ASUS ZenBook 14: At First Glance
The ASUS Zenbook 14 maintains the same build-style as its previous UX433 model. This laptop is still as light and compact as ever.
The laptop’s design remains very premium. Moreover, ASUS seems to have added an updated hardware component to improve this laptop.
In its entirety, ASUS offers this exciting package at a reasonable price.
ASUS Zenbook 14: Design, Dimension, and Weight
The ASUS Zenbook 14 is a very attractive laptop. On your first encounter with this laptop, it’s brushed aluminum surface will completely steal your attention.
To top it all, it’s Royal Blue coating with Gold accents gives it an amazing premium look. However, the ASUS Zenbook 14 tends to retain fingerprints and stains.
The ASUS Zenbook 14’s slim and lightweight design oozes class. It weighs 1150 g and measures 319 x 199 x 16.9 mm.
Moreover, this laptop has an amazing build quality despite its lightweight. Most of its chassis is plastic built, except the metal lid.
Furthermore, the ASUS Zenbook 14 comes with an ErgoLift hinge. This hinge elevates the laptop’s bottom to a slight angle that makes typing feel more natural and comfortable.
Speaking of typing, this laptop’s keyboard is one of the quietest and most comfortable keyboards you will find. Its keys have a very good tactile feel with adequate spacing.
Furthermore, one of the most impressive features of the ASUS Zenbook 14 is its screen pad. The ASUS Zenbook 14 comes with a 5.6-inch full HD screen pad/touchpad.
This screen pad/touchpad gives you the option to work with two screens. More importantly, it increases productivity, especially in multitasking.
In terms of ports, ASUS has done a good job. You get 1 Type-C USB 3.1 (Gen 2) port and 1 Type-A USB 3.1 (Gen 2) port. The laptop also has 1 Type-A USB 2.0 port, an HDMI port, and a headphone jack.
In conclusion, this laptop is an excellently built notebook for its price tag. Therefore, it scores a nine in this review.
ASUS Zenbook 14: Processor (CPU) Performance
ASUS offers two configurations for the ASUS Zenbook 14’s CPU. You can either buy this laptop with a quad-core Intel Core i5 10210U processor or a quad-core Intel Core i7 10510U processor.
The Intel Core i5 processor has a base frequency of 1.60 GHz and a maximum frequency of 4.20 GHz. While the Core i7 processor has a base frequency of 1.80 GHz and a maximum frequency of 4.90 GHz.
This review focuses on the Core i7 processor. With this processor, the ASUS Zenbook 14 easily handles regular computing operations such as web browsing and document editing.
Moreover, the ASUS Zenbook 14 also ran smoothly with more demanding workloads. It is capable of handling standard creative applications such as Adobe Premiere.
Moving on to performance tests, ASUS Zenbook 14 scored 1394 points on a Cinebench R20 test, slightly surpassing the category average point of 1257. However, this score doesn’t impress when you compare it with the laptop’s competitors.
The HP Envy x360 scored 2016 points, the Dell XPS 13 scored 2410 points, and the Acer Swift 3 scored 1432. Every one of them surpassed the ASUS Zenbook 14.
Nonetheless, the CPU performance of the ASUS Zenbook 14 is good enough. Therefore, it scores seven in this review.
ASUS Zenbook 14: Memory (RAM) Performance
The ASUS Zenbook 14 comes with an 8 GB SDRAM. You won’t be able to upgrade this laptop’s RAM because it is soldered into the motherboard.
On a RAM performance test, the ASUS Zenbook 14 ran smoothly with 20 Chrome browser tabs. However, the ASUS Zenbook 14 began to slow down when 4 of those browser tabs started streaming YouTube Videos.
Moreover, this laptop was also put through PCMark 10 test. It performed well with a score of 4202. The ASUS Zenbook 14 surpassed the category average score of 4153.
It also surpassed the Acer Swift 3 that scored 4000 points. However, this laptop couldn’t surpass the Dell XPS 13 that scored 4305 points.
Even though the ASUS Zenbook 14 has a limited 8 GB RAM, it is capable of multitasking. Therefore it scores a seven in this review.
