{"id":84541,"date":"2025-03-01T03:14:20","date_gmt":"2025-03-01T03:14:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/goodwriterz.com\/site\/?p=84541"},"modified":"2025-03-01T03:14:20","modified_gmt":"2025-03-01T03:14:20","slug":"iterative-refinement-of-a-premium-ultraportable","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/goodwriterz.com\/site\/iterative-refinement-of-a-premium-ultraportable\/","title":{"rendered":"Iterative Refinement of a Premium Ultraportable"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_68_1 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title \" >\u062c\u062f\u0648\u0644 \u0627\u0644\u0645\u062d\u062a\u0648\u064a\u0627\u062a<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 eztoc-toggle-hide-by-default' ><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/goodwriterz.com\/site\/iterative-refinement-of-a-premium-ultraportable\/#Summary\" title=\"Summary\">Summary<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/goodwriterz.com\/site\/iterative-refinement-of-a-premium-ultraportable\/#Price_and_Availability\" title=\"Price and Availability\">Price and Availability<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/goodwriterz.com\/site\/iterative-refinement-of-a-premium-ultraportable\/#A_Familiar_Ultraportable_Design\" title=\"A Familiar Ultraportable Design\">A Familiar Ultraportable Design<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/goodwriterz.com\/site\/iterative-refinement-of-a-premium-ultraportable\/#A_Display_That_Holds_Its_Own\" title=\"A Display That Holds Its Own\">A Display That Holds Its Own<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/goodwriterz.com\/site\/iterative-refinement-of-a-premium-ultraportable\/#Intel_Redeems_Itself\" title=\"Intel Redeems Itself\">Intel Redeems Itself<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/goodwriterz.com\/site\/iterative-refinement-of-a-premium-ultraportable\/#Should_You_Buy_the_ASUS_Zenbook_S_14\" title=\"Should You Buy the ASUS Zenbook S 14?\">Should You Buy the ASUS Zenbook S 14?<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<div>\n<section class=\"emaki-custom-block emaki-custom-key-points\">\n<div class=\"emaki-custom key-points\" id=\"custom_block_0\">\n<h3 class=\"title icon i-list\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Summary\"><\/span>Summary<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<div class=\"custom_block-content key-points\">\n<ul>\n<li>\n                                        ASUS Zenbook S 14 offers improved performance, long-lasting battery life, and a high-quality build.\n                        <\/li>\n<li>\n                                        Available in various configurations with Intel Core Ultra processors, OLED 3K display, and multiple storage options.\n                        <\/li>\n<li>\n                                        The new Intel Core Ultra 7 Series 2 processor enhances performance, efficiency, and battery life, rivaling ARM-based ultrabooks.\n                        <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p><!-- Not injecting Ads due to No-Ads mode. --><\/p>\n<p>The <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/shop.asus.com\/us\/90nb14f4-m00620-asus-zenbook-s-14-ux5406.html\">2024 ASUS Zenbook S 14<\/a> solidifies its position as one of the best Windows alternatives to Apple&#8217;s MacBook Air. With elevated performance, enhanced battery life, and solid build quality, the Zenbook S 14 culminates into a laptop that offers meaningful improvements in key areas.<\/p>\n<div class=\"display-card  tag large  no-badge  active-content                      \" data-include-community-rating=\"false\" id=\"6684-44f3-96eb51528d4b\" data-nosnippet=\"\">\n<div class=\"w-img \">\n<div class=\"body-img landscape \">\n<div class=\"responsive-img  img-article-square\">\n<figure>\n<p>                <img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"1200\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Zenbook S 14_ UX5406SA _Product photo_Scandinavian White _01\" data-img-url=\"https:\/\/goodwriterz.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Iterative-Refinement-of-a-Premium-Ultraportable.png\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/goodwriterz.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Iterative-Refinement-of-a-Premium-Ultraportable.png?resize=1200%2C1200&#038;ssl=1\" style=\"height:auto;max-width:100%\" title=\"\"><\/p>\n<\/figure><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"w-display-card-content regular article-block\">\n<div class=\"display-card-badge-custom\">\n                        <img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" data-field=\"badge-image\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/goodwriterz.