The Asus ZenBook 14 OLED stands out in the crowded laptop market, offering powerful performance, ultra-portability, and an exceptional OLED display that elevates your computing experience. Whether you’re a professional, a student, or a creative, the Asus ZenBook 14 promises to deliver on all fronts. In this review, we’ll explore the design, performance, display quality, features, battery life, and overall value of the Asus ZenBook 14 to help you determine if it’s the right laptop for your needs.
In this Asus ZenBook 14 Review, we’ll take a look at:
Design and Build Quality
The Asus ZenBook 14 is renowned for its sleek and sophisticated design, making it one of its class’s most aesthetically pleasing laptops.
- Ultra-Portable Design: Weighing just 2.6 pounds and measuring only 0.67 inches thick, the Asus ZenBook 14 is designed for on-the-go users who need a powerful machine that’s easy to carry. Its compact form makes it perfect for slipping into a backpack or briefcase without adding bulk.
- Premium Build: The laptop features an all-metal chassis with Asus’s signature concentric circle finish, giving it a premium look and feel. The build quality is excellent, with a sturdy hinge and minimal flex, ensuring durability for daily use.
- ErgoLift Hinge: The ErgoLift hinge design not only raises the keyboard to a more comfortable typing angle but also improves airflow and enhances audio performance by angling the laptop’s bottom speakers slightly upward.
Display Quality
One of the most compelling features of the Asus ZenBook 14 is its stunning OLED display, which sets it apart from many competitors.
- 14-inch OLED Display: The Asus ZenBook 14 features a 14-inch 2.8K (2880 x 1800) OLED display, offering deep blacks, vibrant colors, and exceptional contrast. The display covers 100% of the DCI-P3 color gamut, making it ideal for color-sensitive tasks like photo and video editing.
- 90Hz Refresh Rate: The display supports a 90Hz refresh rate, ensuring smooth visuals whether you’re scrolling through documents, watching videos, or playing games. The higher refresh rate also reduces motion blur, providing a more immersive experience.
- Eye Care: The OLED panel is TÜV Rheinland-certified for low blue light emission, helping to reduce eye strain during long use sessions. This is particularly beneficial for those who spend extended periods in front of the screen.
Performance
Under the hood, the Asus ZenBook 14 has powerful hardware that delivers excellent performance across various tasks.
- Intel Core i7 Processor: The laptop is powered by the latest 12th Gen Intel Core i7 processor, which provides ample power for multitasking, productivity, and even some light gaming. The combination of 4 performance cores and 8 efficiency cores ensures a balance between speed and energy efficiency.
- 16GB RAM: With 16GB of LPDDR5 RAM, the Asus ZenBook 14 handles intensive applications and multitasking easily, allowing you to run multiple programs simultaneously without slowdown.
- 512GB SSD Storage: The laptop has a fast 512GB NVMe SSD, providing quick boot times and fast data access. The storage is ample for most users, but those needing more space may consider external storage options.
- Intel Iris Xe Graphics: While not a dedicated GPU, the integrated Intel Iris Xe graphics deliver solid performance for creative tasks, casual gaming, and media consumption.
Battery Life
Battery life is critical for portable laptops; the Asus ZenBook 14 does not disappoint.
- Long-Lasting Battery: The ZenBook 14 has a 63Wh battery, providing up to 10 hours of battery life on a single charge. This makes it suitable for a full day of work or study without being tethered to an outlet.
- Fast Charging: The laptop supports fast charging, allowing you to recharge up to 60% of the battery in just 49 minutes. This feature is handy for those who need a quick power boost between meetings or classes.
Features and Connectivity
The Asus ZenBook 14 has features designed to enhance productivity and connectivity.
- NumberPad 2.0: The touchpad doubles as a numeric keypad, a feature Asus calls NumberPad 2.0. This is especially useful for users who frequently work with numbers, providing quick access without sacrificing touchpad functionality.
- Backlit Keyboard: The laptop features a full-size, backlit keyboard with 1.4mm key travel, providing a comfortable typing experience even in low-light conditions.
- Comprehensive Connectivity: Despite its slim profile, the Asus ZenBook 14 offers a wide range of connectivity options, including two Thunderbolt 4 USB-C ports, one USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A port, an HDMI 2.0 port, a microSD card reader, and a 3.5mm audio jack. This array of ports ensures compatibility with a variety of peripherals and accessories.
