Asus can go a little bit excessive with its ROG model typically, as we found with the extravagant twin-screen design of its Zephyrus Duo 16 not too long ago. Unsurprisingly, the 16-inch Zephyrus Duo was massive and heavy and suffered from poor battery life – in addition to being wildly costly. Fortuitously, the corporate does additionally make some extra down-to-earth fashions, such because the Zephyrus G14, which places apart a number of the eye sweet and easily focuses on squeezing as a lot gaming energy as potential right into a extra compact 14-inch laptop computer.
It is nonetheless costly, with this top-of-the-range evaluation unit offering the newest AMD processors and nVidia RTX 4000 sequence graphics playing cards, however the Zephyrus G14 achieves the uncommon feat of mixing high-end gaming efficiency with a extra streamlined design which you can simply carry round in a backpack. And, regardless of the high-end {hardware} and compact design, the G14 may even present respectable battery life that may see you thru many of the day while you’re out and about.
Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 (2023)
Beneficial
It is costly, however should you want a high-performance gaming laptop computer that may additionally match comfortably right into a backpack or journey bag, the Zephyrus G14 is difficult to beat.
- Excessive-end gaming efficiency
- Compact, light-weight design
- Sturdy magnesium casing
- Vivid 2560×1600 show with HDR
- Costly
- No 4K choice
- Battery life may nonetheless be higher
Worth and choices
- Processor: AMD Ryzen 7-7735HS @ 3.2GHz (Max Enhance 4.75GHz) / Ryzen 9-7940HS @ 4.0GHz (Max Enhance 5.2GHz)
- Graphics: AMD Radeon 780M (built-in), nVidia GeForce RTX 4060/4070/4080/4090 (discrete)
- Reminiscence: 16GB / 32GB DDR5
- Storage: 512GB / 1TB SSD
There are many improve and customisation choices accessible for the Zephyrus G14, though you could want to buy round on-line to search out simply what you need.
Asus’ web site lists a number of fashions which might be geared up with both AMD Ryzen 7 or Ryzen 9 processors, though the Ryzen 9 evaluation unit examined right here was one of many few that may be purchased straight from Asus itself. That is the top-of-the-range mannequin, costing $3299.99/£3399.99 from the Asus web site, and contains an 8-core Ryzen 9-7940HS operating at 4.0GHz (with increase choice as much as 5.2GHz), together with an nVidia GeForce RTX 4090 graphics card, 32GB reminiscence and 1TB solid-state storage.
My evaluation unit was additionally geared up with a 14-inch Mini LED show with 2560×1600 decision and 165Hz refresh charge, and this show appears to be an ordinary function with all Zephyrus G14 fashions.
There are many different choices, although. In addition to providing each Ryzen 7 and Ryzen 9 processors, Asus additionally supplies fashions with 16GB reminiscence and 512GB storage, in addition to a selection of RTX 4060/4070/4080 graphics. Nevertheless, these different choices aren’t accessible straight from Asus, and the corporate merely factors you within the route of third-party on-line retailers for gross sales data. If you wish to discover a extra inexpensive mannequin that is available in under £3000/$3000, you could want to buy round.
Design
- Dimensions: 19.5 x 312 x 227mm
- Weight: 1.8kg
- Ports: 1x HDMI 2.1, 1x USB 4, 1x USB-C (3.2), 2x USB-A (3.2), 3.5mm audio in/out, microSD
- Wi-fi: Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.2
The Zephyrus G14 is not probably the most elegant 14-inch laptopI’ve seen not too long ago. The design is nearly boringly rectangular and plain, with our evaluation laptop computer completed in a sombre darkish gray (though some fashions can be found in white as effectively). However the true achievement is solely that Asus’ engineers have managed to cram the G14’s high-end {hardware} right into a design that’s nonetheless fairly mild and moveable.
The Zephyrus G14 measures 19.5mm thick, 312mm broad and 227mm deep, so it’s going to match right into a backpack or bag with out an excessive amount of hassle. Asus says that the laptop computer weighs 1.72kg, though our scales put it nearer to 1.8kg. Even so, that is nonetheless a superb measurement and weight for a high-end laptop computer with a robust cooling system, and you may choose the G14 up with one hand and carry it round simply sufficient when it is advisable.
It is also constructed like a tank, with a magnesium alloy case that feels actually sturdy, and supplies good safety for the display panel. The keyboard feels very agency too, and must be greater than able to taking a pounding throughout lengthy gaming periods. And, along with the usual row of Operate keys, there’s additionally a set of 4 ‘scorching keys’ accessible too.
