Asus VivoBook S 14 (S5406) 14" Intel Core Ultra 9 185H 2.3GHz / 16GB RAM / 1TB SSD specifications and in-depth review

Asus VivoBook S 14 (S5406) 14" Intel Core Ultra 9 185H 2.3GHz / 16GB RAM / 1TB SSD

Manufacturer: Asus

The Asus VivoBook S 14 (S5406) is a slim 14-inch laptop built around Intel's Core Ultra 9 185H processor, housed in a chassis that measures just 13 mm thick and weighs 1,300 g. It features a 14″ OLED/AMOLED display running at a 1920 x 1200 resolution, offering a taller-than-usual aspect ratio that suits both productivity tasks and media consumption. The backlit keyboard, 3D facial recognition, and a front-facing camera round out the day-to-day usability features, while AirPlay support adds wireless display flexibility.

Under the hood, the Core Ultra 9 185H runs with a base configuration of 6 cores at 2.3 GHz and 8 cores at 1.8 GHz, reaching a turbo frequency of 5.1 GHz across 22 threads, supported by a 24 MB L3 cache and a 45W TDP. The laptop ships with 16 GB of DDR5 RAM clocked at up to 7,467 MHz across dual channels, paired with a 1 TB NVMe SSD over PCIe 4.0. Graphics are handled by the integrated Arc Graphics 128EU with 1,024 shading units and a GPU turbo of 2,350 MHz. Connectivity includes two Thunderbolt 4 ports, two USB 4 40Gbps ports, two USB-A 3.2 Gen 1 ports, HDMI 2.1, Wi-Fi 6E, and Bluetooth 5.3, alongside an external memory slot. The 75 Wh battery is rated for up to 16 hours of use.

Pros
  • The 14-inch OLED/AMOLED display with a 1920 x 1200 resolution offers a taller 16:10 aspect ratio that gives more vertical screen space for documents and web browsing
  • Two Thunderbolt 4 ports and two USB 4 40Gbps ports provide high-bandwidth connectivity for external displays, fast storage, and docking stations
  • The 75 Wh battery is rated for up to 16 hours of use, supporting a full workday without needing to recharge
  • At 13 mm thick and 1,300 g, the chassis is slim and relatively light for a laptop with a 45W processor
  • 3D facial recognition enables secure, password-free login without requiring a fingerprint scanner
  • The processor supports RAM speeds of up to 7,467 MHz across dual channels, with a platform ceiling of 96 GB, leaving room for memory upgrades
Cons
  • The display is limited to a 60Hz refresh rate, which results in less smooth motion compared to higher-refresh panels
  • No fingerprint scanner is present, meaning biometric login relies solely on the facial recognition camera
  • There is no RJ45 Ethernet port, so wired network connections require an adapter
  • The display lacks an anti-reflection coating, which may cause visibility issues in bright or outdoor environments
  • No GPS, gyroscope, accelerometer, or compass are included, limiting the laptop's usefulness for location-aware or motion-sensitive applications
  • Dolby Atmos is not supported, and there is only a single built-in microphone, which may be limiting for users who rely on the laptop for video calls or audio recording
Who is this for?

The Asus VivoBook S 14 (S5406) is well suited to professionals and productivity-focused users who spend long hours away from a desk, thanks to its 16-hour battery life and slim 13 mm, 1,300 g chassis that travels easily. The OLED display with a 16:10 aspect ratio makes it a practical choice for anyone working across documents, spreadsheets, or creative content where vertical screen space matters. Users who regularly connect external monitors or high-speed peripherals will also benefit from the two Thunderbolt 4 and two USB 4 40Gbps ports, which support up to four simultaneous displays and fast data transfer without requiring a separate hub. The 22-thread processor with a 5.1 GHz turbo and support for up to 96 GB of RAM also makes it capable of handling demanding multi-threaded workloads such as video editing, data processing, or software development.

Who is this NOT for?

