I examined each ASUS Zenbook this yr and there may be one you should purchase

I’ve had the chance to check a whole lot of laptops through the years, and ASUS’ Zenbook line has persistently ranked as one in every 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 in your wants.

Finest Giant-Display Laptop computer: ASUS Zenbook S16 OLED

In the event 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 presents unparalleled vibrancy due to its skill to cowl 100% of the DCI-P3 shade gamut.

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

At beneath 4 kilos and fewer than 0.7 inches thick, the Zenbook S16 is remarkably light-weight and moveable for a 16-inch laptop computer. Underneath 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 light-weight artistic work like photograph 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 House

CPU

Intel Core Extremely 5/7/9 Processor

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

Whenever 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. Nevertheless, when you detach the keyboard and prop up the kickstand on the base of the laptop computer, you will see the second equivalent 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 most important; for coding, having a preview of my challenge on the highest display screen with my IDE on the backside was glorious 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 primary 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 one of these 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 Funds Choice: ASUS Zenbook A14

Working System

Home windows 11

GPU

Qualcomm Adreno

In the event 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 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 appears nice, and does a significantly better job at managing fingerprints.

That stated, the factor you actually must be sincere about here’s what your workflow appears 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. Nevertheless, for those who depend on particular x86 apps, and wish to sport on this laptop computer, you’re higher off going with one thing else, as a result of a whole lot of apps and video games nonetheless don’t absolutely assist ARM on Home windows.

Finest General: ASUS Zenbook S 14 OLED

Working System

Home windows 11

CPU

Intel Core Extremely 7 (Collection 2)

In the event you’re searching for the very best laptop computer for most individuals, the Zenbook S14 is the one to get. Very like the bigger S16, the 14-inch includes a 3K OLED show with a 120Hz refresh charge and 100% DCI-P3 shade gamut protection, and is without doubt one of the finest shows on a Home windows laptop computer in the present day, although it peaks at round 500 nits, which is okay for indoor use however not outdoors, 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 blended workloads together with looking, 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 mild workloads, which could not be as quiet as a fanless MacBook Air, nevertheless 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 presents 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 price the additional funding.

Working System

Home windows 11 House

CPU

AMD Ryzen AI 7 350

Last Ideas

General, I believe the 2025 ASUS Zenbook lineup presents glorious choices throughout the board, and the suitable selection relies on your particular wants. The Zenbook S 14 stays the very best general 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 possibility if you’d like an alternate form-factor of a dual-screen setup, and the Zenbook A14 delivers unimaginable worth for budget-conscious patrons.

I believe out of many of the different laptops you would possibly 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 finest shows and construct high quality you will discover on any laptop computer in the present day.