A comparison of specs, key information, reviews, and best pricing from top retailers
Last updated -- hours ago | Report incorrect information
Company ProductName Specs
Company ProductName Specs
What we think
The PerfectRec laptop team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·
If you prioritize high performance for tasks like 3D rendering, machine learning, or engineering software, the ASUS Zenbook S 13 with its more powerful processor, higher RAM, and better GPU is more suitable. It also offers a larger, higher resolution OLED screen for better color accuracy and clarity, which is beneficial for design or video editing. On the other hand, the Gateway 11.6" is more budget-friendly and has a smaller, less sharp screen, which could suffice for basic tasks like browsing and word processing. The Gateway is also slightly heavier, which impacts portability, and it comes with less storage and memory, limiting its capacity for multitasking and intensive applications. The Zenbook, with its smaller form factor and lighter weight, is more portable and has longer battery life, making it better for on-the-go use. 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
- Good overall build quality
- Best in class portability
- Very good battery life
- Very good speakers
- Very good keyboard
Advantages of the Gateway 11.6"
- The Gateway 11.6" has no clear advantages over the ASUS Zenbook S 13.
Key differences
General Use
8.6
5.6
2880 x 1800
RESOLUTION
1366 x 768
OLED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
365.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
200.0 nits
11.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
8.0 Hours
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
5.3/10
9.5/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
9.1/10
The ASUS Zenbook S 13 is very good for general use, while the Gateway 11.6" is poor.
The ASUS Zenbook S 13 offers superior performance thanks to its powerful CPU and abundant RAM, along with an OLED screen that delivers exceptional visual quality and color accuracy, all packed into a slim and lightweight frame with an excellent battery life. Conversely, the Gateway 11.6" has a less capable CPU and limited RAM, a lower resolution IPS display, and despite good portability, it is hindered by inferior battery life and lower scores in screen quality and keyboard feel, making it less suitable for general use.
Gaming and AI
6.5
5.4
3.7/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.5/10
2880 x 1800
RESOLUTION
1366 x 768
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
7.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.0/10
The ASUS Zenbook S 13 is only fair for gaming and AI, while the Gateway 11.6" is poor.
The ASUS Zenbook S 13 is better suited for gaming and 3D applications due to its more powerful Iris Xe graphics card, while the Gateway 11.6" falls short for such tasks with its much less capable Intel UHD Graphics 600. Both have similar screen refresh rates, but the superior GPU in the Zenbook significantly improves performance in visually demanding activities.
Engineering and Design
8.2
5.4
7.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
3.3/10
3.7/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.5/10
32.0 GB
RAM
4.0 GB
The ASUS Zenbook S 13 is very good for engineering and design, while the Gateway 11.6" is poor.
The ASUS Zenbook S 13 is equipped with a high-performance CPU, large RAM, and quality GPU, accompanied by an OLED screen with high resolution, making it ideal for engineering and design tasks that require intensive computing and color accuracy. In contrast, the Gateway 11.6" has a basic CPU, less RAM, a low-end GPU, and a lower resolution IPS screen, which limits its capability to handle demanding engineering software and detailed design work.
Content Creation
8.5
5.7
7.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
3.3/10
2880 x 1800
RESOLUTION
1366 x 768
32.0 GB
RAM
4.0 GB
OLED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The ASUS Zenbook S 13 is very good for content creation, while the Gateway 11.6" is poor.
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
5.7
7.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
3.3/10
32.0 GB
RAM
4.0 GB
2880 x 1800
RESOLUTION
1366 x 768
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
5.3/10
The ASUS Zenbook S 13 is very good for software development, while the Gateway 11.6" is poor.
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
5.7
13.3in
SIZE
11.6in
2880 x 1800
RESOLUTION
1366 x 768
OLED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
365.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
200.0 nits
The ASUS Zenbook S 13 has a better screen than the Gateway 11.6" for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
The ASUS Zenbook S 13 likely has a higher resolution and brightness which enhances the viewing experience for general use and detailed work in engineering and design, while its color accuracy supports professional design tasks. However, it falls short for gaming and 3D due to its likely lower refresh rate, which is crucial for smooth motion rendering. The Gateway 11.6" might have a lower resolution and inferior panel quality, affecting its performance across all areas, especially since color reproduction and screen sharpness are vital for both general and professional applications.
