Gadgets
ASUS Zenbook S 14 UX5406SA (2024 Edition) Review: AI-Powered Excellence
The ASUS Zenbook S 14 UX5406SA stands out in the ultrabook landscape, offering a combination of premium design, innovative AI features, and exceptional performance.
Build Quality and Design
The Zenbook S 14 UX5406SA’s premium design is highlighted by its sleek lines, lightweight magnesium-aluminium alloy construction, and distinctive “Ceraluminum” finish. Its slim 13.9mm profile adds to its portability and aesthetic appeal.
The Zenbook S 14 UX5406SA features an industry-first ceramisation process that transforms aluminium into solid, scratch-resistant ceramic. Ceraluminum combines ceramic’s durability with metal’s lightweight properties, offering unmatched longevity.
The high-tech ceramic finish is available in nature-inspired colours, Zumaia Gray and Scandinavian White, which adds a touch of sophistication to the Zenbook S 14 UX5406SA’s design. The Zenbook S 14 UX5406SA’s premium CNC unibody construction measures just 1.1 cm thick and weighs a mere 1.2 kilograms, making it the smallest 14-inch laptop on the market.
AI Features
The Zenbook S 14’s standout feature is its integration of AI capabilities, powered by Intel’s Lunar Lake processors. These processors enhance the laptop’s performance in various ways, such as improving audio clarity through AI-driven noise cancellation and optimising battery life with AI-enhanced power management.
The Zenbook S 14’s integration of Windows Copilot offers a personalized AI assistant that streamlines tasks and boosts productivity. By learning user preferences, Windows Copilot provides tailored assistance for scheduling meetings, setting reminders, and finding files.
In addition to Windows Copilot, the Zenbook S 14 leverages AI-powered features within Windows itself. These include AI-driven search for more accurate results and AI-enhanced security for enhanced protection. AI also optimizes performance, ensuring smooth multitasking.
The ultrabook also comes packed with ASUS StoryCube, a powerful tool that lets you create and share captivating multimedia stories with ease. Leveraging AI, StoryCube automatically organises photos and videos into engaging narratives, adding music and transitions for a professional touch. It’s a great option for content creators and casual users alike, simplifying the process of producing high-quality content.
Hardware
Powered by up to the latest Intel Core Ultra 9 processor (Series 2) with SoC design, it boasts a 27% smaller motherboard for improved cooling efficiency. The integrated LPDDR5X DRAM offers higher bandwidth and lower latency for enhanced performance and stability.
With up to 32GB of RAM and a 1TB PCIe4.0 NVMe SSD, the Zenbook S 14 provides ample storage and memory. Its versatile connectivity options include Thunderbolt 4, HDMI 2.1, USB 3.2, and WiFi 7. The 72-watt-hour battery ensures long-lasting power for all-day productivity.
Display
The ASUS Zenbook S 14 features a 16:10 14-inch OLED HDR NanoEdge display with 2880-by-1800 resolution, providing you with a sharp visual experience. The OLED display of the ASUS Zenbook S 14 supports a 1,000,000:1 contrast ratio, up to 500-nits peak brightness, and 0.0005 nits of deep black brightness, providing creators with a brighter and more detailed viewing. Along with an ultrawide colour gamut of 100% DCI-P3 and HDR content support, the display is also certified VESA DisplayHDR 500 True Black, Dolby Vision and is Pantone Validated, assuring accurate colour and high dynamic contrast.
Keyboard and Touchpad
The keyboard of the Zenbook S 14 achieves a 19.5 mm pitch (the distance between the middle of a key to the middle of an adjacent key) and offers many commonly used function keys, enabling users to type comfortably. The keyboard is backlit for convenient typing in dark environments such as flights.
In addition, the keys of the ASUS Zenbook S 14 series feature a subtle 0.1 mm dish-shaped indentation and 1.1 mm key travel — the longest of its class of laptops. The dish-shaped indentation subtly guides fingers onto the keys and the long key travel provides better feedback. Together, these features improve typing accuracy and replicate the comfort of using a desktop PC keyboard.
The ASUS Zenbook S 14 features a new ergonomic touchpad measuring 127.0-by-79.17 mm. This touchpad includes a hydrophobic coating and a high-end PVD anti-fingerprint coating, providing users with smooth feedback for every scrolling movement and ensuring excellent resistance to wear and tear. Even after more than 10,000 slides, the touchpad remains as smooth as new.