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/1740798858_203_Iterative-Refinement-of-a-Premium-Ultraportable.png?w=1200&#038;ssl=1\" style=\"height:auto;max-width:100%\" alt=\"\" title=\"\">\n                    <\/div>\n<h5 class=\"display-card-title \">\n\t\t\t\t\t\tAsus Zenbook S 14 (2024)<br \/>\n\t\t\t<\/h5>\n<p class=\"display-card-description\">The 2024 ASUS Zenbook S 14 solidifies itself as one of the best Windows alternatives to Apple\u2019s MacBook Air, bringing meaningful improvements in key areas. With a refined yet familiar design, it remains lightweight and portable while introducing new color options and ASUS\u2019 durable Ceraluminum material. Despite its ultra-thin form, ASUS manages to pack in a solid selection of ports, along with an upgraded cooling system to keep thermals in check. Overall, it shows that Intel&#8217;s Lunar Lake can hold its own in a growing ARM-based market.<\/p>\n<div class=\"w-display-card-pros-cons\">\n\t<strong class=\"sub-title\">Pros &amp; Cons<\/strong><\/p>\n<div class=\"pros-cons-divider\">\n<div>\n<ul class=\"pro-list\">\n<li class=\"icon\">Excellent OLED display<\/li>\n<li class=\"icon\">Decent port selection<\/li>\n<li class=\"icon\">Extremely light and portable design<\/li>\n<\/ul><\/div>\n<div>\n<ul class=\"con-list\">\n<li class=\"icon\">Sub-par FHD camera<\/li>\n<li class=\"icon\">Can still be loud during heavy workloads<\/li>\n<\/ul><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"display-card  article article-card small  no-badge  active-content                      \" data-include-community-rating=\"false\" id=\"2d6c-4413-ae92638cbb62\" data-nosnippet=\"\">\n<div class=\"w-img \">\n<div class=\"body-img landscape \">\n<div class=\"responsive-img  img-featured-4-pin-single-size-featured-secondary\">\n<figure>\n<p>                <img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"800\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Person testing the performance of a laptop\" data-img-url=\"https:\/\/goodwriterz.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Iterative-Refinement-of-a-Premium-Ultraportable.jpg\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/goodwriterz.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Iterative-Refinement-of-a-Premium-Ultraportable.jpg?resize=1200%2C800&#038;ssl=1\" style=\"height:auto;max-width:100%\" title=\"\"><\/p>\n<\/figure><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>                    <span data-field=\"label\" class=\"article-card-label\">See Our Process<\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"w-display-card-content regular article-block\">\n<h5 class=\"display-card-title \">\n<p>\t\t\tHow We Test and Review Products at How-To Geek<\/p>\n<\/h5>\n<p class=\"display-card-excerpt\">We go hands-on with every product to ensure it&#8217;s worth your time and money.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><!-- Not injecting Ads due to No-Ads mode. --><\/p>\n<h2 id=\"price-and-availability\">\n                        Price and Availability<br \/>\n               <\/h2>\n<p>The ASUS Zenbook S 14 is available directly through ASUS&#8217; website and major retailers, including Best Buy and Amazon. It is available with the Intel Core Ultra 7 258V, Core Ultra 5 226V, Core Ultra 7 256V, or Core Ultra 9 Processor 288V, and in either the Zumaia Gray or Scandinavian White color variants.<\/p>\n<p>Storage options include either a 512- or 1TB M.2 NVMe PCIe 4.0 SSD, and memory can be configured with either 16- or 32GB of LPDDR5X RAM. My review unit is the mid-tier configuration, including the Intel Core Ultra 7 258V processor, 32GB of RAM, and 1TB of storage.<\/p>\n<div class=\"display-card  tag large no-badge  active-content              expandable&#010;                            \" data-include-community-rating=\"false\" id=\"a24f-4ccf-8b1259f3c2da\" data-nosnippet=\"\">\n<div class=\"w-display-card-content regular article-block\">\n<h5 class=\"display-card-title \">\n\t\t\t\t\t\tSpecifications<br \/>\n\t\t\t<\/h5>\n<div class=\"w-display-card-info\">\n<dl>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<!-- div --><\/p>\n<p><dt>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<strong>Operating System<\/strong> \t\t\t\t\t<\/dt>\n<dd>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span><\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tWindows 11<\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/dd>\n<\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<!-- div --><\/p>\n<p><dt>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<strong>CPU<\/strong> \t\t\t\t\t<\/dt>\n<dd>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span><\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tIntel Core Ultra Core 5, Intel Core Ultra 7, Intel Core Ultra 9<\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/dd>\n<\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<!-- div --><\/p>\n<p><dt>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<strong>GPU<\/strong> \t\t\t\t\t<\/dt>\n<dd>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span><\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tArc Graphics<\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/dd>\n<\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<!-- div --><\/p>\n<p><dt>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<strong>RAM<\/strong> \t\t\t\t\t<\/dt>\n<dd>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span><\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t16 or 32GB LPDDR5x RAM<\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/dd>\n<\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<!