A beefy graphics card paired with the lovely 14-inch screen size at an affordable price? That’s the Asus ROG Zephyrus G14, and when you add extras like an OLED display and battery life impressive for a gaming laptop, it’s hard for me to not fall in love with this thing.
The G14 is the smallest model in the Zephyrus line, so it’s extremely portable. You can outfit it with an Nvidia RTX 4060 or 4070 graphics card, depending on whether you want to save some cash or max it out. It feels as comfortable to use as the Macbook Air M1 (2020) that I use for work, but it comes with luxury features that make playing games—and even watching movies—a top-tier experience.
Work-Life Balance
The Zephyrus G14 isn’t built to be a powerhouse—consider a laptop like the Asus ROG Strix Scar 18 for that—but what power it does have is well allocated. The Zephyrus is powered by AMD’s Ryzen R9 8945HS, a powerful processor, paired with the RTX 4060 laptop graphics card—it tackles most games with ease and can even run some of the heaviest AAA titles reasonably well.
Both Starfield and Cyberpunk 2077 managed to maintain a respectable 50 to 60 frames per second on medium graphics settings at the laptop’s full 2,880 X 1,800 resolution. Starfield dipped to around 40 fps in areas like New Atlantis that have famously struggled to get very high frame rates. But this is still reasonably high given that Starfield is capped at 30 fps on the Xbox.
Photograph: Eric Ravenscraft
When adjusting the display to 1,080p, I could crank the graphics settings in Cyberpunk and Starfield up to high while maintaining roughly the same 50 to 60 fps. By staying on medium, I got over 60 fps in both games. I prefer the latter approach since smoother gameplay feels better for me than extra foliage detail, but there’s flexibility here to tailor the experience to your desires.
Like most gaming laptops, you won’t spend much time playing on this machine away from a charger. However, the G14 still impressed by getting nearly two hours of gameplay while running games like Cyberpunk. Overwatch 2 lasted closer to an hour and a half, which makes sense, given that in faster-paced competitive games, I tend to lean on getting at least 90 fps for a smooth experience.
When using the laptop for more typical work or casual use, I got closer to 11 hours of battery life, impressive among any Windows laptop. I could easily use the Zephyrus G14 as my daily driver and feel comfortable getting an entire day’s worth of work done on a single charge.
It’s a big day for Quest users. Meta has announced it’s giving third-party companies open access to its headsets’ operating system to expand the technology. The tech giant wants developers to take the OS, expand into other frontiers, and accomplish two main goals: give consumers more choice in the virtual reality gaming market and give developers a chance to reach a wider audience.
Among this first batch of partners, some are already working on a Quest device. First off, ASUS’ ROG (Republic of Gamers) is said to be developing “an all-new performance gaming headset.” Lenovo’s on the list too and they’re seemingly working on three individual models: one for productivity, one for education, and one for entertainment.
This past December, Xbox Cloud Gaming landed on Quest headsets as a beta bringing a wave of new games to the hardware. Microsoft is teaming up with Meta again “to create a limited-edition Meta Quest [headset], inspired by Xbox.”
New philosophy
Meta is also making several name changes befitting their tech’s transformation.
The operating system will now be known as Horizon OS. The company’s Meta Quest Store will be renamed the Horizon Store, and the mobile app will eventually be rebranded as the Horizon app. To aid with the transition, third-party devs are set to receive a spatial app framework to bring their software over to Horizon OS or help them create a new product.
With Horizon at the core of this ecosystem, Meta aims to introduce social features that dev teams “can integrate… into their [software]”. They aim to bridge multiple platforms together creating a network existing “across mixed reality, mobile, and desktop devices.” Users will be able to move their avatars, friend groups, and more onto other “virtual spaces”.
This design philosophy was echoed by Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg. In a recent Instagram video, Zuckerberg stated he wants Horizon OS to be an open playground where developers can come in and freely create software rather than a walled garden similar to iOS.
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Breaking down barriers
It’ll be a while until we see any of these headsets launch. Zuckerberg said in his post that “it’s probably going to take a couple of years for these” products to launch. At the moment, Meta is “removing the barriers” between its App Lab and digital storefront allowing devs to publish software on the platform as long as they meet “basic technical and content” guidelines. It’s unknown if there’ll be any more limitations apart from requiring third-party companies to use Snapdragon processors.
No word if other tech brands will join in. Zuckerberg says he hopes to see the Horizon Store offer lots of software options from Steam, Xbox Cloud Gaming, and even apps from the Google Play Store – “if they’re up for it.” It seems Google isn’t on board with Horizon OS yet.
Rumors have been circulating these past several months claiming Google and Samsung are working together on an XR/VR headset. Perhaps the two are ignoring Meta’s calls to focus on their “so-called Apple Vision Pro rival”.
ASUS’ latest 14-inch gaming laptop is an incredibly versatile and stylish all-rounder. But for those who want something even beefier, there’s the ROG Zephyrus G16. Not only does it feature a more powerful Intel Core Ultra 9 CPU, it supports up to NVIDIA RTX 4090 graphics cards. That’s not all. Its OLED display refreshes twice as fast at 240Hz and it has surprisingly good speakers as well as a full-size SD card reader for quickly transferring files from a camera. So despite being aimed at gamers, the G16 is better equipped to serve as a portable editing rig, which makes this a great system even for people who don’t care about bunny-hopping and fragging.
