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Asus Zenbook 14 OLED (2024) Review: Good Performance for the Price

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The march of lower-cost laptops that offer some measure of artificial intelligence-focused tuning continues with the Asus Zenbook 14 OLED, the latest in a line of affordable, no-nonsense, ultralight laptops that has been kicking around for more than a decade. Like the Acer Swift Go 14, the Asus Zenbook 14 (model UM3406HA) hits the market at a price that’s comfortably less than $1,000. But unlike the Swift Go, the Zenbook is built around AMD’s latest Ryzen CPU. Among other questions, I was curious to see how the two directly compared.

The Acer and Asus laptops have more than a little in common. Both feature 14-inch touchscreens at 1,920 x 1,200-pixel resolution, 16 GB of RAM, and integrated graphics. The Zenbook has a more basic 512-GB solid-state drive compared to the 1-terabyte model on the Acer, but the biggest difference is the CPU, an AMD Ryzen 7 8840HS on the Asus instead of Acer’s Intel Core Ultra 7.

Back view of partially opened slim black laptop

Photograph: Asus

Walk around the laptop and you’ll see a considerably less well equipped port lineup too. Two USB-C ports (one USB 4, one USB 3.2; one is used for charging), a single USB-A port, and a full-size HDMI output are your connectivity options, altogether a clear step down from what Acer has on offer. Again, all ports are side-mounted here, as the design of the screen causes the rear edge of the LCD to cover up the backside of the chassis when the screen is opened.

The aluminum frame feels much sturdier than you typically find in this price bracket, but I wasn’t in love with the overall design. It’s entirely black with a lid that’s etched with seemingly random lines, creating a haphazard geometric pattern that feels more and more like it was drawn from the ’80s the more you stare at it.

I like the keyboard, which is compact but thoughtfully laid out and offers acceptable key travel, including a Copilot key and functional, half-height arrow keys. The keyboard backlighting is understated. The touchpad is large but just shy of being too big; my palms tended to brush against the corners when typing, but this fortunately didn’t adversely impact the user experience. The Harman Kardon speakers are loud and offer plenty of range for any entertainment needs.

Overhead view of slim black laptop opened at 90 degrees

Photograph: Asus

The big question surrounds performance, and I’m happy to report that compared to the Acer Swift Go, the two laptops turned in similar results. On a few tests, the Zenbook would score moderately higher, on others, the crown would go to Acer. Quite a few benchmarks saw results that were functionally identical, including big ones like PCMark 10, which measures mainstream application performance.

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ASUS Zenbook 14 OLED UX3405 laptop

ASUS Zenbook 14 OLED UX3405 laptop

ASUS has raised the bar for ultraportable laptops with the unveiling of the Zenbook 14 OLED (UX3405). This premium laptop, with its Intel Evo Edition specification, combines high-performance components with enhanced sustainability features, setting a new standard in the industry.

The Zenbook 14 OLED houses an impressive range of top-tier specifications. At its core, it boasts an Intel Core Ultra 9 processor, coupled with Intel Arc graphics, delivering a high-performance computing experience. This is further complemented by up to 1 TB SSD storage and 32 GB RAM, ensuring seamless multitasking and fast data access. The laptop also supports WiFi 6E (802.11ax), providing faster and more reliable internet connectivity.

One of the standout features of the Zenbook 14 OLED is its 3K ASUS Lumina OLED 120 Hz touchscreen display. This high-resolution display offers an immersive visual experience, making it ideal for both productivity tasks and entertainment. Moreover, the laptop’s audio is delivered through super-linear speakers, enhanced by the ASUS Audio Booster, ensuring a rich and immersive audiovisual experience.

ASUS Zenbook 14 OLED UX3405 laptop 2023

ASUS has not compromised on user-friendly design elements in the Zenbook 14 OLED. It includes a face login feature for quick and secure access, an FHD IR camera with a physical shutter for privacy, and a quiet ASUS ErgoSense keyboard for comfortable typing. In addition, the laptop includes a comprehensive set of full-size high-speed I/O ports, including two Thunderbolt 4, USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A, HDMI 2.1 (TMDS), and a 3.5 mm audio jack, eliminating the need for additional dongles or adapters.

The Zenbook 14 OLED also shines in the area of battery life. It features an enhanced 75 Wh battery that supports up to 20% more charging cycles than previous models, offering up to 15 hours of unplugged operation. This makes the Zenbook 14 OLED an excellent choice for users who need a laptop that can keep up with their on-the-go lifestyle.

Despite its high-performance specifications and features, the Zenbook 14 OLED maintains a lightweight and compact design. The all-metal chassis not only adds to its sleek aesthetics but also contributes to its durability. In fact, the laptop has undergone US military-grade durability testing, further testifying to its robustness.

OLED display laptop

ASUS’s commitment to sustainability is evident in the Zenbook 14 OLED. The laptop uses up to 50% post-consumer-recycled (PCR) materials, and its packaging is 100% recyclable. Furthermore, the laptop exceeds the ENERGY STAR power-efficiency standard by 50%, underscoring ASUS’s efforts to minimize the environmental impact of its products.

The ASUS Zenbook 14 OLED (UX3405) is a premium ultraportable laptop that offers a compelling blend of high-performance features, user-friendly design, and sustainability. Whether you’re a professional needing a powerful machine for productivity tasks, a student looking for a reliable laptop for studies, or a tech enthusiast wanting the latest technology, the Zenbook 14 OLED is a worthy contender to consider.

Filed Under: Laptops, Top News





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