Comparison Asus Zenbook S 16 UM5606WA [UM5606WA-RK267X] vs Asus Vivobook S 16 OLED M5606WA [M5606WA-MX023X]

The resolution of the screen installed in the laptop — that is, the size of the screen in pixels horizontally and vertically.

Higher resolution, on the one hand, gives a sharper, more detailed image; on the other hand, it increases the cost of the laptop. The latter is connected not only with the cost of the displays themselves, but also with the fact that in order to work effectively at high resolutions, you need the appropriate filling (primarily a graphics card). This is especially true in games; so if you are looking for a laptop with a high-resolution screen that can effectively "run" modern games — you should pay attention not only to the characteristics of the display, but also to other data (the type and parameters of the graphics card, test results, the ability to work with certain games — see everything below). On the other hand, if the device is planned to be used for simple tasks such as working with documents, surfing the Internet and watching videos, you can not pay much attention to the “hardware” parameters: anyway, they are selected so that the laptop is guaranteed to be able to cope with such tasks on full resolution of the "native" screen.

As for specific numbers, the resolution options that are relevant today can be divided into 3 groups: Full HD (1080), Quad HD and UltraHD 4K. Here is a more detailed description of them:

...— Full HD (1080). Initially, the Full HD standard provides a frame size of 1920x1080, and it is this resolution that is most often used in laptop screens from this category. However, in addition to this, other resolution options are also included in this format, where the vertical size is at least 1080 pixels, but does not reach 1440 pixels. Examples include 1920x1200 and 2560x1080. In general, Full HD displays provide a good balance between cost, image quality and laptop hardware requirements. Because of this, nowadays they are extremely widespread; matrices of this standard can be found even in low-cost devices, although they are mainly used in more advanced technology.

— Quad HD. A transitional option between the popular Full HD 1080 (see above) and the high-end and expensive UltraHD 4K. The vertical size of such screens starts from 1440 pixels and can reach 2000 pixels. Note that QuadHD resolutions are especially popular in Apple laptops; most often, such devices have 2560x1600 screens, although there are other options.

— Ultra HD 4K. The most advanced standard used in modern laptops. The vertical size of such screens is at least 2160 dots (up to 2400 in some configurations); the classic resolution of a modern UltraHD matrix is 3840x2160, but there are other values. Anyway, a 4K display allows for high image quality, however, it costs accordingly — including due to the corresponding requirements for a graphics adapter; in addition, to work with high resolutions, it can be more convenient to connect an external monitor to the laptop. Thus, such screens are used relatively rarely, and mainly among premium laptops.

HDR brightness in laptops indicates how brightly the screen can display content with an extended dynamic range, where both very bright and dark areas of the frame are important at the same time. This parameter is especially noticeable in movies, games, and HDR videos: highlights, sunlight, lights, reflections, and other bright details look more expressive and realistic than on a standard screen. Unlike standard display brightness, which describes everyday work in SDR, HDR brightness specifically relates to the playback of HDR content and better reveals the capabilities of the matrix. The higher this indicator, the more impressive the compatible content looks, although contrast, matrix type, and local dimming are also important for the full result. In practice, a laptop with good HDR brightness is more enjoyable for watching Netflix, YouTube HDR, or modern games with extended range support.

This feature means that the laptop screen has received the Pantone Validated certification.

Pantone is a professional colour system created by the company of the same name and widely used in design and printing. One of Pantone's basic ideas is that each colour should remain the same at all stages of work — from agreeing on a general idea to printing / releasing the final product; To do this, all shades covered by the system are assigned code names, which are used in the work. In the case of laptops, Pantone certification means that when working with materials and software tools that use a given colour scheme, the colours on the screen will match the actual Pantone hues as closely as possible.

We emphasize that there is no question of perfect correspondence (LCD matrices are not physically capable of adequately displaying some shades); in addition, screens with such certification may have different colour gamuts — both in percentages and in the systems used for designation (sRGB, Adobe RGB, DCI P3 — see above). However, even if the colour is beyond the capabilities of the screen, it will be displayed as accurately as possible. Therefore, for professional tasks associated with intensive use of Pantone, it is worth choosing monitors with official certification; An example of such tasks is the printing of image printing.

HDR technology format supported by the laptop.

This technology is designed to expand the range of brightness reproduced by the laptop screen; Simply put, an HDR screen will display brighter whites and darker blacks than a regular matrix. In fact, this can significantly improve image quality. First, the expansion of the dynamic range contributes to the brightness and fidelity of colours on the screen; secondly, the visibility of individual details in very bright or very dark areas of the frame is preserved (whereas on a normal screen such details often “sink” in solid white or black).

