For years, the Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 has captivated those seeking a potent yet highly portable laptop, seamlessly blending gaming prowess with content creation capabilities. The 2024 edition arrives with a sophisticated redesign and a host of modern features, promising to elevate the user experience even further. But does it truly strike the perfect balance, and is it the ideal machine for your needs? Let's delve into the details.
A New Era of Elegance and Portability
The 2024 Zephyrus G14 marks a significant departure in terms of aesthetics. Gone is the plastic undercarriage and magnesium alloy of previous generations, replaced by a unibody CNC-machined aluminum chassis. This not only imparts a more premium and robust feel but also contributes to a thinner and lighter design. Tipping the scales at a mere 1.5 kg (3.3 lbs), this iteration is even more travel-friendly than its predecessors. Its compact dimensions allow it to comfortably sit alongside ultraportable laptops.
The lid also receives a visual update with the introduction of slash lighting, a sleek light bar that offers customizable white patterns and effects, a more subtle approach compared to the previous AniMatrix display. While some may miss the customizable pixel art, the new design exudes a more refined and mature aesthetic. This laptop now stands shoulder-to-shoulder with premium ultrabooks in terms of visual appeal, even drawing comparisons to the classy design of a 14-inch MacBook Pro.
A Visual Feast: The Stunning OLED Display
One of the most significant upgrades for the 2024 G14 is its 2.8K OLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate. This cutting-edge panel delivers exceptionally vibrant colours, inky blacks, and crisp text, making both gaming and content consumption an absolute joy. The colour accuracy boasts 100% DCI-P3 coverage and a Delta E of less than one, making it suitable for professional photo and video editing.
Unlike traditional OLED panels that can suffer from pulse-width modulation (PWM) causing eye strain, this display features DC dimming at brightness levels above 100 nits, mitigating this potential issue. While it doesn't reach the extreme brightness levels of some mini-LED displays, the above 400 nits brightness in SDR mode and 600 nits in HDR are more than adequate for most users. The OLED technology also boasts incredibly fast response times, resulting in smoother visuals, especially in fast-paced games. The inclusion of G-Sync further enhances the gaming experience by synchronizing the display's refresh rate with the GPU output, eliminating screen tearing and stuttering.
Powering Your Passions: Performance and Components
Under the hood, the 2024 G14 is powered by AMD's Ryzen 9 8945HS processor and up to an Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 GPU. While last year's model offered higher-end GPU options, the focus this year shifts towards balancing performance with the smaller and thinner chassis, prioritizing thermal efficiency. The RTX 4060 and 4070 variants feature a 90W Total Graphics Power (TGP), a step down from the higher wattages seen in the previous generation.
Despite this, the laptop remains a capable gaming machine, handling most titles with high settings, especially when leveraging DLSS and frame generation technologies. While some performance purists might desire more graphical horsepower, the RTX 4070 provides a solid gaming experience on the go. Notably, the pre-installed Nvidia Studio drivers indicate a strong consideration for content creators, ensuring optimized performance in applications like Blender and Adobe Premiere Pro. While a more powerful GPU could benefit hardcore Blender users, the available options are more than sufficient for general content creation tasks.
The system features soldered LPDDR5X-6400 RAM, offering high-speed memory access. However, this means that RAM is not upgradeable, a significant departure from previous G14 models that included a SO-DIMM slot for upgrades. Depending on the configuration, you'll find 16GB or 32GB of RAM. For future-proofing and demanding applications, opting for the 32GB model is highly recommended. Storage comes in the form of a single M.2 2280 SSD slot, which is user-upgradeable. The included 1TB PCIe Gen 4 SSD offers decent speeds. The MediaTek Wi-Fi 6E card is also socketed and replaceable, offering flexibility for users who prefer alternative wireless solutions.
Battery Life That Surprises
Despite the powerful components and vibrant OLED display, the 2024 G14 delivers surprisingly good battery life, thanks in part to the efficiency of the AMD processor and the ability of the dedicated GPU to fully disconnect when not in use. The 73Wh battery can provide around 6 hours of mixed productivity use and up to 9 hours of video playback. Some tests even show impressive results close to 11 hours of YouTube video playback. While demanding tasks like gaming or running professional software will naturally drain the battery faster, the overall battery performance is commendable for a laptop in this class. The included 180W charger is fairly compact, enhancing the laptop's portability.
