For today’s digital nomads, finding the perfect laptop is all about balance. You want something sleek and super portable, but it also needs to pack a punch for everything, from video calls to rendering creative projects. That’s where ASUS steps in with an excellent solution.
The ASUS Zenbook S 14 (UX5406), launched recently in the Philippines, is a versatile 14-inch powerhouse equipped with the latest AI-enhanced Intel Core Ultra 7 processor (Series 2) and Intel Arc graphics. With up to 47 TOPS of AI performance, the Zenbook S 14 enables smooth multitasking and rapid execution of AI-powered tasks.
But we’re getting ahead of ourselves. Let’s first take a closer look at this gorgeously crafted piece of tech.
Design and build
The Zenbook S 14 is a vision of understated elegance. Its 1.1cm thin profile and lightweight 1.2kg chassis make it a breeze to carry.
Crafted from a premium Ceraluminum material, the chassis combines the resilience of aluminum with the sophistication of ceramic, resulting in a scratch-resistant and luxurious feel. The Zumaia Gray colorway adds a touch of sophistication with its matte finish, beautifully accented by the silver ASUS monogram on the corner of the lid.
The keyboard, though compact, offers a surprisingly comfortable typing experience—that is, if you prefer low key travel. The backlight, on the other hand, makes it easy to work in low-light conditions.
It’s worth noting that the right Ctrl key has been replaced with the Copilot key, which makes it easier to access the AI functionality. The only real downside is the somewhat cramped arrow keys.
Meanwhile, the touchpad is quite large, and the smart gestures—scroll to change the brightness, volume, etc.—add convenience.
If you prefer using a mouse instead, you might want to get the new ASUS SmartO Mouse Silent Plus. This sleek little mouse makes for a great productivity partner: it’s comfortable to use, quiet, and precise. You can actually use it on almost any surface—including glass. You can customize it with Armoury Crate software, which lets you tweak settings to your liking and keep an eye on things such as battery life, DPI, and polling rate. Plus, it’s equipped with power-saving tech that’ll keep it running for up to a year on just one AA battery.
A unique geometric grille design that runs the length of the keyboard could easily be mistaken for the laptop’s speakers. In fact, these are cooling vents designed to enhance airflow, ensuring the laptop stays cool even during intensive tasks.
An FHD webcam, positioned above the display, doubles as a face ID sensor for convenient, secure access. There’s no physical shutter on the camera, but you can use a digital kill switch by pressing the F10 key to turn it off.
As for I/O ports, ASUS managed to squeeze in two USB-C Thunderbolt 4 ports (also used for charging), a regular USB-A connection, an HDMI 2.1 output, and a 3.5mm audio jack in the slim form factor. These should be sufficient for everyday use.
Display and audio
The Zenbook S 14 is equipped with a 14-inch 3K ASUS Lumina OLED touchscreen display that brings visuals to life. With a super-smooth 120Hz refresh rate, a taller 16:10 screen, slim borders, and 500 nits of brightness, this screen is built to impress. The high-resolution 2880×1800 pixels make text and images clear and vibrant—no need to squint when reading small text!—while OLED gives you richer colors, deep blacks, and great contrast.
What all these mean is that whatever you’re using the laptop for—whether you’re editing videos, playing games, or just watching your favorite shows—the display hits all the right notes.
Adding to the overall experience are four Harman/Kardon speakers with Dolby Vision-Atmos support, providing loud (even at just 50% volume setting), high-quality sound that enhances movies, music, and more. During our time with it, we usually kept the volume at around 30-35% for watching videos.
Performance
While the Zenbook S 14’s design is eye-catching, its real strength is in its powerful performance. Equipped with an Intel Core Ultra 7 processor 258V, 32GB RAM, and 1TB of NVMe storage, this laptop is ready for multitasking, video editing, and even some light gaming.
Even when you’re pushing it hard, the laptop’s advanced cooling system keeps it running quietly at under 25dB, thanks to dual fans, a slim vapor chamber, and the aforementioned geometric grille design with over 2,700 CNC-machined cooling vents.
It also has handy AI features designed to make your life easier. The Copilot key allows you to quickly access the AI personal assistant, which is great for helping you organize tasks, provide real-time tips, and manage projects or presentations more easily.
The Zenbook S 14 comes with a 72Wh battery, and in multiple days of testing, it lasted an average of 8 hours before needing to be plugged in. Charging via 65W USB-C PD is fast enough: we got up to 65% in about an hour.
Speed says
The ASUS Zenbook S 14 is priced at P109,995 and is available in ASUS Accredited Stores nationwide. It comes with an exclusive ASUS laptop sleeve, a lifetime subscription to Office Home 2024, a 1-year subscription to Microsoft 365 Basic, and a 1-month membership to Adobe Creative Cloud. It’s also backed by the ASUS 4A Quality and Service Package with a 2-year international warranty.
This laptop is definitely a premium choice, offering a great mix of style, performance, and smart features. Whether you’re a creative professional or a business traveler, the Zenbook S 14 has everything you need to stay productive and entertained.
While it may be a bit pricey, the laptop’s exceptional build quality, powerful performance, and helpful AI features make it worth the investment. If you’re in the market for a top-notch laptop that can keep up with your busy lifestyle, the Zenbook S 14 is worth considering.
