Cutting-edge laptop with AI capabilities hits new low price: ASUS’ Zenbook S 16 OLED Copilot+ PC, featuring the latest AMD Ryzen AI 9 365 Strix Point APU, is now available at Best Buy for $1,149.99, a $250 discount from its original price.
- The laptop, which debuted in June 2024 at $1,400, saw its first price cut in September, but this new deal marks its lowest price to date.
- This offering presents an alternative to ARM-based processors, particularly Qualcomm’s solutions.
Key specifications and features: The Zenbook S 16 OLED boasts impressive hardware and design elements that position it as a high-performance, AI-capable laptop.
- It’s powered by AMD’s Ryzen AI 9 365 Strix Point APU, which includes a 10-core Zen 5 CPU and an RDNA 3.5 Radeon 880M GPU.
- The processor incorporates an NPU (Neural Processing Unit) with 50 TOPs (Trillion Operations Per Second) for AI tasks, making it one of the first x86 laptops to support Microsoft’s new Copilot+ features.
- The laptop comes equipped with 24GB of LPDDR5X RAM and a 1TB Gen 4 SSD for fast storage and multitasking capabilities.
- Its 16-inch 3K OLED display supports up to 120Hz refresh rate and touch inputs, offering vibrant visuals and smooth interactions.
- The device features an all-metal chassis measuring just 0.43 inches thin, combining durability with portability.
Display technology: ASUS has incorporated its Lumina OLED display technology, enhancing the visual experience for users.
- The screen boasts 3K resolution for crisp, detailed images.
- It offers 500-nit peak HDR brightness and covers 100% of the DCI-P3 color gamut, ensuring vivid and accurate color reproduction.
- The 16:10 aspect ratio provides additional vertical screen space compared to traditional 16:9 displays.
Performance and multitasking: The Zenbook S 16 is designed to handle demanding workloads and accelerate local AI processes.
- The combination of the Ryzen AI 9 Processor and 24GB of LPDDR5X RAM clocked at up to 7500MHz enables smooth performance across various tasks.
- Users can expect efficient handling of gaming, editing, and everyday browsing activities.
Design and build quality: ASUS has focused on creating a premium feel and portable form factor with the Zenbook S 16.
- The all-metal chassis is CNC-milled for precision and rigidity, contributing to a high-quality build.
- Despite its powerful internals, the laptop maintains a lightweight profile, enhancing portability.
Alternative budget option: For those seeking a more affordable option, ASUS offers the Vivobook S 15 Copilot+ PC.
- Currently priced at $650, down from $900, it features a 15-inch 3K OLED panel.
- The Vivobook S 15 is powered by a Snapdragon X Plus ARM chip, offering a different architecture compared to the x86-based Zenbook S 16.
Market implications and future outlook: The introduction of AI-capable laptops at more accessible price points signals a shift in the personal computing landscape.
- As AI features become more prevalent in everyday computing tasks, we may see increased competition in this space, potentially driving further innovations and price reductions.
- The adoption of dedicated AI hardware in mainstream laptops could accelerate the development of AI-enhanced applications and user experiences, potentially reshaping how we interact with our devices in the near future.
ASUS Zenbook S 16 OLED Copilot+ PC with AMD Ryzen AI 9 365 falls to a new low at $1,150 ($250 off)