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日本ASUS Vivobook S 14 OLED M5406 review – Exceeds the Expectations
If the Vivobook S 14 OLED M5406 looks familiar to you that’s because it’s the smaller version of the M5606 model. Aside from the different sizes, almost everything else is the same. It’s still a modern well-built machine that is offered with Zen 3+ Refresh, Zen 4, and Zen 5 CPU options. You have to be very careful when picking a configuration because the performance leap between the least powerful processors and the Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 is huge. Not to mention that the latter is a much better choice for users who care about AI productivity thanks to the 50 TOPS NPU.
Once again, we have bought a device with the base Ryzen 5 7535HS which provides enough power for normal usage. The AMD Radeon 660M packs a punch for light gaming – it delivers 86FPS on average in CS2 on Medium details.
You get two OLED display variants to choose from. The default one is a 1200p 60Hz unit. Our machine is equipped with the same panel which is pretty amazing in terms of color accuracy. For clearer image quality, the optional screen offers a higher 3K (2880 x 1800) resolution plus a 120Hz refresh rate.
The port selection is still fine for the class. The upgradability is as limited as it gets since the only thing you can replace under the hood is the SSD. Interestingly, the thermal system looks unchanged and that’s why the overall performance remains almost equal compared to the bigger iteration of this 14-incher.
You can check the prices and configurations in our Specs System: https://laptopmedia.com/series/asus-vivobook-s-14-oled-m5406/
Contents
Specs, Drivers, What’s in the box
ASUS Vivobook S 14 OLED (M5406) - Specs
- HDD/SSD
- up to 4000GB SSD
- M.2 Slot
- 1x 2280 PCIe NVMe 4.0 x4 See photo
- RAM
- up to 32GB
- OS
- Windows 11 Home, Windows 11 Pro, Windows 10 Pro
- Battery
- 75Wh, 4-cell
- Body material
- Aluminum
- Dimensions
- 310.5 x 221.9 x 13.9 - 15.9 mm (12.22" x 8.74" x 0.55")
- Weight
- 1.30 kg (2.9 lbs)
- Ports and connectivity
- 2x USB Type-A
- 3.2 Gen 1 (5 Gbps)
- 1x USB Type-C
- 3.2 Gen 1 (5 Gbps), Power Delivery (PD), DisplayPort
- 1x USB Type-C
- 4.0, Power Delivery (PD), DisplayPort
- HDMI
- 2.1
- Card reader
- microSD (microSD, microSDHC, microSDXC)
- Ethernet LAN
- Wi-Fi
- 802.11ax
- Bluetooth
- 5.3
- Audio jack
- 3.5mm Combo Jack
- Features
- Fingerprint reader
- optional
- Web camera
- FHD IR with support for Windows Hello, privacy shutter
- Backlit keyboard
- optional
- Microphone
- Array Microphone with Cortana Support
- Speakers
- Speaker, Smart Amp Technology, harman/kardon
- Optical drive
- Security Lock slot
All ASUS Vivobook S 14 OLED (M5406) configurations
Drivers
All drivers and utilities for this notebook can be found here: https://www.asus.com/laptops/for-home/vivobook/asus-vivobook-s-14-oled-m5406/helpdesk_knowledge/
What’s in the box?
The standard-looking box houses the laptop itself, a pair of manuals, and a 65W Type-C adapter. The devices with more punchy CPUs rely on a 90W Type-C adapter.
Design and construction
The design similarities between the Vivobook S 14 OLED M5406 and the M5606 model can be seen with the naked eye. The metal chassis is offered in Cool Silver or Neutral Black color. Curiously, the Rose Gold version is only available for the Zen 3-based machines. With its lightweight design at just 1.30 kg, this machine is easy to carry around. It’s also thin, thanks to the 13.9 – 15.9 mm profile.
The “lip” on the center of the main body helps you to grip the lid properly before opening it with one hand. The lid feels averagely flexible in both closed and opened positions. The base is nicely solid. We pushed it down hard and we saw just a slight flex above the touchpad which is normal and not an issue for standard work. The silver finish seems almost fingerprint-proof.
The thin dark bezels correspond well to the light color of the base.
The top bezel houses a 1080p IR Web camera with a privacy shutter and support for AI noise-canceling technology.
