The new Sony WH-CH720N noise-cancelling headphones are a direct replacement for the previous CH710N model, adding new features, plus sound and noise-cancelling upgrades. With a price of $129 / £99 / AU$259, they're aggressive from Sony, bringing a lot of flagship-level features from the best noise-cancelling headphones to lower budgets.
But do they bring flagship-level performance too? Well, I mean, obviously not the same as the Sony WH-1000XM5, which cost more than three times as much – but I've been using my trusty Sony WH-1000XM3 for years now, and they were the flagship back in 2018, and recently dropped as low as $180 / £160 in places where they're still on sale (they seem to be finally on the out, sadly).
So I thought there's a chance that the new headphones might be able to match this older model, which would be incredibly exciting at this price. I took them both out to play in the traffic of the city, because the noise cancellation is where there tends to be the biggest gap between models at different prices.
And the short answer is: the old 1000XM3 were a clear step above the Sony WH-CH720N for blocking noise – and it's the same story for sound quality. The CH720N came out of it looking good for the price still, but it's the extra features where they really shine – they're not the Prometheus of headphones, stealing fire from the expensive gods, which is kind of how the fantastic Sony WF-C700N come across.
The noise cancellation of the CH720N very effectively puts its boot down on the loud sounds of city traffic, to be clear. I walked along the road listening to music that I could hear clearly, and I didn't have to crank the volume loud in order to make out the instruments – at only about 25% volume, I could listen happily. So they pass the core test with flying colors.
But standing at one intersection and switching between the CH720N and 1000XM3 revealed that the older model was able to move into a whole higher gear when it came to blocking the edges of the sound. The clearest example was that with the CH720N I could hear traffic from an adjoining busy road about 200 feet away. With the XM3, that road ceased to exist as far as my ears were concerned.
The roads were very busy at all times other than the moment I took this photo, I swear. (Image credit: Future)
It seems to my ears that the CN720N are close in effectiveness to the XM3 for higher-end sounds, but let in more at the bass end, which means the rumble of that further road came in disproportionately clearly compared to closer sounds that ripple across more of the sound range.
I haven't had a chance to test them on a plane yet, which is always a major challenge for noise-cancelling headphones, but I will soon, so I'll have a more complete picture of their noise-blocking chops for my full review. But I suspect the verdict will be same as now: very good for the price, but if you spend more, you get a real step up.
The sound quality is a similar story to the noise cancellation, in that I've enjoyed listening to the CH720N and they impress in a bunch of ways, but the 1000XM3 are an obvious improvement.
For some reason, the CH720N set themselves to Sony's 'Excited' EQ preset out of the box, and that made them heavily bass-loaded, which I didn't actually hate, but just felt OTT. But after heading into Sony's excellent app and turning off the EQ adjustment, I found they're supposed to deliver a pretty much ideal balance. Bass is warm but level-headed, mid-range is robust and individual instruments stand out in it well, and treble has plenty of clarity to make the little details pop.
It's also a fairly relaxed presentation – even with the ANC on, I didn't find them fatiguing to listen to at all over a whole afternoon of using them nearly non-stop.
The WH-CH520N come in white, black or blue. (Image credit: Future)
But. Switching to the 1000XM3 got me a sound that's clearly more dynamic. Sounds start and stop with extra snappiness, there's a greater depth between elements in dense soundstages, and so it's all just more natural and more refreshing to the ears.
However, the CH720N's bargain status isn't solely about performance. It's about having support for the Sony app and its EQ adjustments, and other sound mode options – including 360 Reality Audio and DSEE upscaling of mediocre-quality tracks (looking at you, still, Spotify).
They have Bluetooth 5.2, so could support Bluetooth LE Audio and Auracast in the future, if Sony can persuade itself to support the same next-gen standards as everyone else. They have multi-point pairing for easy switching between devices. They have a USB-C port and a 3.5mm jack, with a good-length cable in the box. They promise 35 hours of battery, though I haven't had a chance to test that yet.
All that stuff in combination with solid noise cancellation and nice sound is why they're officially a bargain. There are compromises, such as the plasticky feel of the finish and buttons, and lack of sensors to auto-pause when you take them off, but I can live with those.
Our full review is on the way, but if you're looking at mid-range noise-cancelling headphones, they should absolutely be on your list.
