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The ASUS ZenBook lineup has been around
for more than a decade, and it’s no
doubt a household name for Windows
laptops at this point. It often caters
to those who need something for work or
school, assuming you’re still a student,
but want something with a bit more
features and maybe even power. Today,
we’re looking at the 2026 ASUS ZenBook S
16. If you still remember our review of
the ZenBook S 14 last year, there are
quite a few noticeable differences both
inside and out. However, the big
question remains. Is the ZenBook S 16,
well, at least the ZenBook lineup, still
the go-to for users who want more than
an average everyday laptop? Let’s find
out in this review.
The first thing I notice about the 2026
[music] ASUS ZenBook S 16 is the design
of the lid. Gone are the long lines,
instead we find a much more cleaner
look. Somewhat miss the unique design
cue, but we find that the cleaner look
lends to a more premium and professional
feel, especially in this Scandinavian
white color. The only downside is that
it looks a lot more basic. The only
design cue now is just a small ASUS
ZenBook block lettering at the center.
Despite the redesigned lid though, ASUS
still uses the same Ceramic material as
before. Not only is it light, but it
also makes the laptop premium to the
touch. And it’s also quite
resistant. Speaking of resistant, we
also like how smudge resistant the lid
is even when we had sweaty hands. We
didn’t leave any fingerprints when
opening or closing the lid, or even
right now. Although it’s a bit more
subtle, the 2026 ASUS ZenBook S 16 is
also a lot slimmer than before. It only
measures 1.1 cm thick, making it easy to
fit in any kind of bag. Well, assuming
the large dimensions fit the bag. Do
remember it’s still a 16-in laptop.
Still, it’s quite a lightweight laptop
for something that’s 16 in, weighing
only 1.5 kg. For reference, the entire
laptop is made out of metal. No cheap
plastics here. With that, your back will
thank you for carrying a lighter laptop
around should you choose to work
outdoors and touch grass at the same
time. Open up the ZenBook S 16 and we’ll
find the large display, which we’ll get
to in a bit. Instead, let’s focus on the
keyboard and trackpad. It’s not a
full-size keyboard and I find that this
is a missed opportunity from ASUS.
There’s still a lot on the sides of the
keyboard. In our opinion, they could
have added at least a numpad. However,
the upside to this layout is that the
keys don’t feel cramped and there’s a
lot of space where you can rest your
hand and palms. As for the keyboard
itself, it’s soft to the touch. The
chiclet keys themselves are quiet to
barely making a sound when I hit them,
which is great for a quiet, crowded
environment. There’s also decent travel,
which helps improve comfort. I didn’t
have any problems typing up some of the
reviews I’m working on using this
laptop. Even after hours of typing, my
fingers never felt tired. And like most
modern ASUS laptops, the glass trackpad
itself is huge, starting from the bottom
of the keyboard and extending up to the
lower edge of the laptop. It’s smooth to
touch and relatively smudge-resistant,
too, which is perfect for those who are
OC. Not to mention, it features
multi-touch gestures, allowing users to
quickly adjust settings such as
brightness, volume, and media playback.
But yes, no issues with Windows trackpad
gestures here, either, so you can still
use those. Now, despite its large size,
the trackpad has good palm rejection.
Even if users rest their palms on the
trackpad, it won’t interfere when typing
on the keyboard. [music] And what we
like about the ZenBook S 16 is that even
with a slimmer body, there are still a
bunch of ports available for users.
There are two USB Type-C 4.0 Gen 3 ports
on the left side that feature power
delivery and display out, along with an
HDMI 2.1 port and a 3.5 mm audio port.
On the right side, there’s a USB A 3.0
port, and thankfully, a full-size SD
card reader, which is slowly
disappearing from most laptops, sadly.
That means creatives no longer need to
bring a separate SD card dongle around
with them should they want to edit
photos on the go. Unfortunately, the
same can’t be said for microSD card
users, but there are adapters. And we’d
rather have a full-size over a micro
anyway. Now, some of you still might
find the slots lacking, especially since
the charging is done via either of the
USB C ports. If that’s the case, we
recommend bringing a USB hub just in
case. Now, moving on to the part of the
laptop we look at the most,
the display. The 16-in screen is
probably one of our favorite features of
the Zenbook S [music] 16 since it uses
ASUS Lumina OLED panel that supports a
3K resolution along with a 120 Hz
refresh rate. Oh, did I mention that
this is also a touchscreen, by the way?
