Asus Zenbook S16’s flagship credentials give AMD footing in an AI PC juggernaut

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There’s a clear path the PC market is taking, and if you happen to’re spending prime cash now on one thing that isn’t actually synthetic intelligence (AI) succesful, you’ll be making a mistake. We now have the AI PC decoded, illustrating positive variations that dictate the specifics of a Copilot+ PC, Copilot PC, Subsequent-Gen AI PC, and AI Enabled PC. The main focus, and it’s protected to say that is nonetheless stage one of many course of, appears to be on setting the top-line. The theoretical efficiency benchmark, a flex of what PC makers can do with chips from AMD, Intel in addition to Qualcomm, in addition to AI options constructed into Microsoft Home windows 11 and certainly the one’s they develop on their very own. The Asus Zenbook S16 (2025), with the AMD Ryzen AI 7 350 processor, is yet one more premium AI laptop computer that has a really distinct undercurrent — AMD’s comeback, because it seems, with fairly some model.

The 2025 version of the Zenbook S16 is priced at ₹149,990 and the headline specs make for spectacular studying. (HT picture | Vishal Mathur)

The 2025 version of the Zenbook S16 is priced at ₹149,990 and the headline specs make for spectacular studying. The AMD Ryzen AI 7 350 has a 50 TOPS (or trillion operations per second; that makes this a Copilot+ PC) neural processing unit (or NPU) for AI compute, 24GB of reminiscence, and a 16-inch 3K decision OLED show that belies the compact type issue. The specs are precisely as you’d anticipate at this worth, however then once more, there may be an pressing have to widen portfolios of the 4 AI PC classifications, at lower cost factors too. The Zenbook S16, could be one other spectacular instance of what’s attainable.

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Asus has the design components spot on, and that’s one other method of claiming there may be continuity with a number of issues. That’s to be anticipated, because the portfolio and choices widen to incorporate equally spec-ed (and priced) machines with Intel, Qualcomm and now AMD chips. The Ceraluminum materials on the lid has been round since final 12 months, as has the broader aesthetic of the sample. This can be a slim machine, and but isn’t falling brief on connectivity, together with an HDMI port. No matter alternative you make between Scandinavian White and Zumaia Grey, this laptop computer is definitely a looker. Tipping the scales at 1.5kg for a 16-inch show, credit score is due for the groups that pieced this mixture.

The 16-inch 2,880 x 1,800 OLED touchscreen with a 120Hz refresh price, is without doubt one of the most interesting shows in laptops, at this time limit. It may be very vivid and equally subdued, and delivers very balanced in addition to correct colors at default settings — there may be in fact a ‘vivid’ possibility, if you happen to desire over-saturated colors, however even then, separation continues to be dealt with pretty effectively. Deep blacks do make every little thing look higher, be it paperwork, webpages or media. Asus’ show administration smarts, equivalent to the automated refresh to maintain an OLED show in good well being, have efficiently withstood the take a look at of time.

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With the type of specs that type the core of this Asus Zenbook S16, efficiency is rarely a doubt. Our expertise, as a major work laptop computer, testifies to a capability to not simply maintain efficiency effectively even underneath the type of multitasking load we might ship its method, bit additionally pretty strong battery lifetime of near 12 hours for many utilization, and round 14.5 hours if you happen to’re cautious with components equivalent to show brightness and reminiscence utilization. One might argue that Qualcomm chips get shut to twenty hours and upwards with related workloads, and that does maintain weight. There may be some fan noise that turns into obvious because the machine heats up on the underside when pressured with multi-tasking (it is extremely cool, remainder of the time), and that’s one thing which may maybe be improved with a firmware replace — the query then will likely be, will it compromise uncooked efficiency?

Anybody shopping for the Zenbook S16 that’s priced at ₹149,990 is undoubtedly paying prime cash for a laptop computer that ought to have longevity and promise — and the Zenbook S16 is effectively outfitted on each fronts. It delivers what one would anticipate, and a bit extra, with efficiency, battery stamina in addition to that beautiful show. It’s subsequently perplexing why Asus have left a number of issues to likelihood, equivalent to a reasonably middling webcam expertise (although that’s layered with AI too). On a Zoom name, it’s unlikely the opposite facet of the desk would get a whiff of the premium laptop computer you might have simply parted with some huge cash for. That’s maybe the one actual niggle, in an in any other case effectively thought by bundle.