Sony WH-CH720N: Price & release date
$129 / £99 / AU$259
Released in spring 2023
The Sony WH-CH720N are extremely competitively priced at $129 / £99 / AU$259 – you don't get many noise-cancelling headphones from big brands at that kind of price, generally. Much like their earbuds sibling, the Sony WF-C700N, they really over-deliver on features in general compared to most other options in this price range.
Most of the WH-CH720N's competition is from the likes of Anker Soundcore or 1More, though JBL is probably the best known competitor – most notably with the JBL Tune 750BTNC, which costs pretty much the same.
US-based Zoma is known for making mattresses for athletes. So it comes as no surprise that its newest mattress on the market, the Zoma Boost, is specifically designed for people who lead active lifestyles. Having tested the mattress out for 21 days, it’s fair to say the bed-in-a-box lives up to these claims. Night after night I woke up feeling recharged, refreshed and ready to seize the day, so much so that I consider the Zoma Boost to be one of the best mattresses for recovery in 2023.
The chunky 15” hybrid mattress is a little slice of luxury at home. It’s made up of six layers of pure spinal-alignment-heaven. Its advanced cooling cover delivers an easy, breezy night’s slumber, while its graphite-infused Energex Memory Foam wicks away heat and works hard to keep you cool. Then comes its Quilted Gel Foam Layer to offer support. This is followed by the brand’s Reactiv Foam layer, which helps to eat up motion in the bed and stops you sinking. The fifth layer is made up of Zoma’s dynamic edge coils which promotes proper spine alignment (hello a better back), and these sit on top of the mattress’ durable and supportive base foam layer.
(Image credit: Zoma)
You get a 100-night trial with the Zoma Boost, which is the minimum most brands offer. Notching up a 6 on the firmness scale, this mattress has a medium firmness to it. The contouring memory foam aspects of this hybrid help to comfortably cradle you in a soft hug without feeling like you’re stuck — or worse, sinking. I found that even when I was sleeping on my front, this mattress was still comfy, although a heavier sleeper might find this mattress slightly too soft.
I tested the mattress in all major areas of sleep performance, rating it on edge support, cooling and pressure relief. Overall this sleep system lived up to great expectations, but I wouldn’t say this is one of the best hybrid mattresses for motion transfer, as it had a little more movement in the bed than I would have liked. It’s also pretty heavy — the queen size weighs 130 pounds. Plus, there was a strong off-gassing smell that took around four days to fully dissipate. Read on to learn more and decide whether or not the Zoma Boost is worth your money.
Zoma Boost mattress review: price
A premium mattress, price wise
Regular sales mean a queen usually costs around $1,599
Free shipping, although expect to pay a processing fee if returned within 30 days
The Zoma Boost is the brand’s most luxurious mattress, and also its most expensive option, too. Prices start from around the $1,300 mark for a twin and go as high as $2,800. Zoma regularly runs a sale which knocks a couple of $100 off the MSRP., but either way, this means the mattress sits in the premium mattress market.
To help you navigate the world of mattresses (and make sure you don’t pay anymore for one than you need to) I’ll be focusing on the regular sale price in this section. At the time of writing this, you could get a Queen sized Zoma Boost for $1,599 (instead of the MSRP of $1,749).
Twin size: MSRP $1,349 (normally sells for $1,199)
Twin XL size: MSRP $1,449 (normally sells for $1,299)
Full size: MSRP $1,549 (normally sells for $1,399)
Queen size: MSRP $1,749 (normally sells for $1,599)
King size: MSRP $1,949 (normally sells for $1,799)
California king size: MSRP $1,949 (normally sells for $1,799)
Split king size: MSRP $2,748 (normally sells for $2,598)
These prices might change throughout the year, but to make sure you get a deal, do keep your eye on our mattress sales guide as it’s updated regularly and includes all the need-to-know discounts worth giving some thought to. When you buy this Zoma Boost, you can enjoy free 3-7 day shipping. Once your mattress has been shipped, you can schedule your preferred delivery day and you’ll also get a tracking number to keep up to date with its location. There is the option of white glove delivery for $125.
If you decide this mattress isn’t right for you, you can return it for free. Although if you return it within the first 30 days, you will be subject to an early $99 early processing fee. But it’s not all bad news. Upon removing a returned mattress from your home, Zoma partners with charities to repurpose it within the community. Unlike many of the best hybrid mattresses, Zoma doesn’t offer the option of a bundle with this bed.
