To celebrate 25 years since sending its first laptop – the P6300 – to MIR Space Station, Asus released the Zenbook 14X OLED Space Edition (UX5401ZAS).
This is a special version of the usual Zenbook 14X OLED (UX5401), featuring a Space-themed design, accessories, and packaging.
Packaging and Accessories
The retail package of the Asus Zenbook 14X OLED Space Edition is very captivating. It comes in a big, black box decorated with a representation of the MIR Space Station that is also featured on the touchpad of the laptop. Additionally, it has a high-quality handle which makes carrying around easier and more reliable.
The retail package includes a user guide, a welcome card, some stickers, and a package that is themed to outer space.
Aside from that, the Asus Zenbook 14X OLED Space Edition’s retail box comes with a laptop sleeve, USB-A to RJ45 gigabit ethernet adapter, and a stylus. However, the availability of these accessories varies by region.
Design and Build
The Asus Zenbook 14X OLED Space Edition measures 15.9mm thick and weighs 1.4kg; it is built with aluminum alloy and has a Zero-G Titanium finish, the same material found in spaceships.
Cushions
The Zenbook 14X OLED Space Edition’s bottom panel has four rubber cushions to keep the laptop in place.
Cooling System
Asus’s Dual-fan IceCool system is located behind the panel and consists of two heat pipes, 6mm and 8mm 87-blade fans, which enable the notebook to consistently use 45W TDP in performance mode.
Connectivity
The Asus Zenbook 14X OLED Space Edition includes an HDMI 2.0 port on the left side plus two Thunderbolt 4 USB-C ports for both data transfer and battery charging.
On the right side is a USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A port, a 3.5mm audio combo jack, and a slot for the microSD card reader located near the LED indicators.
ErgoLift Hinge
The Asus Zenbook 14X OLED Space Edition features the ErgoLift Hinge which elevates 3° the laptop’s body when the lid is opened up to 150° (as opposed to 180° on the standard version) with dual purpose.
Firstly, it helps tilt the keyboard to the appropriate angle for an ideal typing experience. Secondly, it ensures enhanced heat dissipation and better audio quality due to better ventilation under the laptop’s body.
Durability Standards
The Asus Zenbook 14X OLED Space Edition is incredibly robust, meeting the MIL-STD-810H durability standards and US Space Systems Command Standard SMC-S-016A testing protocols for space mission equipment.
Display
The Asus Zenbook 14X OLED Space Edition packs
- a 14″ OLED touchscreen with a resolution of 2,880 by 1,800 pixels, made by Samsung.
- stylus support
- Maximum brightness of 550 nits
- Refresh rate of 90Hz
- 0.2ms reaction time
- can display 10-bit color.
The panel fully covers 100% of the DCI-P3 color gamut, and its accuracy is verified by Pantone. Its HDR support is backed up by VESA’s DisplayHDR 500 True Black certification.
Aspect Ratio
The Zenbook 14X OLED Space Edition boasts a 16:10 aspect ratio and 92% screen-to-body ratio, with its slim 5.86 mm top bezel and 3 mm side bezels creating an incredible visual experience.
With this combination, you get more screen space than with regular 16:9 panels, making tasks based on productivity easier as it minimizes the need for scrolling.
Blue Light
According to Asus, the Zenbook 14X OLED Space Edition’s screen emits 70% less blue light than LCD panels and has been TUV Rheinland certified for its low-level of blue light emission.
Touchscreen
The 90Hz touchscreen of the Asus Zenbook 14X OLED Space Edition is quick and fluid, with an observable yet not drastic difference between 60Hz and 90Hz refresh rates.
Refresh Rate
The panel is usually set to 60Hz as the default, so you’ll need to go into the Windows settings or MyASUS app to change it to 90Hz; this app also provides a dynamic refresh rate selection.
ZenVision Display
The Asus Zenbook 14X OLED Space Edition also has a 3.65″ PMOLED screen as a secondary display called ZenVision Display, distinguished by its 265×64 pixel resolution and 150-nit brightness.
This monochrome screen can be personalized for animations, texts, and personal tags with a Space Theme. Not only that, but you can customize it to show notifications of time, date, and battery life. It can even display a music equalizer, custom messages, Microsoft Teams status, or business cards.
Speakers and Web Camera
The Asus Zenbook 14X OLED Space Edition has a pair of bottom-firing stereos speakers which have been adjusted and verified by Harman Kardon, the expert on audio quality.
It also boasts Dolby Atmos support for an immersive audio experience, whether you’re listening through the laptop’s internal speakers or connecting through headphones or home theater systems.
The Space Edition comes with the Dolby Access app, which allows you to configure these devices and select different audio profiles such as Dynamic, Game, Movie, Music, and Voice. Furthermore, you have the option to create your own custom profiles too.
Keyboard and Trackpad
The Asus Zenbook 14X OLED Space Edition uses a chiclet-style keyboard called the ErgoSense Keyboard by Asus. It has 19.05mm between keys, a key travel distance of 1.4mm, and the keycaps feature a 0.2mm concave shape.
Hardware and Performance
The Asus Zenbook 14X OLED Space Edition includes
- up to 32GB RAM
- up to 1TB of storage
- The CPU options include Core i5-12500H, Core i7-12700H and Core i9-12900H.
Cores
The Core i9-12900H has a TDP of 45W, with 14 cores composed of six Performance (P) cores designed for gaming and 3D design demands, and eight Efficient (E) cores that save battery power when the system is in low-stress conditions.
RAM
The Asus Zenbook 14X OLED Space Edition is equipped with LPDDR5 RAM with a maximum frequency of 4,800 MHz.
Although some software and benchmark tests indicate the laptop features 8 RAM sticks of 4GB each for a total of 32GB RAM, it actually has two 16GB RAM sticks installed.
Storage
The Asus Zenbook 14X OLED Space Edition features a 1TB Samsung M.2 NVMe PCIe 4.0 SSD (MZVL21T0HCLR-00B00). This storage solution is advertised to offer up to 6500 MB/s read speeds.
Software
The Asus Zenbook 14X OLED Space Edition runs Windows 11, though it may differ by region. For instance, in India the Space Edition is equipped with Windows 11 Home while other regions have Windows 11 Pro installed – that could be a cost reduction measure.
Even though there is nothing new to mention about Windows 11, the Zenbook 14X OLED Space Edition comes with a pre-installed version of Microsoft Office Home and Student 2021 along with several third-party applications like Alexa, Dolby Access, GlideX, McAfee, and ScreenXpert -all of which can be uninstalled.
It’s worth noting that both McAfee and GlideX include one year of subscription for free.
Battery
The Asus Zenbook 14X OLED Space Edition features a 3-cell 63Wh Li-Ion battery with 100W Type-C fast charging capabilities.
Although Asus hasn’t given any battery endurance specifics, in my daily activities, the Zenbook 14X OLED Space Edition was able to last around four hours before needing a recharge when I set the power mode to Best performance.
When the battery is empty, you can recharge it with the provided 100W type-C charger. Though Asus hasn’t revealed any figures, in my trial runs I found that the
Verdict
The Asus Zenbook 14X OLED Space Edition is an amazing laptop, but won’t be right for everyone as Asus classifies it as a non-mainstream product. It is primarily intended for enthusiasts who desire a collectible item with a space theme.
Even if you disregard the modern design and attractive packaging, the Zenbook 14X Space Edition still has a lot of amazing features. It’s sturdily constructed, and outfitted with an excellent 90Hz refresh rate screen. Additionally, it has a customizable secondary display on its lid that can show battery life and other pertinent info.