The ASUS Vivobook S14 OLED (S5406S) for 2025 brings a refreshing update to the popular thin-and-light laptop series. With its stunning OLED display, capable performance, and premium design, this model aims to be the ideal everyday companion for professionals and students alike. Let's dive into an in-depth analysis of this innovative device to see if it lives up to expectations.
Design and Build Quality: Elegance Meets Durability
The Vivobook S14 OLED makes a striking first impression with its Mist Blue colorway. This subtle bluish-silver tone provides a fresh alternative to traditional laptop colors while maintaining a professional appearance. At just 1.3 kg and 13.9 mm thick, it's impressively portable without sacrificing build quality.
ASUS has crafted the Vivobook S14 with an all-metal construction, featuring a silky smooth finish that's both aesthetically pleasing and resistant to fingerprints. The CNC-engraved branding adds an elegant touch, elevating the overall premium feel. A 180-degree hinge allows for flexible usage scenarios, perfect for collaborative work or comfortable viewing angles when using the device on your lap.
One of the standout features in terms of build quality is the MIL-STD-810H military-grade durability certification. This rigorous testing standard ensures the laptop can withstand various environmental stresses, including extreme temperatures, humidity, and vibrations. For users who are always on the go, this added durability provides peace of mind.
However, it's worth noting that there is some noticeable flex in the plastic display housing. While this doesn't significantly impact day-to-day use, it could be a potential weak point for long-term durability, especially considering the premium OLED panel it protects. Users who frequently transport their laptops in crowded bags may want to invest in a protective sleeve for added security.
Display: OLED Excellence with a Few Compromises
The star of the show is undoubtedly the 14-inch OLED display. This panel offers a visual feast with its 1920 x 1200 resolution (16:10 aspect ratio), 600 nits peak brightness, 100% DCI-P3 color coverage, and HDR support. The visual experience is truly stunning, with vibrant colors, deep blacks, and excellent contrast that bring content to life.
The 600-nit peak brightness ensures good visibility even in bright environments, making it suitable for outdoor use or well-lit offices. The wide color gamut is particularly beneficial for creative professionals who require accurate color reproduction in their work.
However, there are two notable downgrades from the previous generation that may disappoint some users. First, the resolution has been reduced from 2.8K to 1080p+. While still sharp for a 14-inch display, this change is noticeable, especially when compared side-by-side with the previous model. Secondly, the refresh rate is now 60Hz instead of 90Hz, resulting in slightly less smooth scrolling and animations.
These changes, while not deal-breakers for most users, feel like a step backward, especially considering some competitors offer higher specs at similar price points. It's possible that ASUS made these compromises to balance performance and battery life, but power users and content creators may find the tradeoff less appealing.
Performance: Everyday Power with Intel Ultra
The Vivobook S14 OLED comes equipped with Intel's latest Core Ultra 7 256V Series 2 processor, 16GB of speedy LPDDR5X RAM, and a 512GB PCIe Gen 4 SSD. This configuration provides ample power for everyday tasks and even light creative work.
In real-world usage, the laptop breezes through web browsing, office applications, and media consumption with ease. Multitasking is smooth, thanks to the generous RAM allocation and efficient processor. The Intel Arc 140V integrated graphics, while not a powerhouse, offer a significant step up from previous integrated solutions.
Surprisingly, the Vivobook S14 OLED can handle light gaming reasonably well. In our tests, popular esports titles like Valorant ran at over 170 FPS on high settings at 1400×900 resolution. This makes the laptop a viable option for casual gamers who don't need a dedicated gaming machine.
However, it's important to note that this isn't a workstation replacement. More demanding tasks like 3D modeling or complex video editing can push the system to its limits, especially without a dedicated GPU. Users with these specific needs may want to consider models with discrete graphics options.
Benchmark results provide a quantitative look at the laptop's performance:
- Geekbench 6 CPU: Single-core: 2,450 | Multi-core: 11,200
- Cinebench R23: Multi-core: 12,500
These scores place the Vivobook S14 OLED comfortably in the upper mid-range of ultraportable laptops, offering a good balance between performance and efficiency.
Keyboard and Trackpad: Thoughtful Innovations
The keyboard on the Vivobook S14 OLED offers a comfortable typing experience with good key travel. ASUS has implemented a single-zone RGB backlighting system, which is uncommon in this laptop category and adds a touch of customization for users who appreciate visual flair.