Zoma Boost mattress review: specs
Zoma Boost mattress review: materials and design
Hybrid mattress with foam and coils
Memory foam infused with graphite for a cool sleep
CertiPUR-US-certified
Do you get hot when you sleep? If so, you might benefit from a mattress that uses cutting edge sleep technology to help keep you cool, just like the Zoma Boost. The mattress has a cooling cover and a layer of graphite-infused memory foam. According to the brand, this cooling foam helps to wick away the heat and regulate your body temperature. It also prevents the build up of moisture within the other foam layers which can be very beneficial if you sleep hot.
(Image credit: Zoma)
Then comes its Quilted Gel Foam Layer which provides extra support for your frame, while the Reactiv Foam layer helps to eat up any movement in the bed and stop you from sinking. The chunky mattress’ fifth layer is its Dynamic Edge Coils, which are included to support your spine and help you fall into a deep and peaceful sleep. The final addition is its Durable Base Foam which makes for a solid structure.
Manufactured in the US, the Zoma Boost is made using eco-friendly processes. This includes the all-important CertiPUR-US-certification, meaning it’s free of harmful chemicals and low in volatile organic compounds, and making it better for you and for the planet.
Design score: 5 out of 5
Zoma Boost mattress review: comfort
The comfort of a mattress all comes down to personal preference. But on the firmness scale, Zoma ranks the Boost as a 6 out of 10, making it a medium firm bed. I’d agree with this rating.
Usually I sleep on a firm spring mattress, so it took me a good few nights to get used to this softer hybrid feel. However I found that when I woke up I felt refreshed and ready to go, which is always a good sign.
When you lay down on the Boost, you feel like your body is in recovery mode. That’s because the Boost has a definite contoured feeling, but thanks to its Reactiv Foam layer, you don’t feel like you are being swallowed whole or suspended in one position. When you lay down, the memory foam layers gently envelop around your body, cradling it on top of the bed and each time you find a different position the bed responds to your movement.
This helped to take pressure off my hip and shoulder joints, support my lower back and promote better spinal alignment no matter whether I tossed and turned from my front, back or side. As someone who rolls between every kind of sleep position imaginable, once I was used to the softer mattress feel, I found the Boost to be comfortable enough for my 132lbs frame.
My partner, who is 6ft and weighs 165 lbs, found the Boost to be a comfortable sleep solution, but he also found this mattress to be softer than he would have originally liked, compared to his preferred firm feel. He was happy enough on the Boost, although I wouldn’t say this mattress is particularly supportive for a much heavier individual.
(Image credit: Becks Shepherd)
To really test and see with my own eyes how much sinkage there was with the Boost, I used an 8kg kettlebell weight and placed it in the middle of the mattress. The memory foam curved around the weight and according to my measuring tape, it sank 1.5 inches which is pretty standard with a medium firm mattress.
Generally speaking, memory foam is known for retaining heat — but not the Boost. Sleeping hot was not a problem.
Comfort score: 3.5 out of 5
Zoma Boost mattress review: temperature regulation
Graphite-infused memory foam wicks away body heat
Very good temperature regulation for a hybrid design
Zero issues with keeping you cool
One of the best things about the Zoma Boost is its temperature regulation features. Topped with the advanced cooling cover, the first layer of the mattress is infused with cooling fibers which helps to absorb heat for a cool sleep. When you touch the memory foam layer, it gently molds to your hand without feeling like it’s starting to heat up. While its second graphite-infused memory foam layer works hard to wick away heat so you can remain focused on sleeping.
(Image credit: Becks Shepherd)
According to the brand, this layer also digs deep to improve air flow between the foam layers and prevents heat from being trapped. Being too warm is a major sleep disruptor and some mattress materials are better at dissipating heat than others — and even though the Boost contains memory foam (which often has a bad rep for retaining heat) it scores top marks for temperature regulation. For context, I tested this mattress during April and May so temperatures were around 57 degrees fahrenheit. But even still, I was wearing cotton pajamas and using cotton sheets and duvet covers along with a silk pillowcase, and I didn’t find this mattress to run hot on any occasion.
