I was blown away by the look of the ASUS Zenbook S 16 laptop when I first saw it at Computex 2024 and amazed by what it could do now that it has AMD’s cutting-edge Zen 5 architecture under the hood. This sleek and powerful machine aims to redefine what we expect from ultraportable laptops, promising a blend of performance, efficiency and AI capabilities that could give Apple’s M3 MacBooks a run for their money.
Before even touching on the internals, unboxing the Zenbook S 16 is striking, as it is a machine that is truly beautiful. The laptop boasts a remarkably thin profile, measuring just 13.9 x 9.6 x 0.47 inches, and weighs a mere 3.3 pounds. This puts it in direct competition with some of the most portable 16-inch laptops on the market, including Apple’s MacBook Pro 16. I normally don’t like 16-inch laptops, but ASUS has proven me wrong with a unit that is just a joy to use, show off, and even carry around.
That is before we even get to one of the Zenbook S 16’s most striking design elements. ASUS has introduced a unique material called “ceraluminium” for the lid of the Zenbook S 16, which combines ceramic and aluminum to create a premium, textured finish that’s both visually striking and resistant to fingerprints. The laptop is available in two sophisticated colour options: Zumaia Grey and Scandinavian White. Both exude a sense of understated luxury that’s sure to turn heads in any professional environment. Even after using the laptop for just over two weeks, I still can’t get over how good the lid looks and feels.
“Opening the lid reveals one of the Zenbook S 16’s standout features: its gorgeous 16-inch OLED touch display.”
Opening the lid reveals one of the Zenbook S 16’s standout features: its gorgeous 16-inch OLED touch display. With a resolution of 2880 x 1800 and a 16:10 aspect ratio, this screen delivers stunning visuals with deep blacks, vibrant colours, and excellent contrast. The 120Hz refresh rate ensures smooth scrolling and fluid animations, enhancing the overall user experience.
The display’s colour accuracy is impressive, covering 100% of the DCI-P3 colour gamut and offering HDR support. This makes the Zenbook S 16 an excellent choice for creative professionals who require accurate colour reproduction for photo and video editing. Editing short videos on the laptop was a pleasure. The visuals were a great way to see a true-to-life view of the content as I worked on it. I still love a dual monitor setup for creation, but this 16″ screen is a close second.
The Zenbook S 16 laptop offers a solid selection of ports, especially for its size. It includes two USB 4 ports, a USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A port, an HDMI 2.1 output, and a 3.5 mm audio jack. The inclusion of an SD card reader is a welcome addition for photographers and content creators. Wireless connectivity is future-proofed with Wi-Fi 7 support for ultra-fast speeds when connected to compatible routers. In testing, the wireless connection was solid across all areas, even in places where other laptops struggle. Well done, ASUS.
“The Zenbook S 16 laptop offers a solid selection of ports, especially for its size.”
ASUS has paid attention to the little details that improve the overall user experience. The keyboard offers comfortable key travel and a satisfying typing experience, while the large touchpad provides precise cursor control. The touchpad also has some nifty features, such as the ability to control brightness and volume by sliding along its edges. I am usually very picky about my laptop keyboards, so I was pleased to find the Zenbook S 16’s to be as comfortable and responsive as it is. It may not top my list of best keyboards, but it is certainly in the top five.
In terms of entertainment, the laptop’s audio system is not groundbreaking, but the sound is clear and balanced. It’s suitable for video calls and casual media consumption, although audiophiles may still prefer external speakers or headphones for serious listening sessions. I would say that it is more than adequate for most streaming needs and for people looking for a laptop to watch films without having to turn on the big TV, the Zenbook S 16 more than delivers.
But enough about the design; it is time to dive into what makes this laptop so unique in a market of thin and light options. At the heart of the Zenbook S 16 lies the AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 processor, a 12-core, 24-thread beast that represents the pinnacle of AMD’s mobile computing technology. This chip isn’t just about raw processing power; it’s designed to deliver a harmonious balance of performance and energy efficiency, making it an ideal choice for users who demand top-tier performance without sacrificing battery life.
