ASUS Zenbook S14 (2026) UX5406 vs ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 14 Aura Edition
The short answer
- ASUS Zenbook S14 (2026) UX5406 is the cheaper of the two at the price its maker announced: INR 249,990 against INR 283,329.
Compared only on figures both makers publish. Everything else is in the table below.
2 phones side by side.
| Specification |
 ASUS Zenbook S14 (2026) UX5406
₹2,49,990launch price
|
 ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 14 Aura Edition
₹2,83,329launch price
|
|---|---|---|
| Placement | ||
| At its price | Not assessed | Not assessed |
| Spec index | — | — |
| Key Specs | ||
| RAM | 32GB LPDDR5X | Up to 64GB soldered LPDDR5X-9600 |
| Processor | Intel Core Ultra 9 Processor 386H | Intel Core Ultra 5 / 7 / X7 Processor (Series 3), up to Core Ultra X7 368H |
| Battery | 77WHrs, 4-cell Li-ion | 58Wh Rechargeable Li-ion |
| Display | 14-inch 3K (2880 x 1800) OLED, 120Hz, touch | 14" 2.8K (2880x1800) OLED, 120Hz VRR, 500nits |
| Graphics | Intel Graphics | Intel Arc B390 GPU (integrated), up to 122 TOPS |
| Storage | 1TB M.2 NVMe PCIe 4.0 SSD | Up to 2TB M.2 2280 PCIe 5.0 x4 NVMe SSD |
| General | ||
| Launch Date | 7 January 2026 (announced) | January 2026 (available from Q1 2026) |
| Operating System | Windows 11 Pro | Windows 11 Pro, Windows 11 Home, Fedora Linux, Ubuntu Linux, or no preload operating system |
| Colours | Antrim Gray | Black; Black, FIFA Edition |
| Series | Zenbook S | ThinkPad X1 Series |
| Model Number | UX5406AA | Machine type 21V7 (ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 14 Aura Edition) |
| Performance | ||
| Chipset | Intel Core Ultra 9 Processor 386H | Intel SoC (System on Chip) platform |
| CPU | Intel Core Ultra 9 386H with Intel NPU up to 50 TOPS | Intel Core Ultra X7 368H (also Core Ultra 5 325/335, Core Ultra 7 355/356H/365/366H, Core Ultra X7 358H) |
| Graphics | Intel Graphics | Intel Arc B390 GPU, up to 122 TOPS; Intel Graphics on selected models |
| RAM | 32GB | 16GB / 24GB / 32GB / 64GB soldered, not upgradable |
| RAM Type | LPDDR5X | LPDDR5X |
| Cores | 16 cores, 16 threads | 16 (4 P-core + 8 E-core + 4 LP E-core), 16 threads |
| Expandable Memory | Not expandable, memory on board | Memory soldered to systemboard, no slots, dual-channel |
| Clock Speed | 2.1 GHz, up to 4.9 GHz | P-core 2.0GHz base / 5.0GHz max; E-core 1.6GHz / 3.8GHz; LP E-core 1.6GHz / 3.6GHz |
| RAM Speed | — | LPDDR5X-7467 / LPDDR5X-8533 / LPDDR5X-9600 |
| Graphics Memory | — | Shared |
| Display | ||
| Display Type | OLED with touch screen and stylus support | OLED (2.8K models); IPS (WUXGA models) |
| Screen Size | 14-inch (35.56 cm) | 14" |
| Resolution | 3K (2880 x 1800) | 2.8K (2880x1800) or WUXGA (1920x1200) |
| Aspect Ratio | 16:10 | 16:10 |
| Touch Screen | Yes, with stylus support | Add-on Film, in-cell or on-cell multi-touch, 10-point; non-touch options available |
| Brightness | 500 nits, 1100 nits HDR peak brightness | 500nits |
| Refresh Rate | 120Hz | 120Hz VRR (2.8K OLED); 60Hz (WUXGA IPS) |
| Colour Gamut | 100% DCI-P3 | 100% DCI-P3 (OLED); 100% sRGB (IPS) |
| Screen to Body Ratio | 90% | 88.8% |
| Design | ||
| Height | 21.47 cm | 215.75 mm (8.49 inches) depth |
| Width | 31.03 cm | 312.50 mm (12.30 inches) |
| Thickness | 1.19 ~ 1.29 cm | 7.7/14.3 mm (front/rear), 16.85 mm maximum (non-touch models) |