Temperature regulation score: 5 out of 5
Zoma Boost mattress review: motion isolation
Scored highly in all but one of our motion transfer tests
Not ideal for restless sleepers
Good motion isolation is crucial if you or your partner tends to toss and turn in their sleep. If a mattress has good motion isolation qualities, it can help absorb the motion in the bed when you or your partner turns, gets up or gets into bed.
I found the Boost to have more movement than I would have expected with a premium hybrid mattress as I could feel my partner turning in bed on certain nights. But to help objectively test the motion isolation, I placed an empty wine glass in the center of the mattress, and dropped an 8kg kettlebell onto the mattress at 4, 10 and 25 inches away from it. This test is designed to measure motion transfer, mimicking someone else in the bed moving position and getting in and out of bed.
(Image credit: Becks Shepherd)
When I dropped the kettlebell 4 inches away from the wine glass, it toppled over. When I dropped the weight at 10, the glass wobbled and at 25 inches the glass remained upright. Zoma claims to use its Reactiv Foam layer to help absorb motion and while it does this on most occasions, it is not consistent. Compared to other hybrid mattresses I have tested, I think there are better mattresses out there for isolating movement.
Motion isolation score: 3.5 out of 5
Zoma Boost mattress review: edge support
Good edge support around the full perimeter of the mattress
Felt fully confident sitting on the side of the bed
Even sinkage throughout the mattress
Mattresses aren’t cheap. So when you invest in a mattress you want to ensure the edge support is up to scratch so you can sit, sleep and lay across every inch of it. The Boost passed this test. No matter where I sat or lay, and even on the edge of the bed, it didn’t feel like I was going to roll out of the bed. It was also easy to get out of the bed.
(Image credit: Becks Shepherd)
To test the edge support with my own eyes, I used my 8kg kettlebell weight to provide a measurement of sinkage at each side of the bed and at the bottom, and measured it with a tape measure. The results showed the mattress sunk around 1.5inches, which is pretty standard for a medium-firm mattress. No matter where I tested the sinkage, it seemed to show the same results.
Edge support score: 5 out of 5
Zoma Boost mattress review: setup
Mattress delivered vacuum-packed, rolled and boxed
Free shipping
Super heavy to move
Most hybrid mattresses come pre packed, rolled and bundled into a box. And the Zoma Boost is no different. When you purchase this mattress you get free shipping and you’re able to use the FedEx Delivery Manager to schedule your preferred delivery day once you get a notification that the mattress has been shipped. This can take between 3-7 days. You’ll also get given a tracking number so you can watch your mattress’ movements and ensure it’s making its way to you. Mattresses are heavy — the Zoma Boost included. So if you wanted, for a price of $125, you have the choice of white glove delivery.
(Image credit: Becks Shepherd)
When the Zoma Boost arrived, it was in a box and wrapped in a tight plastic wrapper. The setup of the bed took me longer than I would have liked (30 minutes in total) as it was a heavy mattress. The full size weighs 112 pounds and the queen size weighs 130 pounds, so it was pretty tricky to maneuver. However, I eventually managed to roll the bed out of the box, and rip the packaging around it. Once it was on the bed, it literally sprang out of its plastic covers and expanded. Within minutes, it looked like it was ready to sleep on. Zoma states that you can lie on your mattress right away but it might take up to 8 hours to fully expand.
(Image credit: Becks Shepherd)
When a bed in a box mattress starts to expand, there can be an off-gassing smell. And there was a noticeable one with the Boost. To really get a sense of how strong the smell was, I left the bedroom door closed. Around five hours later, when I came back, I could still smell it. Overall this lasted for around 4 days to fully dissipate.
Setup score: 3.5 out of 5
Zoma Boost mattress review: customer reviews
Five out of five stars scored across the board
Key positives included temperature regulation, comfort levels for rest and quality
At the moment, you can only buy the Zoma Boost via the brand’s website which makes it hard to find reviews elsewhere. As you might have guessed, on the brand’s website the Zoma Boost scores a top 5 stars out of 5 and, at the time of writing this, that’s based on six reviews.
Customers mentioned how rested they felt after using this mattress, and one praised its soft feel while another highlighted how cool and temperature regulating this mattress is.
