By Although high-end ultraportables can be expensive, their innovative designs and state-of-the-art technology make them more appealing than low-cost laptops. The Asus Zenbook S 14 (model UX5406; retails for $1,399 and $1,599 as tested) is a standout due to its flawless construction, bright OLED screen, wide range of ports, and remarkable battery life. However, some competitors provide speedier performance (like the Lenovo ThinkPad X9 14) or even longer battery life (like the Microsoft Surface Laptop), so this Zenbook is only a hair’s breadth away from our Editors’ Choice title for high-end ultraportables. Nevertheless, the Zenbook S 14 is a good substitute that will satisfy your needs.
Design
I could tell the Zenbook S 14 was a high-quality device as soon as I held it. The laptop’s shell is referred to by Asus as “Ceraluminum,” a combination of ceramic and aluminum that feels pleasingly cool to the touch. Its attraction is increased by the matte finish’s resistance to fingerprints and scratches. Zumaia Gray is my test model; Scandinavian White is also a possibility.
At 0.5 by 12.2 by 8.5 inches (HWD), the Zenbook’s measurements closely match its 14-inch screen, making it somewhat bigger than the 13-inch Apple MacBook Air and comparable to the 13-inch Microsoft Surface Laptop. It easily satisfies our sub-three-pound ultraportable criterion at 2.65 pounds. The Editors’ Choice-winning Lenovo ThinkPad X9 14 Aura Edition, which is somewhat heavier than the Zenbook but just as thin, weighs 2.74 pounds and is 0.51 inches thick. However, this additional weight may influence the performance comparisons. (We’ll talk more about that shortly.)
A 3.5mm audio jack, two Thunderbolt 4 USB-C connections, an HDMI 2.1 monitor output, and a conventional USB Type-A connector are just a few of the great features that the Zenbook has to offer. Compared to competitors like the MacBook Air and the Dell XPS 14, which only use Thunderbolt, this variety is a nice contrast. Nonetheless, there would have been more flexibility in attaching the AC adapter if the Thunderbolt 4 ports had been placed on separate sides of the laptop. On the wireless side, the Zenbook is compatible with the most recent Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4 standards.
Surprisingly, the Zenbook does not feature a fingerprint reader. However, it does contain an infrared webcam that allows Windows Hello facial recognition logins. The image from the laptop’s somewhat off-center webcam is crisp and clear. The F10 key may be used to turn it off, and the webcam has presence detection, which allows it to lock or wake up automatically when you get close. The Zenbook S 14 is covered by a one-year guarantee from Asus.
Performance Testing
The Intel Core Ultra 7 258V processor (eight cores, 4.8GHz turbo), Intel Arc 140V integrated graphics, 32GB of RAM, and a 512GB solid-state drive are the specifications of the Zenbook S 14, as tested by us. Asus claims that the current models have twice as much storage (1TB). Since Intel’s Core Ultra 200V CPUs use memory modules installed into their system-on-a-chip-style dies, the RAM cannot be upgraded after purchase. At least the storage drive and batteries can be used.
Priced at $1,599 and sold by Asus or Best Buy, this Zenbook is within the typical range for this high-end ultraportable class. Retailers also offer it for less: I saw the base model, which includes a 512GB SSD and 16GB of RAM, at Best Buy for $999 during the review period.
Battery and Display Tests
We play a locally saved 720p video clip (the open-source Blender film Tears of Steel) with the audio level at 100% and the display brightness at 50% in order to test the battery life of each laptop and tablet. Before the test, we make sure the battery is completely charged and that the keyboard backlighting and Wi-Fi are off.
We also measure a laptop screen’s color saturation (the percentage of sRGB, Adobe RGB, and DCI-P3 color gamuts or palettes the screen can display) and 50% and peak brightness in nits (candelas per square meter) using a Datacolor SpyderX Elite monitor calibration sensor and its Windows software to assess display performance.
Conclusion
With more than just a stylish appearance, the Asus Zenbook S 14 is the perfect travel companion. Work is made easy by its keyboard and touchpad, and its bright OLED touchscreen is a delight. The lengthy battery life and appropriate port selection of the laptop further improve portability by removing the necessity for carrying adapters.
Despite its high price, this Zenbook offers remarkable value for the money. The Lenovo ThinkPad X9 14 continues to be our Editors’ Choice for high-end ultraportable notebooks, though, because it provides a higher-fidelity experience and better performance at around the same cost.
