Asus Zenbook S 16 assessment: a strong Home windows laptop computer

I’m not going to mince phrases right here — I like the Asus Zenbook S 16. Inside an hour of utilizing it, I used to be surprised not solely by its design but additionally by its efficiency capabilities. My emotions are the identical even after utilizing it for a number of weeks. Its AMD Ryzen AI chipset packs a punch, and I’m impressed by what Asus has completed with this laptop computer. It is light-weight and skinny construct makes this a compelling 16-inch on-the-go laptop computer, particularly in the event you discover it on sale from its beginning worth of $1,400.

The Asus Zenbook S 16 has been nothing wanting loopy. Intel and AMD are pushing new AI-powered chips with neural processing models (NPUs), and Snapdragon-powered Home windows 11 laptops are making a splash. Plus, Apple is anticipated to announce new M4 MacBooks earlier than the top of the 12 months. Should you’re searching for a brand new laptop computer, the market has by no means been so various. Should you’re particularly searching for a strong skinny 16-inch Home windows 11 laptop computer, the Asus Zenbook S 16 could also be what you’re searching for.

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Asus Zenbook S 16

The Asus Zenbook S 16 is an ultrathin 16-inch 3K 120Hz laptop computer. With an AMD Ryzen AI processor, it delivers highly effective efficiency and visuals for on a regular basis use.

Professionals

• Distinctive and distinct design
• Highly effective AMD AI processor
• 120Hz OLED display

Cons

• Battery life is not nearly as good as opponents
• Built-in graphics might be higher

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Value, availability, and specs

The Asus Zenbook S 16 is a 16-inch laptop computer with a 2880 x 1800 pixel decision show with a 120Hz refresh charge. Its show has 400 nits of brightness and as much as 500 nits of HDR peak brightness. The show is touchscreen and has pen help.

The laptop computer weighs 3.3lbs (1.5kg) and its dimensions are available at 13.92 x 9.57 x 0.47~ 0.51-inches (35.36 x 24.30 x 1.19 ~ 1.29 cm). Attributable to its wedge-shaped design, the laptop computer is thinner in the direction of the entrance and barely thicker on the again. It has a 78Wh battery.

The Asus Zenbook S 16 begins at $1,400 and is on the market now in two configurations and colour choices.

The costlier configuration comes with an AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 12-core processor that enhances as much as a 5.1GHz clock pace. It additionally has an built-in AMD Radeon 890M GPU, 32GB of RAM, and a 1TB NVMe SSD.

The cheaper configuration comes with an AMD Ryzen AI 9 365 10-core processor that enhances as much as a 4.7GHz clock pace. It additionally has an built-in AMD Radeon 880M GPU, 24GB of RAM, and a 1TB NVMe SSD. I can be reviewing this mannequin.

Each configurations even have an AMD XDNA neural processing unit (NPU) able to as much as 50 trillion operations per second (TOPS).

Trying on the port choice, the left aspect of the Zenbook S 16 sports activities one HDMI 2.1 port, two USB 4.0 Gen 3 Kind-C with show and energy supply capabilities and one 3.5mm audio jack. The appropriate aspect sports activities an SD card reader, a USB 3.2 Gen 2 Kind-A port, and a charging LED.

Home windows Whats up is supported by the Asus Zenbook S 16 due to its entrance 1080p webcam with IR perform.

The Asus Zenbook S 16 is on the market in two colour choices: zumaia grey or scandinavian white. This assessment options the zumaia grey colour.

What I appreciated in regards to the Asus Zenbook S 16

A novel Ceraluminum lid design and a lovely show

Instantly upon opening the field, I used to be surprised by the Zenbook’s Ceraluminum lid design. Asus says its new “high-tech ceramic” Ceraluminum materials boasts “unparalleled power” and elevated sturdiness. I used to be fairly impressed with this new materials, and I like the way it’s distinctively totally different from Apple’s MacBook lineup or different Home windows laptops. The Ceraluminum lid on the Zenbook S 16 is clean and feels nice to carry in hand, due to its mild weight of three.31 lbs. Additionally, as somebody who prefers a brilliant minimal look on a laptop computer, I believe Asus has carried out an amazing job creating a definite, clear design.