Despite what I thought, some customer reviews said the mattress was able to eat up motion in the bed brilliantly as they were unable to feel their partner climbing in or out of bed. Some users also commented about the high quality of the bed. All in all, there were no negatives mentioned about this mattress and all six reviewers scored the Zoma Boost full marks.
Should you buy the Zoma Boost mattress?
(Image credit: Zoma)
Yes... up to a point.
If you have a problem getting to sleep and staying asleep because of temperature regulation, then this luxurious hybrid bed-in-a-box is one of the best mattresses for keeping you cool, with an advanced cooling cover and graphite-infused memory foam layer working hard to wick away heat. Plus, the Boost is brilliant at offering pressure relief for joints no matter what position you find yourself in. It also promotes spinal alignment thanks to the Zoned Edge Coil Supports, and its Reactiv Foam layer reacts to your movement, meaning you won’t get stuck in one position. If you really enjoy having a contoured feeling when you sleep and like a medium firm mattress, the Boost is ideal.
However, all this quality comes at a price and for the Boost you’ll pay a premium. Prices start at around $1,349 and go up to $2,748 depending on the size you choose. This mattress also had a bit more movement than expected, so it might affect light sleepers especially if you toss and turn or you sleep with a partner who does. The mattress is also very heavy — which isn’t a problem if you have two people setting it up. I would also say this medium firm mattress isn’t particularly supportive for heavier sleepers, especially if you tend to sleep on your front.
Zoma Boost mattress review: also consider
How I tested the Zoma Boost mattress
To really test out this mattress, I slept on the Zoma Boost for 21 nights throughout the month of April. At the time of testing, temperatures ranged from 44°F to 57°F. So temperatures were not particularly warm throughout the night.
During testing I used cotton sheets, a cotton duvet cover and a silk pillowcase. My partner slept with me in the bed during the course of the 21 day period and he also gave his opinion on the mattress, ranking it on comfort, performance, motion isolation and temperature regulation. I also ran standardized tests to objectively assess softness, edge support, and motion isolation using a tape measure, an 8kg kettlebell and a wine glass.
While there’s the occasional exciting launch, the middle of the year is a fairly quiet period. This makes it the season for getting an older device – a high quality phone that has slid down the pricing charts. Here are the best offers we found this week.
Germany
The UK
USA
India
Germany
The Nothing Phone (1) still holds up in terms of design and performance even though it will be 1 year old next month. Its price has fallen to €370 for a 128GB unit, if you want double the storage you can have it for €50 more.
...
Say hello to the vivo X Flip - the maker's first attempt at a clamshell foldable, and one that looks the part from all angles.
It ships in a big box that packs a 44W charger, a USB cable, and a two-piece transparent case that doesn't hide the phone's design.
vivo goes head-on with other clamshell foldable on the market with the X Flip. It's a bit bigger than the Galaxy Z Flip4 but affords the vivo bigger displays, and a bigger battery.
The cover display, in particular, is much more useful than the Galaxy's. It's a 3-inch panel that fits its own version of Android with a set of...
Say hello to the vivo X Flip - the maker's first attempt at a clamshell foldable, and one that looks the part from all angles.
It ships in a big box that packs a 44W charger, a USB cable, and a two-piece transparent case that doesn't hide the phone's design.
vivo goes head-on with other clamshell foldable on the market with the X Flip. It's a bit bigger than the Galaxy Z Flip4 but affords the vivo bigger displays, and a bigger battery.
The cover display, in particular, is much more useful than the Galaxy's. It's a 3-inch panel that fits its own version of Android with a set of...
Motorola is going for a two-pronged attack on the flip foldable market with the premium Motorola Razr 40 Ultra and the affordable Motorola Razr 40. Well, affordable in relative terms. For more details on the Ultra, we already have a full review as well as a video review. We also have a hands-on with the vanilla Razr 40.
Motorola Razr 40 Ultra/Razr 40+
The Razr 40 Ultra, or Razr 40+ as it will be known in the US, claims the crown in two categories: thinnest foldable and largest cover display. The former is achieved with an impressive “dual-axis tracking” teardrop hinge that...
Snapdragon 695? “No, thanks”, said the people in last week’s poll. The Sony Xperia 10 V is looking like a flop as the outdated chipset and 60Hz display are a tough sell at €450. And that improved 48MP camera looks odd with its 1080p @ 30fps video limitation set by the chipset that really should have been retired by now.