| Weight | 1.20 kg (2.65 lbs) | Starting at 0.977 kg (2.15 lbs) with Trackpad; 0.998 kg (2.20 lbs) with Haptic Touchpad |
| Build Material | Ceraluminum lid, CNC-machined chassis, US MIL-STD 810H military-grade standard | Carbon fibre (top) with magnesium bottom on 2.8K OLED models; carbon fibre (top) with aluminium bottom on WUXGA IPS models |
| Backlit Keyboard | Yes | LED backlight |
| Keyboard | Backlit Chiclet Keyboard, 1.1mm key travel | 6-row, spill-resistant, air intake design, multimedia Fn keys, key travel 1.5mm / 1.35mm (Fn row & G/H/B), Copilot key |
| Touchpad | Precision touchpad | Glass surface multi-touch Haptic Touchpad 80 x 130 mm, or glass-like Mylar surface multi-touch 3-button Trackpad 80 x 120 mm, with TrackPoint pointing device |
| Fingerprint Sensor | — | No |
| Storage | ||
| Storage Type | M.2 NVMe PCIe 4.0 SSD | M.2 2280 SSD, PCIe NVMe (PCIe 4.0 x4 or PCIe 5.0 x4 Performance), Opal 2.0 |
| Internal Storage | 1TB | 256GB / 512GB / 1TB / 2TB |
| Storage Slots | 1x M.2 2280 PCIe 4.0x4 | One M.2 2280 PCIe 5.0 x4 slot |
| Expandable Storage | — | One drive, up to 2TB M.2 2280 SSD |
| Battery | ||
| Capacity | 77WHrs | 58Wh |
| Type | 4S1P, 4-cell Li-ion | Rechargeable Li-ion |
| Charging | USB Type-C charging | Rapid Charge, up to 80% in 1 hour with 65W AC adapter |
| Power Adapter | Type-C, 68W Ultra mini AC adapter | 65W USB-C AC adapter, supports PD 3.0, 100-240V, 50-60Hz (nano GaN and slim GaN options) |
| Battery Life | — | MobileMark 30: up to 19.2 hr @250nits; local video playback: up to 32.6 hr @150nits |
| Ports & Connectivity | ||
| Bluetooth | Bluetooth 6.0 | Bluetooth 5.4 (Bluetooth 6.0 hardware ready) |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be) triple band 2x2 | Intel Wi-Fi 7 BE211, 802.11be 2x2 |
| Audio Jack | 1x 3.5mm combo audio jack | 1x headphone / microphone combo jack (3.5mm) |
| USB Type-C | No | No |
| Thunderbolt | 2x Thunderbolt 4, data speed up to 40Gbps | 3x Thunderbolt 4 |
| HDMI | 1x HDMI 2.1 TMDS | 1x HDMI 2.1, up to 4K/60Hz |
| USB Type-A | 1x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A | 1x USB-A (USB 5Gbps), Always On |
| Card Reader | — | No card reader |
| Ethernet | — | No onboard Ethernet; supported via optional Lenovo USB-C to Ethernet adapter |
| Multimedia | ||
| Audio Features | Dolby Atmos, Smart Amp Technology | SoundWire, Cirrus Logic CS42L45 codec |
| Speakers | Built-in speakers with Smart Amp Technology | Stereo speakers, 2W x2, Dolby Atmos |
| Webcam | FHD camera with IR function to support Windows Hello | 5.0MP + IR discrete with privacy shutter, fixed focus, vHDR; or UHD 10.0MP + IR discrete with privacy shutter, ToF sensor, ultrawide |
| Microphone | Built-in array microphone | Dual-microphone array, 360° far-field |
| Features | ||
| Operating System Edition | Windows 11 Pro | Windows 11 Pro or Windows 11 Home |
| Security | Firmware TPM, Microsoft Pluton security processor, IR webcam with Windows Hello | ThinkShield, discrete TPM 2.0 (TCG certified), Kensington Nano Security Slot, camera privacy shutter, IR camera for Windows Hello, self-healing BIOS, optional Human Presence Detection |
| In the Box | Sleeve (accessories vary by region) | Optional bundled accessories: Lenovo HDMI to VGA Monitor Adapter, Lenovo USB-C to Ethernet Adapter (1Gbps), or none |
| Cooling | — | Space-frame chassis with 20% smaller printed circuit board and 70% larger fan |