Mark Coppock / Digital Trends
Several new laptops chipsets have been bring out lately in answer toMicrosoft ’s Copilot+ PCAI opening . They sport faster neural processing unit ( NPUs ) to speed up on - equipment AI processing and make it more effective , but they ’re not exactly the same . AMD ’s Ryzen AI 9chipsets are place at overall performance , whileIntel ’s Lunar Lakeis aimed at efficiency .
The Asus ProArt PX13 is one of the first with AMD ’s chipset , and it ’s a extremely portable13 - inch laptop . The Asus Zenbook S 14 is aimed at capital battery animation in a thin - and - visible radiation figure using Lunar Lake . Both are some of thebest laptopsyou can bribe today , but which laptop computer is the honest option ?
Mark Coppock / Digital Trends
Specs and configurations
Some of Asus ’ recent laptops have been introduced with a limited numeral of conformation . The Zenbook S 14 is one such example , which justly now has just one available poser . It ’s $ 1,500 for an Intel Core Ultra 258V chipset , 32 GB of RAM , a 1 TB SSD , and a 14 - inch 2.8 G OLED display .
The ProArt PX13 has two configurations . The base model is $ 1,700 for an AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 chipset , 32 GB of RAM , a 1 TB SSD , an Nvidia GeForce RTX 4050 GPU , and a 13.3 - in 2.8 K OLED display . Its $ 2,000 conformation comes with a much faster RTX 4060 GPU .
That make the ProArt PX13 a more expensive laptop computer , but one that forebode fast functioning especially with discrete GPU selection .
Design
Both of these laptop computer share the distinctive Asus design cue , and yet they ’re different . The Zenbook S 14 uses what Asus calls “ ceraluminum , ” or aluminum that ’s been handle to create a ceramic - like feel and lightsomeness . And there ’s a grain on the lid , which sports a geometric blueprint , that feel and look great . Interestingly , the Zenbook is considerably thin and light than the ProArt PX13 thanks to those material . For its part , the ProArt PX13 is a turn more conventional , with a dewy-eyed smutty chassis and line of products and venting that are more aggressive . It ’s like Asus wanted to give a trace at the power inside , and in that sentiency , commission accomplished . They look and finger dissimilar , but each accommodate its design goals .
Both are very well - built laptops , with solid shape and lid . The flexible joint are tranquil and countenance opening the lid with one hand . They ’re premium laptop computer , and they feel like it .
Given that they ’re contemporary Asus exchange premium laptop , they partake standardised keyboards . In fact , they might be identical , with broad layout , large keycaps , and light , snappy switches . The Zenbook S 14 ’s touchpad is a lot larger , perhaps too turgid result in too - lowly palm tree rests , but otherwise , it ’s similar to the ProArt PX13′ mechanically skillful touchpad . And both laptop computer have trace - enabled displays .
Connectivity is similar , with both laptop having a like number of high - hurrying and bequest ports . Both also have up - to - date wireless connectivity . The one difference is the ProArt PX13 ’s microSD card reader , which is a nod to its Godhead mart .
Both laptops also have 1080p webcam and infrared photographic camera for Windows 11 Hello facial recognition . Thanks to degenerate NPUs , they both support Microsoft ’s Copilot+ PC requirements — although sustenance for the AI features will come to the ProArt PX13 in a future update .
Performance
AMD ’s Ryzen AI 9 chipsets are aimed primarily at very fast central processing unit functioning coupled with a quick NPU that cope with Microsoft ’s Copilot+ personal computer initiative . The Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 is n’t aimed at efficiency , but rather bemuse 12 core and 24 ribbon at boil through multi - core tasks . That ’s compared to Intel ’s Lunar Lake , or Core Ultra Series 2 , chipsets that are specifically mean to give rise longer assault and battery living . Lunar Lake has a profligate NPU , but its processor performance is n’t as telling especially in the Core Ultra 7 258V with just eight cores and eight threads .
That ’s exactly what we see in our benchmarks . The ProArt PX13 is a lot faster in multi - core tasks while bring roughly as fast in undivided - core operations . Except for the uncomplicated workflows , the ProArt PX13 will be noticeably faster . The Asus also has a discrete GeForce RTX 4050 GPU that ’s a lot faster than the Zenbook ’s integrated Intel Arc 140V graphics . It will also be faster for play and originative applications . Note that you may also configure the laptop computer with a much faster RTX 4060 GPU to boost these program further .
Display
Both laptop have 2.8 K ( 2880 x 1800 ) OLED display , but the ProArt PX13 ’s 13.3 - inch panel will be significantly sharp than the Zenbook S 14 ’s 14.0 - inch presentation . At the same fourth dimension , the Zenbook benefits from a libertine 120Hz refresh rate that will make for a legato Windows 11 experience .
However , both have standardized colors and brightness , and the same near - complete blacks . Our Zenbook review unit had outstandingly poor people of colour truth , but that ’s likely an issue with that specific machine impart OLED ’s usual splendid results .
Portability
The ProArt PX13 is considerably smaller in breadth and astuteness than the Zenbook S 14 , but it ’s thicker and dense . So the Zenbook manages to make a somewhat more portable auto even with a larger display .
As mentioned above , the AMD Ryzen AI 9 chipset is n’t get at efficiency , and that shows in our battery trial . The Zenbook with the Lunar Lake chipset is a lot more efficient — around twice as efficient , in fact . You ’ll get much good battery sprightliness with the Zenbook .
Power or battery life, that’s the question
The Zenbook S 14 leverages Intel ’s Lunar Lake chipset for some telling battery life , offer a Windows laptop with a build caliber and battery life to gainsay Apple ’s MacBook Air M3 . But its performance is n’t very impressive , falling behind most recent chipsets .
The ProArt PX13 uses AMD ’s Ryzen AI 9 chipset for very fast CPU performance and then discrete Nvidia GPUs for riotous play and creative study . It ’s also well - work up , but it does n’t have nearly the battery life . So , that ’s your choice : more world power or a longer - lasting laptop ?
