Asus Zenbook S 14 OLED (UX5406) Review: Really Good Текст:

A new Asus Zenbook is in town with an interesting design and the latest Intel Core Ultra Lunar Lake processors. When it comes to Windows-based Ultrabooks, the Zenbook has always been right there among the best. Therefore, when Asus reached out for a review of the new Zenbook S 14 OLED (UX5406), I immediately said yes. All Zenbook models so far have had excellent design, nice displays, and decent battery life. However, the new Zenbook S 14 takes everything up a notch. After using it for about two weeks now, heres why its now my new favourite Windows ultrabook.

The new Asus Zenbook S 14 OLED was launched in India last month at a starting price of Rs. 1,42,990. The top-end variant we received for review comes with 32GB RAM + 1TB storage and is priced at Rs. 1,49, 990. Both options in India are available with the Intel Core Ultra 7 258V (Series 2) CPU and Intel Arc 140V GPU. The chipset also has a dedicated NPU for AI tasks.

Asus Zenbook S 14 OLED (UX5406S) Design: Unique

  • Dimensions — 31.15 x 21.39 x 1.19 ~ 1.29cm
  • Weight — 1.20 kg
  • Colours — Zumaia Gray, Scandinavian White

Asus has used a new material for the lid of the Zenbook S 14 OLED. Its called ‘Ceraluminium, and its supposedly the best of two worlds — ceramic and aluminium. Without going into too much detail, the material is both tough and withstands scratches/smudges. And truly, the lid hardly attracts any fingerprints. The lid also features silver lines running across with the Asus Zenbook logo on the top left corner. It truly stands out among all the boring laptop lids out there.

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The ceraluminium lid hardly attracts any fingerprints

 

The laptop also has a geometric grille above the keyboard, which has 2,715 CNC machined vents that boast a unique design. This is also claimed to improve airflow efficiency.

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The geometric grille design also features the new Asus logo

 

The rest of the laptop features an all-metal build and comes with US MIL-STD 810H certification. Theres no flex anywhere on the laptop. The hinge also seems durable, and you can open the lid with one finger. However, the hinge doesnt go 180 degrees. Youll find the intake vents at the bottom and two slits on the sides for 2 of the 4 speakers. Meanwhile, the exhaust ports are at the back.

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You get enough ports on the Zenbook S 14 OLED

 

Despite being just 1.2cm thick, Asus has managed to add an HDMI 2.1 port, dual USB Type-C ports, a USB Type-A port, and a 3.5mm combo audio jack.

Asus Zenbook S 14 OLED (UX5406S) Display: Great for business and pleasure

  • Size and type — 14-inch OLED (Touch and non-Touch)
  • Resolution — 3K (2,880 x 1,800), 16:10
  • Refresh rate — 120Hz

The 14-inch OLED display on our review unit has touch support, and you can also get a non-touch panel if you opt for the 16GB RAM and 512GB storage variant. Touch support is a nice feature, but I hardly used it during my two weeks using the laptop. Its not really very useful on a traditional laptop.

The display is quite good though, and youll have a great time watching content as well as working. Being an OLED panel, you get great colours, deep blacks, and good brightness (400 nits, as claimed by Asus). It also offers HDR, Dolby Vision, 100 percent DCI-P3 colour gamut coverage, and is Pantone Validated. You can choose between different colour gamut in the MyAsus app.

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You can choose between touch or non-touch display on the Zenbook S 14 OLED

 

Overall, it is a great display for all kinds of work. However, working outdoors is not ideal as the display gets a glossy coating. Viewing angles are on point, though.

Asus Zenbook S 14 OLED (UX5406S) Keyboard, Touchpad, speakers, and webcam

  • Keyboard — Backlit Chiclet style, Copilot key
  • Speakers — 4 x Harman/Kardon with Dolby Atmos
  • Web camera — 1080p IR camera

The keyboard is one area where Asus couldve done better, but I shouldnt be complaining because its not easy to have a great keyboard in such a slim chassis. The laptop has a chiclet-style setup with a good distance between keycaps and decent travel. It is also backlit with three levels of brightness control, and it gets plenty bright at night. Theres a dedicated Copilot key as well. Its a nice typing experience but nothing exceptional.

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The keyboard doesnt have a lot of travel, but is still quite nice to use

 

The touchpad on the laptop is fast, smooth, and supports multi-touch gestures. Click feedback is also good. Asus has also included edge controls on the touchpad that let you easily adjust volume brightness, and seek through a video. Once again, it wouldve been nicer if Asus also included the touch keypad function on the touchpad.

