How many of you got to reach the moon at 21? In the future of the familiar gum – all of us, but in a nutshell unless we have deep (very) pockets or a pilot’s license combined with a doctorate in physics, math and molecular biology the stars will probably only be seen from a distance. But you can get a little closer to them. The road passes through all sorts of products that were supposedly developed or used in space missions. From MoonBoots which were actually snow boots in the style of astronaut boots, to Spice Pen who assured us that it could be written at any angle and was a popular gift at an 80s bar mitzvah. Asus’s ZenBook 14X OLED Space Edition is a bit of that – but to its credit it’s much more to do.
Structure and design: laptop-spaceship
Asus has launched the ZenBook 14X OLED Space Edition to celebrate the 25th anniversary since the company’s first laptop was launched into space as part of the Mir space station missions in 1997. The model shipped at the time was the P6300 and the current 14X refers to it at every opportunity. Its structure is based on aluminum (Asus writes titanium – but it only refers to color) and very high quality plastic. From every possible direction you will receive a reminder of space travel and astronauts.
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Here is everything that can be found on the body of the computer
(Asus)
For example, the whole body is adorned with illustrations that are actually Morse code translated into Ad Astra Per Aspera or in Hebrew – “Our ambitions will take us to the stars” – a famous Latin saying that serves as a motto starting from Star Trek’s Star Trek, Titan’s Siren in Titan Sirens and even Kurt Wengot Kansas State. Asus, as mentioned, try everywhere to remind us that this is a “space” laptop and the sentence even appears in Latin at the bottom of the computer. Beyond that on the back of the screen there is a tiny 3.5-inch external screen that displays all kinds of animations and information such as time, date, battery charge status, etc. What a pity it is not possible to turn it on without opening the computer which makes its addition a bit redundant and more flashy. But it is there and you can even customize what is displayed on it – within the limits of Asus of course.
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Our ambitions will take us to the stars
(Raphael Kahan)
This mobile feels super built. That is, one feels that this is a premium computer. It looks very reliable and rugged, and Asus prides itself on meeting the US Space Systems Command Standard SMC-S-016A, meaning it can accompany you on your next space shuttle flight and continue to work outside the atmosphere as well. Which is an important detail for quite a few users. Since it is designed to operate in “extreme” environments and I estimate that it includes the tough Israeli summer of July-August-September. Beyond that, this is an easy-to-carry laptop. It is not too big, and although the body shape includes some sharp angles it is comfortable to carry and work.
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Here are some more reminders from below about the space journey of his ancestors
(Raphael Kahan)
I got to use it on the train for example when traveling to the center and it was easy to lay it on the table and keep working. Its weight is not the lightest you can find – 1.4kg – but it is not bulky which gives the feeling that it is lighter than it really is. Opening the laptop screen raises the keyboard at an angle of about 5.5 degrees and makes it easier to type. By the way, in the very well-equipped kit of the computer you will also find the luggage box (easy and convenient to carry) whose opening will allow you to place the computer at an angle of 23 degrees which is considered very convenient for typing.
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Even the space bar is shaped in the spirit of a spaceship
(Raphael Kahan)
Interior design The computer returns to the visual language of Asus. The keyboard is painted in the same color as “Titanium Zero-G” except for the space bar painted red with an icon of a planet surrounded by rings embossed on it. Everything is very elegant and except for the marketing stickers that come with it and which are best removed, it can easily compete with Apple designs for example. The sockets consist of both sides of the computer – on the right you will find a standard USB 3.2 socket and a headphone socket. On the other side you will find two USB-C sockets in the Thunderbolt standard standard when they are also used for charging and a full HDMI socket. There is no network socket here but there is a memory card slot. All in all this is a neatly designed machine with all sorts of little touches that correspond with spaceflight and astronautics. He will excite in this respect any space geek or pilot. But even non-users will be able to connect to this because if you ignore for a moment all the references to the space heritage of Asus, it is all in all a very nice product and even said nicely. So 12 full points to Asus for that.
Hardware: The most powerful there is and a spectacular screen, but the usage time is short
Let’s face it, small computers like the 14X are not meant to break power records. They are usually equipped with economical processors so that they can maintain a long battery life. But this is really not the case here. Flying into space requires a great deal of power and this is translated here into an Intel i9 Series 12 series H processor designed for content creators on the go. The processor is integrated with 32 GB of operating memory as well as 1 terabyte of storage space. This is a lot for a tiny laptop and apparently the intention is to compete with the capabilities of Apple’s MacBook Pro and Air computers that are equipped with very powerful chips – the M1 and 2.
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All the power in the laptop
(Raphael Kahan)
But unlike Apple processors, Intel processors – although very powerful and fast – require a great deal of power to operate. That is, the 63-watt built-in battery is considered relatively large for the size of the computer – it survives about 6 hours of screen with light office use and even shorter time if you watch a movie or games, this is a reasonable time for a laptop but relatively far from competitors’ capabilities with economical processors. More. This means that it is not a computer for road use, but one that at some point requires a connection to an outlet or an external battery.