Design
The G16’s new all-aluminum chassis is simply fantastic. That’s because in addition to being a touch lighter (about 0.1 pounds) and thinner (about 0.2 inches) than the previous model, it feels even sturdier. For 2024, ASUS ditched the dot matrix display on its lid for a single diagonal slash with white (not RGB) LEDs running down the center, which gives the laptop a much more sophisticated look without becoming boring. It’s like a teenager who grew up and learned to dress properly without losing touch with their gamer roots. On the inside, there’s a backlit keyboard with rainbow lighting (though it’s single-zone and not per-key) flanked by some surprisingly punchy speakers with an absolutely massive touchpad below. All told, it’s a beautifully designed system that looks as good as it feels.
ASUS / Engadget
Like its smaller sibling, the ASUS ROG Zephyrus G16 combines a vivid display with a super sleek build but with better connectivity and even longer battery life.
ASUS has also included the right blend of connectivity options. The G16 features two USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A slots, two USB-C ports (one of which supports Thunderbolt 4), HDMI 2.1, a full-size SD card reader and a 3.5mm audio jack. This is the kind of arrangement that lets you travel freely without needing to worry about extra dongles or adapters. Plus, thanks to ASUS’ new Slim Power Jack, you don’t have to hog any other ports while charging. And in a pinch, you can also juice up the G16 via USB-C, albeit at slower speeds (up to around 100 watts) than with the included 240-watt brick.
Display
The G16’s 2.5K (2,560 x 1,600) OLED screen might be the best component here. It’s vivid and supports a huge color gamut (100 percent of DCI-P3), while its 240Hz refresh rate makes it great even for gamers looking to squeeze out every last competitive advantage. Though brightness is just average at around 400 nits in standard definition mode or 450 nits in HDR, I didn’t really have any trouble seeing the screen unless the G16 was in direct sunlight. One last bonus for photo and video editors is that ASUS does include a few calibrated viewing modes in its Armoy Crate app for sRGB, D65 P3 and DCI-P3 so you can more accurately adjust hues or color grade footage.
Performance
Photo by Sam Rutherford/Engadget
The G16’s performance is pretty solid thanks to an Intel Core ultra 9 195H CPU, up to 32GB of RAM, 2TB of storage and NVIDIA RTX 4090 graphics. However, here’s where some trade-offs for the G16’s slim chassis factor in. Compared to similarly-sized rivals like the Razer Blade 16, the G16 features a lower overall TDP (total device power), which means even if they appear to have the same listed components, there’s still a difference in capabilities. For example, on our review unit with an RTX 4080, the amount of power sent to the GPU caps out at 115 watts versus 175 watts for the Razer. The G16’s RAM is also soldered in, so you can’t add more post-purchase.
In Cyberpunk 2077 at 1440p and ultra graphics with ray-tracing on, the G16 hit 68 fps, which is just barely ahead of what we saw from a smaller Razer Blade 14 (66 fps), despite the latter having a lower tier RTX 4070 but with a similar wattage. That said, those figures are more than adequate to keep AAA games running smoothly. And let’s not forget that the Blade 14 model I referenced costs $2,700, which is the same price as our G16 review unit. This makes it an apt comparison even if Razer’s laptop has a smaller footprint.
Battery life
Photo by Sam Rutherford/Engadget
One of the main advantages of a larger system is having extra room for a bigger battery. On PCMark 10’s Open Office rundown test, the G16 lasted 9 hours and 17 minutes versus just 5:12 for the smaller G14. That’s a solid mark considering it’s also better than an XPS 16 (8:31) we reviewed. However, overall longevity depends on your workload, because when I ran the battery test a second time only using the GPU instead of relying on NVIDIA’s Optimus graphic switching feature, that time dropped to just 3:08. That means the system will last all day if you’re using basic productivity app, but for more demanding tasks like gaming or video editing, you’ll want to keep ASUS’ 240-watt power brick close by.
Wrap-up
Photo by Sam Rutherford/Engadget
Just like its smaller sibling, ASUS’ ROG Zephyrus G16 is an almost ideal thin-and-light gaming laptop. It’s got a sleek all-aluminum build, a gorgeous 240Hz OLED display and longer battery life. Granted, it might not be quite as powerful as some of its rivals thanks to lower-wattage components, but it’s still got enough oomph to handle practically anything you can throw at it. And thanks to a full-size SD card reader, it makes for an even better portable editing workstation. But most importantly, with a starting price of $1,750, the G16 is more approachable than many of its high-end (and bulkier) competitors, which makes it a great pick for people who want a larger system that won’t weigh them down.
If you’re looking for a slick gaming laptop, one of the best options on the market right now has to be the latest Asus Zephyrus G14. This superb machine has just received a new iteration for 2024 – and we’ve just spotted its first-ever price cut.
Best Buy currently has the mid-range RTX 4060 configuration for just $1,449 (was $1,599), which is a superb price considering this is a shiny new gaming laptop. Alongside a powerful GPU, this config includes a Ryzen 9 8945HS chipset, 16GB of DDR5 RAM, and a 1TB SSD, which is plenty of power for all but the most intensive of applications.
We haven’t reviewed the latest Asus G14 yet here at TechRadar but our sister-site PCGamer gave this model a glowing score, praising its new all-metal chassis and 120HZ OLED display. The latest model is a more premium machine versus its predecessor, directly competing with the likes of the Razer Blade 14. It does, however, feature slightly weaker gaming performance due to the graphics card receiving less power draw – a change that’s proven divisive in some circles.
