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ASUS Zenbook S 14 (UX5406SA) Review: 2.6 lbs with a 3K OLED — it's not cheap, and it doesn't pretend to be.

Takumi
By Takumi Editor-in-Chief of ZippyLaptop, software developer with 20+ years of experience, and a self-proclaimed laptop obsessive. I've personally tested and reviewed over 100 machines — and I'm always looking for what makes a laptop genuinely great to use, not just great on paper.
ASUS
Zenbook S 14 (UX5406SA)
Released September 2024
2.6 lbs with a 3K OLED — it's not cheap, and it doesn't pretend to be.
ZippyScore 4.3/5
Buy this if...
  • ·You carry a laptop every single day
  • ·You want photos and video to look genuinely good on screen
  • ·You work away from a desk and don't want to think about power
Avoid this if...
  • ·Not for you if you're trying to keep the purchase price down
  • ·Skip it if heavy gaming or serious video editing is the goal
  • ·Careful if you want to upgrade the RAM or storage yourself

ZippyScore

ZippyScore is a proprietary rating based on 6 criteria: performance, portability, display, battery, value, and connectivity.

See rating criteria
  • Performance: CPU / GPU performance
  • Portability: Screen size & weight
  • Display: Panel type, aspect ratio & refresh rate
  • Battery: Rated battery life
  • Value: Specs-to-price balance
  • Connectivity: Port types & count
ZippyScore
4.3 / 5
Performance 3.5
Portability 4.5
Display 5.0
Battery 5.0
Value 3.5
Connectivity 4.0

Pros & Cons

Pros

  • At 14 inches and about 1.2 kg (2.6 lbs), it barely registers in a bag on a daily carry
  • The OLED panel makes photos and video pop in a way an LCD just doesn't
  • A 72Wh battery means you're not hunting for an outlet mid-afternoon
  • 16GB of RAM keeps things snappy with a pile of apps left open
  • Thunderbolt 4 plus HDMI and USB-A, so the dongle bag can stay home

Cons

  • The price sits in the upper tier → fair enough if you actually value the low weight and the screen quality
  • Memory is soldered and can't be upgraded later → if you're keeping it for years, spec it higher up front
  • The glossy OLED panel picks up reflections → sit so windows and lights aren't behind you and it mostly stops bothering you

Specs Summary

OSWindows 11 Home
CPUIntel Core Ultra 7 258V (PassMark: 18,961)
RAM32GB
Storage1TB
Display14" OLED (Glossy, Touchscreen, 60Hz)
1920x1200 (16:10)
Weight1.20 kg (2.65 lbs)
PortsUSB-C × 2 (Thunderbolt 4/40Gbps/PD/Video out), USB-A × 1 (10Gbps), HDMI × 1 (ver.2.1), Headphone jack × 1
GPUIntel Arc 140V (G3D Mark: 5,133)
BiometricsFace Recognition
BatteryUp to 23.3 h (Capacity: 72 Wh)
Camera2.1 MP
DimensionsApprox. 310.3 × 214.7 × 12.9 mm (W × D × H)
Wi-FiWi-Fi 7
BluetoothBluetooth 5.4
ColorScandinavian White

Configurations vary by retailer, region, and availability.

Where to Buy

Amazon Check site for price

* Prices may vary. Please check each store for the latest price and availability.

About the author

Takumi
Takumi
Editor-in-Chief, ZippyLaptop / Laptop Review Specialist

Hey, I'm Takumi — Editor-in-Chief here at ZippyLaptop. I've spent more than two decades working as a software developer, which means laptops aren't just a hobby for me — they're the tool I rely on every single day.

And honestly? I'm just a huge laptop nerd 🥰.

Here's the thing: today's laptops are more exciting than ever, and I don't think that gets talked about enough. We're talking about OLED displays so vibrant they make regular screens look flat, chassis that feel rock-solid yet weigh barely over two pounds, keyboards that you can type on for hours without your fingers staging a revolt, and a hundred little details — build quality, port placement, everyday feel — that never show up in a spec sheet. There are so many laptops out there that are just a joy to use, and raw numbers alone will never tell you that.

But spend any time shopping for a laptop online, and you'll run into the same frustrations I do: sites that just regurgitate spec lists, pages that haven't been updated in years, and recommendations that make you think, 'Wait — this is seriously what they're suggesting for that use case?' It happens way too often.

That's exactly why I started ZippyLaptop. Every machine I review is either one I've bought with my own money or a unit I've borrowed directly from the manufacturer — and I actually use it. I dig into performance and specs, sure, but I also evaluate the display quality, keyboard feel, portability, battery life, port selection, and how well the whole package holds up against the price. Real-world usability matters just as much as benchmark scores.

The truth is, the 'best laptop' looks completely different depending on who's asking. A college freshman, a working professional, and a video editor all need something different.

My goal is to make ZippyLaptop the kind of site where you can find a clear answer: 'For someone like you, this is the one.'

I hope the experience and opinions I've built up over the years help point you toward a laptop you'll genuinely love 👍

ASUS Zenbook S 14 (UX5406SA) ASUS
Zenbook S 14 (UX5406SA)