As a seasoned tech reviewer who has tested countless laptops over the years, I must say that the battery life claim of “up to 20 hours” on the Zenbook S 14 is nothing short of impressive. Having used this laptop for my day-to-day tasks with the screen brightness set at around 40%, I can confidently say that it’s a dream come true for digital nomads like myself who are always on the go.
Intel’s Lunar Lake processors have officially been unveiled, as their mobile chips transition from working titles to the formal “Intel Core Ultra Series 2” label.
The opportunity to personally test out the long-awaited advancements in performance-per-watt lies with me, thanks to ASUS’ latest Zenbook S 14 laptop. This is a smaller version of the Zenbook S 16, which I have previously commended.
If I hadn’t fallen ill, apparently similar to a person getting the Crowdstrike virus, the very next day after receiving the Zenbook.
During breaks as I was recuperating from a bout of illness, I conducted tests using synthetic benchmarks on the advanced Core Ultra 7 258V processor, which my system had fortunately managed to fend off.
At present, I’m delving deep into the performance of Intel’s latest mobile processor and the battery life offered by ASUS’ sleek 14-inch laptop. Save this article for later, as it will be expanded into a comprehensive review in the near future once I’ve had ample time to explore all its aspects.
Zenbook S 14: Price, availability, and specs
At Best Buy, ASUS offers three different versions of the latest Zenbook S 14 equipped with Intel Core Ultra (Series 2) processors, with prices starting at $949.99. For customers who are active members of My Best Buy, additional perks such as special purchasing or delivery advantages might be available, so it’s always a good idea to confirm before making your purchase.
The least expensive Zenbook S 14 model, retailing at $949.99, is available in the color ‘Neutral Black’. This model boasts a Core Ultra 5 (Series 2) processor with 16GB of memory and 512GB of storage space. Its OLED display offers a maximum resolution of 1920 x 1200 pixels.
For approximately $1,399, featuring the Zumaia Gray color similar to my demonstration model, comes equipped with a Core Ultra 7 (Series 2) processor, an identical 16GB of RAM, and boasts double storage capacity at 1TB solid-state drive. Moreover, its OLED screen employs a higher resolution of 2880 x 1800 pixels.
At this moment, the premium version priced at $1,499, featuring a “Scandinavian White” color scheme, is equipped with a Core Ultra 7 (Series 2) processor, boasting 32GB of memory, and offering 1TB of storage, has been sold out as I write this.
On the occasion of ASUS launching the Zenbook S 14, it’s very early days indeed, but we expect distribution to widen swiftly. As I delve deeper into this review, I will keep you posted about additional vendors, different models, and any price adjustments that might occur.
Zenbook S 14: Benchmark results
The processor known as “Lunar Lake” Core Ultra 7 258V, found within the latest ASUS Zenbook S 14 laptop, boasts an 8-core CPU, a massive 32GB of LPDDR5X memory integrated into the chip, a powerful NPU capable of 47 peak TOPS, and an Intel Arc GPU 140V tile that supports real-time hardware-based ray tracing for enhanced lighting in gaming and other 3D applications. These components work harmoniously on the SoC (System on Chip) thanks to TSMC’s 3nm process technology, all while maintaining a remarkably low Thermal Design Power of just 17W. Intel aims to reduce power consumption by half compared to its previous-gen “Metor Lake” Core Ultra chips with this design.
Considering all factors, it becomes clearer to interpret the performance of the Zenbook S 14 in CPU-focused tests. Intel advises comparing it with laptops equipped with processors that fall within the 25-30W power range. Specifically, they mention their previous-generation Core Ultra 7 155H as a suitable comparison. This point is intriguing since the 16-core Ultra 7 155H boasts 22 threads, a more substantial 24MB Smart Cache (compared to 12MB in the 258V), and significantly, a higher 28W base TDP. However, during continuous stress tests like Cinebench 2024, the 155H either matches or lags slightly behind the new Core Ultra 258V in devices such as Lenovo’s ThinkPad X1 Carbon (Gen 12).
Challenging Qualcomm’s 12-core Snapdragon X Elite X1E-80-100 chip seems quite daring, given that the slightly reduced performance version, the X1E-78-100 in Lenovo’s Yoga Slim 7x (Gen 9), performs significantly better in multi-core tasks. However, it’s not unusual for Intel processors to outshine in single-core tests, as those with fewer physical cores often distribute less power and may excel in individual processing tasks.
As I delve deeper into the performance analysis of the latest 8-core Snapdragon X Plus X1P42100, an ARM-based chip, my familiarity has grown significantly following my hands-on experience with ASUS’ innovative 2-in-1 ProArt PZ13.
