Asus Zenbook S13 OLED Review

The search for a Windows laptop that checks all the essential boxes is finally over with the new Asus Zenbook S 13 OLED. This laptop manages to deliver top-of-the-line specs, an OLED screen, abundant ports, and a lightweight body that’s more than 0.2 pounds lighter and 0.15-inch thinner than its predecessor, making it a great MacBook Air alternative.

Design

The Zenbook S 13 OLED’s lightweight design is noticeable the minute you unbox it. Its slim body weighs just 2.2 pounds, making it a lot lighter than the latest MacBook Air, and only 0.43-inches thick at its slimmest side. Its artistic design is stylish and encased in brushed metallic finish. The plasma ceramic aluminum coating on its lid is unique and prevents smudges and dust from showing like a typical all-metal notebook.

Additionally, the Zenbook S 13 OLED feels sturdy, unlike other overly slim laptops. There’s no flex on its keyboard or screen, and you can easily lift the lid with just one finger. Though its pair of rubber feet may not be the best at preventing the laptop from slipping on smooth surfaces, the laptop comes with a free leather sleeve.

Screen

The 13.3-inch OLED screen of the Zenbook S 13 is a masterpiece. The built-in Dolby Vision HDR support brightens up compatible content even further, similar to how an HDR picture or video does on the iPhone’s Photos app. It works across both offline and online content, providing one of the best cinematic experiences on a laptop.

Features

This year, Asus has not compromised on ports either. The Zenbook S 13 OLED provides two USB-C slots, a traditional HDMI and USB-A port, and a 3.5mm headphone jack. The built-in Harman Kardon-branded speakers are loud, but they vibrate the entire keyboard deck since the laptop is so thin. The webcam and microphones, on the other hand, are excellent.

Keyboard and Trackpad

Despite the slim design, Asus has managed to make the keyboard and trackpad work. The backlit keys are wide, have enough space between them, and offer a satisfying response. The 1.1mm key travel offers even more satisfaction and yet surprisingly, the keyboard is quiet. The dedicated buttons for muting the mic and shutting off webcam access are useful. The glass touchpad is spacious and easy to navigate with Windows gestures.

Software

The Asus Zenbook S 13 OLED runs Windows 11 Home out of the box and offers complimentary subscriptions, including Microsoft 365 for a year. However, it comes preloaded with excess Asus bloatware, which can be uninstalled. The MyAsus app is useful, enabling several everyday aspects personalized that normally need third-party software.

Performance and Gaming

The Zenbook S 13 OLED is powered by Intel’s latest 13th-Gen i7 chip, 32GB of RAM, and 1TB of SSD storage, which is more than enough to fulfill your daily usage demands. Its i7 processor does more than a fair job, and its lightweight design makes it easy to game on it.

Overall, the new Asus Zenbook S 13 OLED is a go-to recommendation for anyone looking for a reliable and lightweight Windows laptop that delivers on all essential features.