It’s not every day that we come across laptops like the Asus ZenBook 14X OLED Space Edition. Revealed at CES 2022, this is essentially an updated version of the already existing ZenBook 14X OLED, now equipped with the latest 12th-generation Intel processors and a sturdier build though it’s not the hardware that makes the Space Edition stand out.
This machine takes inspiration from Asus’s own P6300, launched back in 1997, which successfully operated outside the Earth’s atmosphere for a remarkable 600 days without any faults. It’s a recognition, a festival, and a demonstration of how far workstations have come.
However, don’t let the space theme fool you. The ZenBook 14X OLED Space Edition is still in the race to become one of the best laptops on the market, even if its theme may be overlooked. After spending some time working and playing on the machine, I’m even more confident about it.
Asus Zenbook 14X: Design
I’ve got to keep reminding myself that the ZenBook 14X Space Edition is tailored for enthusiasts. And it’s not just because I wanted to use it as my daily driver. Besides the space theme, it’s an outstanding laptop in its own right.
The design elements on the laptop’s lid and deck are sleek and precise, and the two orange keys the Space Bar and the Power Button are understated and never distract. I can use the 14X Space Edition every day without any issues.
That is because it’s based on the underpinning of an extraordinary laptop. The Asus Zenbook 14X OLED is at the top of its class, and the Space Edition is exactly that design. This new model comes with Intel Core i9-12900H and Wi-Fi 6E along with a sturdier build that adheres to the US Space Systems Command standard a significant step up from the military standard used in other Zenbook models.
You can also opt for up to 1TB PCIe 4.0 SSD storage and 32GB of RAM.
Asus Zenbook 14X: Ports
Despite all the changes, Asus has kept much of the same. For ports, you still have dual Thunderbolt 4 connections, a USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A port, a microSD card slot, and even a full-size HDMI 2.0 port. You still get a fingerprint reader on the power button and a NumberPad 2.0 on the trackpad, which comes in handy.
Asus Zenbook 14X: Display and Speakers
The same beautiful 16:10 OLED display comes with claims of covering 100% of the PCI-P3 color gamut and being Pantone validated for color accuracy. It delivers incredible visuals with rich contrast and vibrant colors from edge to edge.
Alongside the screen, the keyboard stood out for me. It’s not much different from last year’s ZenBook 14X OLED and that’s a good thing. The key travel is a solid 1.4 millimeters, and it feels like a natural fit for a desktop keyboard. I’m typing this article on the ZenBook 14X OLED Space Edition, and I haven’t missed a keystroke. Even at lower volumes, the speakers are often distorted.
Audio was my only issue during my brief time with the ZenBook 14X OLED Space Edition. The laptop includes a pair of downward firing speakers, and they get loud. The problem is that they often get distorted even at lower volumes and dynamic sources kick off a bad clipping that will reduce the volume. It’s possible that the speakers on my test unit were faulty, but regardless, it wasn’t a great audio experience. This machine should adhere to the Space Systems Command standard, so whether the speaker was busted or not, it wasn’t a good audio experience.
Asus Zenbook 14X: The ZenVision display
The most notable change in the Space Edition is the monochrome ZenVision display on the laptop’s lid. It looks really good and is functional too. By default, it displays the time when your screen is open, and it shows the time and your battery level when the lid is closed.
Unfortunately, after the lid is closed, the display turns off after 10 seconds, and I couldn’t find a way to extend that time in the MyAsus app. The most practical use of the ZenVision display is, so it’s disappointing that there’s no way to extend its duration. Even when the battery is charged, it doesn’t pop up, which feels like a missed opportunity.
In reality, the software side leaves a lot to be desired. You can use one of the four animations provided by Asus, add any text you like, or use it as a label with a QR code (for which Asus has thoughtfully included a generator in the MyAsus app). So far, that’s it, though Asus suggested in a press briefing that more functionalities for the display would come over time.
Hopefully, this will include more settings for adjusting the active time of the display, tools for creating your animations, and more detailed controls over things like animation speed. I’d likewise prefer to see better instruments for adding your pictures. You can throw any image onto the ZenVision display including GIFs but you’ll need to crop it to a specific resolution, not just an aspect ratio. The results aren’t great, as you can see from the distorted image of an Exo Stranger in Destiny 2 below.
I like the concept of the ZenVision display, but Asus needs to work on the software. As it stands now, it’s not as practical as it could be. Ideally, Asus will refresh the application with additional capabilities later on, like a status pointer for Spotify or details for the game you’re playing.
Asus Zenbook 14X: Accessories
Outside the laptop, the ZenBook 14X OLED Space Edition comes with several additional goodies in the box. There’s a stand for the laptop, which doubles up as a cable management solution, along with a sticker sheet, a welcome card, and a “packed from space” package, which is a silver bubble mailer that holds other extra items.
All of this is packed inside a Space Edition box, which looks amazing, housed within another cardboard box with a nylon handle. Asus claims it can double as a carrying case, but I’m not sure how practical it would be now that I’ve had the chance to keep the ZenBook 14X with me.
I like the additional items, but they aren’t as premium as I had hoped. Asus says the Space Edition is inspired by the P6300, but the extras don’t feel like they pay homage to the original machine as much as they could have. It’s an enticing laptop.
That’s because they seem cheap to display but expensive to toss. For instance, the stand is just made of cardboard, and the space package, while cosmetically appealing, is essentially just a bubble mailer with Velcro. Asus didn’t need to include anything extra. I just expected more, seeing it billed as a collector’s item.
What truly sets the Space Edition apart is the laptop itself. There’s a subtle Morse code like pattern in the fine lines, and a serious engraving of “Ad Astra Per Aspera” in the lower part of the laptop, which feels like it’s echoing alone in space based on silver. It’s a captivating laptop, and it comes loaded with a filling of low-to-premium embellishments remembered for the container.
Asus Zenbook 14X: Price and Availability
Asus isn’t quite ready for performance testing yet, but I’d say the Zenbook 14X OLED Space Edition is capable on the inside hardware wise. It’s not exactly the customer object I was hoping for, but that shouldn’t reflect on the laptop itself. This Zenbook 14X OLED is an advanced version, and the machine’s details crucially are out of this world.
| Features | Asus Zenbook 14 OLED (2024) |
|---|---|
| Dimensions | 12.30 inches x 8.67 inches x 0.59 inches |
| Weight | 2.82 pounds |
| Processor | Intel Core Ultra 7 155H |
| Graphics | Intel Arc graphics |
| RAM | 32GB |
| Display | 14.0-inch 16:10 3K (2880 x 1800) OLED, 120Hz |
| Storage | 1TB SSD |
| Touch | Yes |
| Ports | 2 x USB-C with Thunderbolt 4 1 x USB-A 1 x HDMI 2.1 1 x 3.5mm audio jack |
| Wireless | Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3 |
| Webcam | 1080p with infrared camera for Windows 11 Hello |
| Operating system | Windows 11 |
| Battery | 75 watt-hours |
| Price | $1,300 |
