Asus Zenbook S 16 UX5606 vs Asus Zenbook 14X OLED Q420 Comparison

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Asus Zenbook S 16 UX5606

16 inches | September 2024

Speed 5

Size 5.5

Display 7.5

Gaming 2.5

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Asus Zenbook 14X OLED Q420

14.5 inches | January 2023

Speed 5

Size 8.5

Display 8

Gaming 3

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Asus Zenbook S 16 UX5606 vs Asus Zenbook 14X OLED Q420 Comparison Overview

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In this review, we will be comparing Zenbook S 16 UX5606 and Zenbook 14X OLED Q420, two laptops by Asus. Asus Zenbook S 16 UX5606 was introduced to market in September 2024 and Asus Zenbook 14X OLED Q420 was launched in January 2023. There is 20 months difference between Zenbook S 16 UX5606 and Zenbook 14X OLED Q420 so it would still give an advantage to younger Zenbook S 16 UX5606.

Click for Available Configurations of the Laptops

Here is a brief look at the main features of Asus Zenbook S 16 UX5606 and Asus Zenbook 14X OLED Q420 before getting into our more detailed comparison.

Asus Zenbook S 16 UX5606 Key Specs

Launched in September 2024
16.0" TouchScreen - OLED, 16:10 Aspect Ratio Display
CPU: Intel Core Ultra 5 226V
GPU: Intel Arc 130V
16GB Ram
353.6 x 243 x 11.9-12.9 mm (13.92 x 9.57 x 0.47-0.51 inches)
Weight: 1.5 kg (3.31 lbs)

Asus Zenbook 14X OLED Q420 Key Specs

Launched in January 2023
14.5" Touchscreen - OLED, 16:10 Aspect Ratio Display
CPU: Intel Core i5 13500H
GPU: Intel Iris Xe Graphics G7 (80EU)
8GB Ram
321.8 x 225.6 x 16.9 mm (12.67 x 8.88 x 0.67 inches)
Weight: 1.56 kg (3.44 lbs)

Let's read on the following sections in order to better understand in detail how Zenbook S 16 UX5606 and Zenbook 14X OLED Q420 compares and decide which one is better for you.

**This post contains affiliate links and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking through my links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Reasons to choose Asus Zenbook S 16 UX5606 over Asus Zenbook 14X OLED Q420

Weight	1.50 kg vs 1.56 kg	0.06 kg lighter
Screen-to-Body Ratio	~86.4% vs ~84%	Larger screen area ratio
Side Bezel Thickness	4.5 mm vs 4.8 mm	0.3 mm thinner bezels
Display Size	16 inches vs 14.5 inches	Larger Screen Estate
DCI-P3 Color Gamut	100% vs 98%	Wider DCI-P3 Color Gamut
CPU Fabrication Process	3 nm vs 10 nm	Newer Generation CPU
GPU Fabrication Process	3 nm vs 10 nm	Newer Generation GPU
GPU FLOPS	3.3 TFLOPS vs 1.41 TFLOPS	More advanced Wi-fi connectivity
WiFi Standard	v7 vs v6E	More advanced Bluetooth connectivity
Bluetooth	v5.4 vs v5.3	Read & Write SD Cards with the built-in reader
SD Card Reader	Yes vs No

Reasons to choose Asus Zenbook 14X OLED Q420 over Asus Zenbook S 16 UX5606

Screen PPI	234 ppi vs 212 ppi	More pixels per inch
Screen Opening Angle	180° vs 135°	More flexible screen
Max Brightness	550 nits vs 500 nits	Brighter Screen
Keyboard Backlight	Yes vs No	Easily see the keys under low light
Key Travel	1.4 mm vs 1.1 mm	Better typing feel

