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Updated January 10, 2024·
The ASUS Zenbook S 13 offers more storage, higher RAM, and slightly better performance for engineering tasks, but comes at a higher price compared to the ASUS Zenbook 13. Both have OLED screens, but the S 13 has a higher resolution. The Zenbook 13, with a Ryzen processor and Vega graphics, has a slightly longer battery life and might handle general tasks well at a more affordable price. It's also a little heavier and thicker. Both lack a number pad but have backlit keyboards and fingerprint readers, and neither is designed for intensive gaming despite having OLED displays. If budget allows and you need better multitasking and a sharper screen, the S 13 is preferable; otherwise, for everyday use and lighter tasks, the Zenbook 13 offers savings. Give Feedback
this description is based on the product variant with some specs and product variant with some specs. At the time of writing, the variant with some specs cost some dollars and the variant with some specs cost some dollars.
Advantages of the ASUS Zenbook S 13
- Very good for general use
- Very good for engineering and design
- Very good for software development
- Very good for content creation
- Very good overall display quality
- Best in class portability
- Very good battery life
- Very good speakers
- Very good keyboard
Advantages of the ASUS Zenbook 13
- The ASUS Zenbook 13 has no clear advantages over the ASUS Zenbook S 13.
Key differences
General Use
8.6
7.4
2880 x 1800
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
OLED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
OLED
365.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
378.0 nits
11.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
9.0 Hours
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
9.5/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
9.2/10
The ASUS Zenbook S 13 is very good for general use, while the ASUS Zenbook 13 is good.
The ASUS Zenbook S 13 is rated better for general use primarily due to its higher-quality CPU, more RAM for multitasking, and a superior screen with greater resolution and color accuracy, which translates to sharper images and more vivid colors. Conversely, the ASUS Zenbook 13, while still good for general use, has a less powerful CPU, less RAM, which could slow down intensive multitasking, and a less sharp screen, but it compensates with a lighter build for better portability and a commendable battery life.
Engineering and Design
8.2
7.1
7.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
5.8/10
3.7/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
32.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
The ASUS Zenbook S 13 is very good for engineering and design, while the ASUS Zenbook 13 is good.
The ASUS Zenbook S 13 is better equipped for engineering and design tasks because it has a more powerful processor, double the amount of RAM, and a higher quality GPU, which are very important for such uses, plus a higher resolution and brighter screen that enhances visual clarity and detail.
Content Creation
8.5
7.6
7.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
5.8/10
2880 x 1800
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
32.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
OLED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
OLED
The ASUS Zenbook S 13 is very good for content creation, while the ASUS Zenbook 13 is good.
PerfectRec’s Content Creation Score takes into account the many different features of the laptop that make it more or less suitable for photo editing, video editing and other content creation tasks.
Software Development
8.3
7.3
7.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
5.8/10
32.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
2880 x 1800
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
The ASUS Zenbook S 13 is very good for software development, while the ASUS Zenbook 13 is good.
PerfectRec’s Software Development Score takes into account the many different features of the laptop that make it more or less suitable for software developers.
Screen Quality
8.1
7.8
13.3in
SIZE
13.3in
2880 x 1800
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
OLED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
OLED
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
365.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
378.0 nits
The ASUS Zenbook S 13 has a better screen than the ASUS Zenbook 13 for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
If you prioritize a crisp and vibrant display for activities like browsing, document editing, or watching videos, you'll appreciate the ASUS Zenbook's high-resolution panel and brightness, offering a pleasing visual experience for everyday tasks. For engineering and design professionals requiring color accuracy, the Zenbook's screen covers a broad spectrum of color gamuts, ensuring your work appears precise and true to life. However, if your focus is gaming or 3D modeling, the Zenbook's lower refresh rate may not provide the smooth visuals typically desired for these fast-paced and graphics-intensive environments.
Battery
11.0 Hours
9.0 Hours
The ASUS Zenbook S 13 has 11 hours of battery life. The ASUS Zenbook 13 has 9 hours of battery life.
Battery life estimate is based on a mix of common use patterns. More portable and higher performing laptops tend to have less battery life.
Cost
$1,400
$890
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
The ASUS Zenbook S 13 has a price of $1,400 and the ASUS Zenbook 13 costs $890.
