ASUS recently just launched the brand new Zenbook laptops, featuring the brand new Intel 12th Gen Alder Lake processor. There’s one particular laptop been catching much attention — the Zenbook 14X OLED Space Edition (UX5401). This special edition laptop is built to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the ASUS P6300 laptop’s 600-day space mission and to represent the ASUS “In Search of Incredible” brand spirit. I’ve been using it for more than a couple of weeks before the launch, and it’s time for a full review.
ASUS Zenbook 14X OLED Space Edition (UX5401) Specs
- 14″ OLED 2.8K 90Hz 550 nits NanoEdge 16:10 touchscreen display
- Intel Core i5-12500H or Core i7-12700H processor
- Intel Iris Xe graphics
- 16GB LPDDR5 RAM
- 512GB or 1TB M.2 NVMe PCIe 4.0 Performance SSD
- Wi-Fi 6E(802.11ax) + Bluetooth 5.2 (Dual Band) 2×2 connectivity
- 2 x Thunderbolt 4 USB-C with ASUS USB-C Easy Charge, 1 x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A, 1 x Standard HDMI 2.0b, 1x 3.5mm Combo Audio Jack, MicroSD card reader
- 63Wh 3-cell Li-ion battery
- Windows 11 Home with Office Home & Student 2021 included
- Weight: 1.4kg
- Dimensions: 31.12 x 22.11 x 1.59cm
Unboxing
Design
Since this is a special edition laptop, for sure there are some changes. What better to let people know that this is a special edition laptop other than to make a drastic change in its design? The signature concentric circle design is now gone, replaced with all sorts of space-themed elements including a location coordinate, morse codes (AD ASTRA PER ASPERA), and Zero-G Titanium, which is what ASUS calls the titanium-gray color.
Apart from the space-themed elements, the Zenbook 14X OLED Space Edition also has a 3.5-inch OLED companion display mounted externally on the lid. ASUS calls it ZenVision, which we will get into it later.
The laptop has the ErgoLift hinge design, not the 180° like the one on the regular Zenbook 14X OLED (UX5400) we reviewed earlier. It is designed to withstand the punishing demands of space travel. It complies with the ultra-tough US Space Systems Command Standard SMC-S-016A testing protocols, and it’s torture-tested to space-grade standards for resistance to extreme vibration and high/low operational temperatures. Additionally, it meets the US Department of Defense’s MIL-STD 810H durability standards.
As for the I/O ports, the laptop features two Thunderbolt 4 USB-C with ASUS USB-C Easy Charge, a USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A, a Standard HDMI 2.0b, 3.5mm Combo Audio Jack, and a MicroSD card reader. I like how the MicroSD card reader is designed to blend in with the side vents.
The Zenbook 14X OLED Space Edition still comes with a 720p webcam, but it has a mechanical privacy shutter that can be triggered using the keyboard.
The keyboard typing experience is pretty much the same as the regular Zenbook 14X OLED. It just looks visually different, and I really like how ASUS changes the spacebar and power button into the copper color. You get the same hotkeys on the keyboard, and pressing the “Fn” + “Esc” keys will switch between hotkey functions or general F1-F12 key functions. As for the touchpad, the NumberPad 2.0 makes its return, which works pretty well just like other Zenbook laptops. You might be wondering why ASUS didn’t include the ScreenPad 2.0 instead, probably it’s because the laptop has a 3.5-inch OLED companion display mounted on the lid.
ZenVision
Speaking of the 3.5-inch OLED companion display, a.k.a ZenVision, it is located on the lid of the laptop. You can customize the content interface to different modes via the MyASUS app. Space Theme mode displays an animated theme, while Smart Notifications can show time, date, or battery status. And you can display your own custom text message too! ZenVision gives you the opportunity to connect with those around you and give them a window into your personality.
14-inch 2.8K 90Hz OLED Display
The Zenbook 14X OLED Space Edition sports a 14″ OLED 2.8K 90Hz 550 nits NanoEdge 16:10 touchscreen display. Yup, basically it’s the same impressive display as the regular Zenbook 14X OLED. Everything looks smoother and I really like the unconventional 16:10 aspect ratio as I get to view more content at once.
Performance
Powering the Zenbook 14X OLED Space Edition is the 12th Gen Intel Alder Lake processor, you get to choose either the Core i5-12500H or Core i7-12700H processor. My review unit is the i7-12700H variant paired with 16GB LPDDR5 RAM and 1TB M.2 NVMe PCIe 4.0 Performance SSD. The overall performance is somewhat satisfying for me as I mainly use it for light photo editing and also typing articles, you can also play some games as well.
A powerful chipset needs good cooling performance to consistently reach its peak performance. The Zenbook 14X OLED Space Edition has exceptional heat dissipation via upgraded 6mm and 8mm heat pipes and dual 87-blade fans that efficiently accelerate heat transfer. The fan blades and impeller are made of a liquid-crystal polymer that allows them to be lighter and thinner than ordinary fans. Each fan blade has a 3D-curved aerodynamic design, allowing the fan to achieve a better flow rate. In addition, the fans also use a fluid-dynamics bearing, which can achieve better vibration reduction and lower noise when compared to ordinary fans.
Battery Life
The ASUS Zenbook 14X OLED Space Edition packs a 63Wh 3-cell Li-ion battery that also supports the USB-C Easy Charge feature. In terms of battery life, I was able to get around 6 to 7 hours on moderate usage like web browsing, music streaming, Netflixing, and article typing.
Final Words
Retailing at RM6,499 (i7-12700H/16G/1TB) and RM5,599 (i5-12500H/16G/512GB), the ASUS Zenbook 14X OLED Space Edition (UX5401) is a pretty unique ultrabook you can get right now with a top-notch OLED display. Now is actually the right time to get one since it also packs the latest 12th Gen Intel Alder Lake processor.
Buy Here
Yay
- Unique design
- Impressive OLED display
- Great performance
- Decent battery life
Nay
- No NVIDIA GeForce MX450 GPU like the regular variant