Talking of the lid, the Asus Zenbook S 16 passes the important take a look at of with the ability to open the lid with one hand or one finger. Behind the lid is a beautiful 3K OLED show. This display has every little thing you might need from a 16-inch show, due to its stunning vibrant colours, 120Hz refresh charge, and skinny bezels. The 16:10 facet ratio is ideal, and I like the additional vertical display actual property house right here. I watched the finale of Rings of Energy on this laptop computer, and wow, I used to be blown away by how incredible it regarded. Whether or not searching the net, taking part in a sport, or scripting this assessment, the show by no means didn’t impress me. After utilizing this laptop computer for a number of weeks, I’m extra persuaded than ever to get an OLED monitor for my gaming PC.

The AMD Ryzen AI 9 365 processor carried out nicely in my testing. Productiveness duties aren’t any problem for this laptop computer, and it stored up with all of the every day duties I threw at, akin to photograph modifying, researching, and writing. For reference, the Asus Zenbook S 16 achieved a Geekbench 6 rating of two,802 in single-core and 12,799 in multi-core. That is designed to be a light-weight on-the-go laptop computer, so for on a regular basis productiveness duties the efficiency is greater than sufficient, however in the event you’re trying to do heavy video modifying or gaming, it’s possible you’ll need to have a look at different laptops. I additionally discovered the laptop computer to be silent throughout primary duties, with the followers solely spinning up when opening up a sport.

The laptop computer additionally contains a devoted AI chip, an AMD XNDA NPU that Asus says processes as much as 50 trillion operations per second (TOPS) of efficiency for the native processing of AI duties, akin to Copilot and Asus’ AI. The MyAsus app has an AI Noise-cancelling microphone and AI Noise-Cancelling speaker setting. The NPU will also be used for Home windows Studio results, which applies AI-powered results to your digicam, akin to a background blur and computerized eye contact. Whereas testing these options, I may see the NPU being engaged in activity supervisor, and it was doing its job of taking some load off the CPU. Copilot+ options aren’t accessible on the Asus Zenbook S 16 but, however extra on that later.

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Home windows Whats up is a welcome function on the Zenbook S 16, due to the 1080p entrance webcam with IR help. I like how Home windows Whats up lets you arrange a further recognition scan to enhance its accuracy. I used to be capable of do a scan with and with out my glasses, which helped recognition. This laptop computer additionally helps Home windows Presence Sensing, which turns your display routinely on and off based mostly on whether or not you’re in entrance of the laptop computer. I like this function, and it’s handy that the show routinely turns off once I stroll away and turns again on once I return to my desk.

Should you sort typically, the keyboard on the Zenbook S 16 is not going to disappoint. I discovered the typing expertise nice and cozy with a 1.1mm key-travel distance, and I had no points working and typing on this laptop computer for lengthy hours. There’s additionally a devoted Copilot key for fast entry to any AI inquiries. The touchpad is sweet and enormous and helps gestures, akin to altering the system brightness by swiping the underside or adjusting the system quantity by sliding up and down the left aspect of the trackpad. A haptic touchpad would’ve been good, but it surely isn’t a dealbreaker for me.

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What I did not like in regards to the Asus Zenbook S 16

Battery life is not dangerous, however might be higher, and the built-in graphics go away extra to be desired

The battery life on the Asus Zenbook S 16 offers me blended emotions. Is it dangerous? No. On common, I received 8-10 hours of use earlier than I needed to plug it in. This concerned searching the net, utilizing Google Docs, and watching YouTube movies and TV reveals. So, for my use case, I may get all-day battery life out of it, however simply barely. When gaming, I stored the laptop computer plugged in. For an x86 structure laptop computer, the battery life is first rate. Nevertheless it’s troublesome not to think about the Snapdragon X Home windows 11 laptops and Apple’s M3 MacBooks, which have higher battery life than this. Should you primarily use your laptop computer for productiveness duties, that additional couple of hours may make fairly a distinction.

