Most of you would think of Intel laptops as extremely power-hungry machines, more so for people who want to play games. However, 2024 finally gave us laptops that can reliably game without a dedicated GPU and still deliver incredible battery life when running regular tasks.
This is all thanks to Intel's latest Lunar Lake mobile processors, which are focused on delivering improved power efficiency for ultra-thin or compact laptops. One of them is the ASUS Zenbook S 14 UX5406S that ASUS Malaysia recently sent over. So, what can you expect from a Lunar Lake-powered laptop? Read on to find out.
The ASUS Zenbook S 14 retains the Zenbook S series' design language. It looks simple but has a slate-like lid that makes it visually distinctive. The Zumaia Gray variant we received may not seem eye-catching, but it gives off a professional look that won't look out of place in an office or cafe. Having a non-standard design on the lid could also work to impress others, which could be useful in a business setting.
OLED 3K screen quality, touch screen support
Zumaia Gray
The bottom cover (removable)
Air vents under the display
The speakers are located at the bottom of the left and right sides of the chassis
In terms of I/O ports, the ASUS Zenbook S 14 includes a decent selection of ports for the modern laptop user. There's one USB Type-A, two USB Type-C ports with Thunderbolt 4 support, an HDMI port, and a 3.5mm audio jack (headphone+microphone). Note that one of the Type-C ports is only for Power Delivery charging, which leaves only one Type-C port and one Type-A USB port.
The limited number of ports isn't a problem if you use a wireless keyboard and mouse; it's probably what most users would prefer, especially if they're always on the go. But if you prefer using a wired keyboard and mouse or want to hook other peripherals to the laptop, we'd definitely recommend getting a USB hub. On the bright side, the Zenbook S 14's ports are specced for high-end accessories. They provide fast transfer speeds for devices like external drives.
The maximum angle for the display
I/O ports on the left and right
Let's talk about the tech specs or specifications next. The ASUS Zenbook S 14 comes with 32GB of LPDDR5X RAM and a 1TB M.2 NVMe PCIe 4.0 SSD. That's enough for almost any program you can run, except perhaps for 3D modelling programs requiring a dedicated GPU. But here's the bad news: You can't upgrade the RAM, ever. In fact, you won't even see the RAM on the motherboard.
The only component you can upgrade is the SSD. To do that, you have to unscrew the bottom lid, remove the screw locking down the SSD (it's on the left above the batter), and then put in the new one. Also, the green thermal pad covering the SSD helps prevent it from overheating, so you can't throw it away.
So, where is the RAM? The reason why you can't replace or upgrade the RAM lies with the Intel Core Ultra 7 258V processor. Intel's latest mobile processors have a very different design from their predecessors. Laptops with the Intel Core Ultra 7 258V have the RAM embedded on the CPU die. Theoretically, this design greatly reduces the instruction delay and power consumption between the RAM and CPU. However, this makes upgrading the RAM virtually impossible unless you have the necessary know-how. Of course, we don't recommend it, as doing so voids your warranty.
The RAM is soldered on the CPU die, as explained by Intel
The only thing you can replace is the SSD
However, this design has more advantages than disadvantages for the overall computer. In addition to lower latency and power consumption, this new design frees up space on the motherboard. As you can see, ASUS used the extra space for a larger battery and better speakers on the side. The laptop also has a larger fan for the CPU, which helps with heat dissipation.
The ASUS Zenbook S 14 also has the MyASUS software to improve the user experience. The settings are based on "Power & Performance", "Audio & Visual", and "Input Device Settings". MyASUS can also diagnose your laptop, scan for system updates, and track connected ASUS devices (like headphones or gaming mice).
For charging, ASUS included two chargers in the box. The standard one you'll be using regularly would be the 65W PD charger. But if you need to quickly recharge the Zenbook S 14, there's also a 100W USB PD fast charger which is great value.
The MyASUS user interface
You can turn the webcam on/off using the FN+F10 function
The charger is a small 65W USB PD charger, but there's also a 100W USB PD charger
The performance of the ASUS Zenbook S 14 is a pleasant surprise in many ways. For one, you can play more than just simple games on it. That's not something you expect from a thin and light laptop without a dedicated GPU. Sure, you have to keep the graphics settings low (depending on the game). But it's possible to play a variety of games on it smoothly.
Moreover, the Zenbook S 14 has good heat control and dissipation. When running on typical loads like typing documents, browsing the Internet or watching YouTube videos, the CPU temps are generally around 60°C. The CPU's lower power consumption also means less heat generated.
