Asus Zenbook S 16 overview: 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 in addition by its efficiency capabilities. My emotions are the identical even after utilizing it for just a few weeks. Its AMD Ryzen AI chipset packs a punch, and I’m impressed by what Asus has achieved 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 in need of 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 predicted to announce new M4 MacBooks earlier than the top of the yr. In the event you’re searching for a brand new laptop computer, the market has by no means been so various. In the event 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.

Really helpful

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.

Execs

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

Cons

• Battery life is not pretty much as good as rivals
• Built-in graphics may very well be higher

See our course of

How we test and review products at Pocket-lint

We do not do arm-chair analysis. We purchase and check our personal merchandise, and we solely publish purchaser’s guides with merchandise we have truly reviewed.

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). As a consequence of 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 offered 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 velocity. 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 velocity. It additionally has an built-in AMD Radeon 880M GPU, 24GB of RAM, and a 1TB NVMe SSD. I might 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 Sort-C with show and energy supply capabilities and one 3.5mm audio jack. The correct aspect sports activities an SD card reader, a USB 3.2 Gen 2 Sort-A port, and a charging LED.

Home windows Hi there is supported by the Asus Zenbook S 16 due to its entrance 1080p webcam with IR operate.

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

What I favored in regards to the Asus Zenbook S 16

A singular Ceraluminum lid design and a fantastic 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 completely 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 an excellent minimal look on a laptop computer, I feel Asus has achieved an ideal job creating a definite, clear design.

Talking of the lid, the Asus Zenbook S 16 passes the important check 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 all the things you may need from a 16-inch show, due to its stunning vivid colours, 120Hz refresh charge, and skinny bezels. The 16:10 side 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 implausible it appeared. Whether or not searching the net, taking part in a sport, or scripting this overview, the show by no means didn’t impress me. After utilizing this laptop computer for just a few 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 properly in my testing. Productiveness duties aren’t any problem for this laptop computer, and it saved 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, chances are you’ll wish 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 may also be used for Home windows Studio results, which applies AI-powered results to your digital camera, akin to a background blur and automated eye contact. Whereas testing these options, I might see the NPU being engaged in process 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.

Associated

This HP EliteBook laptop brings the AI and speed I want to my work setup

The HP EliteBook 1040 G11 is a dependable and highly effective 14-inch enterprise laptop computer that gives sturdy efficiency and helpful AI options.

Home windows Hi there is a welcome characteristic on the Zenbook S 16, due to the 1080p entrance webcam with IR help. I like how Home windows Hi there means that you can arrange an extra 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 mechanically on and off primarily based on whether or not you’re in entrance of the laptop computer. I like this characteristic, and it’s handy that the show mechanically turns off once I stroll away and turns again on once I return to my desk.

In the event you sort typically, the keyboard on the Zenbook S 16 won’t disappoint. I discovered the typing expertise nice and comfy with a 1.1mm key-travel distance, and I had no points working and typing on this laptop computer for lengthy hours. There may be 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.

Associated

Asus’ Zenbook S 14 delighted me with its OLED display and its fast performance

The brand new Asus Zenbook S 14 is a superb Home windows laptop computer that each appears and feels high-end.

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

Battery life is not dangerous, however may very well be higher, and the built-in graphics depart extra to be desired

The battery life on the Asus Zenbook S 16 provides me blended emotions. Is it dangerous? No. On common, I bought 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 exhibits. So, for my use case, I might get all-day battery life out of it, however simply barely. When gaming, I saved the laptop computer plugged in. For an x86 structure laptop computer, the battery life is first rate. But it surely’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. In the event you primarily use your laptop computer for productiveness duties, that further couple of hours might 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 by means of a Home windows replace.

Associated

I use these 7 easy Windows tweaks to optimize usability and make my life easier

Home windows 11 might be unnecessarily sophisticated. Make it extra user-friendly and streamline your expertise with these seven tweaks.

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 Sort-C ports are on the identical aspect of the laptop computer. I seen this virtually instantly as I went to cost the laptop computer by plugging it on the proper aspect, solely to appreciate 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 an alternative, it’s on the proper aspect of the laptop computer. So, you cost the laptop computer from the left and examine to make sure it is charging on the proper. I’m not sure why this design selection 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 bought a playable body charge (40-60 fps) in each video games by reducing the decision. In Cyberpunk 2077, I used the Steam Deck choice within the graphics setting, which labored effective. However throughout each play exams, this laptop computer heated as much as the purpose the place it was uncomfortable to the touch. This laptop computer could 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 may not be a dealbreaker for you. In the event you’re searching for one thing to primarily play video games on, you desire 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.

Associated

The 5 steps I take to make Windows 11 look and feel more like macOS

With out an excessive amount of work, you possibly can arrange any Home windows 11 PC to operate extra like an Apple Mac — here is how.

Must you purchase the Asus Zenbook S 16?

In the event you’re searching for a 16-inch Home windows 11 PC that’s skinny, transportable, 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 assume it might 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 beautiful 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 virtually 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 residence.

The battery life isn’t pretty much 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 at present face with some functions. The $1400 mannequin looks as if the best choice to me (even higher if on sale), particularly in the event you’re simply utilizing the laptop computer for primary duties. In the event you’re available in the market for a skinny and lightweight 16-inch Home windows laptop computer for on a regular basis use, the Asus Zenbook S 16 received’t disappoint.

Really helpful

Asus Zenbook S 16