Special variant laptop computer rarely pass on a hold up mental picture . Most total a new colour dodging to an exist chassis or slap some horrific promo stigmatization on the eyelid to entice fans of a popular movie franchise . Asus ’ Zenbook 14X OLED Space Editionisn’t one of those half - assed entries . In the 14X OLED , the Taiwanese laptop Almighty crafted an authentic notebook filled with sport Easter egg space lovers will geek out over . It also copulate that striking pattern with a sensational OLED display , rocket - fueled execution , and a generous selection of interface . These traits — minus one major defect – raise the 14X OLED to be a genuine contender among portable laptops , and not just some selling widget .
It ’s remove the Space Edition is crucial to Asus , which is n’t but jumping on a trend but immortalise a bit in its account . It turns out that in 1997 , Asus sent P6300 and P6100 laptops to orbit on the Soviet Union - work up Mir space place , the first modular space station , and the first populate farseeing - term research station in space . Asus claims the laptop lasted the entire 600 - solar day mission without any issues , so in memorial of this feat , the society plan a special space edition reading of its flagship portable laptop .
Asus Zenbook 14X OLED Space Edition
Photo: Phillip Tracy/Gizmodo
Asus boldly start where no human has gone before , crafting a marvelous space - themed laptop computer with arugula - comparable performance and a breathtaking OLED screen . The flight time , though , is a shame .
What is it ?
A space - theme version of Asus ' flagship Zenbook portable laptop
Photo: Phillip Tracy/Gizmodo
monetary value
$ 1,999
Pros
Photo: Phillip Tracy/Gizmodo
like an expert craft space - themed intention , Gorgeous 2.8 K OLED display , Speedy Core i9 CPU , The important port are all here
bunco
tragical battery life story for a portable system , No IR television camera , Not cheap
Photo: Phillip Tracy/Gizmodo
Zenbook 14X OLED Space Edition price and configurations
The14X OLED Space Editionis currently available in a individual $ 1,999 configuration with an Intel Core i9 - 12900 CPU , 32 GB of LPDDR5 RAM , a 1 TB SSD , and Iris Xe graphics . It has a 14 - inch , 2.8 one thousand OLED display .
Morse and Mir
Glass panels seem to be Asus ’ new matter , and I ’m not complaining . The window on the ROG Flow Z13 revealed a section of the motherboard , illuminated in resplendent RGB . On this blank - themed lid is a 3.5 - inch , 256 x 64 resolving OLED panel that can be tailor-make to show substance , indicant , or animations . you could upload graphics on the panel or bike a GIF , interchangeable to the dot AniME Matrix on theROG Zephyrus G14 .
By default , the panel indicate an spaceman floating between three connected circles ( planet ? ) with star in the background next to wink and shoot symbols . I found other fun option in the customization incision of the MyAsus app . My favourite is an outline of the solar scheme that shows where each major planet dwell in relation to the Dominicus , though a close contender is a quick animation of the Mir station being piece together . As whimsical as these are , I ’d probably choose for a more operable animation , like the preset that depict the time , day of the month , and battery life icon when you close up the eyelid . There is also a unsubdivided textual matter editor program where you’re able to write a custom substance ( let ’s keep it classy , folks ) .
Stray from the infinite theme and thing get real funky . More a party thaumaturgy than a legitimate job hunt method , the OLED panel can be turned into a business card with a QR computer code . I submitted my name , deed , and website , and the computer software make a novel - age business placard that would wrick Patrick Bateman into a pacificist . I imagine , and promise , zero masses glance over the back of my laptop computer , but even if they assay , the slow refresh pace of the OLED panel makes it almost impossible without manually retard down your shutter speed ( as I did above ) . And if a digital business card was n’t strange enough , you could go full customs and upload your own photograph . I test it with a selfie I shot on the webcam and instantly regret the decision .
Photo: Phillip Tracy/Gizmodo
More cosmos - theme design elements continue onto the deck , where distance capsule and morse codification topic coming back . To the left of the palm relief is a MIR space post blueprint , while two railway line on both sides of the touchpad are meant to resemble a cockpit . It ’s not for everyone , but as someone growing progressively bored of understated minimalism , this chassis speaks to me .
Designed for space nerds
But what do I know about space ? I ’m just the laptop guy . To give you an expert opinion , I Slacked Gizmodo ’s nonmigratory distance expert and asked them what they call back of the Zenbook 14X ’s chassis .
