and sort – 14-inch OLED (Contact and non-Contact)
- Decision – 3K (2,880 x 1,800), 16:10
- Refresh price – 120Hz
The 14-inch OLED show on our evaluate unit has contact assist, and it’s also possible to get a non-touch panel when you go for the 16GB RAM and 512GB storage variant. Contact assist is a pleasant function, however I hardly used it throughout my two weeks utilizing the laptop computer. It is probably not very helpful on a standard laptop computer.
The show is sort of good although, and you will have a good time watching content material in addition to working. Being an OLED panel, you get nice colors, deep blacks, and good brightness (400 nits, as claimed by Asus). It additionally affords HDR, Dolby Imaginative and prescient, 100% DCI-P3 color gamut protection, and is Pantone Validated. You may select between totally different color gamut within the MyAsus app.
You may select between contact or non-touch show on the Zenbook S 14 OLED
General, it’s a nice show for every kind of labor. Nonetheless, working outside is just not preferrred because the show will get a shiny coating. Viewing angles are on level, although.
Asus Zenbook S 14 OLED (UX5406S) Keyboard, Touchpad, audio system, and webcam
- Keyboard – Backlit Chiclet type, Copilot key
- Audio system – 4 x Harman/Kardon with Dolby Atmos
- Internet digicam – 1080p IR digicam
The keyboard is one space the place Asus might’ve carried out higher, however I should not be complaining as a result of it isn’t simple to have an ideal keyboard in such a slim chassis. The laptop computer has a chiclet-style setup with a good way between keycaps and first rate journey. It is usually backlit with three ranges of brightness management, and it will get lots shiny at night time. There is a devoted Copilot key as effectively. It is a good typing expertise however nothing distinctive.
The keyboard does not have numerous journey, however remains to be fairly good to make use of
The touchpad on the laptop computer is quick, clean, and helps multi-touch gestures. Click on suggestions can also be good. Asus has additionally included edge controls on the touchpad that allow you to simply modify quantity brightness, and search via a video. As soon as once more, it will’ve been nicer if Asus additionally included the contact keypad operate on the touchpad.
The Zenbook S 14 OLED audio system additionally turned out to be fairly good. I am very not often impressed by audio system on Home windows laptops, and the four-speaker setup (though dealing with downward) managed to wow me. The audio system are loud and crackle-free, and there is first rate bass as effectively. It is nonetheless nothing just like the audio system on the Dell XPS 13 or a MacBook Air/Professional, nevertheless it’s shut.
Lastly, the webcam state of affairs is just not the best and I feel Apple’s MacBook nonetheless has an higher edge. The standard is nice in daylight situations, however issues get uneven in low-light conditions. You do get Home windows Hey assist due to the included IR sensor, nevertheless it typically does not work if the lighting situations aren’t beneficial.
Asus Zenbook S 14 OLED (UX5406S) Software program: Helpful apps included
- OS – Home windows 11 Residence/Professional
- Apps – MyAsus, ScreenXpert
Our evaluate unit got here pre-installed with Home windows 11 Residence and the standard Workplace suite. There’s additionally the kinda helpful Copilot chatbot, which I solely used about 5 occasions in two weeks. Aside from the Home windows suite of software program, you get some AI options corresponding to Stay captions, and Studio Results.
The MyAsus app allows you to handle every kind of options on the laptop computer
Asus has additionally included StoryCube, which is basically an organiser that leverages AI to group and kind media, make trying to find images or movies simpler, and create or edit spotlight movies. There’s additionally the MyAsus app for managing laptop computer settings and altering energy profiles and the ScreenXpert app for customising multi-window use.
It is also value noting that since that is an Intel-based laptop computer, you may haven’t any hassle with app assist. Every part will merely work effectively collectively.