It’s a glossy display, but thankfully,
there’s not a lot of glare even when
you’re using it in places with a lot of
light and reflections. But, if there’s
still a lot of light, you will still get
reflections. In addition, ASUS says the
panel has a maximum HDR peak brightness
of 1,000 nits, making it more than
usable outdoors. Since it’s an OLED, the
colors are beautiful, and the blacks are
very deep. This made it perfect for
watching movies on Netflix or other
streaming apps, allowing users to fully
utilize a 3K resolution panel. With the
120 Hz refresh rate, there’s smooth and
fluid animations, too, which is
noticeable even when we’re just playing
with the mouse on the desktop. It’s the
gamers who will benefit from the 120 Hz
display the [music] most. And yes, this
laptop can be used for gaming, but we’ll
delve into that a bit later. As expected
from OLED display, the viewing angles
are great. There is practically no color
shift even when watching from extreme
angles. It also helps that the bezels
are quite thin, giving users more screen
real estate. Users can also adjust
display settings via Dolby settings to
match the mood of whatever they’re
watching. Together with the six-speaker
sound system, watching shows in the
Zenbook S 16 is very enjoyable. Not only
is it loud, but the quality is better
than most laptop speakers we’ve tried.
There’s decent bass while the mids and
highs have clear separations. The
clarity is great, too, and there’s a
decent sound stage assuming you’re
sitting in front of the laptop directly.
The speakers can also be fine-tuned via
the Dolby settings app, but for those
who aren’t audiophiles, you can just
leave it in dynamic and Dolby Atmos will
automatically adjust the EQ for you.
Powering our specific unit of the 2026
ASUS Zenbook S 16 is an AMD Ryzen 9 465
AI processor with 32 GB of RAM and 1 TB
of SSD storage. There’s also an AMD XDNA
NPU up to 50 tops. Unfortunately, ASUS
RAM is not upgradeable, meaning it’s
soldered, but 32 GB is more than enough
for most users anyway. There’s no
dedicated GPU, instead there’s only an
AMD Radeon 880M integrated GPU. With
that, users should manage their
expectations when it comes to gaming
performance on this laptop. The Zenbook
isn’t a gaming laptop after all. I mean,
ASUS has their entire ROG lineup for
that, but I digress. Now, for getting
work done, the specs are more than
capable. The Ryzen 9 processor is very
capable for virtually any task we threw
at it. It can handle most of our
productivity apps without any issues.
Multitasking is great on the Zenbook S
16. You could run Chrome with multiple
tabs open along with Photoshop and
Lightroom all at the same time. You
could even throw in Spotify and Discord
and it still runs well. Editing on
Lightroom, Photoshop, or Premiere is a
breeze, too. It didn’t take long to
export photos or 4K videos. And together
with the beautiful OLED display, it was
a pleasure working on the go, especially
as someone who is a creative. Now, while
the Zenbook is made for productivity, we
also tested it to see how it could
handle some games. We started with
Genshin Impact and it was able to run
the game relatively smooth on medium
graphics when just exploring the map.
However, we noticed that there are some
occasional frame rate drops when getting
into battles like running spiral abyss.
Now, for a more graphic intensive
titles, we also ran the new Neverness to
Everness game, and it had a hard time
with this. Even on the lowest settings,
we needed to play in windowed mode in
order for the game to run somewhat
smoothly. Then again, this is expected
considering there’s no dGPU, but that is
best to play lighter titles on this
laptop. At the same time, the Zenbook S
16 has a tendency to heat up when
playing games. We felt it on the sides
of the keyboard and the top portion near
the exhaust. Fortunately, it’s limited
to those areas alone. Of course, we also
ran our usual benchmarks, and you can
check out our scores on the screen right
now.
2026 ASUS Zenbook S 16 comes with
Windows 11 out of the box. This being a
Copilot Plus laptop, there’s also
Microsoft Copilot pre-installed. There’s
even a dedicated Copilot button on the
keyboard quickly launch the AI
assistant. There’s also a bunch of
pre-installed ASUS apps that can make
work life easier like MyASUS, Screen
Expert, StoryCube, and GlideX. The one
we use the most is Screen Expert since
it’s always active on the bottom right
corner of the screen. We can quickly
adjust parameters of the Zenbook without
having to fiddle around with the
settings. There’s also the option to
quickly launch apps side by side, which
some users might find useful depending
on their productivity workflow. Not to
mention Microsoft Office Home 2024 comes
pre-installed, too. Powering the 2026
Zenbook S 16 [music] is a large 82 W
hour battery pack, which is huge for a
laptop of this segment. And it’s not
just a brochure figure, too. It actually
lasts quite a long time, more than
[music] enough for an entire day of use.
ASUS claims it has a battery life of 23
hours, and from our experience, they’re
not too far off. For reference, I
started the day using the Zenbook S16
with around 90% battery before arriving
at the UGeek HQ at around 3:00 p.m.