Users who prioritize smooth visuals in fast-moving content will find the 60Hz display refresh rate limiting, as it does not deliver the fluid motion that higher-refresh panels offer for gaming or video playback. The absence of a dedicated GPU means the laptop is not suited to graphically intensive tasks such as 3D rendering or modern gaming at high settings, where integrated Arc Graphics will fall short. Those who need wired Ethernet connectivity without carrying an adapter will also find the lack of an RJ45 port frustrating in office or data-center environments. Finally, users who rely on GPS, motion sensors, or compass functionality — such as field workers or researchers — will find no support for any of those capabilities here.

Design:

weight 1300 g
Uses a fanless design
Has a backlit keyboard
volume 890.63 cm³
width 310 mm
height 221 mm
thickness 13 mm
is weather-sealed (splashproof)

The laptop has a compact footprint of 310 mm wide by 221 mm tall, with a thickness of just 13 mm and a total volume of 890.63 cm³, keeping the overall form factor slim for a 14-inch machine. It weighs 1,300 g, making it relatively light for daily carry. A backlit keyboard is included, adding usability in low-light environments. The design uses an active cooling system rather than a fanless setup, and it is not weather-sealed or splashproof.

Display:

screen size 14"
resolution 1920 x 1200 px
Display type OLED/AMOLED
has a touch screen
refresh rate 60Hz
has anti-reflection coating
supported displays 4

The laptop features a 14″ OLED/AMOLED panel with a resolution of 1920 x 1200 px, delivering a slightly taller 16:10 aspect ratio that provides a bit more vertical screen space. The display runs at a 60Hz refresh rate and does not support touch input or anti-reflection coating. The system is capable of driving up to four displays simultaneously, making it well suited for multi-monitor setups when connected to external screens.

Performance:

RAM 16GB
Uses flash storage
internal storage 1024GB
CPU speed 6 x 2.3 & 8 x 1.8 GHz
CPU threads 22 threads
Is an NVMe SSD
DirectX version DirectX 12
GPU clock speed 300 MHz
uses multithreading
maximum memory amount 96GB
DDR memory version 5
turbo clock speed 5.1GHz
GPU turbo 2350 MHz
PCI Express (PCIe) version 4
semiconductor size 7 nm
Supports 64-bit

The processor is a 14-core, 22-thread chip built on a 7 nm process using big.LITTLE-style architecture, with six cores running at 2.3 GHz and eight efficiency cores at 1.8 GHz, capable of reaching a turbo frequency of 5.1 GHz. The integrated GPU has a base clock of 300 MHz and boosts up to 2,350 MHz, with DirectX 12 support. Storage comes in the form of a 1 TB NVMe SSD over PCIe 4.0, and the system ships with 16 GB of DDR5 RAM, with the platform supporting a maximum of 96 GB. Multithreading and 64-bit processing are both supported.

Benchmarks:

Geekbench 6 result (multi) 11950
Geekbench 6 result (single) 2235
PassMark result 29380
PassMark result (single) 3697

In benchmark testing, the processor scores 11,950 in Geekbench 6 multi-core and 2,235 in single-core, reflecting its multi-threaded capability across a range of workloads. The PassMark result stands at 29,380 overall, with a single-thread score of 3,697, indicating solid per-core throughput alongside its broader multi-core output.

Connectivity:

USB 3.2 Gen 2 ports (USB-C) 0
USB 3.2 Gen 2 ports (USB-A) 0
USB 4 20Gbps ports 0
USB 4 40Gbps ports 2
Thunderbolt 4 ports 2
USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports (USB-C) 0
USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports (USB-A) 2
Thunderbolt 3 ports 0
has an HDMI output
Has USB Type-C
supports Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi version Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax), Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax), Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac), Wi-Fi 4 (802.11n)
has an external memory slot
Bluetooth version 5.3
RJ45 ports 0
HDMI ports 1
HDMI version HDMI 2.1
DisplayPort outputs 0
has AirPlay
mini DisplayPort outputs 0
has a VGA connector

