ASUS Zenbook S 16 Review: 8.5/10 - A sleek OLED powerhouse with AMD bite
Overview
The ASUS Zenbook S 16 (2026) is the company’s thinnest 16-inch OLED laptop at just 13.9mm thick, packing AMD’s latest Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 processor alongside a stunning 3.2K OLED panel. It targets creative professionals who want desktop-class performance in an ultraportable chassis that weighs only 3.3 pounds.
Design & Build
ASUS uses a ceramic-aluminum hybrid material called Ceraluminum for the lid, which feels noticeably warmer and more tactile than standard anodized aluminum. The chassis shows virtually zero flex despite its thin profile, and the 180-degree hinge allows full lay-flat positioning on conference tables. Port selection is generous for a laptop this slim: two USB-C 4.0 ports, one USB-A 3.2 Gen 2, HDMI 2.1, and a 3.5mm combo jack. The all-metal deck stays cool under load thanks to a dual-fan vapor chamber system that exhausts through hidden rear vents.
Performance
The Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 delivers a multi-core score of 14,820 in Cinebench R23, placing it ahead of Intel Core Ultra 9 285H by roughly 12 percent in sustained rendering workloads. The integrated Radeon 890M graphics manage 2,350 points in 3DMark Time Spy, allowing playable frame rates at 1080p in titles like Shadow of the Tomb Raider (52 fps) and Fortnite (68 fps). Disk performance is excellent with sequential reads hitting 6,800 MB/s on the stock PCIe 4.0 drive. Battery life averages 11 hours of mixed productivity use at 200 nits, though OLED-driven dark-mode workflows push that closer to 13 hours.
Features
The 16-inch 3.2K OLED panel covers 100% DCI-P3 and hits a peak 550 nits in HDR mode, making photo editing and HDR video playback genuinely impressive. ASUS includes a full-size HDMI 2.1 port capable of driving external 8K displays at 60Hz, and the two USB-C 4.0 ports support daisy-chained Thunderbolt peripherals despite the AMD platform. The Harman Kardon-tuned quad-speaker array produces clear mids and respectable bass for an ultrabook, though it distorts at maximum volume. The 1080p IR webcam supports Windows Studio Effects and face unlock.
Pros
- Best-in-class OLED display with 120Hz smoothness
- Genuinely impressive multi-core CPU performance for its size
- Excellent port selection for a 14mm-thick laptop
- Lightweight 3.3-pound build with premium materials
Cons
- Integrated graphics can’t match a dedicated GPU for heavy 3D work
- RAM is soldered with no upgrade path
- Fan noise becomes noticeable under sustained full load
- Price point competes with MacBook Pro 14-inch M4
Verdict
The ASUS Zenbook S 16 (2026) is the most compelling AMD-based ultraportable of the year, combining a gorgeous OLED screen with serious CPU grunt. Creative professionals who can live without a discrete GPU and don’t need upgradeable RAM will find a lot to love.
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Technical Specifications
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