Did I mention that it is also the first X86 laptop on the market to offer 50 TOPS of AI performance, meaning you can get Microsoft Copoilot+? The Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 features an AMD XDNA 2 NPU (Neural Processing Unit) that can deliver up to 50 TOPS of AI performance. This dedicated AI hardware accelerates machine learning tasks and enables new AI-powered features directly on the device, potentially revolutionizing the way we interact with our laptops; at least, that is the promise.
The Zen 5 architecture brings significant improvements in instructions per clock (IPC), with AMD claiming a 16% increase over its predecessor. This translates into better performance across a wide range of tasks, from productivity applications to content creation and even light gaming, and it shows. This is a machine that can take on a range of tasks and feel snappy and responsive, even in applications such as DaVinci Resolve and Adobe Premiere Pro.
Speaking of gaming, while the Zenbook S 16 isn’t marketed as a gaming laptop, its integrated AMD Radeon 890M graphics offer surprisingly capable performance for an ultraportable machine. The RDNA 3.5 architecture provides a significant boost over previous integrated solutions, allowing users to enjoy casual gaming and even some modern titles at lower settings.
In benchmarks, the Radeon 890M has shown impressive results, outperforming many other integrated graphics solutions. Games like Baldur’s Gate 3 and Counter-Strike 2 run smoothly at 1080p with medium to high settings, while more demanding titles like Cyberpunk 2077 are playable at lower resolutions and settings. This can further be enhanced with FSR should you want to get the most gaming performance possible, and that means you can experience 60FPS even in modern demanding titles, provided you don’t mind turning down the settings.
“…even under heavy loads, the Zenbook S 16 manages to deliver respectable battery life.”
Even as a solid performer, it’s worth noting that while the Zenbook S 16 can handle gaming, it’s not designed as a primary gaming machine. For serious gamers, a dedicated gaming laptop with a discrete GPU would still be the better choice. However, for users who want the occasional gaming session without carrying a bulky gaming laptop, the Zenbook S 16 offers a compelling compromise. As solid as the AMD Radeon 890M integrated graphics may be, especially in a laptop this thin, it is no match for a dedicated discrete GPU.
Battery life is often a concern with high-performance laptops, but the Zenbook S 16 delivers in this area, too. The combination of AMD’s efficient Zen 5 architecture and a substantial 78Wh battery results in impressive longevity. In real-world testing, the laptop consistently managed over 10 hours of mixed-use, including web browsing, document editing and video playback. I still feel the Macbook Pro has a bit of an edge, but it is nice to be able to go through a solid day without having to worry about needing a power socket just to get past the eight-hour mark.
More intensive tasks like video editing or gaming will naturally drain the battery faster, but even under heavy loads, the Zenbook S 16 manages to deliver respectable battery life. This makes it a reliable companion for professionals who need to work on the go without constantly worrying about finding a power outlet. I managed to do some light video editing, Photoshop, and test out some games, and it lasted just over 7 hours.
At the end of all my testing, I was thoroughly impressed by the ASUS Zenbook S 16 on almost all fronts. There are a few minor quibbles, but the overall experience was fantastic, especially for a laptop this thin and light. ASUS has built a striking machine that shows there is still life in the X86 architecture for laptops and has successfully bridged the gap between ultraportables and more powerful workstation laptops, offering a balanced solution that should satisfy even the most demanding users.
As the first laptop featuring AMD’s Zen 5 architecture, the Zenbook S 16 sets a high bar for what we can expect from future Windows machines. It’s a promising sign that the world of Windows laptops is evolving to meet the challenges posed by Apple’s M-series chips, and it gives users a compelling reason to consider AMD-powered devices for their next upgrade. For anyone looking for their next travel companion, few laptops deliver such a complete experience as the ASUS Zenbook S 16.