The temperature on the left side of the hardware monitoring is generally around 60°C
Good scores in PCMark 10 and 3DMark
We tested several games with this laptop. The most surprising thing is seeing almost 60FPS playing Elden Ring with high graphics settings. However, the game typically drops below 30FPS, so it's playable but not recommended. If you want a stable output of 60FPS, you must adjust the graphics to medium or low. That's still plenty impressive for a laptop running on integrated graphics.
For games that require an Internet connection, I tested Palworld, a game with a huge world and many moving objects. Obviously, it didn't work well on high graphics. But the Zenbook S 14 maintained above 30FPS at low quality. For FPS games like Counter-Strike or Valorant, we could play them on low or medium graphics and get above 90FPS.
On the bright side, we had no issues playing 2D games. For such games, you should be able to switch to high graphics and enable some advanced graphical features with no problems. Depending on the game, you could get up to 120FPS to match up to the 120Hz display. For example, we played Hollow Knight at high graphics settings with no issues.
Elden Ring is playable at High settings, but framerates are consistently below 30FPS
Palworld is playable at low settings, with framerates from 30 to 40FPS
Hollow Knight looks great here
When running games, temperatures go up but are stable at around 70°C, rarely exceeding 80°C. We only saw temperatures exceeding 80°C when we stress-tested the CPU, which resulted in the CPU thermal throttling. The laptop is generally not that hot during regular use.
As for battery life, the ASUS Zenbook S 14 probably has the longest battery life of the many laptops we've reviewed. We tested this using 3DMark's Extreme Stress Test - unplugged, set to high performance, and the cooling fans on full blast. After 20 rounds of testing, the battery dropped from 100% to 87%. Despite that, framerate stability remained at 96.6%.
We also tested the laptop based on a typical workday scenario. This included watching YouTube livestreams, typing out news, and browsing websites. With the screen brightness at 60%, the battery went from 87% to 18% battery after more than 3 hours. In Energy Saver mode, the screen brightness is lowered to at least 30%. This lengthens the battery life and is enough for general work and browsing web pages or videos. If you manage the performance mode well, you will have no problems getting more than 10 hours of battery life from a single charge. That's incredible for an Intel laptop.
Stress test dropped the battery 100% to 87%
3.5 hours watching live streams at 60% screen brightness, 87% to 18%
The ASUS Zenbook S 14 is great because it's an alternative for more casual gamers. It means we don't have to buy a gaming laptop to enjoy simpler games, plus it gives us a long battery life. However, the ASUS Zenbook S 14 is pricier than most thin and light laptops at RM6999. If your main goal is to play games, it's better to spend that money on some less fancy gaming laptops (like the ASUS TUF Gaming A15).
There's also a more affordable Zenbook S 14 variant with an Intel Core Ultra 5 226V CPU, but the price hasn't been confirmed. Other alternatives could include the Acer Swift 14 AI, which has the same Intel Core Ultra 7 and Core Ultra 5 CPU variants for RM4999 and RM4399, respectively.
Tech specs and features
Here are the ASUS Zenbook S 14 (UX5406S) laptop's tech specs and features:
- Intel Core Ultra 7 Processor 256V
- Intel Arc Graphics
- 32GB LPDDR5X of RAM
- 1TB M.2 NVMe PCIe 4.0 SSD
- Measures 31.03 x 21.47 x 1.19 ~ 1.29 cm, weighs 1.20kg
- 3K (2880 x 1800) OLED display (16:10 aspect ratio, 120Hz refresh rate, VESA CERTIFIED
- Display HDR True Black 500, Pantone Validated, TÜV Rheinland-certified)
- Features - Copilot+, ASUS AI tools, StoryCube, MyASUS, FHD camera with IR function for
- Windows Hello
- Connectivity - Wi-Fi 7(802.11be) (Tri-band)2*2 + Bluetooth 5.4 Wireless Card
- Ports - 1x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A (10Gbps), 2x USB 4.0 Gen 3 Type-C (Thunderbolt 4, Display/Power Delivery), 1x HDMI 2.1 TMDS, 1x 3.5mm Combo Audio Jack
- Battery - 72WHrs, 2S2P, 4-cell Li-ion (power supply TYPE-C, 65W AC Adapter)
- Windows 11 Home
Pros and Cons
Pros: Great battery life, able to play many games, and won't get hot.
Cons: Pricey and the RAM can't be upgraded. Only playable on lower settings.
Summary: A solid option for anyone who needs a lightweight laptop with a long battery life and can game.
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