If you want the best possible value, another option could be to wait for the older 2023 model to go on sale again at Best Buy. Currently, it’s sitting at $1,599 at the retailer, but we’ve seen it go for as little as $999. Bang for your buck, this one is a great option – although you miss out on the OLED display and premium redesign.
Asus has updated its natty little 13-inch 2-in-1 convertible laptop, the Asus ROG Flow X13, with the very latest available hardware. That means AMD‘s fabulous Phoenix APU architecture in its full Ryzen 9 7940HS spec with eight CPU cores and a pretty powerful integrated GPU.
However, you can also opt for one of three Nvidia dedicated graphics chips, the GeForce RTX 4050, 4060, or 4070 mobile GPUs. Whichever graphics solution you go for, it outputs to a 13.4-inch display, in this case with a 2,560 by 1,600-pixel resolution and 165Hz refresh, though a 1080p option is available. It’s a touch-enabled display with a 360-degree hinge that supports various modes including tent and tablet.
If that’s not good enough, you can also opt for an even more powerful GPU via the Asus XG Mobile external graphics box that hooks up courtesy of a dedicated I/O port. The laptop itself is packaged into a very slick 1.3kg 13-inch chassis that’s beautifully built, feels very high quality, and is absolutely rigid, including virtually no keyboard bounce. The Asus ROG Flow X13 isn’t exactly cheap, but you can certainly feel where the money has gone.
If there is an obvious catch, it’s that the slim proportions do put a cap on absolute proportions. Our review unit runs an RTX 4060 capped at 60W and 1,470MHz, both much lower than Nvidia normally allows for the chip.
Add in USB4 connectivity and you have a versatile overall package and an intriguing alternative to perhaps the most obvious competition, the Razer Blade 14, which lacks 2-in-1 convertible functionality.
Asus ROG Flow X13: Price and availability
(Image credit: Future)
How much does it cost? $1,699 / £1,699 / AU$2,699
When is it available? Available now
Where can you get it? US, UK, and Australia
Available as configured here for $1,699, Asus ROG Flow X13 looks like a pretty good deal for a very high-quality 13.4-inch ultraportable with AMD’s Ryzen 9 7940HS and an Nvidia RTX 4060 GPU, plus 16GB of RAM and a 1TB SSD.
It doesn’t look too bad in the UK, either, at £1,699. In both cases, that’s less than you’ll pay for a similarly specced Razer Blade 14. For the record, the Asus ROG Flow X13 as reviewed here is yours for $2,699 AUD in Australia, which again looks appealing given the quality and the spec on offer.
Asus ROG Flow X13: Specs
(Image credit: Future)
Swipe to scroll horizontally
Asus ROG Flow X13
Header Cell – Column 0
Review configuration
Price
$1,699 / £1,699 / AU$2,699
CPU
AMD Ryzen 9 7940HS
GPU
Nvidia RTX 4060 8GB
Memory
16GB DDR5
Storage
1TB PCIe SSD
Display
13.4-inch, QHD+ (2560 x 1600), IPS, 165Hz, 3ms, 100% DCI-P3)
Ports
1x USB4, 1x x USB-A, 1x HDMI, 1x microSD, 1x 3.5mm audio, 1x XG Mobile
Wireless
Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3
Camera
1080p webcam
Weight
1.3kg (2.87 lbs)
Dimensions
29.9 x 21.2 x 1.87 cm (11.77 x 8.35 x 0.74 inches)
Asus ROG Flow X13: Design
(Image credit: Future)
Gorgeous build quality
Slim proportions
2-in-1 convertible functionality
Asus’s ROG laptops tend to be nicely put together and the Asus ROG Flow X13 (2023) is no exception. It’s not the thinnest 13-inch laptop on the planet, but given it can be had with up to an RTX 4070 GPU, it is pretty slim and certainly very slick.
The chassis is mostly metal and extremely rigid, with zero bounce from the keyboard. The chassis top and screen enclosure also sport appealing textured finishes that feel great in the hand. It’s a seriously high-quality laptop.
(Image credit: Future)
That extends to the 360-degree hinge, which has just the right amount of stiction. Of course, if you want regular tablet functionality, then a dedicated tablet will always be a better option. But the ability to flip the screen right around is definitely handy.
Similarly, the screen’s slim bezels keep things pretty compact while allowing for a 1080p webcam in the top bezel. It’s all very nicely thought out and makes for a very versatile laptop.
(Image credit: Future)
The slim proportions do tend to limit connectivity and the Asus ROG Flow X13 (2023) probably has just enough ports, but no more. You get a USB4 port which doubles as the charging socket, a full-sized HDMI port, one USB-A, microSD, headphone jack and then Asus’s XG Mobile IO port, which supports not only a powerful external GPU, but via the XG Mobile box also adds HDMI, DisplayPort, three USB-A ports and a Type-C socket.
Asus ROG Flow X13: Performance
Impressive specs
Strong CPU performance
Slim chassis limits frame rates
The combination of an AMD Ryzen 9 7940HS CPU with an Nvidia RTX 4060 mobile GPU is quite the combo for such a compact, versatile laptop. This isn’t an out-and-out gaming laptop, but more an ultraportable 2-in-1 convertible with great build quality and some gaming chops.
With that in mind, expectations need to be kept in check. That’s especially true when you consider that the RTX 4060 GPU is limited to 60W of power. That means the 4060’s clock frequency is capped at 1,470MHz, which is the lowest Nvidia allows and far below the maximum 2,370MHz the 4060 can achieve in some laptops.
