ASUS Zenbook S 14 (2024) vs Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 11
The Verdict
Both ultraportable laptops excel in different areas. ASUS Zenbook S 14 prioritizes display technology with its 3K OLED panel delivering 550 nits brightness and 120Hz refresh rate, offering superior visual clarity and smoothness for creative work. Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 11 counters with exceptional durability through carbon fiber construction, lighter overall weight at 1.12 kg, and superior connectivity including dual USB-A ports and a headphone jack. Battery capacity favors ASUS with 72 Wh versus Lenovo's 57 Wh, though real-world longevity depends on display configuration. Processor options differ: ASUS features the newer Intel Core Ultra 7 258V, while Lenovo offers established 13th Gen processors with higher core counts available. ThinkPad's Windows 11 Pro and standard 1 TB storage provide better value for business users, while Zenbook's advanced OLED display suits content creators. For general productivity, ThinkPad edges ahead due to proven reliability and practical features. Choose ASUS if premium display matters most; select Lenovo for everyday portability and enterprise features.
Who Should Buy
Buy the ASUS Zenbook S 14 (2024) if…
- →Ultra-light at 1.20 kg with a premium Ceraluminum chassis
- →Vivid 3K OLED display with accurate colors
- →Intel Core Ultra 200V series delivers exceptional efficiency
Buy the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 11 if…
- →Incredibly light at 1.12 kg — ideal for travel
- →Optional 2.8K OLED display is stunning for media and creative work
- →Best-in-class ThinkPad keyboard with excellent key travel
Category Scores
Pros & Cons
ASUS Zenbook S 14 (2024)
Pros
- Ultra-light at 1.20 kg with a premium Ceraluminum chassis
- Vivid 3K OLED display with accurate colors
- Intel Core Ultra 200V series delivers exceptional efficiency
- Solid all-day battery endurance
- Thoughtful design with excellent hinge mechanism
Cons
- Intel Core Ultra 200V series slower than H-class for heavy workloads
- RAM and SSD are soldered — no upgrade path
- Only one USB-A port
- Glossy OLED touch surface catches fingerprints
- No SD card reader
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 11
Pros
- Incredibly light at 1.12 kg — ideal for travel
- Optional 2.8K OLED display is stunning for media and creative work
- Best-in-class ThinkPad keyboard with excellent key travel
- MIL-STD 810H tested for ruggedness and durability
- Good port selection includes USB-A, HDMI, and Thunderbolt 4
Cons
- OLED option significantly reduces battery life to around 10 hours
- 60Hz IPS panel feels behind the times
- Starting price of $1449 is expensive for the base config
- Soldered RAM limits upgradeability
- Integrated graphics only — not suitable for GPU-heavy workloads
Full Specifications
| Spec | ASUS Zenbook S 14 (2024) | Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 11 |
|---|---|---|
| Software | Windows 11 Home | Windows 11 Pro |
| Body | ||
| Weight | 1.20 kg | 1.12 kg |
| Material | Aluminum with Ceraluminum lid | Carbon fiber and magnesium alloy |
| Dimensions | 311.2 x 219.3 x 14.9 mm | 315.6 x 222.5 x 15.36 mm |
| Ports | ||
| HDMI | 1 | 1 |
| USB-A ports | 1 | 2 |
| SD card | — | |
| Thunderbolt ports | 2 | 2 |
| Headphone Jack | — | |
| Battery | ||
| Battery life | Up to 14 hours mixed use | Up to 15 hours (IPS) / 10 hours (OLED) |
| Capacity | 72 Wh | 57 Wh |
| Display | ||
| Size | 14.0 inches | 14 inches |
| Type | 3K OLED anti-glare touch | OLED (IPS optional) |
| Resolution | 2880 x 1800 | 2880 x 1800 |
| Refresh rate | 120Hz | 60Hz (90Hz OLED) |
| Brightness (nits) | 550 | 500 |
| Storage | ||
| SSD | 1 TB NVMe | 512 GB / 1 TB PCIe Gen 4 NVMe |
| Expandable storage | ||
| Keyboard | ||
| Backlit | ||
| Touch Bar | — | |
| Processor | ||
| RAM | 16 GB LPDDR5x | 16 GB / 32 GB LPDDR5x |
| Cores | 8-core (4P+4LPE) | 10-core (2P + 8E) / 14-core (6P + 8E) |
| Chipset | Intel Core Ultra 7 258V | 13th Gen Intel Core i7-1365U / i7-1370P |
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This comparison is based on verified manufacturer specifications covering display, performance, camera, battery, and build quality. Scores are generated by analyzing specs across weighted categories on a 10-point scale. Learn more about our methodology.
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