-- div --><\/p>\n<p><dt>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<strong>Storage<\/strong> \t\t\t\t\t<\/dt>\n<dd>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span><\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t512 or 1TB of PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD<\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/dd>\n<\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<!-- div --><\/p>\n<p><dt>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<strong>Battery<\/strong> \t\t\t\t\t<\/dt>\n<dd>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span><\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t72Wh<\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/dd>\n<\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<!-- div --><\/p>\n<p><dt>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<strong>Display (Size, Resolution)<\/strong> \t\t\t\t\t<\/dt>\n<dd>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span><\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t 14-inch 3K ASUS Lumina OLED, 120Hz, 500 nits of peak brightness<\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/dd>\n<\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<!-- div --><\/p>\n<p><dt>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<strong>Camera<\/strong> \t\t\t\t\t<\/dt>\n<dd>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span><\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tFHD<\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/dd>\n<\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<!-- div --><\/p>\n<p><dt>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<strong>Ports<\/strong> \t\t\t\t\t<\/dt>\n<dd>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span><\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t2 x Thunderbolt 4 Type-C, 1 x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A, a full-sized HDMI port, and an audio jack<\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/dd>\n<\/p>\n<\/dl><\/div>\n<p>\n                        <button type=\"button\" class=\"show-more-new icon i-chevron-down-solid\">Expand<\/button>\n                    <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<h2 id=\"a-familiar-ultraportable-design\">\n                        A Familiar Ultraportable Design<br \/>\n               <\/h2>\n<div class=\"body-img landscape \">\n<div class=\"responsive-img  image-expandable  img-article-item\">\n<figure>\n<p>                <img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"800\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"ASUS Zenbook S 14 lid opened on wooden table.\" data-img-url=\"https:\/\/goodwriterz.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/1740798858_643_Iterative-Refinement-of-a-Premium-Ultraportable.jpg\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/goodwriterz.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/1740798858_643_Iterative-Refinement-of-a-Premium-Ultraportable.jpg?resize=1200%2C800&#038;ssl=1\" style=\"height:auto;max-width:100%\" title=\"\"><figcaption class=\"body-img-caption\">Zarif Ali \/ How-To Geek<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>In terms of aesthetics and build quality, the Zenbook S 14 maintains the sleek, lightweight profile that characterized the previous generation. The CNC-machined chassis is now available in an understated Zumaia Gray and Scandinavian White, which both look and feel excellent.<\/p>\n<p>ASUS&#8217; Ceraluminum material, which is a ceramic-aluminum alloy, makes a comeback, and provides an impressive strength-to-weight ratio, though the darker gray colorway remains prone to fingerprint smudges.<\/p>\n<div class=\"body-img landscape \">\n<div class=\"responsive-img  image-expandable  img-article-item\">\n<figure>\n<p>                <img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"800\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"ASUS Zenbook S 14 lid closed on wooden table.\" data-img-url=\"https:\/\/goodwriterz.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/1740798858_870_Iterative-Refinement-of-a-Premium-Ultraportable.jpg\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/goodwriterz.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/1740798858_870_Iterative-Refinement-of-a-Premium-Ultraportable.jpg?resize=1200%2C800&#038;ssl=1\" style=\"height:auto;max-width:100%\" title=\"\"><figcaption class=\"body-img-caption\">Zarif Ali \/ How-To Geek<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>At 1.2 kg (2.6 lbs) and 1.1 cm (0.45 inches) thin, portability remains the Zenbook\u2019s key strength, with the laptop being really easy to slip into backpacks and forget about. What\u2019s more important, is that ASUS still provides a decent number of ports on this smaller laptop, with the S 14 getting two Thunderbolt 4 ports, an HDMI 2.1, USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A, and an audio combo jack, compared to the MacBook Air which only gives you two Thunderbolt 4 ports and an audio jack.