Comparison Asus Zenbook S 16 UM5606WA [UM5606WA-RK268X] vs Asus Vivobook S 15 OLED M5506WA [M5506WA-MA018]

Diagonal size of laptop display.

The larger the screen, the more convenient the laptop for watching high-definition movies, modern games, working with large-format graphic materials, etc. Large screens are especially important for multimedia and gaming models. On the other hand, the diagonal of the display directly affects the size and cost of the entire device. So if portability is key, it makes sense to pay attention to relatively small solutions; especially since most modern laptops have video outputs like HDMI or DisplayPort and allow connection of large-format external monitors.

In light of all this, the actual maximum for laptops these days is 17"(17.3"); however larger devices (18") reappeared at the beginning of 2023. The standard option for general purpose laptops is 15"(15.6"), less often 16", a diagonal of 13"(13.3") or 14" is considered small by the standards of such And smaller screens can be found mainly in specific compact varieties of laptops — ultrabooks, 2 in 1, transformers, netbooks; among such devices there are solutions for 12 ", 11" and even 10" or less.

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 total amount of built-in storage is typically shown as the cumulative capacity when multiple drives are installed. For example, 512 GB + 1 TB is considered 1.5 TB, even though they are physically two separate drives. When total storage capacity reaches 2 TB and above, laptops are often chosen not just to "have enough space," but for specific scenarios involving heavy data: large game libraries, RAW photos, video editing projects, local backups, virtual machines. Moreover, "2 TB on one drive" and "2 TB total" can feel different: one large SSD is easier to manage and transfer projects, while a total of 2 TB might be more convenient if it comprises two drives with different roles, like a fast SSD for the system and work files plus a second drive for archiving. The speed and comfort depend on the exact type of drives. For example, for a videographer, 2–4 TB total offers the ability to keep active projects locally while on the go, and for a gamer, it allows installing many games without constant deletions, especially if part of the capacity is allocated to a separate drive.

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.