Additionally, the touchpad has an optimal click depth of 0.23 mm, offering a great feel with natural feedback. This design also significantly reduces unintended activations. The ErgoSense touchpad supports multitouch gestures in Windows, so you can use three- or four-finger shortcuts to launch frequently-used applications or functions, enabling users to quickly access commonly used settings and apps.
Cooling Features
The Zenbook S 14 is incredibly thin at just 1.1 centimetres, half the thickness of a typical 28W ultraportable. Despite its slim design, the Zenbook S 14 does not compromise on cooling. It features an advanced cooling system that efficiently dissipates heat, ensuring the laptop remains cool even during intensive tasks.
This system includes dual fans, a 0.7 mm ultra-slim vapour chamber, and a geometric grille design. These components work together to ensure the laptop reaches an optimal 28-watt TDP without throttling. The ambient cooling technology helps maintain whisper-quiet operation, keeping noise levels below 25 dB during light workloads.
WiFi 7
Connectivity is another strong suit of the Zenbook S 14, thanks to its support for WiFi 7. This latest wireless standard provides faster speeds, lower latency, and improved reliability compared to previous generations. The benefit of the Wi-Fi 7 is a potential maximum data rate of almost 5.8 Gbps.
This is 4.8X faster than the Gbps-level Wi-Fi 6/6E and could easily enable high-quality 8K video streaming or reduce a massive 15 GB file download to roughly 25 seconds vs. the one minute it would take with the best legacy Wi-Fi technology. It also has an ASUS-exclusive WiFi SmartConnect feature, which provides greater distance, stability, and seamless wireless network experiences for users.
AiSense Camera
The AiSense camera is designed to enhance video conferencing experiences. It features AI-driven enhancements such as background blurring, auto-framing, and lighting adjustments, ensuring you always look your best during calls. The camera also supports facial recognition for secure and convenient login.
Performance
Our review unit of the Zenbook S 14 was powered by Intel’s Core Ultra 7 258V processor, paired with 32GB of LPDDR5x RAM and a 1TB SSD. This configuration delivered excellent performance for everyday tasks, multitasking, and even some light gaming. The integrated Intel Arc 140V graphics provide a boost for graphics-intensive applications, making it a versatile machine for both work and play.
Verdict
The ASUS Zenbook S 14 UX5406SA is a well-rounded ultrabook that excels in multiple areas. Its premium build quality, innovative AI features, and robust performance make it a compelling choice for professionals and casual users alike. The advanced cooling system, stunning OLED display, and support for WiFi 7 further enhance its appeal.
While it comes with a premium price tag, the features and performance justify the investment. If you’re in the market for a high-end ultrabook that combines style, functionality, and cutting-edge technology, the Zenbook S 14 UX5406SA is worth considering.
Price: AED 7999
ASUS Zenbook S 14 UX5406SA (2024 Edition) AED 7999
Summary
The ASUS Zenbook S 14 UX5406SA is a well-rounded ultrabook that excels in multiple areas. Its premium build quality, innovative AI features, and robust performance make it a compelling choice for professionals and casual users alike.
User Review
( votes)Accessories
CORSAIR to Collab with Call of Duty
CORSAIR has begun to release the first products in its multi-year, full cross-brand collaboration with the critically acclaimed Call of Duty franchise. This powerful new integration sees two of the world’s best-known gaming brands come together for the first time with the collaboration extending across multiple product categories at CORSAIR including Drop, Elgato, ORIGIN PC and SCUF Gaming.
“We are thrilled to be teaming up with Activision and have our world-class brands come together as CORSAIR is set to deliver premium performance for Call of Duty players across all platforms whether it’s playing Black Ops 6, capturing amazing content or streaming with friends,” said Thi La, President and COO at CORSAIR.
“Our goal has always been to fuel the Call of Duty fandom with best-in-class products built for today’s gamers and we couldn’t be more thrilled to partner with CORSAIR for the launch of Black Ops 6. The suite of officially licensed products will help elevate gaming stations everywhere in true Call of Duty Black Ops style,” said Brooke Carpenter, Senior Director, Global Consumer Products at Activision.