The laptop offers a well-stocked port selection, including two Thunderbolt 4 ports and two USB 4 40Gbps ports, all in USB-C form factor, alongside two USB-A 3.2 Gen 1 ports for standard peripherals. Video output is handled by a single HDMI 2.1 port, while DisplayPort, mini DisplayPort, and VGA outputs are absent. An external memory card slot is present, and there is no RJ45 Ethernet port. Wireless connectivity covers Wi-Fi 6E, Wi-Fi 6, Wi-Fi 5, and Wi-Fi 4, paired with Bluetooth 5.3, and AirPlay is supported for wireless display streaming.

Battery:

Battery life 16 hours
battery size 75 Wh
Has sleep-and-charge USB ports
Has a MagSafe power adapter

The laptop is equipped with a 75 Wh battery rated for up to 16 hours of use on a single charge, providing a solid amount of endurance for a full working day. Sleep-and-charge USB ports and a MagSafe-style power adapter are not included.

Features:

has stereo speakers
has a socket for a 3.5 mm audio jack
has Dolby Atmos
Stylus included
Has a fingerprint scanner
number of microphones 1
Uses 3D facial recognition
has voice commands
has a front camera
Has S/PDIF Out port
has a gyroscope
has GPS
has an accelerometer
has a compass
Has an optical disc drive

The laptop includes stereo speakers and a 3.5 mm headphone jack for audio output, though Dolby Atmos and S/PDIF are not supported. A single microphone is built in, and the front camera is paired with 3D facial recognition for biometric login, while a fingerprint scanner is not present. Voice commands are supported. Motion and location sensors — including a gyroscope, accelerometer, compass, and GPS — are all absent, and there is no optical disc drive or stylus included.

Miscellaneous:

clock multiplier 39
CPU socket BGA 2049
GPU name Arc Graphics 128EU
GPU execution units 8
render output units (ROPs) 32
texture mapping units (TMUs) 64
shading units 1024
Type Laptop
instruction sets MMX, F16C, FMA3, AES, AVX, AVX2, SSE 4.1, SSE 4.2
L3 cache 24 MB
Has an unlocked multiplier
Has NX bit
CPU temperature 110 °C
OpenCL version 3
OpenGL version 4.6
Has integrated graphics
Supports ECC memory
memory channels 2
RAM speed (max) 7467 MHz
Thermal Design Power (TDP) 45W
Uses big.LITTLE technology

The CPU is a laptop-class processor soldered to a BGA 2049 socket, operating with a clock multiplier of 39, a maximum junction temperature of 110 °C, and a TDP of 45W. It uses big.LITTLE architecture, supports a broad set of instruction sets including AVX2, AES, FMA3, and SSE 4.2, and carries a 24 MB L3 cache. The multiplier is locked, and ECC memory is not supported; the dual-channel memory controller accommodates RAM speeds of up to 7,467 MHz. Integrated graphics are provided by the Arc Graphics 128EU, featuring 1,024 shading units, 64 TMUs, 32 ROPs, and 8 execution units, with support for OpenCL 3.0 and OpenGL 4.6. The NX bit is present for hardware-level security.

Final Verdict

The Asus VivoBook S 14 (S5406) presents a coherent package for users who need a thin, light laptop capable of sustained productivity across a full workday. Its combination of an OLED display, a 22-thread processor with a 5.1 GHz turbo ceiling, and two Thunderbolt 4 ports alongside a 16-hour battery rating positions it as a capable daily driver for professionals handling demanding workloads on the move. It does ask for some compromises — the 60Hz refresh rate and integrated-only graphics mean it is not built for visually intensive or fast-paced tasks — but for the user whose priorities sit firmly in productivity, portability, and connectivity, the VivoBook S 14 (S5406) delivers a well-rounded and thoughtfully specified machine that holds up under real-world demands.

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