The ultraportable Zenbook line has always been ASUS’s playground for innovative craftsmanship and powerful performance. Now, with the introduction of the Zenbook S 14 OLED (UX5406S), the company takes a bold leap into a new era of AI-enhanced performance while still delivering the slim design and gorgeous OLED panel that fans have come to expect. After spending some time with this sleek ultraportable, here’s what stood out.
Table of Contents
ASUS Zenbook S 14 OLED (UX5406S) Complete Review
Specifications
- Processor: INTEL U7-LUL (LUNALAKE MX) – 258V / EVO 258V 32GB 1.8 GHz (12MB Cache, up to 4.8 GHz, 8 cores, 8 Threads); Intel AI Boost NPU up to 47
- Display: 14.0-inch touchscreen, 3K (2880 x 1800) OLED 16:10 aspect ratio, 120Hz refresh rate, 500nits HDR peak brightness| Keyboard : Backlit Chiclet Keyboard
- Graphics : Integrated Intel Arc Graphics
- Memory : 32GB LPDDR5X RAM| Storage : 1TB M.2 NVMe PCIe 4.0 SSD
- Battery : 72WHrs, 2S2P, 4-cell Li-ion, Fast Charging : Recharge from 0-50% in 30 minutes
- I/O Ports : 1x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A (data speed up to 10Gbps), 2x Thunderbolt 4 with support for display / power delivery (data speed up to 40Gbps), 1x HDMI 2.1 TMDS
- Audio : 1x 3.5mm Combo Audio Jack, Webcam : FHD camera with IR function to support Windows Hello, Mic : Built-in array microphone
- On Board Wireless : Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be) (Tri-band) 2*2 + Bluetooth 5.4 Wireless Card (*Bluetooth version may change with OS version different)
Design & Build Quality
Right out of the box, the Zenbook S 14 OLED makes an impression. Our review unit came in Zumaia Gray, boasting a striking Ceraluminum™ lid that feels incredibly solid to the touch. ASUS has managed to craft an all-metal chassis with a shockingly thin 1.1 cm profile, and it still manages to weigh in at just 1.2 kg. Sliding it into a backpack is effortless—it’s likely one of the slimmest 14-inch laptops you’ll come across.
Despite its svelte form, there’s no compromise on sturdiness. The US MIL-STD 810H certification suggests it can withstand the typical knocks of everyday usage. The device also integrates a Microsoft Pluton security chip, giving you extra peace of mind on the road.
Display: OLED Brilliance
ASUS consistently nails the display experience on their OLED-equipped machines, and the Zenbook S 14 OLED is no exception. The 14-inch 3K (2880 x 1800) OLED panel serves up vibrant colors and sharp contrast—especially noticeable in streaming videos or photo-editing tasks where true blacks and popping colors stand out. Our eyes felt comfortable even after staring at the screen for hours thanks to its TÜV Rheinland and SGS Eye Care certifications, which reduce harmful blue light emission by up to 70%.
For those craving buttery-smooth visuals, the 120Hz refresh rate is a delight, making scrolling through webpages and documents feel decidedly snappy. If you opt for the touch-capable variant, you’ll add an extra layer of convenience for quick swipes, zooms, and draws.
Performance: Next-Gen AI Boost
Under the hood, the Zenbook S 14 OLED (UX5406S) features Intel’s Core™ Ultra 7 (Series 2) processor. It’s paired with up to 32GB of LPDDR5X memory, and you can configure it all the way up to a 1TB PCIe® 4.0 x4 NVMe® SSD for speedy load times. The highlight here is Intel’s new AI Boost NPU—offering up to 47 TOPS for AI workloads—positioning the Zenbook S 14 OLED as a “Copilot-ready” device capable of advanced on-device AI tasks in Windows 11.
Benchmarks at a Glance
- CrossMark: 1852
- Geekbench 6.2.2 Multi-Core: 11212
- 3DMark Time Spy: 4162
- Battery Life (Procyon Office): 16+ hours
These numbers reflect a system that handles productivity and moderate creative tasks with ease. The AI-focused benchmarks also stood out, showing tangible advantages for AI inference tasks compared to previous-gen chips.
