Asus Zenbook S 16 (UM5606): A Sleek Blend of Design and High-Performance AI Power

As artificial intelligence becomes increasingly popular, chipset and laptop manufacturers are eager to get involved. Intel has introduced its Core Ultra series, Qualcomm is rolling out the Snapdragon X series, and AMD is launching its new Ryzen AI 300 series. The Ryzen AI 300 series by AMD is a powerful chipset packed with numerous features, powering the latest Asus Zenbook S 16. This latest model from Asus stands out as one of the thinnest, lightest, and fastest 16-inch laptops currently available. Priced at Rs 1,49,999, it boasts a premium build, a stunning 3K OLED screen, solid battery performance, and impressive functionality. But does it have what it takes to be a reliable machine? Let’s explore this in detail.

Asus Zenbook S 16 (UM5606) Laptop Design: Elegant and Streamlined

• Dimensions — 353.6 x 243 x 11.9 mm
• Weight — 1.50 kg
• Colors — Zumaia Gray

Asus dedicates considerable effort to design, as evidenced in the ZenBook S 16. This device features a unique Ceraluminum surface, a blend of ceramic and aluminum, which gives the lid an eye-catching look. The glossy silver lines adorning the lid further enhance its appeal. I opted for the Zumaia Gray finish, and I found the design of this laptop refreshing compared to other options in the market due to its textured, stone-like surface.

The Asus Zenbook S 16 features a distinctive finish that blends ceramic with aluminum.

 

Moreover, this model is among the most slender and lightweight laptops in its class. Weighing around 1.5 kg and measuring just 11.9 mm thick, it’s exceedingly portable. It fits effortlessly into most bags without adding excess weight, which is advantageous.

Nevertheless, it’s worth mentioning that the screen does not lie flat at 180 degrees, like some 2-in-1 devices; it can only tilt back to 150 degrees due to the positioning of the cooling vents. The vents are intricately designed, showcasing a pattern of rounded squares with dual holes for airflow. The speakers are integrated into the side cuts of the chassis, reminiscent of Macbooks.

The Asus Zenbook S 16 is equipped with numerous ports.

 

In terms of connectivity options, you receive two USB 4.0 Gen 3 Type-C ports that support both display and power delivery, a 3.5mm audio jack, and an HDMI 2.1 port on the left. The right side features one USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A port and an SD 4.0 card reader. Overall, the laptop is well-structured, maintaining a slim profile and lightweight design that aligns with the Zenbook lineage.

Asus Zenbook S 16 (UM5606) Laptop Display: Bright and Vivid

Display — 16-inch OLED touchscreen
Resolution — 3K (2880 x 1800 pixels)
Refresh Rate — 120Hz

The display on the Asus Zenbook S 16 features a generous 16-inch screen with minimal bezels. The reviewed unit has a touchscreen equipped with a digitizer layer and a protective glass covering the panel. The addition of the digitizer layer causes some graininess, notably in solid colors like white, but it’s less noticeable compared to older OLED touchscreen panels.

Loaded with a 16-inch 3K OLED display, the laptop offers brilliant colors.

 

This OLED panel delivers excellent contrast and vivid colors. It’s factory-calibrated for consistent color accuracy, and light bleed is kept to a minimum. Users also have the ability to adjust the display settings via the MyAsus application, which is a beneficial feature. Furthermore, Asus has integrated an OLED Flicker-Free Dimming mode to mitigate issues associated with flickering on OLED screens.

However, the screen’s glossy finish results in reflections, making it challenging to view outdoors or in bright office settings. Additionally, it is susceptible to fingerprints, so carrying a microfiber cloth for cleaning is advisable.

Asus Zenbook S 16 (UM5606) Laptop Keyboard, Touchpad, Speakers, and Webcam: Performs Well

• Keyboard — Backlit
• Webcam — 1080p High-Resolution
• Speakers — Six Built-in Speakers

The laptop features a compact backlit keyboard with sufficiently bright LEDs to illuminate the keys in low-light conditions. An ambient light sensor automatically adjusts the keyboard brightness based on surrounding light levels.

Regarding performance, the keyboard offers a shorter stroke with a comfortable 1.1mm key travel. Once you acclimate, typing on this keyboard becomes second nature, allowing for a seamless experience. Throughout the review period, it served as my primary device with no signs of discomfort during long typing sessions.

The device is also outfitted with a large touchpad that functioned smoothly throughout the review. The touchpad managed all gestures, including swipes and taps, without any issues. There was no rattling with the physical clicks, and the added edge gestures contributed positively to the overall experience.

The large touchpad provides a smooth user experience.

 

Brightness can be adjusted via the right edge, while audio controls are located on the left edge, and you can navigate forward/backward by sliding on the top edge. This setup is functional, though the touchpad lacks palm rejection, leading to occasional accidental touches; I found this frustrating and ended up disabling it.