In addition to top-tier controllers from SCUF Gaming, CORSAIR headsets and keyboards and streaming equipment from Elgato, this collaboration will see the introduction of several high-end gaming PCs including the ORIGIN PC EON16-X laptop, ORIGIN PC NEURON gaming PC, and the CORSAIR VENGEANCE Gaming PC line. These high-performance gaming machines are designed for the ultimate gaming experience, featuring cutting-edge hardware, custom Black Ops 6-themed aesthetics, and superior build quality. With powerful processors, advanced graphics, and lightning-fast storage, Call of Duty fans will enjoy seamless gameplay and stunning visuals.
Beginning with the launch of the highly-anticipated Call of Duty: Black Ops 6, featured products launching today and throughout this holiday include:
CORSAIR
- HS80 RGB WIRELESS CALL OF DUTY: BLACK OPS 6 EDITION: A premium wireless gaming headset that delivers incredibly detailed sound through custom-tuned 50mm neodymium audio drivers with immersive Dolby Atmos. It features hyper-fast SLIPSTREAM WIRELESS and a broadcast-grade omnidirectional microphone that captures your voice with outstanding clarity.
- K65 PLUS WIRELESS CALL OF DUTY: BLACK OPS 6 EDITION: Stand out from the crowd with superior skill and distinctive design.
- The CORSAIR K65 PLUS WIRELESS is a 75% gaming keyboard that maxes out on performance and personality. Step up your Switch game with pre-lubricated CORSAIR MLX Red V2 linear switches that make each keystroke silky smooth and responsive.
- M75 WIRELESS CALL OF DUTY: BLACK OPS 6 EDITION: Sculpted by victory. Made for the spotlight. The M75 WIRELESS sports an expertly designed ambidextrous mouse shape and ultra-fast connectivity via SLIPSTREAM WIRELESS and Bluetooth.
- MM300 2XL CALL OF DUTY: BLACK OPS 6 EDITION: a high endurance cloth mouse mat for high-DPI gaming mice. Reinforced stitched edges guard against surface peeling, while the textile-weaved surface gives superior control for lethal in-game accuracy.
- VENGEANCE SERIES CALL OF DUTY: BLACK OPS 6 EDITION: Step up your game with a CORSAIR VENGEANCE gaming pc, built with a full range of award-winning CORSAIR components, and powered by the latest cutting-edge processors and graphics.
SCUF Gaming
- REFLEX CALL OF DUTY: BLACK OPS 6 EDITION: Stay unstoppable with ergonomically designed remappable paddles, adaptive triggers, and onboard profiles that allow you to quickly switch from one game to another with SCUF Reflex for PlayStation 5.
- INSTINCT PRO CALL OF DUTY: BLACK OPS 6 EDITION: Engineered for better performance and responsiveness, SCUF Instinct Pro for Xbox Series X|S provides four remappable paddles, interchangeable thumbsticks, and instant triggers that switch from regular to a mouse-like click at the flip of a switch.
- ENVISION PRO CALL OF DUTY: BLACK OPS 6 EDITION: Designed to deliver the best experience for controller PC gamers. SCUF Envision is equipped with 11 additional remappable inputs, ultra-fast wired/wireless connectivity, advanced software for macros and endless customization options.
- UNIVERSAL CONTROLLER PROTECTION CASE CALL OF DUTY: BLACK OPS 6 EDITION: This case has an impact-resistant exterior and a soft, padded interior to protect your controller from dents and scratches, even while travelling. It works to protect any Xbox Series X|S, PS5, PS4, or Xbox One controller.
Elgato
- STREAM DECK MK.2 CALL OF DUTY: BLACK OPS 6 EDITION: Features 15 customizable LCD keys to control apps and platforms. Hit the store for app plugins, icons, tracks plus effects, and keep your setup fresh with interchangeable faceplates.
- WAVE:3 USB MICROPHONE CALL OF DUTY: BLACK OPS 6 EDITION: A premium microphone and digital mixing solution that fuses plug-and-play convenience with broadcast-grade circuitry.
- WAVE MIC ARM LP CALL OF DUTY: BLACK OPS 6 EDITION: A studio-grade boom arm for your premium microphone, Wave Mic Arm LP sits below the shoulder line for an unobstructed view.