Common Strengths of Asus Zenbook 14X OLED Q420 and Asus Zenbook S 16 UX5606

Launch Dates	September 2024 vs January 2023	Both laptops are recent models
Screen Type	Touch Screen vs Touch Screen	Interact with your fingers
Screen Technology	OLED vs OLED	High Screen Quality
HDR Support	Yes, HDR10 vs Yes, HDR10	Watch HDR Clips
Fast Charging Support	Yes vs Yes	Charge the battery in a shorter time
RAM Type	LPDDR5X vs LPDDR5	Fast RAM type
Upgradable Storage	Yes vs Yes	Option to increase the Storage size
SSD Type	NVMe vs NVMe	Faster Data Transfers
Dolby Atmos Support	Yes vs Yes	3D Surround Sound Support
Thunderbolt Port	v4 vs v4	Fast data and power transfer via Thunderbolt Port
HDMI Output	1x HDMI 2.1 vs 1x HDMI 2.1	Connect to External Displays via HDMI cable
VGA Output	No vs No	Connect to External Displays via VGA cable

Common Weaknesses of Asus Zenbook 14X OLED Q420 and Asus Zenbook S 16 UX5606

Upgradable RAM	No vs No	No Option to increase the RAM size
Fingerprint Sensor	No vs No	No fingerprint login feature

Asus Zenbook S 16 UX5606 vs Asus Zenbook 14X OLED Q420: Physical Specs Comparison

In this section, we will be comparing the physical specifications and body features of the Asus Zenbook S 16 UX5606 and the Asus Zenbook 14X OLED Q420.

Physical Specs
Weight	1.5 kg (3.31 lbs)	1.56 kg (3.44 lbs)
Surface Area	859 cm2 (133.2 inches2)	726 cm2 (112.5 inches2)
Screen to Surface Ratio	~86.4%	~84%
Side Bezel Thickness	~4.5 mm	~4.8 mm
Weight per Inch of Screen	0.09 kg/inch	0.11 kg/inch
	0.198 lbs/inch	0.242 lbs/inch
Colors	White, Silver	Gray
Cover Opening Angle	135Â°	180Â°

Comparison of the Asus Zenbook S 16 UX5606 and the Asus Zenbook 14X OLED Q420 External Dimensions

Weight

Zenbook S 16 UX5606 weighs 1.5 kg (3.31 lbs), whereas the Zenbook 14X OLED Q420 weighs 1.56 kg (3.44 lbs). There is a notable difference in weight between these two laptops. However, it's important to consider that comparing their weights directly may not provide a complete picture since they also have different display sizes.

Weight Comparison

Asus Zenbook S 16 UX5606

Avg: 16.0-16.9"

Asus Zenbook 14X OLED Q420

Avg: 14.0-14.9"

Thickness Comparison

Asus Zenbook S 16 UX5606

Avg: 16.0-16.9"

Asus Zenbook 14X OLED Q420

Avg: 14.0-14.9"

Another value that we use for comparing the weights of the laptops is the Weight per Inch of Screen, which is calculated by dividing the total weight of the model with its usable diagonal screen size. This value for the Asus Zenbook S 16 UX5606 is 0.09 kg/inch.In comparison, this value for the Asus Zenbook 14X OLED Q420 is 0.11 kg/inch.Here are some of the best performing laptops in this area:

Microsoft Surface Go 4: 0.05 kg/inch
LG Gram SuperSlim 15.6 2023: 0.06 kg/inch
Asus ProArt PZ13 HT5306: 0.06 kg/inch
Asus Zenbook A14 UX3407: 0.06 kg/inch
Microsoft Surface Pro 12: 0.06 kg/inch
Asus ProArt PZ14 HT7407: 0.06 kg/inch
Dell Latitude 7330: 0.07 kg/inch
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Nano Gen 2: 0.07 kg/inch