ASUS Zenbook 14: Storage Options and Performance
Like its processor, ASUS also offers two configurations for the ASUS Zenbook 14’s storage. You can buy the laptop with either a 512 GB PCIe Gen 3 x 2 SSD or a 1 TB PCIe Gen 3x 4 SSD.
This laptop also offers a microSD card reader for storage expansion.
This review focuses on the 512 GB PCIe SSD. With the SSD storage, the ASUS Zenbook 14 recorded a sequential read speed of 1168 MBps and a sequential write speed of 1080 MBps.
Furthermore, it took the ASUS Zenbook 14 13 seconds to copy 4.97 GB of mixed media files at a transfer rate of 455 MBps. It surpassed the mainstream laptop average rate of 369 MBps.
The ASUS Zenbook 14 also surpassed the HP Envy x360 that copied the same file at a rate of 318 MBps. Hence, the ASUS Zenbook 14 scores an eight in this review for its excellent storage speed and sufficient capacity.
ASUS Zenbook 14: Graphics Card Performance
The ASUS Zenbook 14 features a dedicated NVIDIA GeForce MX250 GPU. It also comes with a 2 GB GDDR5 VRAM.
Furthermore, this GPU has a base frequency of 937 MHz and a boost frequency of 1038 MHz.
The MX250 GPU gives the ASUS Zenbook 14 enough power to handle casual gaming activities. You can easily play old title games on the ASUS Zenbook 14 if you reduce the graphics settings.
Also, the ASUS Zenbook 14 can handle some of the modern title games at their lowest graphics settings.
On low settings, the ASUS Zenbook 14 ran games like GTA V at 109 MBps, The Witcher at 59 MBps, and Dota 2 Reborn at 113 MBps. Additionally, at the lowest graphics settings, it ran some latest games like the X-Plane 11.11 at 49 MBps, Final Fantasy XV at 33 MBps, and Shadow of the Tomb Raider at 28 MBps.
In conclusion, this laptop is good for casual gaming even though it is unable to play most modern games at high graphics settings. Therefore, it scores seven in this review.
ASUS Zenbook 14: Battery Life and Performance
ASUS equipped the ASUS Zenbook 14 with a 3-Cell 50 Wh Polymer battery. This battery keeps the laptop powered for a sufficient amount of time.
On a battery test, this laptop lasted 9 hours 30 minutes with the screen pad off. However, it lasted 5 hours with the screen pad on.
Nevertheless, the ASUS Zenbook 14 did well in comparison with its competitors. For the same workload, it lasted longer than the Dell XPS 13 that delivered 8 hours 56 minutes.
Moreover, the ASUS Zenbook 14 surpassed the 9 hours 25 minutes mainstream average laptop battery life. However, the ASUS Zenbook 14 couldn’t surpass the HP Envy x360 and the Acer Swift 3 that lasted 11 hrs 50 mins and 11 hrs 5 mins respectively.
Nevertheless, this laptop’s battery life is good. Hence, it scores a eight in this review.
Frequently Asked Questions
The ASUS ZenBook 14 is an excellent laptop with impressive features. You get a sharp nano-edge display, strong mid-tier performance, and a very sleek design. In addition, the laptop’s battery life is relatively impressive.
The MX250 GPU that comes with this laptop gives it enough power to handle casual gaming activities. You can easily play old title games on the ASUS Zenbook 14 if you lower the graphics settings. You can also play few modern title games at their lowest graphics settings
The Asus ZenBook 14 is capable of handling standard creative applications such as Adobe Premiere. However, its 8 GB RAM capacity tends to limit its performance a little. Nevertheless, its video editing performance is okay.
Yes, it does. The ASUS ZenBook 14 comes with Bluetooth 5.0.
Yes, it does. The ASUS ZenBook 14 is equipped with an IR camera.
Conclusion
ASUS has delivered a very good laptop with remarkable features. Moreover, the build quality of the ASUS Zenbook 14 is excellent for its price tag.
In conclusion, this laptop is excellent. It is worth your consideration because you will be getting value for money when you purchase the laptop.
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