Fully flat opening is possible.
The backlit keyboard is perfect for work. The keys are well spaced, with long travel. As always, the tiny Arrows aren’t comfy enough for usage. Since that’s a Copilot+ PC, the mandatory AI hotkey is on board.
The big touchpad is different compared to the 16-inch model. The surface smoothness and the tracking feel slightly above average.
Three rubber feet, a pair of speaker cutouts, and a ventilation grill can be seen on the bottom panel. The hot air is being exhausted via a vent on the rear.
Ports
On the left side, you get an HDMI 2.1 TMDS, two USB Type-C 3.2 (Gen. 1) ports with DisplayPort and PowerDelivery capabilities, a MicroSD card reader, and an Audio combo jack. There are two USB Type-A 3.2 (Gen. 1) ports on the right.
Note that one of the Type-C connectors of the notebooks with Zen 4 or Ryzen AI processors is a USB4 port (our laptop has a Zen 3+ chip).
Display and Sound Quality, Get our Profiles
| ASUS Vivobook S 14 OLED M5406 | ATNA40CT02-0 (SDC41A0) |
| Diagonal | 14.0 inches (35.6 cm) |
| Panel Type | OLED |
| Resolution | 1920 x 1200 pixels |
| Max Refresh Rate | 60 Hz |
| Aspect Ratio | 16:10 |
| Pixel Density | 162 PPI |
| ‘Retina’ Distance | Greater than or equal to 53 cm |
Viewing Angles
Viewing angles are good. We take photos from different angles to evaluate the quality.
Also, a video with locked focus and exposure.
Color Coverage
The whole “sail-shaped” map below (Fig. 1) consists of all the colors we can see, while the black crooked line shows all the colors from real-world scenes and nature around us.
Then, we’ve drawn some of the most important and interesting color spaces, compared to the colors the panel of ASUS Vivobook S 14 OLED M5406 can show:
Standard/For Web: sRGB – widely used color space for most consumer devices, ideal for Web design and development
For Print: AdobeRGB – used in professional photo editing, graphic design, and print
For Photographers/Video Editors: DCI-P3 – used in high-end film production, post-production, and digital cinema
Premium HDR: Rec.2020 – the widest consumer ITU color standard, covering a massive 75.8% of the visible spectrum, a benchmark for premium HDR content
ASUS Vivobook S 14 OLED M5406: the yellow dashed triangle (– – – – – –) represents the range of colors this monitor can display.+
In our tests, we calculated the total color coverage of the monitor at 100% of the sRGB color gamut and 100% of the DCI-P3 color gamut.
(Fig.1) ASUS Vivobook S 14 OLED M5406 covers 100% of the DCI-P3 gamut
The “MyASUS” app emulates Display P3 and sRGB color spaces.
(Fig.2) Display P3
(Fig.3) sRGB
Brightness and Contrast
The maximum brightness in HDR mode is 642 cd/m² at 8% white fill and 629 cd/m² on a full white screen.
The maximum brightness in SDR mode is 386 cd/m² in the center of the screen and 381 cd/m² averaged across the surface with a maximum deviation of 4%.
The Correlated Color Temperature (CCT) on a white screen at maximum brightness is 6400K (“Native-Default, Normal” mode in “MyASUS” app).
The contrast ratio of OLED panels is excellent because the pixels turn off completely when displaying black.
Uniformity: Luminance, Contrast, and Color Deviation
The figure below shows the results from our uniformity test across different sections of the screen. It’s measured at 180 nits (Windows slider = 71%) — a brightness level we consider typical for standard working conditions.
DeltaE values below 4.0 are acceptable for regular users. For those working with colors, screens with DeltaE values no higher than 2.0 are recommended.
Color Accuracy
Let’s check the difference between real colors and those you’ll see on the ASUS Vivobook S 14 OLED M5406. We measure that distance in DeltaE – the higher the number, the more different they look.
Values below 4.0 are acceptable for regular users, while values below 2.0 are suitable for color-sensitive work. A value below 1.0 means the difference is indistinguishable to the naked eye.
For the next graph, we’ve selected 24 common colors, including dark/light skin, blue sky, green grass, etc.