Asus Zenbook S 16 UX5606 vs Asus Zenbook 14X OLED Q420: Internals Comparison

CPU Comparison

CPU Model	Intel Core Ultra 5 226V Intel Core Ultra 7 256V Intel Core Ultra 7 258V Intel Core Ultra 9 288V	Intel Core i5 13500H Intel Core i7 13700H
Base Frequency	2.1 GHz	2.6 GHz
Turbo Frequency	4.5 GHz	4.7 GHz
Number of Cores	8 (4P + 4E)	12
Number of Threads	8	16
L3 Cache	8 MB	18 MB
Integrated GPU	Intel Arc Graphics 130V	Intel Iris Xe Graphics (80EU)
CPU Fabrication Process	3 nm	10 nm

Above you can see the CPU options and the CineBench and GeekBench test scores for both laptops, which gives an idea about what kind of performance difference you may experience between the Asus Zenbook S 16 UX5606 and Asus Zenbook 14X OLED Q420.

You may also read reviews of latest laptops with the same CPUs and compare them:

Laptops with: Intel Core Ultra 5 226V

Laptops with: Intel Core i5 13500H

GPU Comparison

GPU Model	Intel Arc Graphics 130V	Intel Iris Xe Graphics (80EU)
Base Clock Frequency	600 MHz	300 MHz
Boost CLock Frequency	1850 MHz	1100 MHz
TGP (Total Graphics Power)	15 W	15 W
Type	Integrated	Integrated
FLOPS	3.3 TFLOPS	1.41 TFLOPS
Memory Size	System Shared	System Shared
Memory Type	LPDDR5X	LPDDR5
Memory Speed	8.53 Gbps	4.8 Gbps
Shading Units Cores	896	640

GPU is as critical as the CPU for graphic heavy applications and the table above gives a picture of how the two GPU compares. FLOPS is a measure of a GPU's performance based on the number of floating-point arithmetic calculations that the processor can perform within a second. Asus Zenbook S 16 UX5606 has a FLOPS value of 3.3 TFLOPS whereas the Asus Zenbook 14X OLED Q420 ' has a FLOPS value of 1.41 TFLOPS. If graphical performance of the laptop is important for your use type, the Asus Zenbook S 16 UX5606 may be the better choice between these two setups.

RAM Comparison

RAM	16GB 32GB	8GB 16GB
Memory Bus	2x8 GB	2x4 GB
RAM Clock	8533 MHz	4800 MHz
RAM Type	LPDDR5X	LPDDR5
Upgradable	No	No

With a larger RAM capacity of 16 GB, the Zenbook S 16 UX5606 offers an advantage for multitasking and resource-intensive applications compared to the Zenbook 14X OLED Q420's RAM capacity of 8 GB.

LOCAL LLM Compatibility Evaluation

This quick guide shows what types of large language models (LLMs) each of these laptops could support, based on their respective hardware specifications. It's meant to help you compare their suitability for running AI models locally.

LLM Category	Asus Zenbook S 16 (UX5606)	Asus Zenbook 14X OLED (Q420)
CPU	Intel Core Ultra 5 226V (NPU - 40 TOPS)	Intel Core i5 13500H
GPU	Intel Arc Graphics 130V	Intel Iris Xe Graphics (80EU)
Memory	16 GB	8 GB
Available for LLM total	~10.5 GB (10.5 GB RAM)	~3.5 GB (3.5 GB RAM)
Small Models (1-3B): Examples: Phi-2, Qwen-1.8B Requires ~2 GB memory	✔ Runs Well fits in your 10.5 GB RAM	✔ Modest Speed fits in your 3.5 GB RAM
Medium Models (7-8B): Examples: Mistral-7B, Qwen-7B Requires ~5 GB memory	✔ Modest Speed fits in your 10.5 GB RAM	✖ Not Supported exceeds available RAM
Large Models
13-15B Models (e.g., Llama 3 14B, Qwen1.5 14B) Requires ~9 GB memory	⚠ Borderline / Slow fits in your 10.5 GB RAM	✖ Not Supported exceeds available RAM
16-24B Models (e.g., Dense 20B Q4 ~15.5GB) Requires ~14 GB memory	✖ Not Supported exceeds available RAM	✖ Not Supported exceeds available RAM
24-30B Models (e.g., Dense 30B Q4) Requires ~18 GB memory	✖ Not Supported exceeds available RAM	✖ Not Supported exceeds available RAM
MoE Models (Mixture-of-Experts) (e.g., Mixtral 8x7B - total ~47B, active ~12-13B) Requires ~24 GB memory	✖ Not Supported exceeds available RAM	✖ Not Supported exceeds available RAM
Extra-Large Models (65B+): Examples: LLaMA2-70B, Qwen1.5-72B Requires ~42 GB memory	✖ Not Supported exceeds available RAM	✖ Not Supported exceeds available RAM

