Experience the Cosmos: Asus ZenBook 14X OLED Space Edition Redefines Portable Computing with Out-of-This-World Features

Asus has introduced an extensive range of new laptops at CES 2022, spanning from premium gaming models to lightweight ultraportables, including an advanced, luxurious folding-screen prototype. The brand is emphasizing OLED panels across many of its latest offerings, while the ZenBook 14X series balances portability with modern specifications. Although we couldn’t attend CES and experience these devices firsthand, we have one of the latest models from the company, the ZenBook 14X OLED Space Edition, on hand for a brief introductory overview.

The Space Edition, true to its name, is a unique version of the ZenBook 14X. It commemorates the 25^th anniversary of an Asus laptop launched into space in 1997, intended for a 600-day mission on the Mir space station. It arrives in a specially crafted package that showcases the Mir station along with space-themed illustrations. Both the laptop and its USB Type-C charger are housed in separate compartments within the primary shipping container – the charger’s box even unfolds into a stand for elevating the unit on a table.

Beyond the packaging, several space-themed tokens and stickers are included. The main feature of this laptop is visible through a cutout in the internal box – a 3.5-inch monochrome OLED display on the outer lid. The «space capsule» aesthetic incorporates a morse code message: Ad astra per aspera, which translates to «through hardships, to the stars.»

Upon powering up the ZenBook 14X OLED Space Edition for the first time, a themed animation appears on the external screen. This can be personalized through the included Asus software – users can select from various animation styles and input custom text if desired.

While this might appear to be more of a gimmick, it could serve practical purposes such as notifying users of updates and alerts, reducing the need to lift the laptop lid for pertinent information. Currently, it resembles the Anime Matrix screen found on Asus’ Zephyrus G-series laptops, which primarily adds novelty value. Notably, this isn’t the inaugural external display from Asus – the company briefly explored this concept with the W5Fe laptop back in 2007, leveraging Windows Vista’s SideShow functionality.

The external display measures 3.5 inches diagonally, featuring a resolution of 256×64 with a maximum brightness of 150nits.

The space theme persists inside, marked by orange highlights on the keyboard and an additional «space capsule» motif on the wrist rest area. The stunning 14-inch 4K 16:10 90Hz HDR OLED touchscreen is highly impressive and displays crisp, vivid colors. Asus has ticked multiple boxes, also claiming complete DCI-P3 color gamut coverage alongside Pantone certification.

Under the hood, it houses one of Intel’s latest 12^th Gen ‘Alder Lake’ mobile processors, with options for Core i9, Core i7, and Core i5. It offers a maximum of 32GB of non-upgradable LPDDR5 RAM and an optional 1TB PCIe 4.0 SSD. Additional features include Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.2, with a battery capacity of 63Wh.

There is a diverse assortment of ports available. The left side hosts an HDMI 2.0 output along with two Thunderbolt 4 Type-C connectors, while the right side contains a USB 3.2 Gen2 Type-A port, a 3.5mm audio jack, and a microSD slot. Unfortunately, this slot is positioned directly alongside the laptop’s vents, which could lead to confusion. As anticipated, this device comes pre-installed with Windows 11.

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This laptop includes a full-sized HDMI port, microSD slot, USB Type-A, and Thunderbolt ports.

Weighing in at 1.3kg and with a thickness of 15.9mm, the ZenBook 14X OLED Space Edition aligns well with the current standards for mainstream laptops. It can be placed at an angle on the unfolded adapter box, although this setup may not be the most stable. When set flat on a table, Asus’ ErgoLift hinge design raises the rear slightly, improving typing comfort and airflow.

The ZenBook 14X OLED Space Edition is expected to be priced at a premium. Asus has announced that it will be launched in India later in 2022 and will be widely accessible. If you’re in the market for a laptop that will certainly stand out, this model fits the criteria, but we will wait for further details to determine if the extra display and distinctive design warrant selecting it over more conventional alternatives.