ASUS Zenbook S 13 OLED Review: Eco Premium Ultrabook Tested

content: First Impressions and Eco-Innovation

When unboxing the ASUS Zenbook S 13 OLED, the commitment to sustainability is immediately evident. The packaging uses paper-based tape and recyclable plant-fiber sleeves—a thoughtful touch that aligns with growing consumer demand for eco-conscious tech. What truly stands out is the plasma ceramic aluminum finish. Unlike traditional manufacturing that relies on harsh chemicals, ASUS uses only water and electricity in this proprietary process. The result is a unique stone-like texture with subtle silver accents that resists fingerprints while reducing environmental impact.

Port selection defies expectations for such a slim device. You get two Thunderbolt ports, full-size HDMI, USB-A, and a headphone jack—eliminating the dongle dependency common in ultraportables. At just over 10mm thick and slightly above 1kg, it balances portability with functionality. The ErgoLift hinge isn’t just a gimmick; it elevates the typing angle while creating critical airflow space for cooling, a design choice we’ll explore further in our teardown.

Why Plasma Ceramic Aluminum Matters

Traditional laptop finishes contribute significantly to electronic waste through toxic production methods. ASUS’s approach, verified through industry environmental reports, reduces carbon emissions by eliminating chemical solvents. In our assessment, this isn’t just marketing—it’s a tangible step toward circular manufacturing. The matte surface also proves practical, resisting scratches better than typical anodized aluminum.

Performance and Repairability Deep Dive

Opening the chassis reveals surprising design intelligence. The 63Wh battery dominates the interior—unusual for a 13-inch ultrabook—promising all-day endurance. Crucially, it’s user-replaceable, as is the M.2 SSD. While the RAM is soldered (a limitation of the thin form factor), the modular battery and storage represent a win for longevity. ASUS avoids the "glued-shut" approach of competitors, making future repairs feasible and reducing e-waste.

Cooling exceeds expectations with dual heat pipes and twin fans featuring high-blade-count impellers. Paired with the Core i7-1355U processor (2 Performance + 8 Efficiency cores) and 32GB of 5200MHz RAM, this isn’t just a web-browsing machine. Our stress tests showed the thermal solution effectively handles photo editing and multitasking, though sustained video rendering will trigger throttling—consistent with Intel’s U-series design goals.

Keyboard, Trackpad, and Audio Insights

Typing feel impresses with deeper key travel than most ultra-thins, avoiding the fatiguing "mushiness" of some rivals. The oversized trackpad delivers crisp, quiet clicks and supports smooth Windows Precision gestures. Audio quality shines with Dolby Atmos tuning—highs are crisp in music mode, while movie mode enhances dialogue clarity. For calls, the three-mic array with AI noise cancellation is transformative. Switching to unidirectional mode in testing eliminated background keyboard clatter dramatically.

Display Quality and Smart Features

The 13.3-inch 2880x1800 OLED panel is a visual standout. It delivers perfect blacks, 100% DCI-P3 coverage, and 550 nits peak brightness—sufficient for outdoor use. Adaptive color automatically adjusts white balance based on ambient light, reducing eye strain. While not a touchscreen, the non-laminated design has a hidden benefit: it prevents keyboard marks on the screen, a common issue with edge-to-edge glass laptops.

ASUS’s software enhancements add genuine value. Battery Health Charging caps capacity at 80% to prolong lifespan—essential for docked users. The AI-powered webcam offers gaze correction and background blur, though skin-smoothing filters feel gimmicky. Fan profiles (Whisper/Standard/Performance) intelligently disable aggressive cooling on battery to preserve runtime.

The Sustainability Verdict

Where many "eco-friendly" laptops compromise on performance or upgradability, the Zenbook S 13 OLED strikes a rare balance. Its use of recycled materials (including 100% recyclable magnesium-aluminum alloy) and repairable design extends usable life. Industry data shows devices with replaceable batteries can reduce e-waste by up to 30%—a figure ASUS seems committed to leveraging.

Should You Buy the Zenbook S 13 OLED?

At $1,399, this laptop targets eco-conscious professionals who refuse to sacrifice premium features. Its combination of repairability, stunning OLED display, and thoughtful ports justifies the price versus non-upgradable alternatives like the MacBook Air. However, gamers or video editors should consider higher-wattage CPUs.

Actionable Takeaways

1. Enable Battery Health Charging immediately in MyASUS app to maximize lifespan
2. Switch mics to unidirectional mode in noisy environments for clearer calls
3. Use a screen protector since the non-laminated display attracts dust in the bezel gap
4. Consider the 16GB RAM model if your budget is tight—32GB is overkill for most users

For deeper eco-tech insights, we recommend iFixit’s Repairability Guides for tear-down benchmarks and Framework Laptop’s Blog for modular design innovations.

This Zenbook proves sustainability doesn’t mean compromise. Its plasma ceramic finish sets a new standard for eco-manufacturing, while the upgradeable SSD and battery make it a responsible long-term investment. When testing the keyboard, which feature felt most critical to your workflow? Share your dealbreakers below!

(Final note: Review unit provided by ASUS; no input on content direction was given)