The slim Asus Zenbook S14 shows the big issues of Intel's Panther Lake processors

[Redaktion]

The Asus Zenbook S14 2026 is equipped with a modern Panther Lake processor from Intel. This results in more CPU performance as well as improved efficiency, but the lower GPU performance also illustrates the big issue of the current CPU generation, and it will not be an improvement for all users.

https://www.notebookcheck.net/The-slim-Asus-Zenbook-S14-shows-the-big-issues-of-Intel-s-Panther-Lake-processors.1347546.0.html

[Terror Byte]

Intel's line-up for Panther Lake is mronic in the extreme. If you don't want a discrete GPU, the non B390 iGPU's are utter trash. I had to shop for months to find an affordable laptop with the 358H SKU as nearly all laptops were using the trash tier 355 or even worse 322. It is still impossible to find the 338H in a laptop in Australia.

If AMD's apu's weren't so far behind Panther Lake on baterry life it would have made my life a lot easier.

[Peaceful Byte]

Which laptop did you end up getting?

To be fair, this issue is happening with all windows laptops in general, everywhere.

The best igpu performance per $, while retaining good battery life is handhelds atm.

I agree with this video:

youtu.be/B1l_8gRqvAg?si=bxj04DUAxmCZLS-w

Although I wouldn't get the Xbox Ally X now that Arc G3 Extreme handhelds are here.

[Michael Owen]

I've seen the same thing and complain about it all the time, I shouldn't have to buy a high end CPU just to get a decent iGPU.
It's made worse by the fact that even a lightweight 5050 laptop is stupid expensive. Something like an lg gram with a 5050 I've seen at over £2000.
I don't need a 5070 ti or 5080 level of graphics but something like lunar lake is just not enough, I need something like pantherlake or a 5050 in a lightweight laptop with USB C charging.
It's been pushing me to handhelds, I managed to get a legion go for £400 new and it's been serving me great over the last year, my only gripes are that I wish the battery life was better and it's a bit heavy but the performance is fantastic.