At a look
Skilled’s Score
Execs
- A improbable OLED show
- A great deal of processing energy
- First rate port choice & keyboard
- Sturdy, eye-catching & pleasant design
Cons
- Middling battery life
- Underwhelming graphics capability
Our Verdict
The Asus Zenbook 14X OLED has lots going for it – not least its very good display screen and highly effective Intel Core i7 processor. Mix that with the strong port choice, progressive lid and comfy keyboard and also you’ve acquired a pocket book that’s effectively suited to lengthy days of labor. It’s only a disgrace that the battery can’t sustain.
Worth When Reviewed
From £1,199
Spend sufficient time testing and writing about laptops and also you don’t usually see real innovation, however Asus has delivered some on the newest Zenbook 14X OLED (UX3404).
It’s not in regards to the beautiful display screen tech or the surprisingly highly effective Intel internals, both – as an alternative, the stunning design on this laptop computer is discovered on the lid.
You don’t need to pay by way of the nostril to get it, both. With a Core i7 in tow, you’ll pay $1,199 for this laptop computer within the US and £1,199 within the UK.
That pricing barely differs from the Dell XPS 13 and it undercuts the Dell XPS 13 Plus and the Apple MacBook Professional 14, so Asus might be onto a very good factor right here.
…the form of coating that we’ve by no means seen on a laptop computer lid earlier than
Design & Construct
- An progressive, handsome and durable chassis
- First rate port choice
- Somewhat weightier and thicker than many rivals
Go for the Sandstone Beige model of the Zenbook 14X and also you’ll get the form of coating that we’ve by no means seen on a laptop computer lid earlier than.
That mannequin makes use of a Plasma Ceramization course of. The steel lid looks like ceramic – tactile and textured – and the coating helps it keep away from scuffs and stops it from displaying fingerprints, too.
Mike Jennings / Foundry
It seems to be nice, particularly on this mannequin’s sandy shade, and it’s adorned with modern strains. The coating additionally makes use of no halogens and generates decrease emissions than different methods. And due to MIL-STD-810H certification, construct high quality is spectacular.
There’s cheap connectivity, too. The Asus has two Thunderbolt 4 ports and a full-size USB port. It’s acquired an HDMI 2.1 output and audio jack. Internally there’s dual-band Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.2 and a 1080p webcam with Home windows Hey, and there’s a fingerprint reader within the energy button.
No Dell or Apple rival has full-size USB ports and the Dells don’t have HDMI. That stated, there’s no card reader and the MacBook Professional 14 has an SD slot.
The Zenbook 14X OLED doesn’t get a lot improper right here, but it surely’s a little bit thicker and heavier than its rivals. At 16.9mm and 1.56kg it gained’t weigh your bag down, however solely the MacBook Professional 14 is bigger.
Keyboard & Trackpad
- Quiet and comfy keyboard
- No numberpad workaround is awkward
- Giant, {smooth} and correct trackpad
It may be a tad weightier than rivals, however there’s high quality all through and that extends to the keyboard.
With 1.4mm of journey, you’ve acquired extra motion than most laptops on this class, and that journey is paired with a tender, quiet and comfy really feel. It’s simply ok for lengthy days of typing.
Mike Jennings / Foundry
There’s no numberpad, however that’s regular for this measurement of laptop computer. Urgent a button lays a software program numberpad over the trackpad, as with many different Asus fashions, but it surely’s a clumsy stopgap. The trackpad is healthier in its extra regular guise, the place it’s {smooth} and correct.
Display screen & Audio system
- Excessive-resolution OLED show
- 120Hz refresh fee
- Tinny audio system
There’s heaps to love in regards to the show. OLED panel tech means excellent black ranges and the sensational distinction that you just gained’t get from any IPS or Mini LED panel.
Films, TV reveals, pictures and web sites all look unimaginable, and also you’ll be hard-pressed to discover a rival display screen that compares
The 2880 x 1800 decision delivers crisp imagery and a great deal of on-screen house for a number of home windows, and the 16:10 side ratio provides peak. Extra unusually, the 120Hz refresh fee delivers butter-smooth motion in each app and it makes the whole lot look slicker than standard 60Hz shows.