<\/p>\n<div class=\"body-img landscape \">\n<div class=\"responsive-img  image-expandable  img-article-item\">\n<figure>\n<p>                <img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"900\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"ASUS Zenbook S 14 left-side ports.\" data-img-url=\"https:\/\/goodwriterz.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/1740798858_930_Iterative-Refinement-of-a-Premium-Ultraportable.jpg\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/goodwriterz.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/1740798858_930_Iterative-Refinement-of-a-Premium-Ultraportable.jpg?resize=1200%2C900&#038;ssl=1\" style=\"height:auto;max-width:100%\" title=\"\"><figcaption class=\"body-img-caption\">Zarif Ali \/ How-To Geek<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>The Zenbook S 14\u2019s keyboard layout remains largely unchanged from its predecessor, which isn\u2019t a bad thing. The chiclet-style keyboard offers 1.1mm of key travel, slightly shorter than some competitors, but the subtle 0.1mm dish-shaped indentation improves key stability. The typing experience is comfortable for long sessions, though again, Microsoft\u2019s and Apple\u2019s keyboards still hold an edge in tactility.<\/p>\n<div class=\"body-img landscape \">\n<div class=\"responsive-img  image-expandable  img-article-item\">\n<figure>\n<p>                <img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"800\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"ASUS Zenbook S 14 keyboard and trackpad from overhead.\" data-img-url=\"https:\/\/goodwriterz.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/1740798858_150_Iterative-Refinement-of-a-Premium-Ultraportable.jpg\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/goodwriterz.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/1740798858_150_Iterative-Refinement-of-a-Premium-Ultraportable.jpg?resize=1200%2C800&#038;ssl=1\" style=\"height:auto;max-width:100%\" title=\"\"><figcaption class=\"body-img-caption\">Zarif Ali \/ How-To Geek<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>The trackpad is also quite good. ASUS has added a hydrophobic and PVD anti-fingerprint coating, which helps reduce smudging and ensure smoother gliding, but honestly, it\u2019s not something you\u2019ll really think or worry about\u2014what matters is, this trackpad is accurate and reliable, and it\u2019s a decent size for this form factor.<\/p>\n<p>It&#8217;s also worth mentioning that ASUS is using an FHD 3DNR IR webcam, which offers subpar performance. While it&#8217;s great to use with Windows Hello and logs in quite fast, for video calls, it falls short both in terms of picture quality.<\/p>\n<p>ASUS states that they&#8217;re using &#8220;3D noise-reduction technology&#8221; to make images less grainy, especially within low-light environments, but in my testing, it&#8217;s marginally better than the typical webcams you&#8217;ll find on a sub-$1,000 Windows laptop, and nowhere near the quality of something like Apple&#8217;s MacBook Air or MacBook Pro.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"a-display-that-holds-its-own\">\n                        A Display That Holds Its Own<br \/>\n               <\/h2>\n<div class=\"body-img landscape \">\n<div class=\"responsive-img  image-expandable  img-article-item\">\n<figure>\n<p>                <img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"800\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"ASUS Zenbook S 14 with screen on, on wooden table (wide shot).\" data-img-url=\"https:\/\/goodwriterz.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/1740798858_529_Iterative-Refinement-of-a-Premium-Ultraportable.jpg\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/goodwriterz.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/1740798858_529_Iterative-Refinement-of-a-Premium-Ultraportable.jpg?resize=1200%2C800&#038;ssl=1\" style=\"height:auto;max-width:100%\" title=\"\"><figcaption class=\"body-img-caption\">Zarif Ali \/ How-To Geek<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>ASUS continues to use its Lumina OLED panels for the Zenbook S 14, and this continues to be one of the best panels I\u2019ve seen on a laptop anywhere. The 14-inch 3K OLED display offers a 120Hz refresh rate and 100% DCI-P3 color gamut coverage, making it one of the best displays on a Windows laptop today, not only for content consumption, but for serious photo and video editing as well. Compared to the larger Zenbook S 16, the 14-inch laptop really feels quite small without sacrificing too much in real estate.<\/p>\n<div class=\"body-img landscape \">\n<div class=\"responsive-img  image-expandable  img-article-item\">\n<figure>\n<p>                <img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"800\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"ASUS Zenbook S 14 next to Zenbook S16.\" data-img-url=\"https:\/\/goodwriterz.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/1740798858_144_Iterative-Refinement-of-a-Premium-Ultraportable.jpg\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/goodwriterz.