Asus has launched the Panther Lake version of the Zenbook S14 in the UK, with a broader global rollout expected to follow after the laptop surfaced at CES 2026 in January alongside several other Intel Core Ultra Series 3 announcements.
The UK-first approach narrows early access to a single retailer pairing, with both Asus directly and Currys listing the new Zenbook S14 at £1599, which converts to roughly $1799 before the 20% VAT applied to UK purchases is stripped out.
Regional SKU differences complicate the global picture, as the UK model ships with the Core Ultra 9 386H rather than the Core Ultra X7 368H or Core Ultra X9 388H variants Asus originally signalled for European markets.
That configuration aligns the UK release more closely with Canadian SKUs than with US models, suggesting Asus is managing regional supply or positioning before committing to a unified global specification.
The single available configuration includes 32 GB of RAM, 1 TB of storage, and one colourway in grey, which reflects a cautious, limited launch rather than the broader rollout typically seen when a flagship ultraportable reaches multiple markets simultaneously.
Hardware and display
The 2.8K, 120 Hz OLED display carries forward from the previous generation with updated brightness figures, now rated at 500 nits in SDR mode and up to 1,100 nits across small areas when HDR is active.
Battery capacity grows from 72 Wh to 77 Wh, a 6.9% increase that strengthens the Zenbook S14’s appeal in a 14-inch ultraportable segment where sustained battery life often determines purchase decisions over raw processing power.
The move away from Arc 140V integrated graphics to the solution bundled with the 386H chip may reduce graphical throughput compared to Lunar Lake predecessors, a trade-off that global SKUs with X-series processors would largely avoid.
At 1.2 kg, the Zenbook S14 sits among the lighter 14-inch options currently available, a specification that will likely anchor its positioning when additional regional variants eventually reach wider markets.
Asus has not confirmed a timeline for broader European or global availability, though the CES 2026 announcement and the UK’s early retail presence suggest additional markets will follow in the months ahead.