The large trackpad is smooth and responsive, utilizing precision drivers for accurate gesture recognition. ASUS has added some clever shortcuts to enhance productivity:
- Swipe up/down on edges to control volume and brightness
- Diagonal swipe from top-right corner launches ASUS Screen Xpert widget
These intuitive gestures demonstrate ASUS's attention to user experience, streamlining common tasks and reducing the need for keyboard shortcuts.
Battery Life: All-Day Endurance
The Vivobook S14 OLED is equipped with a 75Wh battery, which consistently delivered 7-8 hours of real-world usage with mixed workloads in our tests. This should comfortably get most users through a full workday without needing to reach for the charger.
The included 65W charger supports fast charging, bringing the battery from 5% to 80% in about an hour. This quick top-up capability is particularly useful for users who find themselves low on power before an important meeting or class.
It's worth noting that battery life can vary significantly depending on usage patterns, screen brightness, and background processes. Power users may want to take advantage of the battery optimization features in the MyASUS software to extend runtime when needed.
Thermals and Noise: Cool and Quiet Operation
ASUS has implemented its IceCool thermal technology in the Vivobook S14 OLED, utilizing six heat pipes and two fans to efficiently dissipate heat. This system proves highly effective in real-world use, keeping the laptop relatively cool and quiet even under load.
During our testing, surface temperatures remained comfortable for lap use, with only mild warming noticeable during extended high-performance tasks. Fan noise was generally unobtrusive, with a low-pitched whir that's easily masked by ambient noise in most environments.
Users can further customize fan behavior in the MyASUS app, allowing for a balance between performance and noise levels based on personal preference and usage scenarios.
Software: MyASUS Adds Significant Value
The pre-installed MyASUS app offers a wealth of useful features that enhance the overall user experience:
- Battery health settings for optimizing long-term battery lifespan
- Customizable fan profiles for different usage scenarios
- Display customization options, including OLED-specific protection features
- System diagnostics for troubleshooting and maintenance
These software additions demonstrate ASUS's commitment to providing a comprehensive ecosystem beyond just hardware. The OLED protection features, in particular, are noteworthy, helping to mitigate potential issues like image retention that can affect OLED displays over time.
Connectivity and Ports: Modern but Limited
The Vivobook S14 OLED offers a decent selection of ports for an ultraportable laptop:
- 2x USB-A 3.2 Gen 1
- 1x USB-C with Thunderbolt 4 support
- 1x HDMI 2.1
- 3.5mm audio jack
- MicroSD card reader
While this covers most bases, some users might find the single USB-C port limiting, especially since it's also used for charging. The inclusion of Thunderbolt 4 is welcome, allowing for high-speed data transfers and the option to connect external GPUs for increased graphics performance.
Wireless connectivity is well-covered with Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.2, ensuring fast and stable connections across a variety of devices and networks.
Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Stunning OLED display with vibrant colors and deep blacks
- Premium, lightweight design with military-grade durability
- Solid performance for everyday tasks and light creative work
- Excellent battery life for all-day use
- Effective thermal management keeps the system cool and quiet
- Feature-rich MyASUS software enhances the user experience
Cons:
- Display downgrade from previous generation (lower resolution and refresh rate)
- No dedicated GPU option for demanding graphics tasks
- Limited port selection may require dongles for some users
- Slightly pricey compared to some competitors with similar specs
Verdict: A Solid Choice for Everyday Computing
The ASUS Vivobook S14 OLED (S5406S) delivers a near-premium experience at a more accessible price point than the company's high-end Zenbook line. Its combination of a gorgeous OLED display, capable performance, and long battery life make it an excellent choice for students, professionals, and anyone seeking a reliable everyday laptop.
While the display downgrade is disappointing, and power users might desire more GPU muscle, the Vivobook S14 OLED excels at what it's designed for – being a sleek, capable companion for your daily computing needs. The thoughtful design touches, from the innovative trackpad gestures to the comprehensive MyASUS software, demonstrate ASUS's commitment to user experience.
For those who prioritize portability, battery life, and a high-quality display for productivity and media consumption, the Vivobook S14 OLED is a strong contender. Its ability to handle light gaming and creative tasks adds versatility, making it a well-rounded option for a wide range of users.
If you can find it on sale, it becomes an even more attractive proposition, potentially outshining competitors in its price bracket. However, those with specific needs like high-end gaming or professional video editing may want to look at models with dedicated GPUs or higher-resolution displays.
Rating: 4.1/5
The ASUS Vivobook S14 OLED strikes a great balance between form and function, making it a strong contender in the competitive thin-and-light laptop market. While not without its compromises, it offers a compelling package for users seeking a stylish, capable, and long-lasting ultraportable laptop.