For more detailed LLM evaluation (subcategories, performance ranges, memory breakdown)

Asus Zenbook S 16 (UX5606)|Asus Zenbook 14X OLED (Q420)

Note: Optimized (e.g., 4-bit) models may run on limited hardware. Performance depends on runtime and setup.

📌 Model Types: Dense 30B Q4 models typically require around 19–22 GB of total VRAM, so they run best on systems with ≥24 GB VRAM. MoE models like Mixtral 8x7B (≈47B total parameters, usually ≈23–26 GB in 4-bit) also need high memory because all experts must be loaded, even though only a few are active per token. They reduce compute cost per token (similar to a ~12–13B dense model), but not memory usage, so they are not practical on 14–16 GB systems.

🚀 Modern NPU (Neural Processing Unit): Modern processors like AMD Ryzen AI and Intel Core Ultra feature NPU and unified memory architecture. NPUs provide modest performance gains (0-30% faster) with better power efficiency compared to iGPU-only execution. Real-world tests show ~3-10 tok/s range on 13B models with 32GB RAM (varies by runtime, quantization, and context), comparable to iGPU but more power-efficient. Note: These figures are examples from various NPU systems; actual performance depends on your specific hardware configuration.

Understanding Performance Categories

The performance descriptions use general categories because actual speed varies greatly based on your specific hardware, model optimization, context length, and runtime software.

Performance Level	Typical Range	User Experience
Runs Smoothly (High-end dGPU)	50+ tok/s	Real-time response. Feels instant, like ChatGPT.
Runs Well (Mid-range dGPU)	20-50 tok/s	Good interactive performance. Slight delay, but usable.
Modest Speed (iGPU/NPU/CPU)	5-20 tok/s	Usable for tasks that don't need instant responses. Noticeable typing delay.
Borderline / Slow (Limited hardware)	2-5 tok/s	Slow-Very slow. Patience required. Better for batch processing.
Not Practical	<2 tok/s	Too slow for regular use. May cause system hangs or instability.

💡 Tip: Your actual results may be higher or lower than these ranges. Test with your specific hardware to know for sure!

⚠️ Note: Performance categorization is based on VRAM capacity and RAM fallback status. GPU type (memory bandwidth, compute power) can also affect actual performance. Currently, we prioritize whether the model fits in VRAM or requires RAM fallback for classification. We may refine this categorization in future updates based on more detailed benchmarks.

BATTERY

BATTERY	78 Wh	70 Wh
Battery Type	Li-Ion	Li-Ion
Replaceable	No	No
Fast Charging	No	No
Charging Port Position	Left	Right
Charge Power	65 W	90 W

Moreover, the Zenbook S 16 UX5606 boasts a larger battery capacity of 78 Wh, offering extended usage time compared to the Zenbook 14X OLED Q420's70 Wh.

Battery Comparison

Asus Zenbook S 16 UX5606

Avg: 16.0-16.9"

Asus Zenbook 14X OLED Q420

Avg: 14.0-14.9"

STORAGE
With a larger storage capacity up to 2 TB, the Zenbook S 16 UX5606 provides more space for storing files and applications compared to the Zenbook 14X OLED Q420's max. storage capacity of 1 TB.