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/1740798858_144_Iterative-Refinement-of-a-Premium-Ultraportable.jpg?resize=1200%2C800&#038;ssl=1\" style=\"height:auto;max-width:100%\" title=\"\"><figcaption class=\"body-img-caption\">Zarif Ali \/ How-To Geek<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p> This generation also improves upon eye comfort, with the display emitting 70% less blue light than traditional LCDs. The only drawback is that the glossy finish\u2014while enhancing contrast\u2014can be reflective in bright environments. The other drawback with this OLED is it still only has a peak brightness of about 500 nits, which means it\u2019s fine for indoor use, but not outside, especially in direct sunlight. Part of it has to do with the difficulty of producing a large-screen OLED with high brightness, but we saw Apple do it with its Tandem OLED on the iPad Pro last year, so I hope this is an area ASUS can improve upon.<\/p>\n<div class=\"body-img landscape \">\n<div class=\"responsive-img  image-expandable  img-article-item\">\n<figure>\n<p>                <img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"800\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"ASUS Zenbook S 14 screen with wallpaper on, closeup.\" data-img-url=\"https:\/\/goodwriterz.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/1740798858_143_Iterative-Refinement-of-a-Premium-Ultraportable.jpg\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/goodwriterz.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/1740798858_143_Iterative-Refinement-of-a-Premium-Ultraportable.jpg?resize=1200%2C800&#038;ssl=1\" style=\"height:auto;max-width:100%\" title=\"\"><figcaption class=\"body-img-caption\">Zarif Ali \/ How-To Geek<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>It\u2019s also worth mentioning that touch support is available, but the laptop\u2019s 180-degree hinge prevents it from being fully convertible, which makes stylus input less practical than on a 2-in-1 device.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"intel-redeems-itself\">\n                        Intel Redeems Itself<br \/>\n               <\/h2>\n<div class=\"body-img landscape \">\n<div class=\"responsive-img  image-expandable  img-article-item\">\n<figure>\n<p>                <img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"800\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"ASUS Zenbook S 14 Zenbook logo closeup.\" data-img-url=\"https:\/\/goodwriterz.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/1740798859_862_Iterative-Refinement-of-a-Premium-Ultraportable.jpg\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/goodwriterz.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/1740798859_862_Iterative-Refinement-of-a-Premium-Ultraportable.jpg?resize=1200%2C800&#038;ssl=1\" style=\"height:auto;max-width:100%\" title=\"\"><figcaption class=\"body-img-caption\">Zarif Ali \/ How-To Geek<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>This year\u2019s biggest change comes in the form of the new Intel Core Ultra 7 Series 2 processor, which dramatically enhances performance, battery life, and efficiency. Built on Intel\u2019s latest Lunar Lake architecture, the CPU incorporates a more advanced NPU for AI workloads, a new Arc-based GPU, and a redesigned core layout to improve power efficiency.<\/p>\n<p>These were all promises Intel has made before, but it\u2019s clear that they\u2019re finally delivering on it because the Zenbook S 14 rivals ARM-based ultrabooks quite aggressively. In Geekbench 6, this laptop scores 2,460 on single-core and 10,353 on multicore.<\/p>\n<div class=\"body-img landscape \">\n<div class=\"responsive-img  image-expandable  img-article-item\">\n<figure>\n<p>                <img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"800\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"ASUS Zenbook S 14 keyboard closeup.\" data-img-url=\"https:\/\/goodwriterz.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/1740798859_306_Iterative-Refinement-of-a-Premium-Ultraportable.jpg\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/goodwriterz.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/1740798859_306_Iterative-Refinement-of-a-Premium-Ultraportable.jpg?resize=1200%2C800&#038;ssl=1\" style=\"height:auto;max-width:100%\" title=\"\"><figcaption class=\"body-img-caption\">Zarif Ali \/ How-To Geek<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>In real-world use, applications launch quickly, multitasking is seamless, and the laptop remains mostly quiet even under moderate workloads. Web-based tasks, office applications, and media consumption run effortlessly, and make this an excellent choice for professionals and students, especially because you don\u2019t have to worry about app compatibility on an x86 platform.<\/p>\n<p>Thermal performance is another area where the Zenbook S 14 has significantly improved over its predecessor. The laptop no longer gets excessively warm during casual usage, and fan noise\u2014while still present under heavy loads\u2014is much better managed than before. ASUS&#8217; Whisper Mode keeps noise levels below 25dB in light workloads, which makes this one of the quieter thin-and-light Windows laptops I\u2019ve used.