Here is what they say :
Isaac Schultz , science writer :
Photo: Phillip Tracy/Gizmodo
“ My straightaway reaction is that if something is really a space computer , it should have a glaring red oculus and a desire to kill off man . This laptop computer evidently lacks those feature . That suppose , highlighting the space legal community is a nice , punny spot , and I imagine it is a pretty machine . ”
George Dvorsky , fourth-year reporter :
“ quad dweeb should get a kick out of this laptop computer , specially while designate it off to their jealous infinite nerd friends — but they do want to hide the shipping box , which regrettably impersonate Pluto as a major planet . The colored spacebar with the Saturn logo is a prissy touch , as is the patterned Mir space station . The dynamic , customizable presentation on the lid is super coolheaded , too . ”
Photo: Phillip Tracy/Gizmodo
“ That said , the space - themed conception is a chip qabalistic , and it might take some explaining . The content in Morse code , a format that ’s only very seldom used in blank , translates to a latin phrase , which itself needs translation into English . And it ’s not completely obvious that the arc origin act the surface of a space capsule . Still , the laptop computer looks streamlined and futuristic , and sure as shooting something that should appeal to spaceflight junkies . ”
Kevin Hurler , break news newsman :
“ It looks like it was ripped from the pages of a skill fiction novel — its awing . I ca n’t stop look at it . ”
Photo: Phillip Tracy/Gizmodo
Passant Rabie , news reporter :
“ It palpate like it ’s dead nestle between the yesteryear and the hereafter , pay homage to the historic place geezerhood while also keeping up with where space travel is headed with its futuristic and sleek design . ”
So yeah , overall , you ’ve done good , Asus . Anyway , discount the glitz and glam and you have a sleek , lightweight arrangement with a modernistic purpose . At 12.24 x 8.7 x 0.6 in and 3.1 quid , the Zenbook 14X is portable , nearly match the sizing of theLenovo Yoga 9i(12.5 x 9.1 x 0.6 inches , 3.1 pound ) . It also feels well - built , and Asus claims the Zenbook expire not only military - grade tests , but the space - degree vibration and temperature tests used to test if a laptop computer can maneuver in a space capsule .
Photo: Phillip Tracy/Gizmodo
Asus deserve applause for squeezing in as many ports as it did . On the leftover edge are two Thunderbolt 4 port for up to 40 Gbps charge , next to an HDMI 2.0 porthole . On the opposite side is a 3.5 mm phone jack and a USB 3.2 Type - A stimulus . A USB - C - to - Ethernet adapter comes in the fancy space - theme corner , which can be origamied into a laptop outdoor stage . How neat ! last , a microSD card one-armed bandit blend into the vent cutout on the right edge . You also get the latest Wi - Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.2 support , but no IR television camera .
The Harmon Kardon - tuned dual bottom - firing speakers voice good . There was a amazingly meaty thud to the freshwater bass notes in half active ’s “ still feel . ” and Glass Animals ’ “ Heat Waves , ” while the treble and midrange were crisp . Not every genre or song sounded great ; more three-fold - laborious melodic phrase can get pierce at louder loudness , as I notice listen to Yahritza Y Su Esencia ’s “ Soy El Unico , ” and Jessie Reyez ’s “ Apple Juice . ” you could get elbow room - filling phone out of these , but they ’re good in the 50 - 70 % orbit .
Traditional keyboard, space-age touchpad
I like the keyboard ’s looks more than how it feels . directly grabbing my tending was a dusty redness ( Mars inspired ? ) powerfulness button ( and fingerprint detector ) and spacebar , the latter of which has a cute little planet logo on the right side while the former is trimmed in chrome . The other keys match the deck ’s “ Zero - G Titanium ” color , a sort of gray silver with hint of Robert Brown , look on the lighting .
There is nothing especial about the typing experience . As per common on portable laptops , the key are rather shallow and are lack that satisfying tactile snap you get on larger laptop computer or external computer peripheral . On the plus side , the backlit tile are a decent size and nicely spaced , so my digit felt right at place from the outset . The full deck is slant at a 3 - degree angle , a shift Asus claim will improve comfort , though I did n’t notice much benefit . Either way of life , I did well on a interchangeable typing test , hitting a 96 % accuracy at a rate of 118 words per hour .
The touchpad is also familiar . It ’s a good size of it , at 5.1 x 2.9 inches , and its fluid looking glass open was antiphonal to my mercurial swipes and gestures , including three - finger swipes up to switch between windows . It looks like a normal touchpad until you tapdance a tiny icon in the top - right box and enable an LED - light up numpad cover atop the rectangular surface . The corking tinge sensing element reliably registered the number I tapped . I just had to remember to turn the numpad off to avoid unexpectedly punching in numbers when assay to leave - dog .
Photo: Phillip Tracy/Gizmodo
Enter the abyss
What better way to strike out Asus ’ journey into space than to equip its laptop with a screen that achieves perfect drear tier . Yes , the 14 - inch , 2.8 super C ( 2800 x 1800 - pixel ) display is OLED , and it ’s just as magical as those LG or Sony television you lust for at your local electronics store .
Naturally , I watch Interstellar on Paramount+ , and its cinematic blaze was on full display on the 14X ’s OLED panel . Space was an inky-black sorry abyss , illuminated only by distant stars . Conversely , the snowy blanched major planet on which Matt Damon loses his creative thinker was a crisp white . Every color popped off the panel with splendid chromaticity , and with a peak of 365 nits , the screen gets bright enough for outdoor use . One curio I ’ve note with all OLED laptop computer panels is that a pixel grille is visible on white backgrounds ; it was disquiet at first , but I finally learned to see past it .
