05/27/2022
Back in CES 2022, ASUS unveiled its array of upcoming laptops and to the surprise of many, the lineup includes an ultra-special edition ZenBook to commemorate a milestone for the company.
This is the ASUS ZenBook 14X OLED Space Edition and it’s here to celebrate 25 years of having been able to send ASUS laptops to outer space during a space mission back in 1997.
As a special edition laptop, it comes in a special packaging that is simply fun to unbox.
But with the unit all ready to be set up, here are my first impressions of the device from its build quality, design, and features.
First thing you’ll notice on this laptop is that it doesn’t look like any other ordinary laptop. Its design elements are simply out-of-this-world (pun intended) and are really striking if you’re into the extra bling for your gadgets.
The aluminum body comes in this golden brown shade that ASUS calls Zero-G Titanium color. And all over its shell are markings, patterns, and accents that all contribute to its space-themed approach.
These designs are not random, mind you, and every spec and marking have their own meaning. For one, most patterns on the body reflect the same elements seen in the MIR space station where ASUS laptops spent more than 600 days back in ’97.
Additionally, dots and dashes seen on its lid are Morse code and translate to “Ad Astra Per Aspera” which is Latin for “Through hardships to the stars”. Really great and meaningful detail.
And of course, one thing that’s hard to miss is this small display on its lid. This is the exclusive ZenVision display which is a 3.5-inch OLED screen in monochrome loaded with animations and customizable graphics to add a sprinkle of personalization to the laptop.
ASUS says this potential-filled display is inspired by a datasheet of a spaceship. And by using its MyASUS app, you can change what’s shown from time, date, battery level, to your own business card, animation, or a custom message.
Open the lid and you’re introduced to its keyboard. Both the space bar and power button are highlighted with a differently-colored coating that blend well with the overall aesthetic of the laptop.
Just like a true ZenBook, the ErgoLift hinge is seen here as well that props up the chassis when you open the lid. This gives way to better air circulation and cools the laptop easier in addition to providing a more ergonomic experience when typing.
It also comes with the company’s NumberPad 2.0 which transforms the trackpad into a number pad. It also supports certain gestures to instantly bring up the calculator and make numeric input easier.
And just like a true ASUS laptop, the device feels very solid and durable which is not at all surprising.
After all, the company really reinforced this specific model to pass some space-grade tests like vibration & temperature and withstand being in a space capsule where large temperature differences are common. Talk about durability!
As for the rest of its physique, the ZenBook 14X OLED Space Edition comes with a wide variety of connectivity with its regular-size HDMI, USB 3.2 Gen 2, two Thunderbolt 4 USB-C ports, audio jack, and even a microSD card reader.
Moving on to its main display, it features a 14-inch OLED panel with a resolution of 2880 x 1800. It comes with a 16:10 aspect ratio with touch input so you can go for a more relaxed way of browsing and navigating the laptop.
Up top is a small webcam with its own physical shutter to keep prying eyes away.
The display has slim side bezels and is so far immersive enough. Its OLED panel also ensures that you only get vibrant colors with deep blacks while its HDR feature offers a wider dynamic range to see more details.
Not only do you get lively colors and sharper picture, but you’re also assured of accurate colors thanks to its display’s 100% DCI-P3 color gamut and PANTONE-validated panel. And for fans of scrolling smoothly and gliding through the laptop’s menu and UI, you’d be glad to know that the display can go up to 90Hz refresh rate — of course, it will take a toll on the battery performance.
This laptop isn’t all for show and looking pretty. Inside, it packs powerful components that should help you accomplish tasks whether you’re at your office here on Earth or in a space station floating in outer space.
It’s got Intel’s 12th-gen processor at its core in both Core-i5 and Core-i9 configurations while graphics are handled by Intel Iris Xe. You can get up to 16GB of LPDDR5 RAM on this as well as up to 1TB SSD for faster boot-up.
Other specs and features worth looking forward to are its WiFi 6E connectivity for faster and more stable connections, Harman Kardon-certified speakers with Dolby audio, and AI noise-canceling tech for your video calls.
Meanwhile, for its battery, it carries a 63Wh Li-Po pack with a 100W charger to fill it up faster. We’re curious as to how long the battery could last with all its nice features activated and put to work.
Stay tuned for the full review. Meanwhile, more details on the laptop by clicking here.