Asus ROG Flow X13: Benchmarks
Here’s how the Asus ROG Flow X13 performed in our suite of benchmark tests:
3DMark: Night Raid: 45,567 ; Fire Strike: 16,013 ; Time Spy: 7,430 GeekBench 6: 2,603 (single-core); 11,312 (multi-core) Total War: Warhammer III (1080p, Ultra): 52 fps; (1080p, Low): 148 fps Cyberpunk 2077 (1080p, Ultra): 51 fps; (1080p, Low): 104 fps Dirt 5 (1080p, Ultra): 59 fps; (1080p, Low): 121 fps TechRadar Battery Life Test: 6h 54m
The consequence is lower frame rates than some more purely gaming-focused laptops with the 4060, such as the Razer Blade 14, which offers the full 2,370Mhz spec. You’ll still get playable frame rates of around 60fps at 1080p in the latest games at ultra settings, provided you don’t run high levels of ray tracing. That said, the RTX 4060 does of course have the full suite of NVIDIA DLSS features – including upscaling from FHD to the QHD+ output of the Flow X13’s display.
(Image credit: Future)
That’s handy because it makes playing games at the Flow X13’s 2,560 by 1,600 pixel native resolution achievable. Without DLSS, that wouldn’t be very realistic with an RTX 4060, which would be a pity given that the display is a lush IPS item running at 165Hz. It’s a great-looking panel, albeit one that can’t compete with an OLED display for contrast and black levels.
Elsewhere, the AMD CPU provides all the performance you could reasonably ask for from this class of laptop, while the 16GB of RAM and 1TB M.2 SSD should cover most needs. There’s an option to upgrade to 32GB if you need really major amounts of memory.
Asus ROG Flow X13: Battery life
(Image credit: Future)
Efficient AMD APU
165Hz display compromises battery life
An efficient AMD APU plus a 75WHr battery in a compact chassis is a promising combination. In practice, however, battery life is not a strong point with the Asus ROG Flow X13 (2023) not quite clocking up seven hours in our fairly undemanding video playback test with the screen at half brightness.
Crank up the brightness or attempt to do anything remotely intensive and that figure will only fall. In other words, the Asus ROG Flow X13 (2023) certainly doesn’t come close to offering all-day battery life even for light tasks, which is a little disappointing for a laptop that prides itself on portability.
Should you buy a Asus ROG Flow X13?
(Image credit: Future)
Buy it if…
Don’t buy it if…
Also consider
Asus ROG Flow X13: Report card
Swipe to scroll horizontally
Value
Given the fabulous build quality and great specs, the Asus ROG Flow X13 (2023) is actually very well priced.
4 / 5
Design
This is about as well built as laptops come. It’s also compact and versatile thanks to the 2-in-1 convertible functionality.
4.5 / 5
Performance
The AMD APU packs and punch and the 13.4-inch screen is vibrant, but the slim proportions limit the GPU performance.
3.5 / 5
Battery Life
An AMD APU and large battery are promising, but battery life of under seven hours in light loads is disappointing.
3.5 / 5
Total
This is a versatile and beautifully built laptop with reasonable gaming performance only let down by poor battery life.
3.875 / 5
First reviewed April 2024
I ran the Asus ROG Flow X13 (2023) through my usual stress test for a gaming laptop, including everything from basic web browsing to burning through my full Steam library and slobbing out with a few movies. As a 2-in-1, I also experimented with using it as a tablet along with other modes that the 360-degree hinge allows and paid close attention to the engineering of the chassis and the hinge.
For games, I tried everything from Cyberpunk 2077 with ray-tracing running on full reheat to some more strategic Total War battles and some high-octane Counter-Strike 2 fun. I was keeping a particular eye on frame rates at both 1080p and the laptop’s 2,560 by 1,600 pixel native resolution.
As for battery life, I tried both watching video and light work, including web browsing and document editing to get a feel for how the Asus ROG Flow X13 (2023) stands up to working away from the mains.
We pride ourselves on our independence and our rigorous review-testing process, offering up long-term attention to the products we review and making sure our reviews are updated and maintained – regardless of when a device was released, if you can still buy it, it’s on our radar.
Google wants to push its Chromebook laptops a little upmarket and to do that it’s pairing up with several big brands. The latest member of this initiative is the new Asus Chromebook Plus CX34, an Intel-powered 14-inch model.
Google is calling this new class of devices “Chromebook Plus” and it’s a little like Intel’s Evo standard. The idea is to dictate some minimum standards of performance and features to ensure a certain level of user experience. That applies to both hardware and software.
On the hardware side, that means at least an Intel Core i3 chip or an AMD Ryzen processor, 8GB of RAM, and a 1080p screen. This Asus laptop meets all that with its Intel Core i3-1215U CPU, 8GB of DDR5 memory, 256GB of UFS storage, and a 14-inch 1080p screen.
As for software, Google builds its Docs, Sheets, and Slides apps into the OS, so they all work without needing an internet connection. Meanwhile syncing both to and from Google Drive works seamlessly. Google has also built in some extra features, including webcam enhancements like background blurring and noise cancellation that work at the OS level – and will therefore work natively with any video calling platform.
