In one look
Expert rating
Benefits
- Good performance
- Brilliant OLED display
- Compact and lightweight
The inconvenients
- Noisy fans
- Relatively expensive
Our opinion
The Zenbook S 13 OLED has excellent performance, good battery life and a great screen, all in a device that weighs only 1 kg. But the price and cooling prevent it from being the best ultraportable laptop you can buy, especially considering its noise level.
Opting for a thin and light laptop usually means making significant sacrifices elsewhere.
Performance, battery life, ports and display are among the most common compromises, but the Zenbook S 13 OLED 2023 manages to avoid all of these.
Apart from the premium price, are there any other reasons not to buy it? The short answer is yes, although they may not be dealbreakers.
Design and build
- Premium design
- Extremely thin and light
- Feels very sturdy and durable
The ultra-light Asus Zenbook models we’ve previously tested vary widely in weight, and they’ve rarely been among the lightest. That changes with this year’s top-of-the-line model, which is one of the lightest of 2023 so far at just under 1kg.
Even before you turn on the Zenbook S 13 OLED, it’s an eye-catching computer
According to Asus, it’s “lighter than any other 13.3-inch laptop in its class.” But what does that really mean? There are other 13-inch laptops that weigh 1kg or less, so the more relevant question is what Asus means by “its class”.
Judging by its appearance, we are talking about high-end devices. Even before you turn on the Zenbook S 13 OLED, it’s an eye-catching computer. Its sleek design and cutouts in the display lid, inspired by Asus’ new logo, make it unmistakable.
Matthias Inghe
It’s a traditional take on a laptop of this size, with the 13.3-inch display adopting the classic 16:9 aspect ratio.
The device is constructed from sturdy lightweight metal parts and has a rigid shape, although it creaks a bit when you flip it over. You shouldn’t have to worry about long-term durability, thanks to military-grade certification for impact resistance.
When open, the back of the display lid drops down slightly behind the keyboard. This raises the rear about an extra centimeter, giving a more comfortable viewing angle and more efficient cooling.
Specifications and performance
- 13th Gen Intel or Ryzen 7000 processors
- Impressive overall performance
- Fans can get boring
The Zenbook S 13 OLED is one of the most expensive ultralight laptops you can buy, but you still get plenty of performance for your money.
With a powerful latest 13th Gen Intel Core i7 processor, 16GB of RAM, a whopping 1TB SSD, and a high-resolution OLED display on the model I tested, expectations were high. Thankfully, Asus certainly doesn’t disappoint when it comes to the performance of the Zenbook S 13 OLED.
It should be noted that a cheaper AMD Ryzen 7 version is also available in some countries and offers the same amount of RAM and SSD storage. But I can’t comment on its performance or power efficiency, as the sample we received is the Intel version.
The latter is fast, broadly matching a MacBook Air M2 in most tests. There is a drop in graphics performance, which reflects the choice of integrated Intel Iris Xe graphics over a discrete GPU.
Asus certainly doesn’t disappoint when it comes to Zenbook S 13 OLED performance
However, a read speed of 7 Gbps means SSD storage is also fast. To boost speeds even further, there’s the option to double the RAM to 32GB, although you’ll pay a premium.
Some competing laptops offer similar specs, but the lack of efficient cooling systems can often limit performance. On the Zenbook S 13 OLED, cooling is solid, but not the most subtle.
In “performance” mode, which is supposed to have the most active cooling, the fans kicked in during simple tasks such as watching YouTube or installing a new app. They can get annoying during more demanding workloads, but it’s the constant background noise that proves the most distracting.
Matthias Inghe
Like many laptops, the Zenbook is prone to overheating on its underside. This is a device to be used on a table – not on your lap.
But despite the cooling challenge in such a compact chassis, the hardware offers great computing power. You can easily edit high resolution videos and photos, which cannot always be said for thin and light laptops.
Display, audio and keyboard
- 13.3 inch OLED screen
- Impressive color accuracy
- Decent stereo speakers
bcc. It’s an OLED panel, delivering all the vibrant colors and great contrast we’ve come to expect from them.