Note that in order to fully use this function, you need not only a laptop with HDR, but also the corresponding content (video files recorded in HDR, games where this technology is implemented, etc.). In addition, the laptop must support the HDR format used by the content being played. Nowadays, you can find such options:

— HDR10. Historically the first of the consumer HDR formats, less advanced than those described below, but extremely widespread. In particular, HDR10 is supported by almost all streaming services that provide HDR content at all, and it is also common for Blu-ray discs. Allows you to work with a colour depth of 10 bits (hence the name). At the same time, devices of this format are also compatible with content in HDR10 +, although its quality will be limited by the capabilities of the original HDR10.

...— HDR10+. An improved version of HDR10. With the same colour depth (10 bits), it uses the so-called dynamic metadata, which allows transmitting information about the colour depth not only for groups of several frames, but also for individual frames. This results in an additional improvement in colour reproduction.

Dolby Vision. An advanced standard used particularly in professional cinematography. Allows you to achieve a colour depth of 12 bits, uses the dynamic metadata described above, and also makes it possible to transmit two image options at once in one video stream — HDR and normal (SDR). At the same time, Dolby Vision is based on the same technology as HDR10, so in laptops it is almost guaranteed to be combined with at least HDR10, and even with HDR10 +.

The number of USB 3.2 gen1 ports provided in the laptop. Initially, this interface was called USB 3.0, later USB 3.1 gen1.

Anyway, USB is the most popular modern interface for connecting various peripherals to a computer — from keyboards, mice, and flash drives to quite original devices. It can also be used for charging smartphones and other gadgets. And USB 3.2 gen1 is the successor of the popular USB 2.0. In this version, data transfer speed has been increased tenfold — up to 4.8 Gbps, and the power supply for external devices has also been enhanced. At the same time, devices with other USB versions can be connected to a USB 3.2 gen1 port — the main requirement is that they have full-sized USB-A plugs and sufficient power supply for normal operation.

As for the number of USB ports, the more there are, the more peripherals can be connected to the laptop without using splitters.

The number of USB 3.2 gen2 ports provided in the laptop. Previously, this interface was known as USB 3.1 gen2 and USB 3.1.

USB of all versions is the most popular modern interface for connecting various peripherals to a computer — from keyboards, mice, and USB drives to rather unique devices. It can also be used for charging smartphones and other gadgets. The more USB ports a laptop has, the more peripherals can be connected to it without using hubs. Specifically, USB 3.2 gen2 allows for speeds up to 10 Gbps and can deliver up to 100 watts of power to external devices (although the USB Power Delivery feature, which ensures this, is not strictly mandatory). These ports are also compatible with earlier version peripherals that have classic USB-A plugs.

Number of USB-C 3.2 gen1 ports available on the laptop (previously these connectors were labeled USB-C 3.1 gen1 and USB-C 3.0).

USB-C is a versatile connector created relatively recently and designed for use in both desktop and portable computers and other devices. It is slightly larger than microUSB, has a convenient reversible design (it doesn't matter which way you plug in the connector), and also allows for increased power supply and a number of special features. Moreover, this connector is natively used in Thunderbolt interface versions v3 and v4, and technically it can be used for other interfaces as well; therefore, in some laptops, USB-C has a combined purpose — see more under "Alternate Mode." In certain models (mainly the most compact ones), USB-C can also be used to charge the device's own battery.

Specifically, the USB-C 3.2 gen1 version provides a connection speed of up to 5 Gbps. As for the number of such ports, it is usually small — typically 1 or 2. This is because peripherals for USB-C are significantly less common than full-sized USB. However, in specific configurations, the number of this type of connectors can reach 4.

Number of USB-C 3.2 gen2x2 ports provided in the laptop.

USB-C is a universal connector that was created relatively recently and is designed for use in both desktop and portable computers. It is slightly larger than microUSB, has a convenient reversible design (it doesn't matter which way you connect the plug), and also allows for increased power supply and a number of special functions. Additionally, this same connector is natively used in the Thunderbolt v3 interface, and technically it can be used for other interfaces as well; therefore, in some laptops, USB-C has a combined purpose — see "Alternate Mode" for more details. In some laptops (mostly the more compact ones), USB-C can also be used for charging the device's own battery.

As for the specific version of USB-C 3.2 gen2x2, it allows for a connection speed of 20 Gbps — which is twice as fast as USB-C 3.2 gen2, hence the name. It is also worth noting that connection by the 3.2 gen2x2 standard is implemented only through USB-C connectors and is not used in ports of earlier standards. Such ports are still rare in laptops, and their number usually does not exceed 1 — this is because most peripheral devices usually suffice with the slower (and less expensive) varieties of USB-C.

A next-generation port that supports data transfer at a speed of up to 20 Gbps. It uses a USB Type-C connector, providing versatility and compact connectivity for various devices, including laptops, monitors, and peripherals. This standard supports not only high-speed data transfer but also video output, allowing the connection of external displays with resolutions up to 4K, as well as powering devices with up to 100W.