(Image credit: Future)
You can, of course, run most Android apps from the Google Play Store too, though the lack of a touchscreen can be problematic for apps designed to run on smartphones. More broadly, Google is making a few AI-related claims about these Chromebook Plus machines. But the hardware is nothing special in that regard, so that’s a bit of a stretch.
Anyway, as a physical specimen, the Asus Chromebook Plus CX34’s all-plastic chassis feels mostly sturdy barring a slightly bouncy keyboard bed. The styling is pretty bland and the screen bezels are hardly minimalist. It’s not exactly ultra-thin or ultra-sleek, either, and there isn’t much about the design that communicates the intended upmarket vibe.
Overall performance is reasonable from the Intel chip. But this remains an entry-level device in performance terms and we can’t help thinking that Chromebooks are better suited to more efficient and cheaper ARM-powered CPUs.
It’s worth noting that only the highest spec model comes with a proper M.2 SSDs. Our test system was specified with generic flash storage. And of course, the usual ChromeOS limitations that apply to all the best Chromebooks remain for those who want to run Windows applications. All of which makes this a worthy enough device that offers reasonable value. But it’s not cheap enough to be truly compelling.
Asus Chromebook Plus CX34: Price and availability
How much does it cost? $394.99 / £429 (about AU$610)
When is it available? Available now
Where can you get it? Available in the US and UK but not yet listed in Australia
The Asus Chromebook Plus CX34 looks like good value compared with similarly-specced Windows laptops like the Lenovo IdeaPad 3. It meets the Chromebook Plus required specifications at a pretty appealing price – but the lack of touchscreen functionality is conspicuous compared to some alternatives, like the Acer Chromebook Spin 714.
Notionally, you’re getting better performance than most similarly priced Chromebooks. But in practice, it’s debatable how much CPU grunt matters on a device like this, and a Chromebook with a lesser CPU but a touchscreen and sleeker design like Asus’s own Chromebook Flip series will arguably be preferable for many users.
(Image credit: Future)
Asus Chromebook Plus CX34: Specs
While this is the only configuration currently available at the time of writing, Asus will be offering several other CPU, SSD, memory, and screen options. You will be able to upgrade to 10-core Intel Core i5 and i7 chips, a touchscreen, and up to 512GB of storage. However, the most significant option is arguably 16GB of RAM. That will come in handy for anyone who likes to open lots of browser tabs or indulge in heavy multitasking.
It’s also worth noting that you’ll need that 512GB storage upgrade to get a proper M.2 SSD. The 128GB and 256GB options make do with generic UFS flash drives with much lower bandwidth. Of course, any of these upgrades will add to the price and arguably detract from the appeal of the Asus Chromebook Plus CX34, which majors on price.
Swipe to scroll horizontally
Asus Chromebook Plus CX34
Price:
$394.99 / £429 (about AU$610)
CPU:
Intel Core i3-1215U
Graphics:
Integrated Intel Iris Graphics
RAM:
8GB DDR5
Screen:
14-inch, FHD (1920 x 1080), 250 nits, 45% NTSC
Storage:
256GB UFS
Ports:
2x USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A, 2x USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-C support display / power delivery, 1x HDMI 1.4, 1x 3.5mm Combo Audio Jack
Wireless:
Wi-Fi 6e (802.11ax), Bluetooth 5.3
Camera:
1080p
Weight:
1.44 kg (3.17 lbs)
Dimensions:
32.6 x 21.4 x 1.87 cm (12.9″ x 8.4″ x 0.74″)
Asus Chromebook Plus CX34: Design
Slightly generic design
Sturdy build quality
Good connectivity
The whole point of Google’s Chromebook Plus standard is to deliver a new class of devices that can compete directly with full-feature Windows laptops. It’s a premium alternative to cheaper Chromebooks.
However, in design terms, the Asus Chromebook Plus CX34 has a pretty bland and basic aesthetic. The plastic chassis is sturdy enough, though the keyboard bed is a little bouncy. But the relatively large screen bezels and slightly boxy chassis don’t make for a terribly slick or contemporary vibe. That design also means that this 14-inch laptop isn’t especially compact, though at 1.44 kg (3.17 lbs) it is reasonably light for a 14-incher.
Image 1 of 3
(Image credit: Future)
(Image credit: Future)
(Image credit: Future)
Still, with two USB-C ports, two USB-A sockets, HDMI, and 3.5mm audio, connectivity is reasonable. More of a highlight is the integrated 1080p webcam. It’s a definite step above most laptop webcams, even on much more expensive machines. It also has a physical shutter for guaranteed privacy.
That said, the webcam doesn’t support facial recognition and there’s also no fingerprint reader, so security is password-based. It’s worth noting that this is a conventional laptop with no touchscreen functionality as reviewed, nor a 360-degree hinge. We’re back to that basic vibe, again.
The trackpad is reasonably proportioned and there’s nothing conspicuously wrong with the overall design. But the vibe is slightly dated and dreary. All of this means it’s hard to get excited about the Asus Chromebook Plus CX34 just based on its looks. If worthy and workmanlike is your thing, this Asus delivers. But if you’re expecting Google’s new Chromebook Plus platform to automatically translate into something slick and premium, you’ll be disappointed.
