ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14 review
The Asus ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14 ranks as the #52 laptops globally, achieving a LibraScore of 81. Across all metrics, this product stands out most for its #23-ranked connectivity among 103 laptops. Consider the Asus ASUS ZenBook 14X OLED or Asus ASUS ProArt PX13, which offer higher scores while staying in the same price range.
Is it Worth it?
The ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14 is an impressive laptop that checks all the right boxes. With its sleek design, powerful performance, and exceptional display, it's hard to find fault with this device. However, a few minor issues, such as defective USB ports and a mediocre battery life, may deter some users. Despite these drawbacks, the G14 is still worth considering, especially for gamers who value portability and style. Overall, its impressive specs and features make it a solid choice for those in the market for a high-performance laptop.
Build
The ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14's build is impressive. The aluminum lid provides a solid foundation, while the magnesium alloy chassis adds strength without weighing too much. The keyboard and touchpad are well-placed and responsive. However, some corners were cut to achieve the slim design; the single LED lighting on each key results in dim and hard-to-see secondary key markings. The laptop's compact size makes it easy to carry around, but the trade-off is a smaller battery life. The 73Wh battery still provides decent runtimes, but performance drops significantly when unplugged. Overall, the G14's build is sturdy and well-designed, but some compromises were made for portability. A better alternative might be Asus ASUS Zenbook DUO, featuring a next-level build.
Display
The display on the ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14 is a highlight of the laptop. It features an OLED panel with impressive color accuracy and contrast. The 1920x1080 resolution provides crisp and clear visuals, making it perfect for gaming, video streaming, and other multimedia tasks. The screen's 13.3-inch size is also ideal for portability, allowing users to take advantage of the laptop's lightweight design without sacrificing visual quality. While some may find the lack of higher refresh rates or HDR support a drawback, the OLED display on the G14 remains one of its strongest features, offering an immersive viewing experience that complements the laptop's overall performance. You may find Asus ASUS VivoBook Pro 14 OLED a better fit, thanks to its superior display.
Performance
The ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14 delivers impressive performance in various scenarios. With up to an RTX 4070 GPU, it handles demanding tasks such as gaming and content creation with ease. The laptop's Intel Core i7 processor and ample RAM ensure smooth execution of multitasking and productivity tasks. During our tests, the G14 consistently provided high frame rates in games and handled resource-intensive applications like Blender without any issues. Its thermal management system also keeps temperatures in check, even during prolonged usage. Overall, the ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14's performance is more than satisfactory for its class. If you’re after a better performance, AORUS 17G could be the ideal option.
Battery and Charging
The battery life of the ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14 is surprisingly good, lasting around 6 hours with productivity mixed use at 200 nits brightness. However, it's worth noting that this drops significantly when gaming or running demanding applications, likely due to power-hungry components. A 180W charger is provided, which is compact and smaller than some other laptops. Despite the decent battery life, I would still advise against unplugging it unless absolutely necessary to preserve performance.
Connectivity
The ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14 boasts a respectable array of ports, including HDMI 2.1, USB-A, and a headphone jack. A Micro SD card slot is also present. However, the USB-C4 port is defective in this unit, which has been a recurring issue with previous models. Overall, the connectivity options are good but not exceptional, considering the laptop's price point. For an improved connectivity, Asus ASUS ExpertBook B1 is worth considering.
Features
The ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14 boasts an impressive feature set, including an OLED display, up to RTX 4070 graphics, 6-speaker audio, and a 73Wh battery. It also offers Wi-Fi 6 connectivity, USB-C ports, and an M.2 SSD slot. However, its limited RAM upgrade options and soldered RAM are drawbacks. You might want to check out Asus ASUS Vivobook 14 Flip, featuring an upgraded features for a superior experience.
Support and Maintenance
The ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14 boasts impressive support and maintenance features. The device's internals are easily accessible with 11 Torx screws, allowing for straightforward upgrades and repairs. Additionally, the mediatek Wi-Fi card is socketed, enabling easy replacement with alternative cards.
Pros
1. Six-speaker system with two woofers produces great audio
2. 73Wh battery life is decent, especially for OLED laptops
3. 180W charger is compact and efficient
4. Productivity mixed use test yielded about 6 hours of battery life
5. HDMI 2.1, USB-A ports, headphone jack, and Micro SD card slot are all convenient features
6. Upgradeable Wi-Fi card and M.2 SSD slot make upgrading easy
7. Good ventilation design keeps the system cool
Cons
1. USB-C4 ports have been known to be faulty in some units
2. 90W GPU may not provide enough power for demanding games or applications
3. Keyboard backlighting is limited, with only a single LED lighting per key
4. Battery life drops significantly when gaming or using demanding apps
5. Upgradeable RAM is soldered on, making it difficult to upgrade in the future
6. No full-size SD card slot, which may be inconvenient for content creators
7. May not have the best battery life compared to other laptops in its class
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