Below are the results of the ASUS Vivobook S 14 OLED M5406 in its factory condition (HDR off) compared to Display P3 and sRGB color spaces.
(Fig. 4) ASUS Vivobook S 14 OLED M5406 in Display P3
(Fig. 5) ASUS Vivobook S 14 OLED M5406 in sRGB
Visibility in dark scenes
Have you ever watched a movie with dark scenes where you could barely see anything? This often happens because many display panels struggle to differentiate the darkest nuances, making them appear the same.
The next figure illustrates how well the display reproduces these dark nuances. The left side of the image shows the display with stock settings, and the right side shows it with our Design and Gaming profile activated.
On the horizontal axis are the grayscale levels, and on the vertical axis – the corresponding display brightness.
You can also check how your display handles the darkest nuances but keep in mind that this also depends on the settings of your current display and the surrounding light conditions.
Health Impact: PWM (Screen flickering)
Some use PWM to regulate their brightness, which means that instead of reducing the light intensity, they pulse or flicker. Our brain merges the image, so it appears darker, but this strains both it and our vision, especially when the frequency of the pulses is low. You can read more about that in our dedicated article on PWM.
In the graph below, you see the intensity of light at different brightness levels—on the vertical axis is the brightness of the emitted light, and on the horizontal axis—time.
The light of the ASUS Vivobook S 14 OLED M5406 display is not pulse-width modulated, providing visual comfort in the discussed aspect.
Health Impact: Blue light emissions
Installing our Health-Guard profile reduces harmful Blue Light emissions while keeping the colors of the screen perceptually accurate.
If you’re not familiar with the Blue light, the TL;DR version is – emissions that negatively affect your eyes, skin, and your whole body. You can find more information about that in our dedicated article on Blue Light.
Health Impact: Screen Reflectance
Glossy-coated displays can cause eye fatigue in high ambient light conditions due to reflections. We measure the level of screen reflection with the display turned off, at a 60° angle.
The reflectance of the Vivobook S 14 OLED M5406’s screen is 174 GU.
High Gloss: >70 GU
Medium Gloss: 30 – 70 GU
Low Gloss: <30 GU
Get our profiles
Since our profiles are tailored for each individual display model, this article and its respective profile package are meant for ASUS Vivobook S 14 OLED M5406 configurations with ATNA40CT02-0 (SDC41A0), 1920 х 1200, OLED panel.
*Should you have problems with downloading the purchased file, try using a different browser to open the link you’ll receive via e-mail. If the download target is a .php file instead of an archive, change the file extension to .zip or contact us at [email protected].
Read more about the profiles HERE.
In addition to receiving efficient and health-friendly profiles, by buying LaptopMedia's products you also support the development of our labs, where we test devices in order to produce the most objective reviews possible.
Office Work
Office Work should be used mostly by users who spend most of the time looking at pieces of text, tables or just surfing. This profile aims to deliver better distinctness and clarity by keeping a flat gamma curve (2.20), native color temperature and perceptually accurate colors.
Design and Gaming
This profile is aimed at designers who work with colors professionally, and for games and movies as well. Design and Gaming takes display panels to their limits, making them as accurate as possible in the sRGB IEC61966-2-1 standard for Web and HDTV, at white point D65.
Health-Guard
Health-Guard eliminates the harmful Pulse-Width Modulation (PWM) and reduces the negative Blue Light which affects our eyes and body. Since it’s custom tailored for every panel, it manages to keep the colors perceptually accurate. Health-Guard simulates paper so the pressure on the eyes is greatly reduced.
Get all 3 profiles with 33% discount
Sound
The Vivobook S 14 OLED M5406’s sound is of good quality. The low, mid, and high frequencies are clear.
Performance: CPU, GPU, Storage
All benchmarks and tests were conducted with the “Best Performance” preset activated in the Windows “Power & Battery” menu. Also, the “Full-speed mode” for the fan is applied in the “MyASUS” software.
The “Memory Optimizer” function is set to “Gaming” in the Radeon Control Panel. This allows the iGPU to allocate up to 2GB of RAM.
CPU options
This machine is offered with AMD Ryzen 5 7535HS, Ryzen 7 8845HS, Ryzen 9 8945HS, AMD Ryzen AI 9 365, or AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370.