Asus Chromebook Plus CX34: Performance
Intel CPU gets the job done
Screen and webcam are both decent
Google’s AI pretensions are just that
Asus Chromebook Plus CX34: Benchmarks
Here’s how the Asus Chromebook Plus CX34performed in our suite of benchmark tests:
Geekbench 5: 1,458 (single-core), 4,507 (multi-core) Mozilla Kraken (fewer is better): 476ms JetStream 2 (higher is better): 242 Octane 2.0: 83,372 WebGL Acquarium 30,000 fish: 45fps TechRadar battery life test: 10h 21m
Thanks to a proper Intel Core CPU, albeit the fairly lowly Intel Core i3-1215U with two Performance cores and four Efficient, the Asus Chromebook Plus CX34 has the basic performance to take on full-feature Windows laptops. The question is whether it matters.
Google is promoting the offline capabilities of these Chromebook Plus devices, promising double the performance of typical low-cost Chromebooks. Google even makes a pitch for these devices as content creation machines, including video editing.
But that’s pretty unrealistic, as is the AI narrative Google is attaching to these Chromebook Plus laptops. The Intel CPU is decent, to be sure, but it doesn’t have any particular AI capabilities since it lacks a dedicated NPU. So, any remotely significant AI work will be done in the cloud.
(Image credit: Future)
It’s also worth noting that if you’re the sort of web browser that likes to have a zillion tabs open, this 8GB model won’t cut it and you should opt for the 16GB upgrade which should be available soon. As I noted earlier, you’ll need to upgrade to 512GB of storage for a proper M.2 SSD as opposed to the generic UFS flash storage in this model.
But short of running out of RAM, general system responsiveness is good. Realistically, most people will use a laptop like this for web browsing and web apps, plus some content consumption. And they’ll find it’s well up to the task.
As for the 14-inch display, it offers decent working space thanks to 1080p native resolution. Brightness is decent at 250 nits, and the colors are reasonably vibrant. But compared to, say, a typical tablet, it’s nothing special for image quality or pixel density. The integrated speakers, meanwhile, are pretty terrible. The volume levels are OK, but the sound quality is horribly thin.
That said, one of the better hardware features is the 1080p webcam. It has much better image quality than most laptops, even far more expensive machines. It also benefits from operating-system level processing, including background blur and noise cancellation, which can be applied to any video calling or conferencing application.
Overall, the Asus Chromebook Plus CX34 has the basic grunt to take on lower-cost Windows laptops thanks to its Intel CPU. But given that Chrome OS will run just as happily on a cheaper and more efficient ARM CPU, it’s hard to see the logic in paying the Intel premium.
Asus Chromebook Plus CX34: Battery life
(Image credit: Future)
Medium-sized battery
But decent light-usage battery life
At 50Whrs, the Asus Chromebook Plus CX34 doesn’t have the biggest battery. Nor do Intel CPUs have the best reputation when it comes to operating away from a wall outlet. But perhaps thanks to the efficiency and minimal bloat of the Chrome OS operating system, battery life in light usage is decent, with over 10 hours of movie playback possible.
You’ll get a lot less than that if you put any real amount of load on that Intel CPU, so bear that in mind if you’re planning to run demanding software. But given the modest price point, the battery life is in line with expectations.
Should you buy the Asus Chromebook Plus CX34?
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Asus Chromebook Plus CX34
Attributes
Notes
Rating
Price
Asus has hit Google’s Chromebook Plus spec at a very reasonable price, even if the device itself doesn’t feel upmarket.
4 / 5
Design
The Asus Chromebook Plus CX34 is well built and has a good webcam, but the design it a bit boxy and dated.
3 / 5
Performance
An entry-level Intel CPU provides all the performance required for this type of device, but an ARM chip might have made more sense.
3.5 / 5
Battery life
Despite the modestly proportioned battery and an Intel CPU, the Asus Chromebook Plus CX34’s battery life can hit 10 hours.
4 / 5
Total Average
The Asus Chromebook Plus CX34 is a worthy and well priced but unexciting take on Google’s new Chromebook Plus standard.
3.625 / 5
Buy it if…
Don’t buy it if…
Asus Chromebook Plus CX34: Also consider
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Asus Chromebook Plus CX34
Acer Chromebook 516 GE
Acer Chromebook Spin 713
Price:
$394.99 / £429 (about AU$610)
$650 (around £530 / AU$955)
$699 / £599 (about AU$980)
CPU:
Intel Core i3-1215U
Intel Core i5-1240P
Intel Core i5-1135G7
Graphics:
Intel Iris Xe Graphics
Intel Iris Xe Graphics
Intel Iris Xe Graphics
RAM:
8GB DDR5
8GB DDR4
8GB DDR4
Screen:
14.0-inch, FHD (1920 x 1080), 250 nits, 45% NTSC
16″ WQXGA (2560 x 1600) 16:10 120 Hz
13.5-inch, 2256 x 1504p (3:2) LCD Touchscreen
Storage:
256GB UFS
512GB SSD
256GB PCIe SSD
Ports:
2x USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A, 2x USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-C, 1x HDMI 1.4, 1x 3.5mm Combo Audio Jack
2 x Type- C, 1 x USB Type-A, 1 x Ethernet, 1 x combo jack, 1 x HDMI 2.0
2 x USB Type-C Thunderbolt 4, 1 x USB 3.2 Gen Type-A, 1 x HDMI, 1 x microSD
Wireless:
Wi-Fi 6e (802.11ax), Bluetooth 5.3
Wireless Wi-Fi 6E AX211, Bluetooth 5.2
Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.0
Camera:
1080p
720p
720p
Weight:
3.17 lbs (1.44 kg)
3.75 lbs (1.70kg)
3.20 lbs (1.45kg)
Dimensions:
32.64 x 21.43 x 1.87 cm (12.85″ x 8.44″ x 0.74″)
14 x 9.8 x 0.84 inches (355.6 x 248.9 x 21.3mm)
11.8 x 9.3 x 0.67 inches (299.72 x 236.22 x 17.01mm)
If our Asus Chromebook Plus CX34 review has you considering other options, here are two more laptops to consider…
How I tested the Asus Chromebook Plus CX34
Used for a week in place of my usual laptop
Office work, general web use, Android apps, media playback
Ran the Techradar benchmark suite
I spent a week with the Asus Chromebook Plus CX34 giving it full reign over my Google account and running all my usual apps from web browsing to photo editing. Of course, there was a spot of YouTubing and Netflixing, too, plus our suite of more formal benchmarks. I also tested the Asus Chromebook Plus CX34’s battery life for both general usage and light content consumption off the mains.