<\/p>\n<div class=\"body-img landscape \">\n<div class=\"responsive-img  image-expandable  img-article-item\">\n<figure>\n<p>                <img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"800\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"ASUS Zenbook S 14 keyboard from the back.\" data-img-url=\"https:\/\/goodwriterz.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/1740798859_795_Iterative-Refinement-of-a-Premium-Ultraportable.jpg\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/goodwriterz.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/1740798859_795_Iterative-Refinement-of-a-Premium-Ultraportable.jpg?resize=1200%2C800&#038;ssl=1\" style=\"height:auto;max-width:100%\" title=\"\"><figcaption class=\"body-img-caption\">Zarif Ali \/ How-To Geek<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>ASUS has positioned this as an &#8220;AI PC,&#8221; and in my testing, AI-related tasks performed remarkably well. Running Llama 3.2 locally was smooth\u2014and I think you can expect these models to run faster when you keep the device plugged in. Of course, this laptop incorporates AI features such as Windows Copilot and ASUS\u2019 own StoryCube, which worked seamlessly, and I didn\u2019t notice any hiccups when using AI-driven applications through Adobe\u2019s Photoshop or Lightroom.<\/p>\n<div class=\"body-img landscape \">\n<div class=\"responsive-img  image-expandable  img-article-item\">\n<figure>\n<p>                <img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"800\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"ASUS Zenbook S 14 right side USB port.\" data-img-url=\"https:\/\/goodwriterz.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/1740798859_591_Iterative-Refinement-of-a-Premium-Ultraportable.jpg\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/goodwriterz.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/1740798859_591_Iterative-Refinement-of-a-Premium-Ultraportable.jpg?resize=1200%2C800&#038;ssl=1\" style=\"height:auto;max-width:100%\" title=\"\"><figcaption class=\"body-img-caption\">Zarif Ali \/ How-To Geek<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>Battery life has seen a significant boost thanks to the efficiency of the new Intel processor. The 72Wh battery consistently delivers around 10 hours of real-world use in my testing, with mixed workloads including browsing, document editing, and media consumption. This is generally really great battery life for a laptop of this form-factor, but I will admit, I am spoiled by the M3 MacBook Air, which delivers much longer screen-on-time and insane standby time that lets me use the laptop into the next day, all with a smaller battery.<\/p>\n<p>ASUS does include a 65W charger that can top up the battery to 50% in about 45 minutes though, which is quite nice when I do need to plug in to charge.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"should-you-buy-the-asus-zenbook-s-14\">\n                        Should You Buy the ASUS Zenbook S 14?<br \/>\n               <\/h2>\n<div class=\"body-img landscape \">\n<div class=\"responsive-img  image-expandable  img-article-item\">\n<figure>\n<p>                <img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"800\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"ASUS Zenbook S 14 back lid head-on, on wooden-table.\" data-img-url=\"https:\/\/goodwriterz.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/1740798859_204_Iterative-Refinement-of-a-Premium-Ultraportable.jpg\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/goodwriterz.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/1740798859_204_Iterative-Refinement-of-a-Premium-Ultraportable.jpg?resize=1200%2C800&#038;ssl=1\" style=\"height:auto;max-width:100%\" title=\"\"><figcaption class=\"body-img-caption\">Zarif Ali \/ How-To Geek<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>The <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/shop.asus.com\/us\/90nb14f4-m00620-asus-zenbook-s-14-ux5406.html\">ASUS Zenbook S 14 (2024)<\/a> is an excellent choice if you\u2019re looking for a premium Windows ultraportable that balances portability, performance, and practicality. It refines an already great formula with better thermals, solid battery life, and a premium build, making it one of the best alternatives to the MacBook Air. If you prioritize a lightweight yet well-built laptop with a high-quality display, a decent keyboard, and a good selection of ports, the Zenbook S 14 is an easy recommendation. It\u2019s especially compelling for students and professionals who need a sleek, dependable machine for everyday tasks.<\/p>\n<p>That said, it\u2019s still worth considering the larger landscape of the laptop market\u2014 it\u2019ll be interesting to see where Intel and its OEMs will go, especially given that almost all the large laptop makers, including ASUS have been shifting to offering ARM-based machines, with the latest Zenbook A14 being a more direct competitor to Apple\u2019s MacBook Air.