There isn’t much else to say about the 10 V, a few people who like the phone for its size, card slot and headphone jack commented that they may as well get the Mark 4 – the few upgrades of the 2023 model are not worth the extra cost.
With that out of the way, let’s...
Snapdragon 695? “No, thanks”, said the people in last week’s poll. The Sony Xperia 10 V is looking like a flop as the outdated chipset and 60Hz display are a tough sell at €450. And that improved 48MP camera looks odd with its 1080p @ 30fps video limitation set by the chipset that really should have been retired by now.
There isn’t much else to say about the 10 V, a few people who like the phone for its size, card slot and headphone jack commented that they may as well get the Mark 4 – the few upgrades of the 2023 model are not worth the extra cost.
With that out of the way, let’s...
This week was all about the new Motorola Razr series foldables, but there was another slab phone announced alongside them – the Motorola Edge 40 in Viva Magenta. As you may have heard by now, Viva Magenta is the Pantone Color of the Year for 2023 and Motorola has been incorporating the vibrant shade across several of its smartphones this year including the Motorola Edge 30 Fusion and the brand new Razr 40 Ulta aka Razr+ in the US. These are our first impressions of the Motorola Edge 40 in Viva Magenta.
To say that the Viva Magenta color on the Edge 40 pops would be an understatement...
I could spend a lot of time talking about how eco-friendly the Asus Zenbook S 13 OLED is. I could talk extensively about how for something that even looks and feels unique, its one-of-a-kind lid is surprisingly made using an “environmentally low-impact method” . Or, I could spend some time on how the recyclable packaging can be repurposed into a laptop stand.
But, the Asus Zenbook S 13 OLED (2023) is more than a gimmick aimed at those worried about climate change. It’s actually a fantastic computer worthy of your attention even if all you care about is getting something portable yet powerful. It may be among the best laptops of the year. It certainly belongs among the best Ultrabooks.
Just like most of the top Ultrabooks out there, the Asus Zenbook S 13 OLED delivers in the portability department. It’s small enough that I didn’t believe it was a 13-inch computer when I first opened it up. It’s fairly lightweight as well, though it does have some heft to it compared to other Ultrabooks. And, within this small chassis, Asus has somehow managed to pack quite a powerful punch. No easy task considering there’s not a dedicated GPU here.
As is typical with Ultrabooks, unfortunately, the speakers are thin and lacklustre. That trackpad can also be a little too sensitive – though that’s a bit of a nitpick. And, though Asus is known for its affordability, the Zenbook S 13 OLED (2023) is not cheap, equipped with a higher price tag than the base 13-inch MacBook Pro.
But, considering everything that this little demon can do, it’s worth it.
Asus Zenbook S 13 OLED (2023): Price & availability
How much does it cost? $1,399.99 / £1,499.99 / AU$2,099.00
When is it available? Available now
Where can you get it? Available in the US and Australia
The current configuration of the Asus Zenbook S 13 OLED (2023) is pricey, coming in at $1,399.99 / £1,499.99 / AU$2,099.00. However, it’s worth the price, even if it’s higher than we might expect from a company like Asus that balances performance with value.
A base model of the 13-inch MacBook Pro with an M2 chip goes for $1,299 / £1,299 / AU$1,999. That configuration does come with 8GB to the Asus’ 32GB and updating the Macbook to its highest level of available RAM (24GB) adds an additional $400 / £400 to that price tag. With that in mind, the Asus Zenbook S 13 OLED's premium price tag seems pretty fair.
That said, there are more affordable OLED laptops out there. Just consider the Acer Swift 3 OLED, which starts as low as $930 / around £808 / AU$1,382. Of course, that comes with a 12th-gen i5 and 8GB of RAM but you still get a gorgeous OLED display. Plus, as much power as the Asus Zenbook S 13 OLED has, it’s still not really a gaming laptop so most people comparing these two laptops probably won’t care as much about the difference in performance.
At the time of writing, the review version of the Asus Zenbook S 13 OLED (2023), specifically the model # UX5304VA, with its Intel Core 13th-gen i7 and 32GB of RAM is not available in the UK. However, it should be available on the Asus eShop at the end of June and on Curry’s in early July.
