ASUS Zenbook S 13 OLED Assessment: The right espresso store laptop computer?

ASUS makes a number of the finest Home windows machines, and nearly all their laptops sit on the candy spot for his or her respective audiences. I received my palms on the ASUS Zenbook S 13 OLED, and I feel ASUS aimed toward making the right espresso store/journey work laptop computer with this one.

Zenbooks have been there for some time now, and with each iteration, ASUS has tried to beat the most effective, the Macbooks. They compete with ultrabooks from HP, Dell, Acer, and others, however I imagine that ASUS has come nearer to beating the MacBook than every other laptop computer. This time, the Zenbook S 13 OLED has turn out to be the world’s thinnest and lightest ultrabook. I used it as my each day driver for nearly a month, and that’s how we attain this ASUS Zenbook S 13 OLED assessment.

Field contents

There’s a complete sustainability theme going across the ASUS Zenbook S 13 OLED. Proper from the field to the elements of the laptop computer, every little thing is responsibly and sustainably sourced. It is available in glue-free packaging with plant-fiber-made covers for the laptop computer and the sleeve.

Within the field, you get the ASUS Zenbook S 13 OLED laptop computer, a 65-watt quick charger, a sleeve, and a few paperwork. I checked out the sleeve earlier than taking out the principle laptop computer, and will nearly not imagine that the laptop computer will match inside one thing so slim. However that’s all for the field contents.

ASUS Zenbook S 13 OLED specs

Construct, design, and upgradeability

The ASUS Zenbook S 13 OLED has a stone-like end on the lid, which is exclusive to this laptop computer’s basalt gray coloration.

An ultrabook is meant to be mild, highly effective, and sturdy. And this checks all the best packing containers. This can be a slim, premium, and sturdy machine. The laptop computer has an aluminum physique with a magnesium-aluminum alloy lid. There’s a stone-like end on the lid, and the aluminum chassis feels premium to the contact.

Almost everybody who held this laptop computer was astonished at how modern it’s. And regardless of the slimness, the Zenbook S 13 OLED is neatly constructed to deal with some vital ports.

It’s packing 2 USB-C, 1 USB-A, 1 HDMI port, and a headphone jack. For my work, I sorely miss an SD card slot, however there are sufficient ports for peripherals like a card reader. It has a sturdy hinge that barely props up the laptop computer. The typing turns into extra ergonomic and likewise improves warmth dissipation. ASUS used a devoted triangular foot on the TUF Gaming A16 Benefit Version, however I imagine this laptop computer might additionally use one because the chassis has a whole lot of flex when pressed arduous. Nonetheless, even with quick typing speeds, there’s nearly no flex. You’ll solely know it’s there if you press arduous on one spot.

The laptop computer is barely disappointing on the upgradeability finish. You’ll be able to change the SSD so as to add the next storage one, however the RAM is soldered to the motherboard. I additionally reviewed the ASUS ROG Stream Z13 final month, and that additionally had related upgradability. It’s good that this will get 16GB RAM on the bottom mannequin, however an upgradable RAM would sit completely with the sustainability theme of this laptop computer.

ASUS Zenbook S13 OLED Show

The brightness on this show can go from 0.005nits to 550nits, which is nice to be used in darkish areas in addition to outside below the solar.

The title of this machine proudly says ‘OLED’ and speaks for itself. It’s packing a 13.3-inch 2.8k (2880 x 1800) 16:10 ASUS Lumina OLED panel. Add a VESA certification and Dolby Imaginative and prescient badge to the combo, and also you get a very good show. It has 550nits peak brightness, and there are burn-in prevention options in place to increase its life.

As anticipated from an OLED panel, this will go shiny sufficient to make use of in direct daylight and dim sufficient to make use of in dimly lit rooms. I’ve loved watching Netflix on this show, however this additionally has its justifiable share of points. For starters, it misses out on a excessive refresh charge as it is a 60Hz refresh panel. And the shiny nature of the panel means if there are lights behind you, they trigger a glare on the display screen.

Audio system

These audio system are Harman Kardon tuned, however they solely come to life in the event you activate the quantity booster from the MyASUS app

That is the half the place I say {that a} badge is rarely sufficient. The ASUS Zenbook S 13 OLED comes with Dolby Atmos audio system, however they’re merely not up to speed. I’ve examined a ROG, a TUF, and now this Zenbook within the final 3 months, and the audio system have been one of many weakest components on all three laptops.