<\/p>\n<p>While ARM might be on its wind-up years on Windows, and will struggle with app compatibility for at least a couple more years, it\u2019s only a matter of time before it takes away one of Intel\u2019s last remaining advantages.<\/p>\n<p>Overall, the Zenbook S 14 (2024) is an iterative but meaningful improvement that culminates in being one of the best ultraportable laptops on the market. If you liked the previous model or are looking for a powerful yet lightweight Windows laptop, this one should definitely be on your radar.<\/p>\n<div class=\"display-card  tag large  no-badge  active-content                      \" data-include-community-rating=\"false\" id=\"8912-457a-a2ac77fb523b\" data-nosnippet=\"\">\n<div class=\"w-img \">\n<div class=\"body-img landscape \">\n<div class=\"responsive-img  img-article-square\">\n<figure>\n<p>                <img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"1200\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Zenbook S 14_ UX5406SA _Product photo_Scandinavian White _01\" data-img-url=\"https:\/\/goodwriterz.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Iterative-Refinement-of-a-Premium-Ultraportable.png\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/goodwriterz.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Iterative-Refinement-of-a-Premium-Ultraportable.png?resize=1200%2C1200&#038;ssl=1\" style=\"height:auto;max-width:100%\" title=\"\"><\/p>\n<\/figure><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"w-display-card-content regular article-block\">\n<div class=\"display-card-badge-custom\">\n                        <img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" data-field=\"badge-image\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/goodwriterz.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/1740798858_203_Iterative-Refinement-of-a-Premium-Ultraportable.png?w=1200&#038;ssl=1\" style=\"height:auto;max-width:100%\" alt=\"\" title=\"\">\n                    <\/div>\n<h5 class=\"display-card-title \">\n\t\t\t\t\t\tAsus Zenbook S 14 (2024)<br \/>\n\t\t\t<\/h5>\n<p class=\"display-card-description\">The 2024 ASUS Zenbook S 14 solidifies itself as one of the best Windows alternatives to Apple\u2019s MacBook Air, bringing meaningful improvements in key areas. With a refined yet familiar design, it remains lightweight and portable while introducing new color options and ASUS\u2019 durable Ceraluminum material. Despite its ultra-thin form, ASUS manages to pack in a solid selection of ports, along with an upgraded cooling system to keep thermals in check. Overall, it shows that Intel&#8217;s Lunar Lake can hold its own in a growing ARM-based market.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Summary ASUS Zenbook S 14 offers improved performance, long-lasting battery life, and a high-quality build. Available in various configurations with Intel Core Ultra processors, OLED 3K display, and multiple storage options. The new Intel Core Ultra 7 Series 2 processor enhances performance, efficiency, and battery life, rivaling ARM-based ultrabooks. The 2024 ASUS Zenbook S 14 &#8230; <a title=\"Iterative Refinement of a Premium Ultraportable\" class=\"read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/goodwriterz.com\/site\/iterative-refinement-of-a-premium-ultraportable\/\" aria-label=\"Read more about Iterative Refinement of a Premium Ultraportable\">\u0625\u0642\u0631\u0623 \u0627\u0644\u0645\u0632\u064a\u062f<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":84542,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[37],"class_list":["post-84541","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-windows","tag-windows"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/goodwriterz.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/1740798859_Iterative-Refinement-of-a-Premium-Ultraportable.jpg?fit=1920%2C1080&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/goodwriterz.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/84541","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/goodwriterz.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/goodwriterz.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/goodwriterz.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/goodwriterz.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=84541"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/goodwriterz.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/84541\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":84543,"href":"https:\/\/goodwriterz.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/84541\/revisions\/84543"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/goodwriterz.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/84542"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/goodwriterz.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=84541"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/goodwriterz.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=84541"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/goodwriterz.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=84541"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}