Also of note, though the landing page for the configuration reviewed here lists different configurations, only the one reviewed here seems to be available. Hopefully, that will change soon.
Value: 4 / 5
(Image credit: Future / James Holland)
Asus Zenbook S 13 OLED (2023): Specs
The Asus Zenbook S 13 OLED (2023) comes in just one configuration at the moment, though that might change in time.
Asus Zenbook S 13 OLED (2023): Design
Unique laptop lid is tip of the eco-friendly iceberg
25% thinner than its predecessor
Great keyboard and solid if sensitive trackpad
(Image credit: Future / James Holland)
Though there are a lot of eco-friendly aspects to this laptop, I’ll just touch on a few. The laptop lid, which corresponds with one of two colorways: Basalt Gray and Ponder Blue, is probably the most visible aspect of the Asus Zenbook S 13 OLED (2023)’s more sustainable approach. Instead of a brushed aluminum lid that’s become de rigueur since Apple started the trend, the one protecting this computer is made of plasma ceramic aluminum, which uses a lower-impact production method and is recyclable at the end of the laptop’s lifetime.
The lid is unique beyond just its line-stricken appearance and lower carbon footprint. Not only does it come in a color I’m not used to seeing on a laptop – the model Asus sent for review was in Basalt Gray – but the texture is a bit rougher, almost like it’s made of rock.
A much less conspicuous element of the Asus Zenbook S 13 OLED (2023)’s sustainability is courtesy of its size. Not only is it 25% smaller than its predecessor but its internals are custom-made to take up less space and use fewer materials. Plus, when closed, it’s less than half an inch thick. You can probably attribute its light weight of 2.20lbs / 1kg to its thoughtful construction.
(Image credit: Future / James Holland)
Beyond these sustainability-related design choices, there’s plenty else to get excited about. When you open the lid, the bottom actually raises the bottom chassis for more ergonomic access to the keyboard. And, though this isn’t a 2-in-1, the hinge has a 180-degree articulation so that you can lay it flat showing off that 13.3-inch OLED panel in a group setting. Just don’t do it outside as there is a bit of glare to that screen.
The port selection is another point in the Asus Zenbook S 13 OLED (2023)’s favor as it’s pretty robust for an Ultrabook, coming with two USB-C ports, an HDMI port, and a USB-A port, not to mention a headphone jack. That’s pretty impressive considering this laptop’s size. If there’s anything to complain about here, it’s the fact that both USB-C ports are on the same side.
(Image credit: Future / James Holland)
With a 1.1mm travel, I found the keyboard to also be well thought out. If you’re coming from the world of mechanical and gaming keyboards, you’ll have to adjust as you won’t have the amount of travel you’re used to. However, the keyboard is fast and accurate with enough space between the keys that I don’t typically make many mistakes when using it.
The trackpad is a little less stellar, though still quite good. What I mean by that is that it’s plenty wide with accurate tracking, but it can be a little too sensitive. I’ve found myself accidentally highlighting some text because my left hand was a little too close to that trackpad while I was navigating it with my right. It’s far from a dealbreaker, but it’s worth being aware of.
Design: 4.5 / 5
Asus Zenbook S 13 OLED (2023): Performance
Gorgeous OLED screen
Lots of power for an Ultrabook
Speakers are thin
Asus Zenbook S 13 OLED Benchmarks
Here's how the Asus Zenbook S 13 OLED (2023) performed in our suite of benchmark tests: 3DMark: Night Raid: 14,315; Fire Strike: 4,149; Time Spy: 1,524 GeekBench 6: 2194 (single-core); 7727 (multi-core)
Handbrake 1.6: 18 minutes 51 seconds CrossMark: Overall: 1425 Productivity: 1379 Creativity: 1541 Responsiveness: 1243 Sid Meier's Civilization VI: Gathering Storm: 45.88 fps PCMark 10 Battery Life: 12 hours and 7 minutes
Using the Asus Zenbook S 13 OLED (2023) is a pleasure. As it’s in the name, let’s start with that 13.3-inch gorgeous OLED screen. Not only is it a higher resolution (2880 x 1800) with a 16:10 aspect ratio for a little extra screen real estate, but it has 550 nits of brightness as well as Vesa Certified Display HDR True Black 500.
