Asus Zenbook S 13 OLED (2023) Review: Beauty Meets Practicality with Trade-Offs

The Asus Zenbook S 13 OLED (2023) redefines portability with an astonishing 1 kg weight and a slim 10.9 mm profile, making it incredibly easy to carry anywhere. The laptop features a striking 13.3-inch 2.8K OLED panel, branded Lumina OLED, which boasts 100% DCI-P3 color gamut, 550 nits peak brightness, and deep blacks thanks to VESA-certified Display HDR True Black 500. The display also reduces harmful blue light by 70%, enhancing eye comfort during extended use.

Constructed from a plasma ceramic aluminum lid and a recycled aluminum chassis, the Zenbook S 13 OLED not only looks premium but also feels durable. The keyboard, made from aluminum-magnesium alloy, provides a satisfying typing experience with backlighting for low-light conditions, while the glass trackpad delivers precise control and supports multi-finger gestures.

Performance is powered by the 13th Gen Intel Core i7-1355U processor, paired with 16GB LPDDR5 RAM and a 1TB PCIe Gen 4 SSD. Despite these specs, thermal constraints within the slim body result in lower benchmark scores compared to other laptops with the same CPU. For everyday tasks like web browsing, office applications, and light photo editing, the Zenbook S 13 OLED performs adequately. However, demanding applications and multitasking may reveal its limitations.

Battery life is respectable for its class, offering approximately 5 hours of use under typical settings. The laptop features a 63 Wh battery and supports fast charging, reaching 70% in under 50 minutes. Connectivity includes Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3, dual Thunderbolt 4 ports, a USB-A port, HDMI 2.1, and a combined audio jack.

While the Asus Zenbook S 13 OLED excels in design and display quality, its performance and battery life may not meet expectations for power users. It is best suited for those prioritizing portability and visual appeal for tasks such as media consumption, light work, and travel, provided they are aware of the performance compromises.