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

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

Finest Massive-Display Laptop computer: ASUS Zenbook S16 OLED

Should you 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 gives unparalleled vibrancy due to its capacity to cowl 100% of the DCI-P3 coloration gamut.

Whether or not I used to be enhancing pictures, watching motion pictures, coding, or just looking the online, it was troublesome to discover a appropriate various to the S16’s show high quality. The panel additionally sports activities a 120Hz refresh fee, which boosts the general fluidity of animations and navigation.

At below 4 kilos and fewer than 0.7 inches thick, the Zenbook S16 is remarkably light-weight and moveable 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 looking, programming, and lightweight inventive work like photograph enhancing, 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 Dwelling

CPU

Intel Core Extremely 5/7/9 Processor

If I’m being trustworthy, I might say that the Zenbook DUO is my favourite laptop computer throughout your 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 screen actual property in a comparatively moveable package deal.

While you first open up the gadget, you are greeted with what’s seemingly a really regular laptop computer setup with a single 14-inch display screen 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 screen as my reference show, with the highest display screen being my essential; for coding, having a preview of my mission on the highest display screen with my IDE on the backside was glorious for making fast modifications 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 obtained 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 this sort of laptop computer, you will doubtless wish to carry the charging brick with you. The Zenbook S16 OLED serves as a runner-up for multitaskers preferring a extra conventional kind issue however nonetheless need a big, high-quality show for productiveness work.

Finest Finances Choice: ASUS Zenbook A14

Working System

Home windows 11

GPU

Qualcomm Adreno

Should you’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 enchantment is fairly simple; it’s an ARM-based Home windows laptop computer with a 14-inch OLED show.

In my utilization, I feel my greatest takeaway was simply getting over how small and lightweight 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 feel appears to be like nice, and does a significantly better job at managing fingerprints.

That stated, the factor you actually should be trustworthy about here’s what your workflow appears to be like like, as a result of with the A14, that is the place Home windows’ ARM transition nonetheless isn’t as frictionless as Apple’s. Geared up with the Snapdragon X X1 processor, the A14 excels in a browser, Workplace apps, streaming, and basic productiveness, and does so whereas delivering glorious battery life. Nonetheless, in case you 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 loads of apps and video games nonetheless don’t absolutely help ARM on Home windows.

Finest General: ASUS Zenbook S 14 OLED

Working System

Home windows 11

CPU

Intel Core Extremely 7 (Collection 2)

Should you’re searching for one of the best laptop computer for most individuals, the Zenbook S14 is the one to get. Very similar to the bigger S16, the 14-inch contains a 3K OLED show with a 120Hz refresh fee and 100% DCI-P3 coloration gamut protection, and is likely one of the greatest shows on a Home windows laptop computer as we speak, although it peaks at round 500 nits, which is okay 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 looking, doc enhancing, 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 now 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 beneath 25dB in mild 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 Sort-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 price mentioning that the usual Zenbook 14 OLED comes shut as a runner-up, and gives comparable options at a cheaper price level at round $1,100, although I feel the S 14’s premium supplies, refined design, and higher thermals make it price the additional funding.

Working System

Home windows 11 Dwelling

CPU

AMD Ryzen AI 7 350

Remaining Ideas

General, I feel the 2025 ASUS Zenbook lineup gives glorious choices throughout the board, and the appropriate alternative relies on your particular wants. The Zenbook S 14 stays one of the best total for many customers, providing one of the best steadiness 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 possibility if you’d like another form-factor of a dual-screen setup, and the Zenbook A14 delivers unbelievable worth for budget-conscious consumers.

I feel out of a lot of the different laptops you may contemplate, 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 achieved it with among the greatest shows and construct high quality you will discover on any laptop computer as we speak.