Asus Zenbook S 14 OLED (UX5406S) Efficiency: Nice for work and light-weight gaming
- CPU – Intel Core Extremely 7 258V
- RAM – As much as 32GB LPDDR5X
- Storage – As much as 1TB M.2 NVMe
- GPU – Intel Arc
Speaking about every little thing working effectively collectively, the Intel Core Extremely 200V chipsets use a SoC design, which signifies that the RAM is built-in into the package deal. The benefit right here is that it communicates higher with the CPU, NPU, and the GPU. Nonetheless, there isn’t any option to improve the RAM. The Core Extremely 7 258V chipset on the Zenbook S 14 is paired with the brand new Xe 2 GPU, which might now really play some video games and the brand new NPU 4, which is claimed to ship as much as 47 TOPs for AI options.
The laptop computer additionally includes a new Intel Arc GPU
Whereas general efficiency throughout fundamental duties is superb, the chipset didn’t do higher than the Snapdragon X Elite chipset and even the AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX collection processor in CPU benchmarks.
| Benchmark | Asus Zenbook S 14 | Dell XPS 13 9345 | Asus TUF Gaming A14 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Geekbench 6 Single | 2,520 | 2,795 | 2,775 |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 10,688 | 14,478 | 14,765 |
| Geekbench AI Quantised Rating | 3,678 | 22,200 | 12,742 (GPU) |
| PCMark 10 | 6,836 | N/A | 8,165 |
| 3DMark CPU Profile | 5,161 | 8,459 | N/A |
| 3DMark Night time Raid | 34,727 | 25,732 | 59,649 (GPU) |
| 3DMark Metal Nomad Gentle | 3,243 | 1,931 | N/A |
Nonetheless, operating in Balanced or Full Efficiency mode won’t discover any lag. The ability draw is managed effectively, and the warmth is minimal to non-existent underneath regular utilization. The followers solely ran at full blast throughout gaming or when operating benchmarks. The laptop computer bought sizzling underneath these situations, together with the realm above the keyboard. It’s also possible to allow the Full Efficiency mode when operating on battery.
Speaking about gaming, the improved Intel Arc GPU left me impressed. I used to be in a position to play Forza Horizon 4, Expeditions: A MudRunner Recreation, and some different comparable titles with first rate body charges (45-55 fps). Relating to built-in GPU efficiency, the Intel chipset does significantly better than Qualcomm’s Snapdragon SoC.
Connectivity choices on the laptop computer are additionally strong. There’s Bluetooth 5.4 and Wi-Fi 7, each of which labored with none points.
Asus Zenbook S 14 OLED (UX5406S) Battery: Retains on going
- Capability – 72Wh
- Charger – 65W
For a laptop computer operating an Intel chip, the battery efficiency is on par with what Apple offers with its M collection chips and even the brand new Qualcomm Snapdragon X processors. It is not there but, however I used to be simply in a position to handle a full 10-12 hour work day on the Zenbook S 14. This included operating Chrome with a number of tabs, desktop apps for WhatsApp and Slack, Outlook mail, some YouTube, and many modifying.
The Zenbook S 14 OLED weighs about 1.2 kg
The brand new Intel Core Extremely Lunar Lake sips battery, and Asus has additionally supplied a big 72Wh cell to supply lengthy utilization hours. Charging can also be quick due to the 65W quick charger, and 20 to 100% of the cost takes about 50 minutes.
Asus Zenbook S 14 OLED (UX5406S) Verdict
I have never been this impressed with a Home windows ultrabook in a very long time. A skinny and light-weight, compact laptop computer that checks most bins is a rarity, however that could be a factor of the previous with the brand new Asus Zenbook S 14 OLED. The brand new design is catchy, you get sufficient efficiency for work in addition to gentle gaming, and the battery life is definitely extremely for an ultrabook. Pricing is not too unhealthy both, seeing how different equally specced ultrabooks from Dell, HP, Samsung, or Microsoft value about the identical.
If you happen to’re in search of a lightweight, compact, and highly effective ultrabook with glorious battery life, the Asus Zenbook S 14 is an effective selection and definitely worth the cash. You’ll not be dissatisfied.
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