Given how busy we were that day, we
spent the entire afternoon finishing up
written reviews, [music] editing photos,
and doing some web research for future
projects. And by the time I arrived home
at 9:00 p.m., I still had around 69 to
70% battery life left. At first, I was
quite concerned because I forgot to
bring the 68 W charger since I left it
at home. But considering that the
battery barely drained after everything
I did, I was confident battery life
wouldn’t be a big issue with this
laptop. Best of all, it charges via any
of the USB-C ports. [music] So, for
those who don’t want to bring the
charger with them, it’s possible to
charge it via a capable power bank and a
USB-C cable. Charging speeds may vary
due to the max 68 W charging rate
though, so do keep that in mind. Now,
for connectivity, the Zenbook S16
features Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4.
Overall, there’s a lot of changes ASUS
made to the Zenbook S16 to make
productivity life easier, but it still
remains the familiar feel we’ve come to
love from the Zenbook line. The lid
might have been redesigned, but style is
subjective. What we enjoyed though is
the slimmer design and a relatively
lighter chassis. If anything, our only
concern about the 2026 ASUS Zenbook S16
is the price. We’re not surprised by the
price jump given how expensive computer
parts have become though. But for
reference, at the time we recorded this
video, this laptop retails for 130 4,995
pesos on the ASUS Philippines website.
So, if you’re still using a relatively
new laptop, we wouldn’t recommend
upgrading just yet. But for those who
need to get work done fast and want a
capable laptop for productivity,
creative work, and light gaming, you
definitely can’t go wrong with the 2026
[music] ASUS Zenbook S16. But so far,
what do you guys think of the new ASUS
Zenbook S16? Would you consider
upgrading to this or would you choose a
different laptop entirely? Whatever the
case, share your thoughts in the
comments [music]
below. And of course, if you enjoyed
this video, found it informative, please
do drop a like and subscribe to watch
more. Don’t forget to follow us on our
social media platforms such as Facebook,
Instagram, X, and TikTok. And of course,
visit yugatech.com for the latest tech
news and reviews. Once again, this has
been a say. I’ll see you guys next
review. See?
It’s light. I’ve been holding it for the
entirety of this video.
⚠️ This transcription is auto-generated from YouTube captions. Some text may not be 100% accurate.
The ASUS ZenBook lineup has been a staple for over a decade, but the 2026 ZenBook S 16 is shaking things up. In this video, we take a closer look at this ultra-thin laptop that packs serious power without a dedicated GPU. Are you looking for a work or school laptop that feels premium and performs like a champ? We explore the redesigned lid, the smudge-resistant ceramic finish, and the surprisingly slim 1.1 cm profile. But does it still deliver the performance you need for heavy tasks? Watch as we test it out and share our honest thoughts. Spoiler: it might just surprise you.
What You’ll See in This Video
- Redesigned lid with a cleaner, more premium look in Scandinavian white.
- Same lightweight Ceramic material that resists smudges even with sweaty hands.
- Ultra-slim at just 1.1 cm thick, making it easy to slip into any bag.
- Still a 16-inch laptop, so double-check your bag size before buying.
- No dedicated GPU, but still packs a punch for work and school tasks.
Curious if this ultra-thin laptop can handle your daily grind? Hit play on the video above to see our full review and find out if the ZenBook S 16 is the perfect fit for you.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the ASUS ZenBook S 16 available in the Philippines?
Yes, the ZenBook S 16 is expected to hit local stores soon. Check with ASUS Philippines for exact availability and pricing.
Does it have a dedicated GPU?
No, the 2026 ZenBook S 16 does not come with a dedicated GPU. It relies on integrated graphics, which is fine for work and school tasks but not for heavy gaming or video editing.
How much does the ZenBook S 16 cost?
Pricing details are not yet confirmed for the Philippines, but based on previous models, expect it to start around PHP 70,000 to PHP 90,000 depending on the configuration.
Is the ceramic lid durable?
Yes, the Ceramic material is both light and resistant to scratches. It also resists smudges, so your laptop stays looking clean even after long use.
Can it fit in a standard backpack?
It’s only 1.1 cm thick, so it will fit easily in most bags. Just make sure your bag is wide enough for a 16-inch laptop.
Frequently Asked Questions
What material is used for the ASUS Zenbook S16 (2026) chassis?
The ASUS Zenbook S16 (2026) uses the same Ceramic material as before.
How has the lid design changed on the 2026 ASUS Zenbook S16?
The lid now has a cleaner look with small ASUS ZenBook block lettering at the center.
What is the color of the 2026 ASUS Zenbook S16 reviewed?
The reviewed unit comes in a Scandinavian white color.
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