For those who can’t get on board with Apple products, we recommend checking out the Asus Zenbook S 13 OLED instead.
Don’t let the “budget contender” label fool you, however. The Zenbook S 13 OLED is a sleek, well-designed machine that can easily stand toe-to-toe with premium laptops in the mid-to-high range market. Our review found that it was powered by AMD’s Ryzen 6000 series chips, which pack a surprising punch for its lightweight frame. It scored an impressive 7,498 points on Geekbench’s multi-core test and was able to finish a Blender benchmark in four minutes and 19 seconds, outperforming even the new MacBook Air.
One of the standout features of the Zenbook S 13 OLED is its 16:10, 13.3 inch, 2880 x 1800 OLED display, which provides vibrant colours and sharp details. It’s smaller than the MacBook Air’s display, but it makes up for it with a lighter weight and longer battery life, which lasted an impressive 11 hours and 10 minutes in our tests.
Of course, there are some trade-offs. The chassis is prone to collecting dust and fingerprints, the webcam is only 720p, and the machine is generally less powerful than the MacBook Air. However, if you’re looking for a capable Windows laptop that can handle everyday tasks with ease, the Zenbook S 13 OLED is a fantastic option that won’t break the bank, with configurations starting at around $1,299.
Number 3. Razer Blade 16