Copilot+ options are additionally unavailable to check on the time of writing. At present, Copilot+ options are solely accessible on Snapdragon X Home windows 11 laptops. Nonetheless, they’re imagined to be accessible on choose Home windows 11 AMD and Intel AI chipsets in November via a Home windows replace.

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Additionally, to take full benefit of the 120Hz show, I needed to disable the dynamic refresh charge setting within the MyAsus app. The dynamic refresh charge made it so the show would solely be 120Hz when plugged in. When the laptop computer was unplugged, it might be at 60Hz. I needed the show to be 120Hz on a regular basis, so I disabled this setting. 120Hz must be enabled proper out of the field; it makes a world of distinction.

The Asus Zenbook S 16 additionally suffers from the identical drawback the Asus Zenbook S 14 has: each USB Kind-C ports are on the identical aspect of the laptop computer. I seen this nearly instantly as I went to cost the laptop computer by plugging it on the best aspect, solely to understand the port was solely on the left aspect. The even funnier factor to me is that the battery charging LED isn’t beside the charging port; as a substitute, it’s on the best aspect of the laptop computer. So, you cost the laptop computer from the left and examine to make sure it is charging on the best. I’m not sure why this design alternative was made, but it surely’s odd.

The Asus Zenbook S 16 does have an built-in GPU, an AMD Radeon 880M or 890M, relying on the configuration chosen. I examined the 880M configuration, and the built-in GPU was okay, however don’t anticipate to play something on excessive graphics. I examined Cyberpunk 2077 and Murderer’s Creed Mirage and received a playable body charge (40-60 fps) in each video games by decreasing the decision. In Cyberpunk 2077, I used the Steam Deck possibility within the graphics setting, which labored nice. However throughout each play checks, this laptop computer heated as much as the purpose the place it was uncomfortable to the touch. This laptop computer may be very skinny, so it is rather straightforward for this factor to get sizzling quick. In all equity, the Asus Zenbook S 16 isn’t a gaming laptop computer, so in the event you’re not pushing this factor to the max on a regular basis, this won’t be a dealbreaker for you. Should you’re searching for one thing to primarily play video games on, you need a laptop computer with a devoted GPU, and at $1,700 for the highest Zenbook S 16 configuration, it feels prefer it ought to have one.

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Must you purchase the Asus Zenbook S 16?

Should you’re searching for a 16-inch Home windows 11 PC that’s skinny, moveable, and highly effective, the Zenbook S 16 is worthy of consideration

After utilizing a M1 MacBook Professional as my every day driver for over three years, the Zenbook S 16 makes me suppose it could be time to return to a Home windows laptop computer quickly. Its AMD AI CPU is highly effective sufficient to deal with on a regular basis productiveness duties with out breaking a sweat. Its 3K 120Hz show is gorgeous and appears nice for working in the course of the day and watching media. Its Ceralumium design is exclusive, light-weight, and appears as nice because it feels. And all these options assist enhance the Home windows 11 consumer expertise. It nearly felt unusual to return to my Macbook Professional after utilizing it for therefore lengthy, particularly since I additionally use a Home windows 11 desktop at house.

The battery life isn’t nearly as good as that of the Snapdragon X Home windows 11 laptops. Nonetheless, its x86 structure AMD CPU does imply it avoids any compatibility points that ARM architecture-based Snapdragon X processors presently face with some functions. The $1400 mannequin looks like the best choice to me (even higher if on sale), particularly in the event you’re simply utilizing the laptop computer for primary duties. Should you’re available in the market for a skinny and light-weight 16-inch Home windows laptop computer for on a regular basis use, the Asus Zenbook S 16 received’t disappoint.

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Asus Zenbook S 16