The Zenbook S 14 OLED speakers also turned out to be quite good. Im very rarely impressed by speakers on Windows laptops, and the four-speaker setup (although facing downward) managed to wow me. The speakers are loud and crackle-free, and theres decent bass as well. Its still nothing like the speakers on the Dell XPS 13 or a MacBook Air/Pro, but its close.

Lastly, the webcam situation is not the greatest and I think Apples MacBook still has an upper edge. The quality is good in daylight conditions, but things get choppy in low-light situations. You do get Windows Hello support thanks to the included IR sensor, but it sometimes doesnt work if the lighting conditions arent favourable.

Asus Zenbook S 14 OLED (UX5406S) Software: Useful apps included

  • OS — Windows 11 Home/Pro
  • Apps — MyAsus, ScreenXpert

Our review unit came pre-installed with Windows 11 Home and the usual Office suite. Theres also the kinda useful Copilot chatbot, which I only used about 5 times in two weeks. Apart from the Windows suite of software, you get some AI features such as Live captions, and Studio Effects.

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The MyAsus app lets you manage all kinds of features on the laptop

 

Asus has also included StoryCube, which is essentially an organiser that leverages AI to group and sort media, make searching for photos or videos easier, and create or edit highlight videos. Theres also the MyAsus app for managing laptop settings and changing power profiles and the ScreenXpert app for customising multi-window use.

Its also worth noting that since this is an Intel-based laptop, youll have no trouble with app support. Everything will simply work well together.

Asus Zenbook S 14 OLED (UX5406S) Performance: Great for work and light gaming

  • CPU — Intel Core Ultra 7 258V
  • RAM — Up to 32GB LPDDR5X
  • Storage — Up to 1TB M.2 NVMe
  • GPU — Intel Arc

Talking about everything working well together, the Intel Core Ultra 200V chipsets use a SoC design, which means that the RAM is integrated into the package. The advantage here is that it communicates better with the CPU, NPU, and the GPU. However, theres no way to upgrade the RAM. The Core Ultra 7 258V chipset on the Zenbook S 14 is paired with the new Xe 2 GPU, which can now actually play some games and the new NPU 4, which is claimed to deliver up to 47 TOPs for AI features.

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The laptop also features a new Intel Arc GPU

 

While overall performance across basic tasks is excellent, the chipset did not do better than the Snapdragon X Elite chipset or even the AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX series 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 Score 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 Raid 34,727 25,732 59,649 (GPU)
3DMark Steel Nomad Light 3,243 1,931 N/A

However, running in Balanced or Full Performance mode will not notice any lag. The power draw is managed well, and the heat is minimal to non-existent under normal usage. The fans only ran at full blast during gaming or when running benchmarks. The laptop got hot under these scenarios, including the area above the keyboard. You can also enable the Full Performance mode when running on battery.

Talking about gaming, the improved Intel Arc GPU left me impressed. I was able to play Forza Horizon 4, Expeditions: A MudRunner Game, and a few other similar titles with decent frame rates (45-55 fps). When it comes to integrated GPU performance, the Intel chipset does much better than Qualcomms Snapdragon SoC.

Connectivity options on the laptop are also solid. Theres Bluetooth 5.4 and Wi-Fi 7, both of which worked without any issues. 

Asus Zenbook S 14 OLED (UX5406S) Battery: Keeps on going

  • Capacity — 72Wh
  • Charger — 65W

For a laptop running an Intel chip, the battery performance is on par with what Apple provides with its M series chips or even the new Qualcomm Snapdragon X processors. Its not there yet, but I was easily able to manage a full 10-12 hour work day on the Zenbook S 14. This included running Chrome with multiple tabs, desktop apps for WhatsApp and Slack, Outlook mail, some YouTube, and lots of editing.

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The Zenbook S 14 OLED weighs about 1.2 kg

 

The new Intel Core Ultra Lunar Lake sips battery, and Asus has also provided a large 72Wh cell to offer long usage hours. Charging is also fast thanks to the 65W fast charger, and 20 to 100 percent of the charge takes about 50 mins.

Asus Zenbook S 14 OLED (UX5406S) Verdict

I havent been this impressed with a Windows ultrabook in a long time. A thin and light, compact laptop that checks most boxes is a rarity, but that might be a thing of the past with the new Asus Zenbook S 14 OLED. The new design is catchy, you get enough performance for work as well as light gaming, and the battery life is actually ultra for an ultrabook. Pricing isnt too bad either, seeing how other similarly specced ultrabooks from Dell, HP, Samsung, or Microsoft cost about the same.

If youre looking for a light, compact, and powerful ultrabook with excellent battery life, the Asus Zenbook S 14 is a good choice and worth the money. You will not be disappointed. 