- Wi-Fi 6E: The laptop supports Wi-Fi 6E, providing faster and more reliable wireless connectivity, especially in multiple-device environments. This ensures smooth online experiences, whether streaming, downloading, or video conferencing.
Ease of Use and Software
Asus has designed the ZenBook 14 with user convenience in mind, making it easy to use and packed with helpful software.
- Windows 11: The Asus ZenBook 14 comes pre-installed with Windows 11, offering a modern and intuitive user interface with features like Snap Layouts, virtual desktops, and a new start menu.
- Asus AI Noise-Canceling Technology: The laptop includes Asus’s AI Noise-Canceling technology, filters out background noise during calls, ensuring clear communication in meetings or virtual classrooms.
- MyAsus App: The MyAsus app allows you to manage system settings, perform diagnostics, and connect your laptop to your smartphone for file sharing, screen mirroring, and more. It’s a handy tool for optimizing performance and staying productive.
Price and Availability
The Asus ZenBook 14 OLED is competitively priced, offering excellent value for its premium features.
- Price: The Asus ZenBook 14 typically costs around $1,199, depending on the configuration and retailer. Given its OLED display, powerful performance, and sleek design, it offers substantial value for professionals and creatives alike.
- Availability: The laptop is widely available through major electronics retailers, online marketplaces, and directly from Asus’s official website.
Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Stunning OLED Display: The 14-inch OLED display with 2.8K resolution and 90Hz refresh rate delivers vibrant colors, deep blacks, and smooth visuals, making it perfect for creative work and entertainment.
- Powerful Performance: Equipped with a 12th Gen Intel Core i7 processor, 16GB of RAM, and a fast SSD, the ZenBook 14 handles multitasking and demanding applications with ease.
- Ultra-Portable Design: The lightweight and slim design makes it easy to carry, while the durable build ensures it can withstand daily use.
- Comprehensive Connectivity: With Thunderbolt 4, HDMI, and USB-A ports, the ZenBook 14 offers excellent connectivity options despite its slim profile.
- Long Battery Life: Up to 10 hours of battery life ensures you can work or play without worrying about frequent recharging.
Cons:
- Limited Upgradability: The RAM is soldered onto the motherboard, meaning you can’t upgrade it after purchase, which may be a drawback for users who need more than 16GB of RAM in the future.
- Integrated Graphics: While Intel Iris Xe graphics are capable of everyday tasks and light creative work, more than they may be required for intensive gaming or heavy-duty graphical applications.
- Price: While offering great value, the price may still be higher for budget-conscious buyers, especially those who don’t require an OLED display.
Conclusion
The Asus ZenBook 14 OLED is a top-tier ultrabook that combines a stunning display, powerful performance, and a sleek, portable design. It’s an excellent choice for professionals, students, and creatives who need a reliable laptop that can handle various tasks while looking great. While it comes with a premium price tag, its display quality, build, and performance value make it a worthwhile investment for those who demand the best from their technology. If you’re in the market for a laptop that delivers on all fronts, the Asus ZenBook 14 is worth considering.
Asus ZenBook 14 FAQ
How does the OLED display on the Asus ZenBook 14 compare to traditional LCDs?
The OLED display on the Asus ZenBook 14 offers significant advantages over traditional LCDs. OLED panels provide deeper blacks, more vibrant colors, and a wider color gamut, making visuals more lifelike and immersive. The display also supports 100% DCI-P3 color coverage, ideal for creative professionals who need accurate color reproduction. Additionally, the OLED panel offers faster response times and better contrast, resulting in a superior viewing experience, whether watching movies, editing photos, or working on detailed graphics.
Is the Asus ZenBook 14 suitable for gaming?
The Asus ZenBook 14 is equipped with integrated Intel Iris Xe or AMD Radeon graphics, which provide decent performance for light gaming and casual games. However, it is not designed for heavy gaming or graphically intensive tasks like 3D rendering. If you’re looking for a laptop primarily for gaming, you might want to consider a device with a dedicated GPU. That said, the ZenBook 14 can handle everyday tasks, creative work, and some less demanding games, making it a versatile option for a wide range of users.
Can the RAM and storage on the Asus ZenBook 14 be upgraded after purchase?
No, the RAM and storage on the Asus ZenBook 14 are soldered to the motherboard and cannot be upgraded after purchase. This means choosing a configuration that meets your needs at the time of sale is essential. The laptop has various options for RAM and storage, so you can select the configuration that best suits your requirements for multitasking, storage capacity, and overall performance. If you anticipate needing more memory or storage in the future, opting for a higher configuration from the start is advisable.