They’re significantly disappointing on this one as there’s actually low to no quantity. I even propped this up on a desk for higher acoustics, however the audio system are so underpowered, that I might hear the AC followers over them. I can admire the good design, however I imagine multimedia consumption mustn’t have been a problem right here.

Keyboard and trackpad

It’s a tactile keyboard with flat keys. The important thing journey is comparatively quick, however you are able to do quick and silent typing on it, because of the great spacing between the keys.

I began utilizing this laptop computer proper after testing two gaming laptops from ASUS. This has a special set of perform keys that originally confused me. As a work-focused machine, the perform keys are precisely the place you want them. Quantity and brightness controls come first, adopted by brightness, display screen projection, mic mute, digicam off, and screenshot controls. It has a big trackpad, so ASUS added a ‘disable trackpad’ key to the combo so you’ll be able to keep away from unintended faucets whereas typing.

The keyboard has simply 1mm key journey however these are tactile keys, so there are low to no unintended clicks. It’s a flat keyboard so it seems to be as whether it is nearly sitting flush with the bottom. Nonetheless, begin typing on it and also you’ll see the keys are spaced in a technique to make it really feel such as you’re typing on a bigger machine.

When you disable the trackpad, there’s a decently giant palm relaxation at your disposal. This will get a big ErgoSense touchpad. Arms down, this is among the finest touchpads I’ve examined in a very long time. Whereas it isn’t as clean as these on MacBooks, this positively holds its personal. So the ASUS Zenbook S 13 OLED assessment for the keyboard and trackpad division is sorted.

Software program and good options

MyASUS app is among the most underrated apps on ASUS laptops. This offers you a whole lot of management over every little thing from fan pace to battery administration, mics, and cameras on the laptop computer.

ASUS laptops are typically well-optimized and 0ffer a clear Home windows expertise. The laptop computer has MyASUS app pre-installed, and it affords you good management over the machine. This can be a one-stop app to register machine guarantee,  diagnose errors and crashes, and get buyer assist. Then there are Hyperlink to MyASUS, ScreenXpert, and GlideX instruments to attach your telephone, handle a number of shows, {and professional} display screen sharing.

Coming to extra on a regular basis instruments, you get a Battery care mode to cease charging when it reaches 80% battery to extend the battery life. There are fan profiles to manually tweak the fan noise, AI mic and speaker controls, and Sound Modes with a Quantity Booster. I’m completely happy to report that these instruments work very well, and you’ll really feel the distinction they make when engaged on this laptop computer.

Battery and warmth administration

The battery care mode within the MyASUS app caps charging to 80%, making bettering battery longevity. You’ll be able to choose ‘on the spot cost’ from a pop-up if you plug within the charger to energy it as much as 100% if you’re touring.

The ASUS Zenbook S13 OLED has the Intel Evo badge, and this laptop computer’s battery performs on the promise. I’ve all the time received round 10 to 12 hours of battery backup on mixed-use from this machine.

In my testing, throughout the ASUS Zenbook S 13 OLED assessment, it manages to maintain the heating below test. Nonetheless, the underside of the laptop computer heats up when the followers are in full swing. There’s no warmth coming to the palm relaxation, trackpad, and even the keyboard space. However attempt to apply it to a flat floor to take advantage of use of its ErgoLift hinge and warmth dissipation.

ASUS Zenbook S 13 OLED assessment: Verdict

So in a nutshell, ASUS has certainly made an excellent espresso store laptop computer that can have you ever again it doesn’t matter what you throw at it. The ASUS Zenbook S13 OLED is skinny, mild, and a conveyable powerhouse. It has an excellent battery and efficiency steadiness and a premium total expertise. Whereas the show ought to’ve had a excessive refresh charge, it’s fairly good as it’s, and the opposite parts of the laptop computer additionally come into their very own if you’re engaged on this machine.

In my utilization, I used to be initially nervous about it being so skinny that I assumed it was fragile. Nonetheless, it’s military-grade examined, and that’s fairly reassuring to know. Wrapping up, we are able to say that the ASUS Zenbook S 13 OLED is a mix of fine {hardware}, software program, and a duty initiative from ASUS that makes it environmentally sustainable as properly.