Enhanced Features and Practical Considerations
The keyboard on the 2024 G14 offers a comfortable typing experience with 1.7mm of key travel and subtle clickiness. The keycaps are also 12% larger this year. While the RGB backlighting is customizable, it is a single-zone implementation, and some secondary key markings may appear dimmer. The glass touchpad is generously sized, smooth, and accurate, although it requires a firmer press to click towards the top. Unfortunately, a fingerprint scanner remains absent.
Audio quality is a standout feature, with a six-speaker system that includes dual woofers and tweeters. The speakers deliver impressive bass, clarity, and volume with minimal distortion, making it a fantastic machine for multimedia consumption. Some even consider it to have the best audio in a 14-inch laptop, rivaling the MacBook Pro.
The port selection is generally good, featuring a USB 4 Type-C port, a USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A port, HDMI 2.1, a 3.5mm audio combo jack on the left, and a UHS-II MicroSD card slot, along with another USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A and Type-C port on the right. Notably, only the left USB-C port supports USB 4 and can be used to charge the laptop at up to 100W. The right USB-C port, along with the HDMI port, connects directly to the discrete Nvidia graphics. The inclusion of a MicroSD card slot is a welcome addition, although content creators might still prefer a full-size SD card slot. The laptop utilizes a new proprietary slim power jack connector.
The cooling system features three fans, an improvement from the previous generation. Liquid metal is used on the CPU for enhanced thermal conductivity. While the cooling performance is generally good, especially considering the slim design, the CPU power may be limited to 12W under heavy combined CPU and GPU load to manage thermals. The top area above the keyboard can get quite warm under intense workloads. The design now vents hot air out the back, preventing it from blowing directly onto the screen, but this also means the screen no longer opens fully to 180 degrees, now reaching approximately 130-135 degrees.
Potential Trade-offs to Consider
While the 2024 Zephyrus G14 offers a compelling package, there are a few potential drawbacks to consider. The soldered RAM is a significant limitation for those who anticipate needing more memory in the future. The mid-range GPU options, while capable, might not satisfy users seeking the absolute highest levels of gaming performance. The price point can also be higher compared to previous models or some competitors, especially when considering the RAM limitation. The BIOS offers limited customization options compared to some other brands. Some users have noted a slight wobble in the screen hinge and the patchy nature of the keyboard backlighting. The absence of a fingerprint scanner might also be a minor inconvenience for some. Finally, the change to a proprietary charger port means you can't use standard USB-C chargers for the full 180W power delivery.
Who is the 2024 Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 For?
The 2024 Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 is an excellent choice for:
- Gamers who prioritize portability and a stylish design.
- Content creators who need a powerful and colour-accurate machine for on-the-go work.
- Professionals who value a premium-looking and compact laptop capable of handling demanding tasks.
- Users who appreciate a high-quality OLED display and exceptional audio performance.
Exploring the Alternatives
Before making a decision, it's worth considering some key competitors:
- Razer Blade 14: Offers a more powerful GPU in comparable configurations but typically comes at a higher price. It also features RAM slots for potential upgrades. However, it lacks an OLED option and G-Sync.
- MacBook Pro 14: Provides superior battery life and a fantastic mini-LED display, but its gaming capabilities for Windows titles are limited.
- HP Omen Transcend 14: Another 14-inch laptop with an OLED display and similar CPU and GPU options, but its GPU power is significantly limited, potentially impacting gaming performance.
- Lenovo Legion Slim Series: Often offers a better value proposition on a pure performance basis, although it might not match the Zephyrus G14's premium design and portability.
Final Thoughts: A Top-Tier Portable Powerhouse
The Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 (2024) stands out as a premium and highly portable laptop that successfully caters to both gamers and content creators. Its sleek redesign, stunning OLED display, and impressive audio system create a truly enjoyable user experience. While the lack of RAM upgradeability and the GPU power limitations compared to some alternatives might give some users pause, the G14 remains an excellent choice for those who prioritize portability, a premium feel, and a vibrant visual experience. If you're seeking a do-it-all machine that excels in both demanding tasks and on-the-go versatility, the Zephyrus G14 deserves a prominent spot on your shortlist. Its refined design and modern features make it a compelling contender in the realm of high-performance, ultraportable laptops.