Battery
11.0 Hours
8.0 Hours
The ASUS Zenbook S 13 has 11 hours of battery life. The Gateway 11.6" has 8 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.
Build Quality
7.6
5.1
The ASUS Zenbook S 13 has good build quality, while the Gateway 11.6" has poor build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$1,400
$89
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
The ASUS Zenbook S 13 has a price of $1,400 and the Gateway 11.6" costs $89.
Let Us Help Find Your Perfect Laptop
Find your new laptop
Key similarities
Portability
Best in Class
Excellent
13.3in
SIZE
11.6in
2.2 lbs
WEIGHT
2.6 lbs
0.4in
THICKNESS
0.7in
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers ASUS Zenbook S 13 to have best in class portability, while the Gateway 11.6" has excellent portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Give feedback
We’re constantly working to improve.
How the ASUS Zenbook S 13 and the Gateway 11.6" compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| ASUS Zenbook S 13 | Gateway 11.6" |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$1,400 | $89 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | April 1, 2023 | August 1, 2021 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 11.7'' x 8.5'' x 0.46'' | 11'' x 7.5'' x 0.7'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 2.2 lbs | 2.6 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 11.66" | 11" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 8.52" | 7.5" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel i7-1355U | Intel Celeron N4020 | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 32 GB | 4 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 5 | 4 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 0 | 0 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 1024 GB | 64 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 11 Hours | 8 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 63 Wh | Unknown | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 13.3" | 11.6" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | OLED | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 2880 x 1800 | 1366 x 768 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 60Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 365 nits | 200 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 7.6/10 | 5.1/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 9.5/10 | 9.2/10 | |
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 | 7/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 8/10 | 5.3/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 8.4/10 | 6/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 1080p | 720p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | No | No | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | Yes | No | |
Number Pad | |||
Number Pad | No | No | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
USB Type-A | |||
USB Type-A | 1 | 2 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 2 | 0 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | Yes | No | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 3 | 1 | |
Thunderbolt Version | |||
Thunderbolt Version | 4 | N/A | |
Shopping
ASUS Zenbook S 13
See more
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."
Get a great deal on the ASUS Zenbook S 13 or the Gateway 11.6"
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.
About Gateway
Gateway is a laptop and tablet brand owned by Acer which sells budget-friendly laptops exclusively through Walmart. It was previously an American computer company until its acquisition by Acer in 2007, who then revived the brand in 2020. Gateway laptops are manufactured by Chinese company Shenzhen Bmorn Technology, which also makes EVOO-branded models.
Give feedback
We're constantly perfecting our model
Laptop guides you might be interested in
More comparisons for you
FAQs
FAQs about laptops
Why trust us
This information was produced and vetted by the PerfectRec laptops team. We are a product research and recommendation organization that meticulously reviews and evaluates the latest laptop information and makes it digestible for you.
By the numbers
380
Laptops evaluated
48,640
Laptops stats compiled
13
Proprietary Laptops ratings developed
103,695
Recommendations made
22,468
Consumer hours saved
About the laptop team
Joe Golden, Ph.D
CEO and Laptops Editor
Joe is an entrepreneur and lifelong electronics enthusiast with a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Michigan.
Jason Lew
Staff Expert & Software Engineer
Jason is a staff expert and software engineer that has been making laptop recommendations for 7 years and moderates one of the largest laptop subreddits.
Chandradeep Chowdhury
Staff Expert & Software Engineer
Chandradeep is a staff expert and software engineer and expert in televisions and monitors. He’s been making monitor recommendations for ten years.
Craig Russell
Laptops Expert
Craig is a UK-based laptops expert. Craig works in IT, where he recommends and supports laptops and PCs for clients and has been recommending laptops on Reddit for five years.
Featured in