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Опубликовано: 13 мая, 2025

Asus has released a new Zenbook featuring a captivating design and cutting-edge Intel Core Ultra Lunar Lake processors. Renowned for its position in the Windows Ultrabook market, the Zenbook series consistently ranks among the elite. So, when Asus invited me to review the fresh Zenbook S 14 OLED (UX5406), I quickly accepted. Every Zenbook model has showcased remarkable aesthetics, quality displays, and respectable battery performance. With the new Zenbook S 14, Asus has elevated these attributes to another level. After spending around two weeks with it, I can confidently say it has become my preferred Windows ultrabook.

The Asus Zenbook S 14 OLED made its debut in India last month, starting at ₹1,42,990. The version I received for review, equipped with 32GB RAM and 1TB storage, is priced at ₹1,49,990. Both configurations in India feature the Intel Core Ultra 7 258V (Series 2) processor and the Intel Arc 140V GPU, along with a dedicated NPU for AI functions.

Asus Zenbook S 14 OLED (UX5406S) Design: Distinctive

  • Dimensions — 31.15 x 21.39 x 1.19 ~ 1.29cm
  • Weight — 1.20 kg
  • Colours — Zumaia Gray, Scandinavian White

The lid of the Zenbook S 14 OLED is crafted from a novel material named ‘Ceraluminium’, blending characteristics of ceramic and aluminium. This material is designed to be robust, resistant to scratches and smudges. Impressively, the lid shows minimal fingerprint attraction. It also boasts elegant silver lines with the Asus Zenbook logo prominently displayed in the top left corner, making it a standout in a sea of ordinary laptop covers.

The ceraluminium lid resists fingerprints remarkably well

 

Above the keyboard sits a geometric grille featuring 2,715 CNC machined vents that enhance airflow efficiency with an eye-catching design.

The geometric grille design showcases the new Asus logo

 

The laptop’s body is entirely metallic and has received a US MIL-STD 810H certification for durability. There is no flex in the chassis, and the sturdy hinge allows for one-handed opening. However, it does not open to a full 180 degrees. At the base, you’ll find ventilation openings along with two slits on the sides for two of the four speakers, while the exhaust vents are located at the back.

The Zenbook S 14 OLED provides an ample selection of ports

 

Despite its slim profile of just 1.2cm, Asus has included an HDMI 2.1 port, dual USB Type-C ports, a USB Type-A port, and a 3.5mm combo audio jack.

Asus Zenbook S 14 OLED (UX5406S) Display: Excellent for work and entertainment

  • Size and type — 14-inch OLED (Touch and non-Touch)
  • Resolution — 3K (2,880 x 1,800), 16:10
  • Refresh rate — 120Hz

The review unit’s 14-inch OLED display offers touch functionality, although a non-touch version is available for the model with 16GB RAM and 512GB storage. While touch support is a valuable addition, I found myself barely utilizing it during my testing period. It doesn’t significantly enhance the experience of using a traditional laptop.

Nevertheless, the display quality is commendable, providing a delightful viewing experience for both media consumption and productivity. As an OLED panel, it delivers vibrant colors, deep blacks, and a bright illumination of up to 400 nits, as per Asus’s specifications. Additionally, it supports HDR, Dolby Vision, and achieves 100% DCI-P3 color gamut coverage, earning Pantone Validation. Users can select from different color profiles via the MyAsus app.

You can choose between touch or non-touch display options for the Zenbook S 14 OLED

 

Overall, it’s an impressive display for all types of tasks. However, it may not perform well in outdoor scenarios due to its glossy finish. Fortunately, the viewing angles are quite good.

Asus Zenbook S 14 OLED (UX5406S) Keyboard, Touchpad, speakers, and webcam

  • Keyboard — Backlit Chiclet style, Copilot key
  • Speakers — 4 x Harman/Kardon with Dolby Atmos
  • Web camera — 1080p IR camera

The keyboard is one area where Asus could have improved further; however, it is commendable given the slim design constraints. Featuring a chiclet-style layout with ample key spacing and reasonable travel, the keyboard is backlit with three brightness settings, making it bright enough for nighttime use. A dedicated Copilot key is also incorporated. Typing is enjoyable, though not outstanding.

While the keyboard has limited travel, it remains a pleasure to type on

 

The touchpad is responsive, smooth, and supports multi-touch gestures with satisfactory click feedback. Asus has also implemented edge controls for easy adjustments of volume, brightness, and video seeking. Controversially, it would have been helpful if Asus provided a touch keypad function on the touchpad.