Along with assessing objective performance, the aim was to get a feel for how this Chromebook stands up as an all-round replacement for a conventional Windows laptop. Just how does Google’s Chromebook Plus standard stack up?
The Asus ROG Ally is a PC gaming handheld, one of many that launched after the Steam Deck took the portable market by storm. And, unlike other variants, the ROG Ally is an immediate standout thanks to its gorgeous white and light chassis that lets you hold it up for hours.
Compared to other PC gaming handhelds like the Lenovo Legion Go and even Steam Deck, this discount places its price lower than that. It beats out the lowest price on Amazon by at least $100 and up to $200, which is an incredible that you need to take advantage of now while it lasts.
Today’s best Asus ROG Ally deal
The Asus ROG Ally is equipped with some excellent components including the AMD Ryzen Z1 APU with Radeon RDNA 3 graphics, which allows it to handle the best PC games with ease.
The version on sale is the baseline Ryzen Z1, which has six cores compared to the Ryzen Z1 Extreme’s eight cores. There are also plenty of other performance and component differences that resulted in a massive decrease in pricing for the base model, a full $300 off the MSRP.
The Asus ROG Cetra True Wireless Speednova earbuds give a fantastic first impression. The eye-catching RGB-on-black aesthetic of both the earbuds and the charging case lend them a premium feel. That goes for overall audio quality, too, where there’s an impressive level of detail that you won’t often find even among the best gaming earbuds. As such, we can highly recommend them as a strong alternative to the likes of the Sony Inzone Buds or the Razer Hammerhead Hyperspeed.
That said, there are some missteps in terms of both design and performance. Despite coming with rubber tips of varying sizes, there’s a lack of comfort that makes the Speednova buds not best suited for longer sessions of play. They’re also not particularly great for multiplayer, with middling directional audio and some rather tinny voice quality. These could admittedly be dealbreakers when considering the earbuds cost $199.99 (and they’re yet to launch in territories beyond the US).
However, if you typically stick to single-player games or just want a rich music-listening experience, you’ll find that the Asus ROG Cetra True Wireless Speednova earbuds seriously excel in these areas.
Design and features
(Image credit: Future)
The Asus ROG Cetra True Wireless Speednova earbuds come packaged in a smart little box that offers all the essentials. You’ve of course got the earbuds housed in their charging case, alongside three different pairs of tips of varying sizes, a USB 2.4GHz dongle, and a USB-C cable for charging.
The charging case itself might just be my favorite among the more premium earbud offerings. The outer shell only bears the ROG logo and a light strip to indicate charging. Opening it up reveals another ROG logo, this time illuminated by some lovely RGB lighting. The buds themselves also share this RGB logo effect, and they, along with the case, are built from sturdy, high-quality plastic.
Unfortunately, the buds don’t feel particularly great in the ears after a long period of time. I tested each of the three tip sizes (small, medium, and large) over extended sessions and there wasn’t much of an improvement to overall comfort. Your mileage may vary here, of course, but I did have to take them out after one to two hours of use and swap back to my wireless gaming headset instead.
There’s quite a lot of touch-based functionality to the earbuds, too. A single tap of either bud will either play or pause audio – but doing this during a call will mute your microphone. Other functions include double-tapping to toggle active noise canceling (ANC) or a quadruple press to adjust volume. There’s a lot here, but it’s all thankfully very responsive.
Performance and battery life
(Image credit: Future)
Unfortunately, the buds’ level of comfort – or lack thereof – is a real shame, because the audio quality presented by the Asus ROG Cetra True Wireless Speednova earbuds is exceptional. The high-quality soundscape is bolstered by the use of Dirac Opteo technology which provides enhanced sound that’s able to really hone in on those finer details. This allows for overall much richer, detailed audio seldom heard in other gaming earbuds.
This was especially clear in busy single-player games like Rise of the Ronin. Here, the buds brought the bustling, winding streets of Yokohama and its various districts to life by enhancing background NPC chatter and ambient sounds, all without drowning out the wider soundscape. The in-depth sound of Tetris Effect: Connectedwas another highlight here, and I was super impressed with just how well the earbuds were able to catch even the subtlest details of the game’s remarkably layered soundtrack. In short, the Speednova earbuds allowed for an impressively immersive experience.
However, it is worth noting that the heightened audio quality provided by Dirac Opteo is only available via 2.4GHz connection. Over Bluetooth, while audio is still serviceable, noticeably flatter overall. The trade-off here, then, as you might expect, is that Bluetooth connectivity is much easier on the Speednova’s battery life. According to Asus, you’ll get up to 46 hours from the charging case via Bluetooth 5.3 here, and that’s with active noise canceling and RGB effects switched off.