Our device has a 7535HS chip.
Here, we evaluate the CPU's performance using a real-world 3D rendering task, assessing its ability to handle complex computations and rendering workloads efficiently.
Results are from the Cinebench 2024 Multi-Core test (higher is better)
Single-core performance ensures smooth operation and responsiveness in operating systems, providing a better user experience.
Results are from the Geekbench 6 Single-Core test (higher is better)
Multi-core performance is essential for handling complex and demanding tasks, such as Video editing, CAD, and Scientific simulations.
Results are from the Geekbench 6 Multi-Core test (higher is better)
GPU options
There are no dGPU options for this ASUS series.
In our case, the iGPU is the AMD Radeon 660M.
The results are from 3DMark Time Spy (Graphics). Higher is better.
The results are from 3DMark Wild Life Extreme Unlimited. Higher is better.
Gaming tests
| Counter-Strike 2 | HD 1080p, Low (Check settings) | HD 1080p, Medium (Check settings) | HD 1080p, Very High (Check settings) |
| Average FPS | 116 FPS | 86 FPS | 33 FPS |
| Gears 5 | Full HD, Low (Check settings) | Full HD, Medium (Check settings) | Full HD, High (Check settings) | Full HD, Ultra (Check settings) |
| Average FPS | 51 FPS | 33 FPS | 25 FPS | xxx FPS |
[eBook Guide + Tools] How to MAX OUT Your Laptop
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That's why we decided to bundle everything we know about how to achieve this in an Easy-to-Follow, Step-by-Step, and Laboratory-Tested, all in one project.
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🛠️ GPU Modifications: vBIOS, Overclocking, Undervolting
⚙️ Building Fast/Reliable RAID configuration
💻 Hardware upgrade tips for best results
🖼 Display enhancing
💾 OS Optimization for best performance
Storage performance
The machine in front of us has a 512GB SAMSUNG PM9C1 (MZVL8512HELU-00BTW). Compared to the 16-inch version with the same NVMe drive, here, the thermals are lower and the scores in AS SSD Benchmark are better.
Temperatures and comfort, Battery Life
Max CPU load
In this test we use 100% on the CPU cores, monitoring their frequencies and chip temperature. The first column shows a computer’s reaction to a short load (2-10 seconds), the second column simulates a serious task (between 15 and 30 seconds), and the third column is a good indicator of how good the laptop is for long loads such as video rendering.
Average core frequency (base frequency + X); CPU temp.
| AMD Ryzen 5 7535HS (45W TDP) | 0:02 – 0:10 sec | 0:15 – 0:30 sec | 10:00 – 15:00 min |
|---|---|---|---|
| ASUS Vivobook S 14 OLED M5406 | 3.54 GHz @ 85°C @ 58W | 3.37 GHz @ 95°C @ 38W | 3.34 GHz @ 79°C @ 35W |
| ASUS Vivobook S 16 OLED M5606 | 3.92 GHz @ 90°C @ 63W | 3.49 GHz @ 95°C @ 44W | 3.15 GHz @ 79°C @ 35W |
| Acer Nitro V 15 (ANV15-41) | 4.03 GHz @ 81°C @ 64W | 3.56 GHz @ 82°C @ 54W | 3.83 GHz @ 92°C @ 54W |
| Lenovo Yoga Pro 7 (14″, 2023) | 3.79 GHz @ 73°C @ 52W | 3.75 GHz @ 81°C @ 52W | 3.74 GHz @ 89°C @ 52W |
The cooling of the Vivobook S 14 OLED M5406 seems the same as the one of the M5606 model. Interestingly, the 14-inch sibling maintains higher CPU clocks in long loads.
Comfort during full load
In “Full-speed mode”, the fans aren’t quiet. On the bright side, when the processor is pounded at max with serious stress, the keyboard feels just a bit warm in the top section. The bottom display bezel is even cooler to the touch.
The fan modes are located in the MyASUS software.
You get around 3.40 GHz in both “Full-speed mode” and “Performance mode”. The other two presets offer less noise at the expense of tanked frequencies.
