ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14 GA402 review
The Asus ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14 GA402 ranks as the #159 laptops globally, achieving a LibraScore of 78. Across all metrics, this product stands out most for its #24-ranked connectivity among 104 laptops. Consider the Asus ASUS ExpertBook B7 Flip or Asus ASUS ROG Flow X13, which offer higher scores while staying in the same price range.
Is it Worth it?
The ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14 GA402 is a powerhouse laptop that justifies its premium price tag. The 14-inch chassis packs a punch with powerful processors and graphics, making it an ideal gaming machine or content creation device. The upgraded anime Matrix display is a standout feature, offering vivid animations and new functions like notification display and mini games. The ErgoLift design provides excellent typing comfort and cooling performance. With up to AMD Ryzen 9 6900HS and Radeon RX 6800S, this laptop delivers stunning gaming performance. While pricey, the G14's overall package makes it a worthwhile investment for those seeking a top-tier portable gaming machine.
Build
The ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14 GA402 boasts an impressive build quality, with a durable chassis featuring honeycomb reinforcements that prevent flexing. The ErgoLift design lifts the display, creating a comfortable typing angle and increasing airflow to the cooling system. The notebook's compact form factor still manages to fit in an HDMI 2.0 port, micro SD card reader, and FHD webcam with IR sensor for face recognition. The G14 also features a spacious keyboard with long key travel, programmable hotkeys, and a large trackpad, making it well-suited for productivity and gaming tasks. If you’re after a better build, Asus ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14 could be the ideal option.
Display
The ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14 GA402 boasts an impressive display that elevates the overall laptop experience. The upgraded Anime Matrix features 1449 LEDs, providing more vivid animations and new functions such as displaying notifications, showing music rhythms, or custom text messages. You can even play mini games and earn rewards to unlock new features for your Omni virtual pet. The FHD webcam is accompanied by an IR sensor for face recognition, adding a touch of convenience. The display's color accuracy is exceptional, with 100% sRGB and 99% DCI-P3 coverage. The QHD variant boasts a 16:10 aspect ratio and has been measured to be over 50% brighter than its predecessor, reaching a maximum brightness of 564 nits. This makes it one of the brightest laptop displays we've ever tested. Asus ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14 might be a smarter choice, offering an upgraded display.
Performance
The ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14 GA402 boasts impressive performance credentials. Powered by up to AMD Ryzen 9 6900 HS and Radeon RX 6800S, this laptop delivers lightning-fast speeds. The GPU department is particularly noteworthy, with the 105W Radeon RX 6800S outperforming the RTX 3060 in many games, including a whopping 103 FPS in Battlefield 5. The cooling system, featuring a vapor chamber and two upgraded fans, ensures sustained performance without overheating. This laptop's potent combination of processor and graphics makes it an excellent choice for gamers and content creators alike. For an improved performance, Asus ASUS Zenbook DUO is worth considering.
Battery and Charging
The battery life of the ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14 GA402 is a pleasant surprise. The 75Wh pack provides up to 9 hours and 27 minutes of web browsing or 8 hours and 29 minutes of video playback, making it suitable for all-day use. Despite its powerful internals, the laptop's battery life is commendable, showcasing ASUS's efforts in balancing performance with endurance. Charging times are also relatively quick, although the exact time isn't specified. Overall, the battery performance of the GA402 is a notable strength.
Connectivity
The Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 GA402 boasts an impressive array of connectivity options. A high-speed micro SD card reader is now included, in addition to HDMI 2.0 B port and IR sensor for face recognition. The laptop also features a decent port selection, including USB-A and USB-C ports. Take a look at Asus ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14 - its improved connectivity sets a new standard.
Features
The ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14 GA402 boasts an upgraded Anime Matrix with 1449 LEDs, allowing for vivid animations and new functions such as notification display and mini games. The laptop also features a 180-degree Ergo lift design, long key travel, and a large trackpad, making it ideal for gaming and productivity. If you're after top-notch features, consider Asus ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14.
Support and Maintenance
The ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14 GA402 boasts an impressive upgrade ability, with one SO-DIMM slot for soldered DDR5 memory and one M.2 PCIe X4 slot for ultra-fast storage expansion. I appreciate the thoughtfulness in placing a fan below the WASD keys, ensuring comfort while gaming. Overall, this laptop's design prioritizes both performance and user experience.
Pros
1. The Zephyrus G14 has had a passionate following from its first day on the market, we see why that is as you get powerful processors and Graphics inside a portable 14-inch chassis.
2. The upgraded anime Matrix with 1449 LEDs for more Vivid animations as well as new functions
3. Lifting the display also acts as a lever increasing airflow to the cooling system, this is the so-called Ergo lift design which now opens the screen to 180 degrees
4. The integrated QHD variant has a 16 by 10 aspect ratio and it's much brighter, we measured a maximum brightness of 564 nits in the middle of the screen
5. The laptop is powered by up to AMD Ryzen 9 6900 HS and a Radeon RX 6800s, the GPU department is more interesting
6. The cooling system has been upgraded with a vapor chamber for much better heat dissipation plus two upgraded Arc flow fans
7. There are 8 gigabytes of solder DDR5 memory, one SO-DIMM slot and one M.2 PCIe X4 slot supporting ultra-fast Gen 4 drives
Cons
1. The laptop is very expensive
2. The battery life could be better, lasting for only 9 hours and 27 minutes of web browsing or 8 hours and 29 minutes of video playback
3. There is no numpad due to the small form factor
4. The PWM usage on the panel might be an issue in some cases
5. The laptop's price might not justify the cost for everyone, especially considering its predecessor's prices
6. Some people might find the Ergo lift design too gimmicky or unnecessary
7. There are reports of occasional overheating and throttling issues with the GPU
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