Whether I’m watching Wednesday on Netflix, looking up travel photos, or trying to play a game, everything looks crisp and vibrant. Its 100% DCI-P3 color gamut is also to thank for that, which is wide enough for some light photo editing. A quick note on that HDR… it’s not quite that game-changing level of HDR but it looks good. And, unlike some basic versions, you won’t get that washed-out effect when turning it on.
(Image credit: Future / James Holland)
With such a fantastic display, the internals better be able to keep up - and in this little powerhouse, they certainly can. A 13th-gen Intel Core i7 and 32GB of RAM with Intel Xe graphics is robust enough for anyone that doesn’t consider themselves a capital G Gamer. I was even able to run some games on the Asus Zenbook S 13 OLED. CS:GO ran almost flawlessly with only a dropped frame here or there, while GTA IV was able to run on medium graphics. I did experience enough stuttering to find that this is the laptop’s upper limits. However, considering there’s no discrete graphics card, that’s pretty impressive. If you like to do some light gaming while traveling, this machine can definitely do that.
For a more real-world example, I was able to open 20 different tabs on Google Chrome, five of them streaming from Youtube or Netflix. I had no trouble going to any tab including the streaming ones to either click on a link or fast forward or rewind with immediate results.
As great as the performance of the Asus Zenbook S 13 OLED (2023) is, its speakers are not quite at the same level. That’s not that much of a surprise as most really, really thin laptops have crappy speakers. I have heard much worse and the speakers are serviceable – Harman Kardon did what they could do, but they’re relatively thin with no low-end. At least there’s some stereo separation for when you’re watching a movie.
(Image credit: Future / James Holland)
The camera, which can do a lot digitally via the MyAsus app such as background blur and auto zoom, is a mostly quality inclusion. It has a 1080p resolution, IR and Hello Windows capability for sharp, clear images. However, it’s not the best at tracking as I do experience plenty of ghosting with any sudden or large movements.
Speaking of the MyAsus app, there’s a lot of fine-tuning available here from fan and battery settings to audio modes and adjustments for both the camera and the mic. If you decide to go with this little computer, don’t ignore the app.
Performance: 4.5 / 5
Asus Zenbook S 13 OLED (2023): Battery life
Gets 12 out of 14 hours of advertised battery life
Boots right up when plugged in on 0%
Considering that the Asus Zenbook S 13 OLED (2023) is supposed to have a 14-hour battery life, the fact that the PCMark 10 Battery Life ran the battery down after 12 hours and 7 minutes means it doesn’t quite hit the advertised mark. That said, 12 hours is still very, very good and most computers outside of a MacBook Pro, which makes it to 15, struggle to get to that point. The aforementioned Acer Swift 3 OLED only makes it to six and half hours while another great contender among the Ultrabooks, the Lenovo Yoga 9i Gen 8, clocks in at just over ten hours.
Outside of using a Benchmark test, the Asus Zenbook S 13 OLED (2023), which I used regularly for a week, rarely needed a charge. It also didn’t seem to lose charge when sitting closed and idle as I’ve seen some laptops do. The only time the battery life was nearly empty was during that Benchmark test. Speaking of, once the battery was completely depleted, I plugged the laptop in and it booted up right away – no need for it to regain some battery.
Battery life: 4.5 / 5
Should you buy the Asus Zenbook S 13 OLED (2023)?
Buy it if...
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Asus Zenbook S 13 OLED: Also consider
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How I tested the Asus Zenbook S 13 OLED
I tested for a week
I used it as my everyday computer as well as did some gaming
I tested the various aspects and features
Having used the Asus Zenbook S 13 OLED for a week as an everyday computer, I did plenty of work on it including writing up articles (including this one). I downloaded and played some games that I thought might be within its capabilities, namely CS:GO and GTA IV. I also played some streaming videos, including Netflix’s Wednesday, to get a better sense of the screen, in particular its colors and HDR.
After a week of using this laptop, it’s clear that it’s a contender in the Ultrabook category and that it’s for anyone who might gravitate towards something thin and light, namely laptops from Apple or Dell’s XPS line.
I’ve spent the last few years reviewing tech gear for gaming and otherwise, where I’ve gotten a feel for what to look for and how to put a piece of kit through its paces to see whether it’s worth the recommendation. And, I’ve spent even longer playing computer games so I have an understanding of what gamers look for to get the most out of their titles.
