Confession time: I’m virtually a card-carrying member of the Apple fan club. Apples products, MacBooks included have been my digital companions for years, their sleek design and seamless macOS experience fueling my productivity and, let’s be honest, my tech snobbery. Sure, I had a fling with a Huawei Matebook or two during my stint at the company, but truth be told, that was more about brand loyalty than genuine affection.
So, when the Asus Zenbook S 16 landed on my desk, I was intrigued, but skeptical. Could a Windows laptop really hold a candle to my beloved MacBook? After courting it for a while, I’m surprised to admit that the Zenbook S 16 comes closer than I ever expected, especially when it comes to power, design, and that elusive “premium” feel.
A Different Kind of Premium
The Zenbook S 16 doesn’t immediately scream “MacBook killer.” At least for me it doesn’t. Its Ceraluminum chassis, a blend of ceramic and aluminium, feels undeniably high-end, though perhaps not quite as solid as a MacBook Pro. Still, it’s incredibly thin and at just 1.5kg light it’s a real joy to carry around. The “Scandinavian White” finish of my review unit is a refreshing change from Apple’s usual greys and silvers and it looks fantastic.
The OLED screen is a real knockout. With its sharp resolution (2880×1800) and vibrant colors, it rivals the best Retina displays. The 120Hz refresh rate adds a buttery smoothness that even Apple hasn’t matched yet. Whether I was editing photos, binging Netflix or just browsing the web, the display was a constant source of visual delight.
The keyboard and trackpad are essential elements of any laptop and can often make or break the experience, and the Zenbook S 16 doesn’t disappoint here either. The keyboard is spacious and comfortable, with decent key travel – while the trackpad is large and responsive, with excellent multi-touch gesture support that will feel instantly familiar to macOS users.
AMD Flexes its Muscles
When it comes to performance, Apple’s M-series chips are the undisputed champions. So, I was curious to see how the AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX CPU and Radeon 890M GPU would measure up. In short, they hold their own remarkably well.
Everyday tasks like web browsing and document editing are handled with ease – Creative work, such as photo and video editing, posed no problems at all. The Zenbook S 16 also boasts dedicated AI processing capabilities.While we’ve seen AI make its way into smartphones and tablets, this is one of the first high-end laptops to fully embrace on-device AI processing, though I haven’t fully explored those features yet – but going by the tests and reviews of various publications, it seems to hold up very well in this area too.
Battery life is another area where the Zenbook S 16 shines. I consistently got around 13 hours of use on a single charge, thanks to its power-efficient AMD Ryzen architecture – And that’s nothing to scoff at.
Connectivity and More
One of my biggest gripes with MacBooks is the lack of ports. I’ve always found it frustrating having to use a dongle or an adapter just to connect my camera or to connect to a screen for a business meeting. The Zenbook S 16, on the other hand, offers a generous selection, including USB-C, HDMI 2.1, and a full-sized SD card reader. Wi-Fi 7 support provides a degree of future-proofing, though Wi-Fi 6 is still more than adequate for most current needs.
The Harman Kardon speakers are surprisingly good for a laptop this thin. While they don’t quite match the audio quality of a MacBook Pro, they’re more than capable of providing an enjoyable listening experience.
Geek Verdict
The Zenbook S 16 has made me rethink my Windows laptop prejudices. It’s a well-designed, powerful machine that offers a compelling alternative to the MacBook, especially for those who value battery life, connectivity and a gorgeous design. While I’m not quite ready to abandon the Apple ecosystem, the Zenbook S 16 has definitely earned a place in my heart.
The ASUS online store is currently running a special offer on the Zenbook S 16 at R38,999