“Full-speed mode”
“Performance mode”
“Standard mode”
“Whisper mode”Battery
Now, we conduct the battery tests with the Windows’ Power Efficiency setting turned on, screen brightness adjusted to 180 nits and all other programs turned off except for the one we are testing the notebook with. The 75Wh battery pack lasts for 15 hours of video playback. Оur test was conducted with the “Battery Saver” preset activated in the Windows “Power & Battery” menu. The “Standard” fan mode and the “Dynamic refresh rate” option are also turned on in the MyASUS app.
Brightness: 180 nits; Display Mode: SDR
Time to Full Discharge: Higher is Better
Disassembly, Upgrade options, and Maintenance
To gain access to the internals, you have to undo 11 Torx-head screws. The one in the middle is hidden below a small cap so you have to unglue it with the aid of a flathead drill bit or something similar.
Pop the areas behind the hinges using a lever tool. The hinges feel a bit spongy but you can counter this if you press them with a finger before raising the panel with a lever tool. After that, fully pry the rear and the other sides of the bottom cover.
On the inside of the bottom plate, we can spot three dust filters in front of the ventilation grill and a dedicated cooling pad for the SSD.
This machine is equipped with a 75Wh battery. To detach it, slide upwards the small metal shroud on top of the battery connector to release it. Before doing that, wear gloves to avoid short circuits. Carefully lift the connector by its sides using a plastic tool.
Then, undo the pair of Phillips-head screws that secure the unit fixed to the base. The capacity is enough for 15 hours of video playback.
The memory is soldered. The chips are positioned around the central heat spreader of the cooling. The machines with Zen 3+ CPUs rely on up to 16GB of LPDDR5x-6400MHz RAM while the Zen 4 and Zen 5-based devices can be configured with 32GB LPDDR5x-7500MHz memory.
The Wi-Fi 6E card is also soldered and it’s placed between the battery connector and the single M.2 slot for 2280 Gen 4 SSDs. The preinstalled NVMe drive is covered with a heat shield.
The cooling seems good enough for a 14-inch iGPU-only laptop. It has two decently sized fans, a pair of heat pipes, two heat sinks, and a heat spreader in the middle.
Verdict
We are pleasantly surprised by the ASUS Vivobook S 14 OLED M5406. Its biggest advantage is the fact that the performance is as good as the 16-inch sibling. The Ryzen 5 7535HS sustains a 3.34GHz clock in long stress which is almost 200MHz higher compared to the M5606 model. Also, the keyboard doesn’t get any hot.
If you don’t care much about the higher resolution of the optional and more expensive 3K panel, the default 1200p OLED panel (ATNA40CT02-0 (SDC41A0)) is a great choice with its superb color accuracy, infinite contrast ratio, and full DCI-P3 coverage.
You get the same amount of ports as the 16-inch iteration. However, the data transfer speed of the USB connectors of the Zen 3+ machine is limited to just 5 Gbps. Keep in mind that one of the Type-C ports of the Zen 4 and Zen 5 laptops is swapped for a 40 Gbps USB4 port.
The Vivobook S 14 OLED offers adequate performance (especially for the size), a very long battery life, a good keyboard, and a metal chassis.
You can check the prices and configurations in our Specs System: https://laptopmedia.com/series/asus-vivobook-s-14-oled-m5406/
Pros
- Great OLED display with 100% sRGB and DCI-P3 coverage (SDC41A0)
- Infinite contrast ratio (SDC41A0)
- Great color accuracy (SDC41A0)
- 642 cd/m² of max brightness in HDR mode (SDC41A0)
- Good audio quality
- Comfortable keyboard
- 1080p IR Web camera with a privacy shutter
- The overall performance is on par with the 16-inch version
- The fans are almost quiet in “Whisper” mode during full loads
- Up to 32GB of soldered LPDDR5x for the Zen 4 and Ryzen AI-based laptops
- Very long battery life (15 hours of videos)
- Adequate CPU clocks no matter the load
- Metal build
- Well-cooled SSD (SAMSUNG PM9C1)
- 180-degree hinge
Cons
- Just one M.2 slot + soldered RAM
- Slow 5 Gbps USB connectors (for the Zen 3+ machines)
- The Ryzen 5 7535HS-based notebooks come with just 8GB or 16GB of RAM
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