Skip to main content

Asus’ new super-thin ZenBook laptops gain OLED screens and Intel 11th-gen chips

Coinciding with Intel’s big 11th-generation Tiger Lake announcement, Asus has unveiled a sweeping update to its current line of ZenBook laptops.

Not only do these laptops all support Intel’s latest processors, along with the upgraded Intel Xe graphics, they also sport some new features and modern design choices.

Asus ZenBook S (UX393) and ZenBook Flip S (UX371)

The ZenBook S is Asus’ flagship laptop, and it’s getting a big overhaul in 2020. The 13.9-inch screen is now a much taller 3:2 aspect ratio, similar to what you get on the Microsoft Surface Laptop 3. This is technically less pixel-dense than 4K, with a native resolution of 3,300 × 2,200. Asus says this screen goes up to 500 nits and is Pantone-calibrated.

The screen itself is also now surrounded by thinner bezels, including a dramatically reduced bottom bezel. Asus now claims it features a 92% screen-to-body ratio. Both of these are changes reminiscent of the recent XPS 13 redesign. Part of that bottom bezel is now also covered by the lifted keyboard, thanks to the heightened ErgoLift hinge, which raises the keyboard up at what Asus calls “an optimum typing level.”

To match that small screen bezel, the keyboard now also has an edge-to-edge design, making room for larger keycaps and less wasted space.

Asus has also trimmed down the overall size of the laptop. It’s now just 0.62 inches thick and 2.97 pounds. The design feels and looks a bit more premium, sporting diamond-cut edges and gold trim all around.

The ZenBook Flip S is the 2-in-1 variant, meaning it features a 360-degree hinge and touch-enabled screen. The Flip S features a lot of the same design changes, such as the gold trim and larger keyboard, but is differentiated in one major way.

The 13-inch screen is a standard 16:9 aspect ratio, and now comes in 4K OLED. In addition, Asus also offers a one-watt panel that Asus says boosts the battery life by up to 25%.

The Flip S is also even thinner and lighter than the ZenBook S at just 2.65 pounds in weight and 0.55 inches in thickness.

Of course, the ZenBook S and ZenBook Flip S both use 11th-gen Intel U-series processors, which brings both Thunderbolt 4 support, Wi-Fi 6, and Intel Xe integrated graphics.

In addition to Thunderbolt, the ZenBook S  and ZenBook Flip S do have a USB-A port and HDMI — but not a headphone jack. That’s right, these laptops don’t include a headphone jack. Asus says it conducted surveys with customers and found that USB-A and HDMI were higher priorities.

Asus did not announce pricing or availability for the new ZenBook S or ZenBook Flip S. It should be noted, though, that company only recently launched the 10th-gen ZenBook S, which the same design and features, just with older processors.

Asus ZenBook 14 UX435 and ZenBook Pro 15 (UX535)

Asus has also announced updated versions of its ZenBook 14 and ZenBook Pro 15. They both have the same 92% screen-to-body ratio as the ZenBook S, the elevated ErgoLift hinge, and a larger touchpad.

The stand-out feature is the ScreenPad 2.0, a 5.65-inch displays that replaces your traditional touchpad. It’s a bit larger this time around and also features updated software. Asus calls it “ScreenXpert 2.0,” and says it functions a bit more like a smartphone. Of course, you can also use the ScreenPad as a second screen.

Like the ZenBook S, Asus has cut some fat off these two laptops. The ZenBook 14 weighs 2.62 pounds and is 0.67 inches thick, while the ZenBook Pro 15 weighs 3.97 pounds and is 0.70 inches thick.

Of course, the ZenBook Pro 15 is not just larger, it’s also considerably more powerful. It uses a 10th-gen H-series processor, up to Core i7. It also features a discrete Nvidia GTX 1650 Ti. The ZenBook 14, meanwhile, uses the newer 11th-gen Tiger Lake processors.

Both laptops include a USB-A 3.2 Gen 1 port, a standard HDMI port, and a headphone jack. The ZenBook Pro 15 includes a full-sized SD card slot and a Thunderbolt 3 port, while the ZenBook 14 includes the newer Thunderbolt 4 port.

Asus did not announce pricing or availability for the newer ZenBook 14 and ZenBook Pro 15.

Editors' Recommendations

Luke Larsen
Senior Editor, Computing
Luke Larsen is the Computing Editor at Digital Trends and manages all content covering laptops, monitors, PC hardware, and…
Most of Intel’s new 12th-gen Alder Lake desktop chips ditch hybrid architecture
An Intel Alder Lake Core i5-12600K CPU and its packaging.

Intel is building on its 12th-gen Alder Lake lineup. The company announced 22 new desktop processors joining the range at CES 2022, most of which don't have a hybrid architecture, as well as cheaper 600-series chipset motherboards. In addition to more 12th-gen options, Intel announced a range of new coolers to accompany Alder Lake processors going forward.

There are 22 new configurations coming, and you can find all of the details on each chip in the table below. The range initially leaked through Best Buy listings, complete with pricing information. Intel hasn't announced pricing yet, but the specs of the new chips line up with the earlier leak.
Specs

Read more
Asus ZenBook 13 OLED vs. Dell XPS 13
Dell XPS 13 9310 Featured Image showing display and keyboard deck.

Dell's XPS 13 is one of the best laptops you can buy for almost any task. There are several reasons it's our choice for both the best laptop overall and the best 13-inch laptop, not the least of which are its diminutive size, its great looks and build quality, and its plethora of configuration choices.

That's some stiff competition, but it didn't stop Asus from producing its own 13-inch competitor, the ZenBook 13 OLED. Can this well-configured near-budget laptop compete against the best there is?
Specs

Read more
The best Asus Laptops
Whether you're a gamer or a worker, here are the best Asus laptops for you
Asus Zenbook Flip S 14 UX461UN review

Asus isn't the biggest PC maker around, but nevertheless, the Tawainese company manages to offer a wide range of notebook PCs. Whether you're looking for a gaming notebook, a budget machine, a productivity-focused 2-in-1, or in some cases a mashup laptop that checks off more than one box, chances are that Asus will have something made just for you -- and it's a great pick if you like Ryzen processors.
While Asus doesn't offer many stratospherically expensive laptops as do Microsoft and Apple, it hits just about every other price point. You can spend well under $1,000 or more than $2,000 depending on which model you look at, and you'll enjoy solid build quality, great performance, and a nod to style that likely won't make you feel like you're overdressed for any computing occasion.
With all of that said, here's our list of the best Asus laptops.

Asus ZenBook 13 OLED (2021)

Read more