You can expect this number to be roughly halved with these effects enabled, as per the description on the Speednova’s product page. And in my experience, I found this to be largely true if a bit on the generous side. On average, the earbuds themselves carry anywhere between 6-12 hours of charge based on the combinations of features enabled. Though, mostly opting for a 2.4GHz connection, I found a single charge to carry around 4-5 hours with RGB disabled and ANC switched on.
Unfortunately, the buds fall short of being absolutely perfect due to lackluster multiplayer performance. Directional audio isn’t the best here, and certainly not up to the level of some of the best PS5 headsets which are better able to hone in more accurately on footsteps and distant vehicles, for example. The built-in microphone is also lacking, rendering my voice with a pretty tinny register with an overall lower quality than some much cheaper buds on the market like the SteelSeries Tusq.
Should I buy the Asus ROG Cetra True Wireless Speednova earbuds?
(Image credit: Future)
Despite some issues with comfort and call quality, the Asus ROG Cetra True Wireless Speednova earbuds are among the most impressive when it comes to sheer audio quality, largely helped by the fantastic Dirac Opteo technology. If you’re after something for immersive single-player experiences or are something of an audiophile, these buds come highly recommended.
Buy them if…
Don’t buy them if…
How we tested the Asus ROG Cetra True Wireless Speednova earbuds
I tested these earbuds for nearly two weeks across many of the best PS5 games, as well as titles on PC and Nintendo Switch. To put the earbuds through their paces, I largely elected to test them with all features enabled, including Dirac Opteo audio via 2.4GHz connection and active noise canceling.
The buds shone in single-player titles, and I found it very hard to pull myself away from titles like Rise of the Ronin, Dragon’s Dogma 2, and The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdomas a result. While I did find the battery life to be rather inconsistent based on the number of features enabled, I eventually chose to disable the RGB effect to squeeze a couple more hours of use out of them before needing to charge them up again.
I’ve been reviewing laptops for years, and if someone asks me what laptop they should buy for under £300, I always say the same thing: get a Chromebook. If you’re looking for a super-cheap laptop, then Amazon’s Spring Sale event has a great offer for the Asus Chromebook Plus, which is now just £249.99 (down from £399).
Why do I recommend Chromebooks to people looking for cheap laptops? While there are laptops running Windows 11 out there for under £300, they often aren’t worth paying for; even at those low prices. This is because they usually come with underpowered or outdated hardware, which makes using Windows 11 a chore.
However, Chromebooks use the much more lightweight Chrome OS software, which runs really well on less powerful hardware, so you end up getting a much better experience on a Chromebook of the same price or less.
That’s especially true of the Asus Chromebook Plus CX3402CBA Amazon has on sale here. With an Intel Core i3 processor, 8GB of LPDDR5 RAM and 128GB storage, it comes with specs that are actually pretty powerful for a Chromebook, and they wouldn’t look out of place powering a Windows 11 laptop.
With Chrome OS, you’ll get a fantastically smooth and snappy experience, and while the Chromebook Plus CX3402CBA can’t run Windows 11 apps, there are a huge library of Chrome OS apps available. And you can run Android apps as well. For most day-to-day tasks, this Chromebook will be ideal – plus you get a huge 10 hour battery life as well, and with this £150 price cut, this is an absolutely brilliant cheap laptop deal.
If this isn’t quite right for you, you can find more deals in our full Amazon Spring Sale hub.
(Not in the UK? Scroll down for the best deals in your region).
Today’s best Asus Chromebook Plus deal
Chromebook Plus laptops are a new category of Chromebook that offer more powerful components, while keeping a lot of the things we love about traditional Chromebooks, such as their low prices and long battery lives.
Because of the more powerful hardware, Chromebook Plus devices can often be more expensive than regular Chromebooks, which is one of the reasons why I love this deal so much. Even at its original price of £399, this is a great value, but at £249.99, it’s easily one of the best laptop deals we’ll see until Black Friday at least.
While it won’t be a laptop for everyone, the Asus Chromebook Plus CX3402CBA is ideal for day-to-day use. It’ll be especially good for students looking for an affordable laptop they can use throughout the day without needing a charge.
More Asus Chromebook Plus deals
Looking for more Asus Chromebook Plus deals? You’ll find all the lowest prices from around the web right here, with offers available in your region.
Scroll down for more Amazon Spring sale deals in the UK.
If you’re shopping for a premium gaming handheld with specs that beat out both the Nintendo Switch and Steam Deck, then you should check out this excellent Best Buy discount on the ultra-powerful Asus ROG Ally Z1 Extreme.
Right now, you can purchase the Asus ROG Ally Z1 Extreme for $100 less than its retail price at Best Buy. The US retailer currently has it listed at only $599.99 (was $699.99). It’s not the first time this model has been discounted so; as we saw the same price drop applied during last year’s Black Friday sales event. If you’re looking to spend even less, the standard Asus ROG Ally Z1 is also discounted right now, down to just $399.99 (was $599.99) which is a $200 saving.
The Asus ROG Ally Z1 Extreme is essentially an improved version of the already powerful handheld gaming device. It can display resolutions of up to 1080p and even has support for 120Hz refresh rates. The Z1 Extreme’s beefier CPU offers much-improved performance, visual fidelity and load times. So know that you’re getting a superior experience with the pricier model.