As a tech enthusiast, I must admit that Qualcomm’s latest chip is remarkably similar to some in terms of specifications. However, it’s manufactured using TSMC’s 4nm process and, as you might expect, it’s designed specifically for Windows on Arm devices. Despite the impressive advancements in emulation through Prism and native ARM-based app support, there’s no denying the allure of a comparable x86-64 chip from Intel. After all, if it can match the extraordinary battery life performance of the Snapdragon X platform, well, let’s just say I’m eagerly waiting to find out more! Spoiler: it does. Stay tuned for the details.
For in-house results, my review of ASUS’ Zenbook S 16 shows how much of a generational leap AMD made with its Ryzen AI 300 processors, not only in multi-core performance, where the Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 scores higher here (in a larger 16-inch chassis with more space for active cooling) but also as a new single-core champion. However, AMD’s Radeon 890M iGPU still ranked below last-gen Intel Arc graphics found in devices like Lenovo’s Slim 7i (Gen 9), and Intel pulls further ahead with its new Arc 140V in the Zenbook S 14.
So, what does this all mean at a glance?
In essence, the initial Core Ultra Series 2 mobile processors in the Lunar Lake-V lineup by Intel boast reduced total power usage while maintaining similar CPU performance compared to their power-demanding Meteor Lake-H counterparts. This advantage is further highlighted as it outperforms AMD’s Ryzen AI in graphics benchmarks and either matches or approaches Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X platform regarding battery life. Consequently, Intel’s x86-64 solutions continue to be a strong contender for thin and light laptops, potentially overshadowing ARM64 in some aspects.
Zenbook S 14: Battery life
Without beating around the bush: Absolutely, the claim of up to 20 hours of battery life with the Zenbook S 14 is accurate. I set the device to the ‘Balanced’ power plan, as it arrives by default, and kept the brightness level roughly equivalent to a comfortable 40%, which, based on my experience testing laptops, seems about 150 nits. Using PCMark 10 for battery life benchmarking and streaming a 24-hour 4K video via YouTube, Windows’ battery report indicates 15 hours and 26 minutes of battery life “based on all energy drains since OS installation.
In the beginning of this year, I traveled to Taipei prior to Computex to get a sneak peek at Intel’s upcoming mobile processors and their claims about extended battery life. This promise was consistently emphasized during its showcases at IFA Berlin. During Intel’s Tech Tour keynote speech, Arik Gihon, the company’s Lead CPU SoC Architect, boasted that “Lunar Lake reduces the SoC power consumption by up to 40%.” He wasn’t wrong – this is indeed a significant advancement for mobile devices, and it’s definitely something you will notice.
It’s remarkable that the Intel Core Ultra 7 258V not only met but exceeded the long-lasting capabilities of Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X Elite chips, which were already impressive. This was unexpected, given Intel’s goal to make substantial advancements in power efficiency.
Absolutely, these estimates are derived solely from synthetic benchmark tests. However, other laptops and SoC processors often exhibit similar performance trends. I don’t anticipate the real-world performance varying by much more than a few hours. I’ll be using the Zenbook S 14 throughout this week to supplement this review, so we’ll have a better idea of the accuracy of these estimates by then.
Zenbook S 14: Further testing
More tests are needed to properly compare and rate Intel’s new Core Ultra 7 258V mobile processor against its contemporary competitors. Additionally, these tests will provide more in-depth insights into how ASUS is utilizing their impressive Zenbook design in a 14-inch format. So far, I have no issues with the Zenbook S 14 and it continues to reinforce my belief that it’s an ideal size for travel.
As a researcher, I am excited to delve into the examination of the OLED screen and solid-state storage drive within this “Ceraluminum” beauty – the Zenbook S 14. I will be exploring its graphics performance further using in-game benchmarking tools and additional synthetic benchmarks like 3DMark. While my ultimate conclusion will be a comprehensive opinion on whether it’s a wise investment, initial impressions point towards a positive verdict. As an introduction to Intel’s eagerly anticipated Lunar Lake chips, the Zenbook S 14 has left me captivated, and I am equally impressed by its overall design as a stunning Windows laptop.
As an analyst, so far, the choice to minimize cores and prioritize power efficiency in the Core Ultra 7 258V seems to have placed it below its anticipated competitors, particularly in multi-core performance tests. However, the improvements in battery life and integrated graphics could potentially justify the Zenbook S 14’s price tag of around $1,000 or more. Keep an eye out for further updates – I’ll be conducting additional benchmarks and popping plenty of lozenges along the way!
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2024-09-24 17:09