Storage Options	1 TB, 2 TB	256 GB, 512 GB, 1 TB
Upgradable	Yes	Yes
Total Slots	1	1
Storage type	SSD (M2)	SSD (M2)
NVMe	Yes	Yes
Memory Bus	PCI-E Gen 4.0 (4x)	PCI-E Gen 4.0 (4x)

If your budget allows, we recommend opting for the largest possible disk size, considering the potential increase in storage capacity needs in the future. However, please keep in mind the question 'What will the laptop be used for?' when making this decision. Of course, you can later upgrade the hard disk capacity by getting a larger disk. However, if your laptop has only one disk slot, it may not be as straightforward as a RAM upgrade, where you simply add or replace a module, as moving or cloning files to a new disk may be necessary.

Asus Zenbook S 16 UX5606 vs Asus Zenbook 14X OLED Q420: Display Comparison

The display is an essential aspect to consider when comparing the Asus Zenbook S 16 UX5606 and Asus Zenbook 14X OLED Q420 since its is the component that you interact the most and significantly impact the experience.

Screen Area and Dimensions

Now let's look at the comparison of the actual display areas of both laptops below, keeping the bezels around the screens out of the equation. Zenbook S 16 UX5606 has a display size of 16.0".On the other hand, Zenbook 14X OLED Q420 has a smaller 14.5" display.The total usable screen area of the Zenbook S 16 UX5606 is 742cm² / 115inch² whereas the Zenbook 14X OLED Q420's total usable screen area is 610cm² / 94inch².

PPI (Pixels per Inch)
Additionally, the Zenbook 14X OLED Q420 features a higher pixel density with 234 pixels per inch (PPI), ensuring sharper image details.

Screen PPI (Pixels Per Inch) Comparison

Asus Zenbook S 16 UX5606

Avg: 16.0-16.9"

Asus Zenbook 14X OLED Q420

Avg: 14.0-14.9"

Refresh Rate
Both Zenbook S 16 UX5606 and Zenbook 14X OLED Q420 offer the same refresh rate of 120 Hz.

Both Zenbook S 16 UX5606 and Zenbook 14X OLED Q420 boast the same response time of 1.0 ms.

Brightness
The Zenbook 14X OLED Q420 offers a higher maximum brightness of 550 nits, delivering a brighter screen.

Brightness Comparison

Asus Zenbook S 16 UX5606

Avg: 16.0-16.9"

Asus Zenbook 14X OLED Q420

Avg: 14.0-14.9"

Asus Zenbook S 16 UX5606 vs Asus Zenbook 14X OLED Q420 Connectivity Comparison

In terms of connectivity,

Wifi
Zenbook S 16 UX5606 features a more advanced Wi-Fi standard v7, providing faster and more reliable wireless connections compared to Zenbook 14X OLED Q420 (v6E).

Below, you'll find a Wi-Fi Versions Table, along with their release dates and speeds, to provide a brief overview of its development.

Wi-Fi Versions and Speeds

Standard	Speed	Release Date	Network	Frequency Bands (GHz)
Wi-Fi 7	up to 40 Gbps (5 GB/s)	2023	802.11be	2.4, 5, 6
Wi-Fi 6E	up to 9.6 Gbps (1.2 GB/s)	2020	802.11ax	2.4, 5, 6
Wi-Fi 6	up to 9.6 Gbps (1.2 GB/s)	2019	802.11ax	2.4, 5
Wi-Fi 5	up to 6.93 Gbps (866.25 MB/s)	2014	802.11ac	2.4, 5
Wi-Fi 4	up to 600 Mbps (75 MB/s)	2009	802.11n	2.4, 5

* Please note that the provided transfer rates are maximum theoretical values, and real-life performance may vary based on environmental factors.

USB
Both Zenbook S 16 UX5606 and Zenbook 14X OLED Q420 feature 1x USB 3.2 USB-A ports.
Both Zenbook S 16 UX5606 and Zenbook 14X OLED Q420 feature 2x USB 4.0 USB Type-C ports.

