More than just a tool, the Zenbook S 16 embodies the fusion of cutting-edge performance and sleek, functional design, tailored for those who demand more from their devices. This ultrathin laptop is poised to be the next must-have tech accessory for South African consumers who thrive on innovation.

At just 1.1 cm thick, the ASUS Zenbook S 16 is more than a laptop – it’s a statement. Its ultra-thin design, made possible by the innovative Ceraluminum material, doesn’t just look good; it’s built to last, resisting scratches and wear while maintaining a sleek, modern aesthetic.

This marriage of form and function is what sets the Zenbook S 16 apart, making it the ideal choice for professionals and creatives who need a powerful machine that can keep up with their demanding lifestyle.

AI-enhanced performance

Under the hood, the Zenbook S 16 is powered by the latest AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 processor, delivering performance that’s as robust as it is intelligent. This isn’t just any processor – it’s AI-enabled, meaning it can handle complex tasks with ease, from video editing to AI-driven applications, all while optimising power efficiency.

Whether you’re an entrepreneur running your business on the go, a 3D designer rendering intricate models or a developer pushing the limits of code, the Zenbook S 16 provides the speed and power you need without compromising on battery life.

One of the standout features of the Zenbook S 16 is its immersive 16-inch 3K OLED display. With a 120 Hz refresh rate, 100% DCI-P3 colour gamut, and Pantone Validation, this display offers vibrant, true-to-life visuals that are perfect for both work and play. Whether you’re fine-tuning the details of a creative project or unwinding with a movie, the Zenbook S 16’s screen delivers a visual experience that’s nothing short of spectacular.

But the experience doesn’t stop with the visuals. ASUS has also packed a six-speaker audio system into this slim device, providing a rich, multi-dimensional sound that complements the high-quality display. Combined, these features make the Zenbook S 16 not just a tool for productivity, but a portable entertainment hub.

Quiet, secure, and ready for anything

The Zenbook S 16 is designed for those who value both performance and peace of mind. Its advanced cooling system ensures that the laptop runs quietly, even when you’re pushing it to its limits. With ambient noise levels below 25 dB, you can focus on your work without distraction.

Security is another area where the Zenbook S 16 shines. With the integration of Microsoft Pluton security and Windows passkeys, your data is protected from evolving threats. The AiSense IR camera offers advanced biometric security, including facial recognition and adaptive features that enhance privacy and convenience. These security features make the Zenbook S 16 an excellent choice for professionals who need to protect sensitive information.

The future of laptops

For South Africans, the ASUS Zenbook S 16 represents the future of laptops – sleek, powerful, and intelligent. It’s a device that meets the demands of modern life, whether you’re working from a bustling coffee shop in Cape Town, presenting a pitch in Johannesburg, or relaxing on the beach in Durban. As technology continues to advance, devices like the Zenbook S 16 will lead the way, offering the perfect blend of performance, design, and innovation.

The ASUS Zenbook S 16 stands out as a laptop that doesn’t just keep up with the pace of change – it sets the standard. For those who demand the best, this is more than just a laptop, the Zenbook S 16 retails for R40,999. Available from ASUS eShop, Computer Mania and Incredible.

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Is it worth the extra premium to upgrade from Snapdragon to AMD, even with the chassis upgrade thrown in? That’s ultimately up to you but Asus has put forward a compelling case. It may not be a Mac killer for Apple superfans but anyone looking for that level of build quality should give the Zenbook S 16 a chance.

‘Ceraluminium‘

The word of the day for Asus’ new premium laptop is ‘Ceraluminium’, a portmanteau that comes with its own ™ symbol. A hybrid of ceramic and aluminium, it’s a lightweight, durable material that makes its debut here. It’s at least partly responsible for the minimal thickness of the Zenbook S 16, despite all the power that Asus has sandwiched between the opposing sheets of proprietary material. We’ll get to that in a second but first, let’s examine the white-grey chassis in closer detail.

All of the major surfaces not covered with a human interface device use the new material, resulting in a compact-feeling 16in notebook that doesn’t seem capable of gaming. You’d be entirely wrong but that’s a point to address later. The 120Hz OLED display has a native resolution of 2,880 x 1,800 (or 3K, if you’re in marketing). The tracking Asus has stuffed into the Zenbook S 16 might be the best we’ve ever seen in a Windows notebook. It’s massive and as stable as you could want from a navigation device.

The rest of the housekeeping includes a fair range of ports. Arrayed on the left are a full-sized HDMI, dual USB-C ports (one of which acts as your power input), and a 3.5mm jack. The right hosts a USB-A and an SD card port. It’s enough to keep you from buying a block of additional ports if you’re frugal about plugging in.

AMD now?

If you’re looking for reasons to plop this grey sliver of semi-metal on your desk, the AMD Ryzen processor inside might be what you want. A Ryzen AI 9 HX370, paired with a Radeon 890M GPU, somehow operates inside this paper-thin PC. True, putting it under load results in the rear cooling grid heating up to gonad-frying levels but the solution is simple enough. Put it on a desk.

What you won’t get from this heat is a ton of noise, even if you’re putting the GPU to work. Asus goes on about its new 3D vapour chamber that yanks noisy fans out of the loop. We can’t say for certain it’s there, since that would require complete disassembly, but the Zenbook S 16 a) survived the review without melting to slag and b) made very little noise while doing so. That’s a win as far as we’re concerned.

32GB of RAM keeps things speedy enough that even Windows 11 can’t rain on the parade. 2TB of SSD storage accounts for at least some of that R40,000-plus price tag, putting competitor MacBooks well in the shade. The premium you pay for storage from Apple is almost unholy. Here, it’s positively affordable.

CoPilot reporting in

You’re not using a modern device unless it’s also packing AI and that’s what Asus offers with its newest Zenbook. The Ryzen 9 AI doesn’t have the name just for fun and this is another Copilot+ machine from the Taiwanese company. A dedicated key lets you summon your AI assistant, backed by a claimed 50 TOPs (tera operations per second) provided by AMD’s chipsets, but chances are you’ll use passive AI features more.

These include intelligent screen backlighting, based on your gaze and/or presence in front of the screen. Perhaps it is because we wear glasses but we found the feature hit-and-miss, spending a chunk of time looking at and away from the screen to see how it all responded. It might have AI but it’s not as smart as we were expecting it to be.

Whatever else it is, it’s largely power-efficient. That’s even when performing onboard AI calculations, which is just as well. The Zenbook S 16 might charge over USB-C but if you’re not using the provided charger it’ll complain about it. And then charge slower than it’s capable of. It feels almost vindictive, even if it isn’t really.

Asus Zenbook S 16 verdict

It’s hard to imagine a laptop that feels better than this one. It ranks right up with Apple for build quality, something Asus was aiming for with the Zenbook S 16. There’s plenty of power and the high-resolution display is also a major high point but excellent exterior features can’t quite bring this one up to the same controlled heights as Apple’s wholly purpose-built machines. That’s not Asus’ fault. It’s a consequence of relying on Windows for the operating system.

The Zenbook S 16 then is an attractive hardware package that does the basics well and eschews anything that looks even vaguely frilly. It gets a touch hot under the collar when in operation, to the detriment of any legs that might be under it, but its ceramic-aluminium build is a marvel to experience. The price point might be a sticky one, though — you’ll pick up a very high-end 15in M3 MacBook Air for less money. That’s a terrible call to have to make.

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