Drop
ARTISAN KEYCAP CALL OF DUTY: BLACK OPS 6 EDITION: A 1u artisan keycap featuring a jet-black acrylic keycap with a bite jutting out to meet your fingertips.
ORIGIN PC
- ORIGIN PC NEURON CALL OF DUTY: BLACK OPS 6 EDITION: A gaming powerhouse engineered for intense action and precision. Equipped with cutting-edge hardware including powerful graphics cards, fast processors, and more. With fully customizable options and up to 8TB of storage, you’ll have the space and speed to dominate every game. Encased in a sleek design, the NEURON brings unparalleled power and style to your gaming setup.
- ORIGIN PC EON16-X CALL OF DUTY: BLACK OPS 6 EDITION: Experience unparalleled performance and immersive gameplay in a sleek, custom design. Fully customizable, add on a plethora of storage and high-quality DDR5 memory with components by CORSAIR.
Specific products are available now or open for pre-order. Additional categories, launch dates, and more details on this groundbreaking collaboration will be announced over time.
Gadgets
Canon Intros SELPHY QX20 Portable Colour Photo Printer
Canon Middle East unveils the latest addition to its portable printer range with the launch of the SELPHY QX20, an exciting evolution to the previous QX10, enabling users to continue broadening their creative horizons with greater freedom. Leaning into popular social media formats, this upgrade now supports 2:3 as well as square paper sizes and is available in on-trend terracotta red, dark grey and classic white.
The new QX20 is a must-have gadget for those with a passion for creativity. Whether that be making visual notes for personal projects, decorating journals or scrapbooks using sticky-backed paper, crafting personalised notes for loved ones, or simply decorating wall spaces, SELPHY QX20 delivers high-quality, long-lasting pictures straight from a smartphone. The flexibility in paper sizes lends itself nicely to 365 photo challenges, inviting users to print one photo a day as a wonderfully tangible way to remember smaller daily moments.
Without the need for ink cartridges, the SELPHY QX20 uses dye sublimation technology that produces smudge-free, high-quality photos. An overcoat is added to resist the effect of fading. Easily transportable and complete with a built-in battery and Wi-Fi compatibility, the printer fits comfortably in a bag, meaning it can be used on-the-go to transform memories into physical keepsakes on the spot. At home, its compact size means it can sit neatly on any shelf or desk without competing for tabletop space.
Beyond the choice of paper size, wider creative expression is available with the SELPHY Photo Layout App, where fun artistic touches like stamps, filters, borders, and text can be added to special memories. For example, snowflakes can be added to a selfie to use as a Christmas table place card or hearts when making a homemade Valentine’s Day gift. The update also includes collages, frames and customisable borders, with new edge-to-edge printing meaning more of the memory can be seen with each print.
Joining an expanding portfolio of portable mobile printers, including the CP1500, a super compact photo printer for the desk, and the Zoemini range, a series of pocket-sized devices to print instant peel-and-stick photos, the latest QX20 fits perfectly into this line-up – a functional yet stylish printer and the ideal product for unleashing creativity, anytime, anywhere.
Gadgets
Motorola Unveils Android 15 Upgrade List
Motorola has joined the growing list of smartphone manufacturers announcing their Android 15 upgrade plans. While the company hasn’t made a formal announcement, its support page has been updated to reveal the devices eligible for the latest OS.
Unlike many competitors, Motorola has been proactive in confirming its Android 15 upgrade lineup, ensuring users have clarity about their device’s future.
Motorola Razr family:
Motorola Razr (2023) / Razr 40
Motorola Razr+ (2023) / Razr 40 Ultra
Motorola Razr (2024) / Razr 50
Motorola Razr+ (2024) / Razr 50 Ultra
Motorola Edge family:
Motorola Edge+ 2023
Motorola Edge 2024
Motorola Edge 40 Pro
Motorola Edge 50
Motorola Edge 50 Fusion
Motorola Edge 50 Neo
Motorola Edge 50 Pro
Motorola Edge 50 Ultra
Motorola G family:
Moto G Power 5G (2024)
Moto G 5G (2024)
Moto G Stylus 5G (2024)
Moto G34 5G
Moto G35
Moto G45
Moto G55
Moto G75
Moto G85
Motorola ThinkPhone family:
ThinkPhone by Motorola
ThinkPhone (2025)
Motorola is expected to announce the release date of the updates for these phones very soon.