I examined each ASUS Zenbook this yr and there’s one you should purchase

I’ve had the chance to check numerous laptops over time, and ASUS’ Zenbook line has persistently ranked as considered one of my favourite sequence on the Home windows facet. Having examined all six fashions launched this yr, I’ve put collectively this information that can assist you determine which Zenbook makes essentially the most sense to your wants.

Finest Giant-Display screen Laptop computer: ASUS Zenbook S16 OLED

If you happen to want a bigger show with out sacrificing portability, the Zenbook S16 OLED stays my favourite 16-inch Home windows laptop computer from this yr. The 16-inch 3.2K OLED show with a 16:10 facet ratio is undeniably its crown jewel, and affords unparalleled vibrancy due to its capability to cowl 100% of the DCI-P3 coloration gamut.

Whether or not I used to be modifying photographs, watching films, coding, or just searching the net, it was tough to discover a appropriate different to the S16’s show high quality. The panel additionally sports activities a 120Hz refresh charge, which boosts the general fluidity of animations and navigation.

At underneath 4 kilos and fewer than 0.7 inches thick, the Zenbook S16 is remarkably light-weight and transportable for a 16-inch laptop computer. Beneath the hood, the laptop computer packs as much as AMD’s Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 processor, paired with as much as 32GB of LPDDR5X-7500 reminiscence.

In my testing, the efficiency was snappy and dependable for many on a regular basis duties, together with multitasking, net searching, programming, and light-weight artistic work like picture modifying, however the place this processor actually excelled at was with AI-oriented duties.

Finest for Multi-tasking: ASUS Zenbook DUO

3.5/5

Working System

Home windows 11 Residence

CPU

Intel Core Extremely 5/7/9 Processor

If I’m being sincere, I’d say that the Zenbook DUO is my favourite laptop computer throughout the complete Zenbook lineup, even when it isn’t essentially the most sensible. The DUO options two similar 14-inch 3K OLED shows with 120Hz refresh charges, which successfully doubles your display actual property in a comparatively transportable package deal.

If you first open up the machine, you are greeted with what’s seemingly a really regular laptop computer setup with a single 14-inch display and a full-sized keyboard and trackpad. Nonetheless, when you detach the keyboard and prop up the kickstand on the base of the laptop computer, you will see the second similar show beneath.

The kickstand is my favourite facet of this design, as a result of it brings the primary show to eye-level and works nice for assuaging neck pressure throughout lengthy work periods. I primarily used the secondary display as my reference show, with the highest display being my important; for coding, having a preview of my undertaking on the highest display with my IDE on the backside was wonderful for making fast adjustments in comparison with hopping forwards and backwards between two home windows. The identical practicality goes for having a Phrase doc on the underside with a Chrome window on the highest show for note-taking.

The principle compromise is battery life. The laptop computer is rated for round 10 hours of battery life, however in my utilization with a typical day of web-browsing, content material streaming, coding, and photo-editing, with each shows, I bought round six to seven hours earlier than needing to plug in, which is sort of much less in comparison with ASUS’ different laptops within the lineup.

If you wish to get the total utility of getting one of these laptop computer, you will seemingly wish to carry the charging brick with you. The Zenbook S16 OLED serves as a runner-up for multitaskers preferring a extra conventional type issue however nonetheless need a big, high-quality show for productiveness work.

Finest Price range Choice: ASUS Zenbook A14

Working System

Home windows 11

GPU

Qualcomm Adreno

If you happen to’re searching for an entry level into the Zenbook lineup, the Zenbook A14 is the one which makes essentially the most sense on paper. ASUS has been positioning this as a extra direct competitor to Apple’s MacBook Air, and the attraction is fairly easy; it’s an ARM-based Home windows laptop computer with a 14-inch OLED show.

In my utilization, I believe my greatest takeaway was simply getting over how small and light-weight it was; this laptop computer weighs simply 2.16 lbs, and it feels a lot smaller than any of the opposite 14-inch laptops I’ve used this yr. It makes use of the identical Ceraluminum materials the opposite Zenbooks use, however this iteration has a soft-touch really feel to it that I believe seems nice, and does a significantly better job at managing fingerprints.

That mentioned, the factor you actually must be sincere about here’s what your workflow seems like, as a result of with the A14, that is the place Home windows’ ARM transition nonetheless isn’t as frictionless as Apple’s. Outfitted with the Snapdragon X X1 processor, the A14 excels in a browser, Workplace apps, streaming, and common productiveness, and does so whereas delivering wonderful battery life. Nonetheless, for those who depend on particular x86 apps, and wish to recreation on this laptop computer, you’re higher off going with one thing else, as a result of numerous apps and video games nonetheless don’t absolutely help ARM on Home windows.

Finest Total: ASUS Zenbook S 14 OLED

Working System

Home windows 11

CPU

Intel Core Extremely 7 (Collection 2)

If you happen to’re searching for the very best laptop computer for most individuals, the Zenbook S14 is the one to get. Very similar to the bigger S16, the 14-inch incorporates a 3K OLED show with a 120Hz refresh charge and 100% DCI-P3 coloration gamut protection, and is likely one of the finest shows on a Home windows laptop computer immediately, although it peaks at round 500 nits, which is ok for indoor use however not exterior, particularly in direct daylight.

Battery life is surprisingly good due to the effectivity of the brand new Intel processor; the 72Wh battery persistently delivered round 10 hours of real-world use in my testing, with combined workloads together with searching, doc modifying, and media consumption. Thermal efficiency is one other space the place the Zenbook S 14 has considerably improved upon over its predecessor, the place it not will get excessively heat throughout informal utilization.

Extra importantly, fan noise is significantly better managed than earlier than. ASUS’ Whisper Mode retains noise ranges under 25dB in gentle workloads, which could not be as quiet as a fanless MacBook Air, however it makes S 14 one of many quieter thin-and-light Home windows laptops I’ve used.

One other nice facet of the S 14 is that ASUS nonetheless gives a good variety of ports on this smaller laptop computer, getting two Thunderbolt 4 ports, an HDMI 2.1, USB 3.2 Gen 2 Kind-A, and an audio combo jack, in comparison with the MacBook Air which solely offers you two Thunderbolt 4 ports and an audio jack.

It is value mentioning that the usual Zenbook 14 OLED comes shut as a runner-up, and affords related options at a lower cost level at round $1,100, although I believe the S 14’s premium supplies, refined design, and higher thermals make it value the additional funding.

Working System

Home windows 11 Residence

CPU

AMD Ryzen AI 7 350

Last Ideas

Total, I believe the 2025 ASUS Zenbook lineup affords wonderful choices throughout the board, and the precise selection depends upon your particular wants. The Zenbook S 14 stays the very best total for many customers, providing the very best stability of efficiency, portability, and battery life with premium construct high quality, whereas the bigger S16 OLED is the go-to for anybody who wants a bigger show with out sacrificing an excessive amount of portability. The Zenbook DUO is a genuinely intriguing choice if you need an alternate form-factor of a dual-screen setup, and the Zenbook A14 delivers unimaginable worth for budget-conscious consumers.

I believe out of many of the different laptops you may think about, ASUS has confirmed that Home windows laptops can lastly compete with Apple’s MacBooks on efficiency, battery life, and construct high quality, and in lots of circumstances, they’ve executed it with among the finest shows and construct high quality you will discover on any laptop computer immediately.