Below, you'll find a table of USB ports, along with their release dates and speeds.
To mitigate the confusion caused by generation names, the USB Implementers Forum (USB-IF) suggests using marketing names like USB 5Gbps, USB 10Gbps, and so forth, based on their respective transfer rates.

USB Type and Speeds

USB Type	Version	Speed	Date	Other Features/Explanations
USB4	Gen 4 (2.0)	80 Gbps	2022	Also known as USB 80Gbps
USB4	Gen 3×2	40 Gbps	2019	Also known as USB 40Gbps
USB 3.2	3.2 Gen 2x2	20 Gbps	2019	Double the data transfer rates of Gen 2
USB 3.2	3.2 Gen 2	10 Gbps	2017	Previously known as USB 3.1
USB 3.2	3.2 Gen 1	5 Gbps	2017	Previously known as USB 3.0
USB 3.1	3.1 Gen 2	10 Gbps	2013	Faster data transfer rates
USB 3.0	3.1 Gen 1	5 Gbps	2010	SuperSpeed USB, improved data transfer rates
USB 2.0	2.0	480 Mbps	2000	High-speed data transfer
USB 1.0	1.0	1.5 Mbps	1996	Original USB standard

Thunderbolt
Both Zenbook S 16 UX5606 and Zenbook 14X OLED Q420 are equipped with Thunderbolt 4 ports.

HDMI
Both Zenbook S 16 UX5606 and Zenbook 14X OLED Q420 feature an HDMI port (1x HDMI 2.1) for connecting to external monitors.

Below, you'll find a comparison table detailing different HDMI versions, including their bandwidth, color depth, maximum resolution, and release dates. This information can be helpful in understanding the capabilities of each HDMI version and choosing the most suitable one for your needs.

HDMI Comparison Table

HDMI Version	Maximum Resolution	Bandwidth (Gbps)	Color Depth (bits)	Release Date
HDMI 2.1-2.1b	7680 x 4320 *(8K)* @ 60p 3840 x 2160 *(4K)* @ 120p	48.0	48	2017
HDMI 2.0-2.0b	3840 x 2160 *(4K)* @ 60p	18.0	48	2013
HDMI 1.4-1.4b	3840 x 2160 *(4K)* @ 30p	10.2	48	2009
HDMI 1.3-1.3a	2560 x 1440 @ 60p	10.2	48	2006
HDMI 1.0-1.2a	1920 x 1200 @ 60p	4.95	24	2002

* Please note that the provided resolution values represent the maximum supported resolution, and actual display quality may depend on other factors such as source content and connected devices.

SD Card Reader
Zenbook S 16 UX5606 is equipped with an SD Card Reader for easy access to memory cards. Zenbook 14X OLED Q420 does not have an SD Card Reader.

Audio Jack
Both Zenbook S 16 UX5606 and Zenbook 14X OLED Q420 are equipped with a 3.5mm Audio Jack, providing seamless connection to headphones and speakers.

To summarize the connectivity and ports details, please refer to the table below to see them listed.

Connectivity and Ports
WiFi Standard (latest: v7)	v7	v6E
Bluetooth (latest: v6.2)	v5.4	v5.3
USB-A (latest: 3.2)	1x USB 3.2	1x USB 3.2
USB Type-C (latest: USB4 2.0)	2x USB 4.0	2x USB 4.0
Thunderbolt (latest: 5)	Thunderbolt 4	Thunderbolt 4
HDMI (latest: 2.1)	1x HDMI 2.1	1x HDMI 2.1
Display Port (latest: v2.0)	No	No
VGA	No	No
Fingerprint Sensor	No	No
Optical Drive	No	No
Audio Jack 3.5mm	Yes	Yes
Ethernet RJ45	No	No
SD CardReader	Yes	No
Proprietary Charging Port	No	No