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Key similarities
Gaming and AI
6.5
6.2
3.7/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
2880 x 1800
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
7.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
8.3/10
The ASUS Zenbook S 13 and ASUS Zenbook 13 are both only fair for gaming and AI.
The ASUS Zenbook S 13 is better suited for gaming and 3D tasks because it features an Intel i7-1355U Iris Xe GPU, which provides stronger graphics performance than the AMD Ryzen 7 5700U Vega 8 GPU found in the ASUS Zenbook 13. While both laptops have similar screen refresh rates and OLED displays, the superior GPU of the Zenbook S 13 makes it more capable of handling the demands of gaming and 3D applications.
Portability
Best in Class
Excellent
13.3in
SIZE
13.3in
2.2 lbs
WEIGHT
2.5 lbs
0.4in
THICKNESS
0.5in
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers ASUS Zenbook S 13 to have best in class portability, while the ASUS Zenbook 13 has excellent portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
7.6
7.4
The ASUS Zenbook S 13 and ASUS Zenbook 13 both have good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
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How the ASUS Zenbook S 13 and the ASUS Zenbook 13 compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| ASUS Zenbook S 13 | ASUS Zenbook 13 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$1,400 | $890 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | April 1, 2023 | February 1, 2021 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 11.7'' x 8.5'' x 0.46'' | 12'' x 8'' x 0.55'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 2.2 lbs | 2.55 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 11.66" | 11.97" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 8.52" | 7.99" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel i7-1355U | AMD Ryzen 7 5700U | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 32 GB | 8 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 5 | 4 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 0 | 0 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 1024 GB | 512 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 11 Hours | 9 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 63 Wh | 67 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 13.3" | 13.3" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | OLED | OLED | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 2880 x 1800 | 1920 x 1080 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 60Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 365 nits | 378 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 7.6/10 | 7.4/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 9.5/10 | 9.3/10 | |
Gaming Laptop Appearance | |||
Gaming Laptop Appearance | No | No | |
Premium Business Laptop | |||
Premium Business Laptop | No | No | |
Fan Noise Score | |||
Fan Noise Score | 7.5/10 | 8.4/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 8/10 | 7/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 8.4/10 | 7/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 1080p | 720p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | No | No | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | Yes | Yes | |
Number Pad | |||
Number Pad | No | Yes | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
USB Type-A | |||
USB Type-A | 1 | 1 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 2 | 2 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | Yes | Yes | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 3 | 3 | |
Thunderbolt Version | |||
Thunderbolt Version | 4 | N/A | |
Shopping
ASUS Zenbook S 13
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Dig into reviews and images
NotebookCheck
Andreas Osthoff | May 2023
"The Asus Zenbook S 13 is the slimmest OLED ultrabook worldwide struggles with annoying fans. The new Zenbook S 13 leaves us with mixed feelings, particularly since last year's model was so good. Asus has completely reworked the device, making the laptop noticeably slimmer. The result also looks good and the case makes a great impression, particularly also in terms of the stability. The new plasma ceramic surface feels great, and there are no problems with fingerprints. In addition, it now includes some of the known connections such as an HDMI port and a regular USB-A connection, which is a good achievement in such a slim device."
ASUS Zenbook 13
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Dig into reviews and images
NotebookCheck
Sebastian Bade | May 2021
"The Asus ZenBook 13 is a compact 13-inch laptop with a fast Ryzen 7 5800U and OLED display. The subnotebook is also light and the modern design is convincing. The selection of high-quality materials make the device not only light, but also very stable. In addition, the visuals and haptics of the device offers a high-quality impression. The AMD Ryzen 7 5800U is a very good fit for the ZenBook 13, ensuring a high performance in the test. However, in terms of the 3D performance, we also notice that the Vega architecture is beginning to hit its limits."
Get a great deal on the ASUS Zenbook S 13 or the ASUS Zenbook 13
About ASUS
ASUS, a Taiwanese electronics brand, is one of the largest personal computer vendor by market share. The majority of their laptops are targeted towards personal use or gaming. Their most popular product lines include the budget-friendly VivoBook, more premium ZenBook, and their TUF and ROG gaming laptops, the latter of which has a reputation for excellent gaming performance.
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