Concerning security, there’s no physical fingerprint sensor, but an IR camera allows for Windows Hello compatibility. Unfortunately, my experience with Windows Hello was somewhat inconsistent, frequently failing authentication, which prompted me to rely on traditional methods. On the flip side, the 1080p webcam provides sharp images, suitable for video calls.

The audio output is impressive, featuring speakers enhanced with smart AMP technology, tuned by Harman/Kardon. The speakers produce a strong sound that fills a small room well, with minimal distortion even at higher volumes, offering a balanced bass and treble experience.

Asus Zenbook S 16 (UM5606) Laptop Software: Beneficial

• Operating System — Windows 11 Home
• Other Features — Copilot Plus

This laptop operates on the Windows 11 Home OS and comes with a useful Copilot AI tool for various applications. I utilized Copilot for summarizing articles for quicker reading. It also includes a dedicated key for instant access to the AI assistant. Oddly enough, it isn’t labeled as a Copilot+ PC, despite housing AMD’s NPU that provides up to 50 TOPS performance, qualifying it for this designation.

The Asus Zenbook S 16 comes with the Windows 11 Home edition pre-installed.

 

Users can still explore AI capabilities with Amuse, a real-time image generation application that works with AMD’s NPU. Thus, if AI features are a primary concern for your purchase, you might want to explore alternatives on the market.

Additionally, MyAsus serves as a comprehensive tool for managing different features on the device, facilitating troubleshooting, driver updates, and customization.

Asus Zenbook S 16 (UM5606) Performance: Exceptional Performance

• Chipset — AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370
• RAM — 32GB LPDDR5X
• Storage — 1TB M.2 NVMe PCIe 4.0 SSD
• GPU — AMD Radeon 890M Graphics

The Asus Zenbook S 16 truly excels in power within its price category. The device is one of the select few equipped with AMD’s new Ryzen AI 300 series chipset. The unit I reviewed sported an AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX370, featuring a modern CPU architecture with four performance Zen5 cores and eight efficiency Zen5c cores, all supporting hyper-threading. This chipset integrates AMD Radeon 890 graphics and includes the AMD XDNA 2.0 NPU, delivering up to 50 TOPS of performance—the highest in its class.

Benchmark	Asus Zenbook S 16 (2024)	Dell Latitude 7450 2-in-1	Samsung Galaxy Book4 Pro 360
Cinebench R23 Single Core	1917	1,683	11752
Cinebench R23 Multi Core	15,776	9024	10,961
Geekbench 6 Single Core	2,712	2,339	2,380
Geekbench 6 Multi Core	12732	9630	12571
PC Mark 10	4451	6127	6640
3DMark Night Raid	27,358	19,557	25,726
3DMark CPU Profile	7,446	5,031	7,234
3DMark Steel Nomad Light	3,287	1,696	1,721
CrystalDiskMark	5066.63 MB/s (Read)/ 3609.52 MB/s (Write)	4946.10 MB/s (Read)/ 916.91 MB/s (Write)	3754.35 MB/s (Read)/ 2641.51 MB/s (Write)

In terms of performance, the Asus Zenbook S 16 meets expectations. It can manage nearly any task thrown its way, whether for everyday use or demanding multitasking. In gaming scenarios, the laptop handles most casual games effortlessly at low to medium settings.

The Asus Zenbook S 16 delivers exceptional performance.

 

There are various modes available to optimize performance: Speed, Performance, Standard, and Whisper. In Full Speed mode, the processor maintains 33W of sustained power, while the Performance Mode delivers stable 28W output. The AMD chipset has the capacity for up to 55W of sustained power, but the manufacturer has opted for the 33W option for quieter operation and extended battery life.

Asus Zenbook S 16 (UM5606) Laptop Battery: Enduring and Dependable

• Battery Capacity — 4 Cell, 78 Wh (Typical)
• Fast Charging — 65W USB Type-C Adapter

The battery life of the Asus Zenbook S 16 is commendable. It is equipped with a 4-cell, 78W battery that supports 65W fast charging. Having used it as my daily device, I consistently achieved nearly 11 hours of battery life on the Standard profile. In Performance and Full Speed modes, you can still expect around 8 to 6 hours. In terms of charging, it takes nearly 2 hours for a full charge.

Asus Zenbook S 16 (UM5606) Conclusion

The laptop strikes a fine balance between premium aesthetics and outstanding performance.

 

The Asus Zenbook S 16 impresses with its luxurious design and reliable performance. As one of the thinnest and lightest laptops with an OLED display, it features a captivating screen and a robust sound system, enhancing the multimedia experience. Its performance is top-tier and competitive within the segment. Therefore, if you’re in search of a dependable 16-inch laptop that excels in portability, design, and performance, this is certainly a worthy option.