Asus claim the display brood 100 % of the DCI - P3 color space , is assert for VESA DisplayHDR 500 True Black , and is Pantone validated to have accurate vividness out of the box . Also interesting to note is the claim that this OLED screen emits 70 % less harmful blue light . While this is n’t a gambling laptop , the screen has a 90Hz refresh pace , a little motion upgrade from the stock 60Hz to go along with its 0.2ms reaction clock time .
Photo: Phillip Tracy/Gizmodo
It ’s nice to see Asus answer some of the fear people rightly have about OLED panels , namely around burning - in . The imprinted “ LG ” logo on my TV proves this is n’t some cabal theory — burn - in is literal , however rare . To prevent images from being permanently engrained in the Zenbook ’s display , Asus is shipping the laptop computer with dark modality enabled , and including an motorcar screen - slur characteristic after slug for 5 mo .
Also , a special burn - in - bar screensaver will turn on when the panel is light for longer than 30 minutes . If that was n’t reassurance enough , Samsung ’s tan - in refine technology is onboard and the screen comes with a 7,000 - time of day ( at 200 nits ) warrant .
Rocket powered
If the Zenbook 14X is a spaceship , its Intel Core i9 - 12900H CPU is the Saturn V. It ’s a potent skyrocket of a processor , capable of running demand undertaking without losing thrust , especially when aided with a generous 32 GB of LPDDR5 RAM and 1 TB PCIe 4.0 payload . I ’m frankly baffled by how much power Asus crammed in this small chassis , and it paid off . I go a few dozen Chrome apps , some of which were streaming music or videos , edit the photos you see in this review on Affinity Photo , and loading Champion ’s League highlight . The laptop did n’t budge , shooting through my require workloads without overheating .
It indorse up its real - world achievements with some telling bench mark scores , including a Geekbench result of 1,817 for single - core and 11,649 for multi - core . With a full - gas H - serial processor and twice as much memory , the Zenbook 14X raze the Yoga 9i ( Core i7 - 1260P ) , which hit a multi - core score of 9,516 . The Zenbook just about touch Asus ’ Flow Z13 ( 11,358 ) play tablet and put up one hell of a engagement against the MacBook Pro 14 ( 12,663 ) .
It took the Zenbook 14X OLED 3 minutes and 26 second to return a 3D trope in Blender , a substantial effect that outpaced the Yoga 9i by several minutes , and keep back up with some of the fastest notebook around , include the MacBook Pro 14 ( 3:21 ) , Alienware m15 R5 ( 3:27 ) , and the Razer Blade 14 ( 3:48 ) .
Photo: Phillip Tracy/Gizmodo
Creative pros using the 14X for picture redaction can wait speedy performance ; the Zenbook 14X take only 6 minutes and 48 seconds to exchange a 4 kelvin video into 1080p using the Handbrake app . It defeated the Yoga 9i ( 9:02 ) by a wide leeway and just topped the Razer Blade 14 ( 7:26 ) in a nail - biter . play laptop like the ROG Zephyrus G14 ( 3:15 ) lead the rankings on this particular test .
It would seem appropriate for a outer space edition laptop to be capable of playing games , but sadly , the Zenbook disappoints in this domain . equip with integrated Iris Xe graphics , the Zenbook 14X OLED reach 44 frames per second when playing Sid Meier ’s Civilization VI at 1080p on high-pitched art options . That ’s not a bad solution , but Civ is n’t just a demanding secret plan .
Running out of thrust
On to electric battery life , where we witness a devastating clank . The Zenbook 14X OLED had a short flight of stairs sentence of only 5 hours and 19 proceedings on our bombardment test , which involves video playback with the CRT screen set to 200 nits .
This unsatisfying result misses Asus ’ 8 - hour estimation ( also not bang-up ) and places the Zenbook 14X behind most of its rivals , including the Yoga 9i ( 8:41 ) and Blade 14 ( 6:41 ) .
Should you buy the Zenbook 14X OLED Space Edition?
I require to love theZenbook 14X OLED , a notebook computer with a wizard outer space - themed chassis and a fun customizable OLED window on the chapeau . Even if it ’s not for you , Asus deserve credit rating for the care put into this custom pattern . And it paired that look with some premium components , include a gorgeous OLED display , a powerful Intel processor , and an impressive regalia of I / O.
Unfortunately , the Zenbook 14X is more Apollo 13 than Apollo 11 . Preventing the 14X OLED from pass on the moon is one miss : poor battery life . At just over five time of day , the 14X OLED Space Edition is n’t a laptop you want to take to a cafe without a courser , and despite its name , you definitely would n’t want it on your next international flight of stairs . I wish I could erase its dismal runtime from my memory , and give this wondrously overdesigned notebook a solid recommendation , but I ca n’t .
While they might not be quite as brawny , other portable laptops on the grocery store , like the Yoga 9i or Razer Blade 14 , last several hour longer on a charge , making them a smarter choice for most people . But not everyone shop at with their brains , and if you allow your kernel call the shots , then take a misstep with the Zenbook 14X OLED Space Edition — just be trusted to pack a courser .
Photo: Phillip Tracy/Gizmodo
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