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The screen is spectacular
(Raphael Kahan)
Moreover, the spectacular screen is also narrow in this respect. This is a 14-inch OLED panel with a resolution of 2,880 by 1,800 pixels with a very impressive display. The screen provides excellent brightness (550 nits are rare in the field) and colors that are rare to find in laptops. But it is also covered with a glossy glass panel that is not very convenient to use in direct sunlight or office lighting with reflections. On the other hand, watching movies for example is a hysterical treat with such a screen. The contrast between the colors and the deep black sets a very high standard for the competition. It also supports a (relatively) high refresh rate of 90 Hz and is equipped with Pantone’s certification in terms of color display accuracy – which is very useful for photographers, graphic designers and visual content editors. What’s a pity is that there is no touch screen – although there is a version of it that is equipped with one, but it is not available in Israel. There is also a 720p webcam but it is really unsuccessful, the image comes out grainy. But that’s enough for zoom calls.
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The rear screen is customizable and useless besides
(Raphael Kahan)
Dessert is also criticized here, while the hardware is really impressive, it is a bit problematic – not in terms of performance but in terms of positioning. The graphics chip here is Intel’s Iris Xe – this is a built-in chip that provides reasonable performance but is not enough for gamers or content people who need to retouch RAW images in Photoshop quickly such as press photographers for example. Although you can play here or work on Photoshop even if you are a professional – but the graphic chip is simply not powerful enough for that. On the other hand, for everyone else it is cool and even excellent. Given these conditions, it is not clear what the advantage of the powerful i9 that is neutered in this respect is due to the lack of a dedicated graphics chip. In short, the hardware is impressive but not really suitable for professional tasks for visuals or gamers. It is also good for those who like to consume content with exceptional image quality or are engaged in, for example, software development or interfaces.
Multimedia and Interface: Space Cinema
As mentioned the hardware is excellent. But not only that, the computer interfaces are really good of their kind. If I had a constant criticism of Asus is the quality of its keyboards and trackpads. The keyboards have in the past suffered from fairly low key resistance – meaning that pressing the key felt like pressing a sponge. I.e. the feedback was not clear. For writers it is not very pleasant and mostly does not allow to reach a satisfying typing pace. At least not for me. But this time Asus shone.
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The keyboard and trackpad are great
(Raphael Kahan)
The laptop keyboard is excellent on any scale, the required pressing power is really accurate and typists can use it without suffering. The only problem with it is the backlight, which can not be adjusted, but only turned off or on. It is not bright enough, so it is difficult to see the marks on the keys. In addition, some keys suffer from unpleasant light leakage in the dark. The trackpad is also excellent and provides excellent tracking capability and of course allows you to project an additional number keyboard on it for those who like to type the numbers separately.
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Secondary screen customization interface
(Asus)
In terms of multimedia you will find here all the required devices. Support for HDR display, 100% color coverage in P3. As mentioned it is a great screen for watching movies with a lot of on-screen action or fast-paced games. The 16:10 display format, on the other hand, is a bit outdated – the tendency today is to switch to using a 3: 2 format that allows for a more convenient layout of documents. Laptops with the more flattened format are usually designed for content consumption rather than its creation. Which may indicate that the current computer is not a real content creation computer.
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Notice the reflections on the screen
(Raphael Kahan)
It also tends to heat up a bit once you push the hardware a bit for uses that require higher-than-average processing power. Although it is to heating at the level of a stove but it is noticeable and mostly requires a bit noisy operation of the built-in fans. Nothing to do – the i9 is very powerful but comes with a kind of tax in the form of a higher operating temperature. Another thing that bothers me a bit is the sound quality of the speakers. While these are very pampering in quality and manufactured by Herman Cardon, unfortunately at high intensity they tend to shake the membranes a bit and make an unpleasant noise, especially in speech sounds such as in zoom conversations for example.
Summary and Alternatives: Unique for space lovers and collectors
The price of the 14X is about NIS 8,000. At this price you get a lot of computer – especially in terms of specifications. The problem is that this is a specification of a gaming computer but without the appropriate graphics chip and the body of a premium computer for content consumers. Its design will speak mainly to those who love space and science fiction; For collectors looking for special series or unusual computers – it is perfect. But for content creators it may be limited due to the lack of a dedicated graphics chip. It is also not suitable for gamers for exactly the same reason. On the other hand, it is very easy to get around with it – but again – the powerful processor charges a lot of battery life and it is not certain that it returns the value in the form of potential use. In addition it is relatively hot and the fans make a lot of noise to cool the business. Abroad, a version of it can also be obtained with an i7 processor and 16 GB of operating memory that provide good performance with more moderate power consumption. The price is even more comfortable – about 1,600 euros – but in Israel we will be content with the top model for now.
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Ready for the stars – but less for everyday use on the road
(Asus)
For those who want a premium mobile computer for creating content, we were actually aiming for Apple MacBook Pro or Air PCs. If you are a Windows person, Asus itself also has a series of professional computers for content creators that will suit you better. Gamers also have better alternatives at Razer, Acer or HP. The ZenBook 14X Space Edition is a very impressive computer. Both visually, both the specs and especially its rarity make it a coveted item. But it appeals to emotion, it’s not a computer for anyone looking for a computer for work, gaming or tasks that require regular use away from a charging socket. On the other hand for those who work from home, for collectors or those who want a unique computer of its kind, the ZenBook 14X Space Edition will provide the goods more than enough. In addition it is important to note that Asus also has a standard 14X series of computers with more options and especially more economical processors and also the price is more convenient.