By default, these 4 keys can be utilized to regulate quantity settings, and to launch Asus’ Armoury Crate app, which supplies a variety of gaming options, together with the flexibility to assign your personal macro instructions to those 4 keys. My solely criticism right here is that the labels on the keys are darkish gray, and virtually invisible until you flip the backlight on – which could not at all times be handy, and clearly will not assist the battery life both.
Connectivity is nice for a compact 14-inch laptop computer, with one HDMI port for an exterior show in addition to USB-C (3.2) and USB 4 ports that help video output as effectively. There are additionally two USB-A ports, a microSD slot for reminiscence playing cards, and three.5mm connector for audio enter and output, whereas wi-fi connectivity is dealt with with Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.2.
It is a disgrace, although, that Asus nonetheless makes use of a spindle-like energy connector that stands out from the facet of the laptop computer and will simply snap if it will get caught or somebody journeys over the facility cable.
- Show: 14-inch Mini LED with HDR @ 2560×1600, 16:10 facet ratio, 165Hz refresh
- Webcam:1080p
- Audio: 2x woofers, 2x tweeters, with Dolby Atmos
You would possibly anticipate a laptop computer costing effectively over $3000/£3000 to supply a 4K show or the newest OLED expertise, however the G14’s 2560×1600 decision and 16:10 facet ratio do work effectively for its comparatively small 14-inch show, and Asus finds different methods to boost the show and picture high quality as effectively.
The show helps HDR and boasts 600 nits brightness (when used with HDR content) that produces a really daring and brightly colored picture. In reality, to my eyes, the colors can look a little bit oversaturated at occasions, however Asus states that the show does help 100 per cent of the DCI-P3 color commonplace used for professional-level video enhancing – which means it is able to dealing with severe graphics and video work in addition to gaming. Talking of which, the show additionally supplies a really clean and exact 165Hz refresh charge for avid gamers to profit from too.
The G14 additionally features a 1080p webcam that gives a transparent, sharp picture and which coped admirably with low-light situations throughout the cloudy, gray summer time that we have been having fun with within the UK. Even the audio system work effectively, because the Zephyrus G14 contains 4 separate speaker drivers – two woofers and two tweeters – that present a superb, full sound that manages to keep away from the thinness on increased frequencies that impacts so many laptop computer audio system.
Efficiency and battery (as reviewed)
- Ryzen 9-7940HS @ 4.0GHz (Max Enhance 5.2GHz)
- nVidia GeForce RTX 4090 (16GB VRAM)
- Energy – 240W adaptor, with 76Whr Li-Ion battery
Asus makes use of AMD processors in a lot of its gaming laptops, and the Ryzen 9 utilized by the Zephyrus G14 looks as if one other good selection. When operating the GeekBench 6 benchmark, the G14 scores 2,640 for single-core efficiency, and 13,000 for multi-core, with the latter rating placing it solely barely behind the 14,106 multi-core rating of HP’s Intel i7-powered Omen 16 laptop computer.
Nevertheless, the Zephyrus G14 catches up on graphics efficiency with its RTX 4090 GPU, which permits it to attain 173fps when operating the Unigine Valley 3D benchmark, proper alongside the 174fps scored by the Omen 16 with its RTX 4080.
The Zephyrus continues to impress in our game-based assessments, being rated at 155+fps when operating 3DMark Wildlife Excessive – which relies on Battlefield V – in comparison with 150fps for the Omen. The Zephyrus pulls even additional forward when operating Rise Of The Tomb Raider, breezing to 206fps at 2560×1600 decision whereas utilizing the sport’s highest graphics settings, whereas the Omen 16 trailed behind at 187fps.
Admittedly, the Zephyrus is the costlier of the 2 laptops, however the worth distinction additionally displays the extra compact and moveable design of the Zephyrus somewhat than simply its frames-per-second horsepower. And, on that rating, the Zephyrus manages to drag another rabbit out of its hat. It isn’t going to interrupt any data for battery life, however it does handle to final for a good 6.5 hours when streaming full-screen video and utilizing its built-in Radeon graphics.
For those who’re not utilizing wi-fi all day lengthy then you definitely would possibly even have the ability to stretch that to a full eight-hour working day – which is not one thing that many gaming laptops can boast about.
Verdict
It is costly, however the Zephyrus G14 pulls off a really difficult balancing act by squeezing high-end gaming efficiency right into a 14-inch laptop computer that’s nonetheless admirably compact and light-weight. You are paying additional for the engineering that makes this potential, however should you do want a high-performance gaming laptop computer that may additionally match comfortably right into a backpack or journey bag, then the Zephyrus G14 is difficult to beat.
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