Real-World Usage
Daily productivity, including dozens of browser tabs, Word documents, and Slack conversations, never skipped a beat. Windows 11 Home (or Pro, depending on your configuration) ran smoothly, with zero noticeable lag even while multitasking.
Gaming is not the primary focus, but Intel Arc Graphics can push playable frame rates at 1080p on medium settings. Titles like Assassin’s Creed Valhalla averaged around 51 FPS, while more optimized games such as F1 24 hit up to 81 FPS (or 116 FPS when leveraging XeSS Performance mode). It’s no gaming powerhouse, but it’s entirely capable of casual gaming sessions on the go.
Cooling & Internals
Removing the bottom panel reveals an impressively compact design, complete with dual fans, heat pipes, and a spacious 72 Wh battery. The cooling solution kept the chassis comfortable on the lap when running everyday apps, with only minor warmth under intense loads. It’s clear ASUS paid close attention to airflow, and the integrated fans rarely spin up to noisy levels unless you’re really pushing the hardware.
Battery Life & Charging
Battery longevity is one of the Zenbook S 14 OLED’s standout features. The 72 Wh battery delivered anywhere from 10–16 hours of mixed-use runtime in our tests, leaning closer to the upper end during standard productivity tasks. If you’re primarily using the device for note-taking, web browsing, and moderate streaming, it’s easy to leave the charger behind for an entire workday. When you do need to plug in, the 65W USB-C charger quickly tops off the system—handy for those short airport layovers or coffee shop stops.
Port Selection & Connectivity
For a laptop this thin, port availability is surprisingly robust:
- 2x Thunderbolt™ 4 (USB-C) with display/power delivery
- 1x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A
- 1x HDMI 2.1 (TMDS)
- 1x 3.5 mm Audio Jack
There’s enough I/O here to satisfy most routines without living the dongle life. The built-in Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4 also ensure speedy wireless connectivity, future-proofing your laptop for newer networking standards.
Audio & Webcam Experience
ASUS describes these speakers as a 4-speaker Harmon/Kardon setup, and they do produce above-average sound for such a thin laptop—though physics can only go so far. For most streaming videos and casual listening, the clarity and volume are respectable, but don’t expect deep bass.
On the videoconferencing front, an FHD ASUS AiSense Camera handles your Zoom calls. The image feed is surprisingly crisp in well-lit areas, and features like 3D noise reduction and ambient light sensing keep you looking professional in variable lighting.
AI & “Copilot” Features
This laptop is pitched as “Copilot+ PC-ready,” meaning it’s built to work smoothly with Windows AI features such as Microsoft 365 Copilot. Where you might notice this most is in tasks like on-device speech recognition, image processing, or video conferencing enhancements. Over time, as AI tools become even more integral to Windows 11, the Intel NPU is positioned to handle them efficiently, rather than taxing the CPU or GPU.
Verdict
The ASUS Zenbook S 14 OLED (UX5406S) is a standout ultraportable that merges the best of ASUS’s design philosophy—thin, light, and robust—with next-gen AI capabilities courtesy of Intel’s Core Ultra platform. Whether you’re a content creator, frequent traveler, or productivity enthusiast, this laptop strikes a compelling balance of design, performance, and battery life.
Pros
- Slim, elegant all-metal design
- Gorgeous 3K OLED display with 120Hz refresh rate
- Strong AI and CPU performance for multitasking
- Impressive battery life
- Decent port selection for its form factor
- Impressive Keyboard and trackpad
Cons
- Not a dedicated gaming machine (though some casual gaming is possible)
- Premium price tag for top-end configurations
- Speakers are good but won’t replace a dedicated audio setup
If you’re in the market for a cutting-edge laptop that effortlessly flips between your everyday office tasks, creative workloads, and even AI-based features on the horizon, the latest Zenbook S 14 OLED is an excellent pick. With robust internals, a world-class display, and a sleek chassis you’ll want to show off, ASUS has crafted another winner in the ultraportable space.
Buy from Amazon India: https://amzn.to/4hu9zT5
