Following our recent reviews of the Vivobook Pro 14 and Pro 15, we now move on to another new ASUS laptop, this time the Zenbook 14X OLED. Specifically, the UM5401 variant which is powered by an AMD Ryzen 5.
We actually first got to have our hands on this new Zenbook around a month ago, and in our impressions, we found it to present a compelling upgrade option for users that are in the market for a new ultrabook. Plus, it’s also a clear step up over previous Zenbooks, especially as it packs a higher-res OLED touch display, features other design and usability improvements.
Now that we’ve had more time to test the new Zenbook out though, does it deliver on its promise of being a good upgrade option? Find out here in our Zenbook 14X OLED (UM5401) review!
Geek-sthetic
Unlike the Vivobook Pro laptops which looked markedly different from standard Vivobooks, the Zenbook 14X OLED isn’t a major departure from its predecessors design-wise. This new Zenbook still features the ASUS signature concentric circle design, as well as its brushed metal finish. Though it does have a black ASUS logo instead of the chrome logo used in other Zenbooks. This is a small touch, but one we like as it makes the laptop look even sleeker and more low-profile.
From the front, the Zenbook 14X looks mostly the same as other Zenbook models, except for the screen. Unlike previous versions which had 16:9 displays, the 14X has a taller 16:10 OLED screen, meaning it gives users more screen real estate for productivity. For example, you can add more tools and/or layers in editing apps with a 16:10 screen, making it a better option for creatives.
For I/O, the Zenbook 14X packs the following ports: 1x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A, 2x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C, 1x HDMI 2.0, 1x 3.5mm Combo Audio Jack, and 1x micro SD card reader. Compared to other ultrabooks, the Zenbook 14X OLED’s I/O is great, though we would’ve preferred at least another USB Type-A port. This is because you’ll need a dongle if you use a USB Type-A mouse or another peripheral with this laptop.
Binge Watching Factor
As mentioned above, the Zenbook 14X has a 14-inch OLED touch display. Aside from using an OLED panel, the laptop’s screen also has a 2880×1800 resolution, as well as slim bezels. Adding these up, you get a laptop screen that’s an excellent partner for binge-watching your favorite movies and TV shows. This is thanks to the vibrant colors, deep blacks, and high resolution of the screen.
While the 16:10 aspect ratio does mean you’ll get bigger black bars when watching widescreen (2.35:1) content, the deep blacks of the OLED screen makes this less of an issue.
Aside from being a good binge-watching device, the laptop’s display should also be color accurate enough for creative professionals. This is thanks to the Pantone validation of the Zenbook 14X’s screen — a certification which promises accurate color reproduction. On top of this, the laptop’s screen also has a 90Hz refresh rate which makes the laptop feel even smoother in use.
Sound Trip
As always, ASUS packed the Zenbook 14X with harman/kardon-tuned stereo speakers. While we weren’t expecting much given previous Zenbooks had average speakers, we found that the 14X’s sound has been much improved. While it could still be a bit louder, the volume is improved considerably over previous Zenbook models, all while retaining good sound quality.
Typing Experience
As a compact 14-inch laptop, the Zenbook 14X OLED packs a tenkeyless keyboard (meaning there’s no dedicated number pad). Instead, this Zenbook uses ASUS’ proprietary Numberpad 2.0 which integrates a number pad to the trackpad. This is a nifty feature that can be turned on or off depending on a user’s needs; great news for those who need a number pad for work/school.
For typing, the keyboard of the Zenbook 14X is comfortable to type on, even for writing long articles, reports, or essays.
One thing worth highlighting is the power button which also packs a fingerprint scanner, making for hassle-free security. This is a feature that the new Zenbook shares with the Vivobook Pro models, and we hope to see it in the rest of ASUS’ family of notebooks.
Gaming Prowess
The Zenbook 14X is not a gaming laptop, and it doesn’t have a dedicated graphics card, but we still tried out a couple of games on the notebook to see how the Ryzen 5 5600H and Radeon Graphics will hold up.
While triple A games are pretty much out of the question here given the lack of a dedicated graphics card, the Zenbook 14X does have enough power to play today’s popular esports titles.
For example, the laptop ran Dota 2 with an average of 80FPS on the Medium graphics settings and at 1800p. As for Overwatch, the laptop ran the game at 70FPS on average, but that’s on the Low graphics setting and a 1080p.
Meanwhile, here are the synthetic benchmark scores of the Zenbook 14X OLED:
The Zenbook 14X OLED scored 5586 on PCMark10, a great score as it indicates great productivity performance. Meanwhile, the laptop got a 121234 score on 3DMark Sky Diver (we had trouble running the Night Raid benchmark).
Everyday Reliability
For everyday use, the Zenbook 14X OLED passes with flying colors. The laptop’s Ryzen 5 processor and 16GB of RAM gives enough power and speed to run daily apps with no issues. The laptop can also handle some photo editing and some light video editing, great news for users who sometimes need to do creative work for work/school.
Another great thing about the new Zenbook is its long battery life. After running a 2 and 1/2 hour movie at 50% brightness and volume, the laptop still had 70% remaining. This is impressive considering the high resolution and the touch capabilities of the display as we imagined that these would take a toll on battery life.
Speaking of touch capabilities, the Zenbook 14X OLED also comes bundled with an ASUS pen. Unlike tablet pens which clip magnetically to a device, this pen doesn’t seem to stick to the laptop. Plus, it is not charged by the laptop itself and is instead powered by a AAAA battery.
Having a stylus is a nice option, especially for those who create artwork while on-the-go. But this likely won’t be a tablet replacement, especially as the laptop is not a convertible, so you’ll either need to draw while laying it flat, or in the usual laptop configuration.
Final Geek Lifestyle Verdict
With its great performance, display, design, and battery life, the Zenbook 14X OLED is definitely a laptop that you should check out. Even though the touch display does make us wish that this laptop had a convertible form factor, there’s still a lot to love with this notebook. And while it has a PHP 64,995 price tag, it should be worth getting for users shopping for a premium ultrabook.
Zenbook 14X OLED UM5401 Specs:
- Processor: AMD Ryzen 5 5600H processor
- Installed Memory: 16GB
- Operating System: Windows 10 Home
- GPU: AMD Radeon Graphics
- Storage: 512GB SSD
- Display: 14-inch WQXGA+ (2880 x 1600) OLED touch screen with a 90Hz refresh rate
- Ports:
- 1x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A
- 2x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C
- 1x HDMI 2.0
- 1x 3.5mm Combo Audio Jack
- Micro SD card reader
- Price: PHP 64,995