A peak brightness of around 350 nits is fairly typical for a modern laptop, but that makes outdoor visibility a little tricky. You may be able to go a step further by activating HDR mode, the latter of which offers a truly impressive HDR experience.
Matthias Inghe
Compared to the Acer Swift Go 14’s OLED display, you can also expect better color accuracy. Four presets are available: Native, sRGB, DCI-P3, and Display P3. All four look great, while the AdobeRGB coverage is equally impressive – you’re looking at around 96%.
The screen of the Zenbook S 13 OLED is perfectly suited for its intended use
The Zenbook S 13 OLED has built-in stereo speakers under the computer, as well as support for Dolby Atmos on the software side. As a result, you can expect a rich, full-bodied sound. Music has a distinctive sound and plenty of bass, while the audio has great depth when watching movies or TV shows.
Beneath the screen is a full-size keyboard, although Asus has always left wide bezels on all sides. Being such a compact device means there’s relatively little key travel, which is even more pronounced on the Shift and Tab keys.
However, it’s still a comfortable keyboard for typing. It’s clicky and responsive, while the backlight is suitable for all ambient lighting conditions. The large touchpad is also impressive, allowing for a level of precision you don’t always get on laptops.
Ports, webcam and software
- Many ports
- Impressive 1080p webcam
- Clean version of Windows 11
Despite its thinness, the Zenbook S 13 OLED has an impressive range of ports. Both USB-C ports support Thunderbolt 4 (on Intel models) and can be used for charging, while you also get a USB-A port and an HDMI port.
Devices such as the Dell XPS 13 Plus make big sacrifices in this area, only offering USB-C. Fortunately, Asus has opted for something more practical. Wireless connections via Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3 are also solid.
Despite its thinness, the Zenbook S 13 OLED has an impressive range of ports
Above the screen, you’ll find a solid Full HD (1080p) webcam. It handles exposure well and delivers decent colors, although you’ll need good ambient lighting to get the best results.
Asus also has an AI-assisted mode, which can blur the background, maintain eye contact with the camera, or keep your face in frame at all times. It works well, but puts a strain on the CPU and produces loud fan noise.
Matthias Inghe
The Zenbook S 13 OLED runs Windows 11 and there’s relatively little additional software. In fact, next to Realtek and Dolby audio tuners and Intel chipset software, the only other pre-installed extra app is MyASUS. It includes various additional customization options, such as display, cooling, and webcam. It’s an interesting addition.
Price and availability
The Zenbook S 13 OLED is a premium laptop, and its price reflects that.
In the US, you can pick up the tested Intel Core i7 model for $1,399.99 from both Asus and Best Buy.
The product page is live on the Asus UK site, but it is not yet available for purchase. We also don’t know how much it will cost there.
Still, that US price puts it in direct competition with some of the best laptops you can buy. Among 13-inch devices, it’s arguably more complete than the Dell XPS 13 Plus or the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5.
Verdict
If you need a high-end laptop but portability is your top priority, the Zenbook S 13 OLED is definitely worth considering.
Despite a thickness of only 1.2 cm and a weight of 1 kg, none of the typical compromises are apparent here. Performance is impressive, battery life is solid, and there are even plenty of ports. With a sleek design and an OLED display that rivals some of the best, there’s a lot to like here.
However, it is by no means perfect. The fans kick in regularly and can get annoying, while the keyboard lacks any real depth.
It’s also relatively expensive, which means the Zenbook S 13 OLED isn’t an instant recommendation for everyone. But it’s a great laptop.
Specifications
- Display: 13.3-inch, 16:19 OLED, 2880×1800, 60Hz
- Processor: Intel Core i7-1355U
- Graphics: Intel Iris Xe
- Memory: 16 GB LPDDR5
- Storage: 1TB SSD
- Ports: 2x USB-C (both Thunderbolt 4), 1x USB-A 3.2, HDMI 2.1, 3.5mm audio jack
- Camera: 1080p front
- Wireless: Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3
- Battery: 63Wh
- Charging: 65W USB-C (included)
- Operating System: Windows 11 Home
- Colours: Basalt Gray
- Weight: 1kg
- Dimensions: 29.6 x 21.6 x 1.2cm
This article was translated from an original posted on PC för Alla.
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