The audio quality from the Zenbook S 14 OLED’s speakers is surprisingly good. Rarely have I come across impressive speakers on Windows laptops, but the four-speaker configuration (despite facing downward) exceeded my expectations. The speakers are clear, loud, and offer a decent bass response. While they may not rival the sound systems on the Dell XPS 13 or MacBook variants, they come quite close.

Regarding the webcam, it falls short compared to Apple’s offerings. Daylight performance is decent, yet low-light conditions reveal its limitations. The 1080p IR camera supports Windows Hello, though it might struggle in less-than-ideal lighting.

Asus Zenbook S 14 OLED (UX5406S) Software: Handy applications included

  • OS — Windows 11 Home/Pro
  • Apps — MyAsus, ScreenXpert

The review unit arrived with Windows 11 Home and the standard Office suite pre-installed. It also includes a fairly useful Copilot chatbot, which I utilized only a handful of times in two weeks. Alongside the Windows software, numerous AI features such as Live captions and Studio Effects are included.

The MyAsus app allows for the management of various laptop features

 

Asus has integrated StoryCube, an organizer that utilizes AI for easier media sorting and searching, along with the creation or editing of highlight videos. The MyAsus app offers preferences for adjusting settings and power profiles, while ScreenXpert provides functionalities for multi-window operation.

Given that this laptop is powered by Intel’s hardware, compatibility with applications is seamless, ensuring all programs function smoothly.

Asus Zenbook S 14 OLED (UX5406S) Performance: Excellent for work and casual gaming

  • CPU — Intel Core Ultra 7 258V
  • RAM — Up to 32GB LPDDR5X
  • Storage — Up to 1TB M.2 NVMe
  • GPU — Intel Arc

Speaking of smooth operation, the Intel Core Ultra 200V chipsets are based on a SoC design, meaning the RAM is integrated into the package for more efficient communication with the CPU, NPU, and GPU. However, this does mean RAM is not upgradable. The Core Ultra 7 258V chipset on the Zenbook S 14 comes with Intel’s new Xe 2 GPU, facilitating a level of gaming performance alongside the new NPU 4, which is designed to offer up to 47 TOPs for AI functionalities.

The laptop incorporates an innovative Intel Arc GPU

 

While the overall performance for standard tasks is impressive, it performed below the Snapdragon X Elite chipset and AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX series processors in CPU benchmark tests.

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 Score 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 Raid 34,727 25,732 59,649 (GPU)
3DMark Steel Nomad Light 3,243 1,931 N/A

However, even when operating in Balanced or Full Performance mode, I didn’t experience any lags. The power management is efficient, with minimal to no heat generation during typical usage. The fans only ran at full speed during gaming sessions or benchmarking, resulting in elevated temperatures near the keyboard area. You can also enable Full Performance mode even when on battery.

In terms of gaming, the enhanced Intel Arc GPU impressed me significantly. Titles like Forza Horizon 4 and Expeditions: A MudRunner Game ran smoothly, averaging 45-55 fps. Compared to integrated GPUs, Intel’s performance stands out above Qualcomm’s Snapdragon SoC.

Connectivity is robust, featuring Bluetooth 5.4 and Wi-Fi 7, both of which worked seamlessly.

Asus Zenbook S 14 OLED (UX5406S) Battery: Long-lasting

  • Capacity — 72Wh
  • Charger — 65W

For an Intel-powered laptop, the battery life is competitive with Apple’s M series and even the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon X processors. While not exceptional yet, I comfortably achieved a full 10-12 hours of work with the Zenbook S 14, which included using Chrome with numerous tabs, desktop applications such as WhatsApp, Slack, and Outlook, along with some YouTube viewing and extensive editing.

The Zenbook S 14 OLED weighs approximately 1.2 kg

 

The Intel Core Ultra Lunar Lake efficiently conserves battery, bolstered by a generous 72Wh cell for extended usage. The 65W rapid charger ensures quick charging, with the full charge taking approximately 50 minutes from 20 to 100 percent.

Asus Zenbook S 14 OLED (UX5406S) Conclusion

It’s been a while since I’ve been so impressed by a Windows ultrabook. This slim, lightweight laptop that meets various user needs is indeed rare, but the Asus Zenbook S 14 OLED might change that trend. The eye-catching design, combined with sufficient performance for work and casual gaming, alongside commendable battery longevity, sets it apart. The pricing is reasonable too, considering that similar ultrabooks from Dell, HP, Samsung, or Microsoft are in the same range.

If you’re on the lookout for a lightweight, compact, and powerful ultrabook with exceptional battery life, the Asus Zenbook S 14 is a solid option and definitely worth the investment. You will not be let down.

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