There’s no scarcity of high quality on supply, both. The delta E of 0.97 is great, and the 14X’s display screen rendered 100% of the sRGB gamut, 97.3% of the DCI-P3 house and 93% of the Adobe RGB vary.
There’s sufficient color breadth right here to make the whole lot look daring and vibrant, and the Zenbook’s display screen can deal with nearly any inventive activity – solely the keenest designers will need extra Adobe RGB capability. And that OLED {hardware} means distinction is sensible black ranges are suitably ink.
Mike Jennings / Foundry
Films, TV reveals, pictures and web sites all look unimaginable, and also you’ll be hard-pressed to discover a rival display screen that compares. The MacBook fashions use Mini LED that’s nearly nearly as good because the 14X on the vibrancy entrance, however these screens solely high out on the DCI-P3 gamut. The Dell XPS 13 makes use of IPS {hardware}.
The one rival to compete is the XPS 13 Plus, however you’ll need to pay a minimum of $1,549/£1,699 to get that pocket book with its 4K OLED show.
There’s just one problem – a scarcity of HDR capability. The brightest ranges of this show peak at 600 nits, however that degree isn’t excessive sufficient for any significant HDR influence.
If it pursuits you, there’s additionally a convertible Zenbook 14 Flip OLED mannequin.
Don’t count on a lot from the audio system, both. They’re fantastic for background music, however a scarcity of bass and a barely tinny top-end put paid to any high-end audio aspirations.
Specs & Efficiency
- Intel Core i7 or i9
- 16GB DDR5 reminiscence
- 1TB SSD
Asus crams the full-power Intel Core i7-13700H inside this laptop computer alongside 16GB of dual-channel reminiscence and a 1TB SSD with cheap learn and write speeds of 4268MB/s and 3345MB/s.
This model of the pocket book makes use of Intel Iris Xe graphics, though in some nations you might discover the 14X with an Nvidia GeForce RTX 3050 that provides primary esports and artistic capability.
You’ll by no means have points with a great deal of browser tab, and the Asus is highly effective sufficient for mild photo-editing and any Workplace software
There’s no competitors between the i7-13700H and the low-power chips used inside Dell’s notebooks. Within the Geekbench multi-core check the Asus rattled by way of at 12,024, whereas the i7-1260P contained in the XPS 13 Plus may solely handle 8,781 – and the conventional XPS 13 is not any sooner.
In PCMark 10, the Asus returned a rating of 5,785, which was a number of hundred factors past the Dells. The i7-13700H is quicker than the Apple M2 chip contained in the MacBook Professional 13, too.
Mike Jennings / Foundry
These scores bode effectively for on a regular basis workloads. You’ll by no means have points with a great deal of browser tab, and the Asus is highly effective sufficient for mild photo-editing and any Workplace software. It’s a fantastic all-rounder.
The outside stays cool although there’s loads of CPU energy contained in the 14X, and the fan noise is fairly quiet and inoffensive even whenever you use powerful apps – that is a straightforward laptop computer to stay with.
That’s strong, however the M2 chip contained in the MacBook Professional 14 hits about 14,000 factors in Geekbench and it’s sooner in single-threaded workloads, so it’s a viable various if you’d like an enormous pace increase.
There are a few areas the place the 14X disappoints. In 3DMark Evening Raid the Asus may solely rating 14,151, which is low even for an Intel built-in core. Don’t count on a lot gaming assist right here.
The weakest a part of this moveable is the battery, although. The 70Wh energy pack lasted for 11 hours and 40 minutes in a video check however solely seven hours in an on a regular basis work check. It’s not a ruinous end result, however a full day of labor will probably be a wrestle and Apple’s machines are much better for longevity. A minimum of the battery charged to an honest 40% after half-hour of connectivity.
Worth & Availability
On the time of writing the Zenbook 14X OLED (UX3404) hasn’t arrived at retail, however we do have RRPs and we all know that the Core i7 mannequin (UX3404VA) will value $1,199 within the US and £1,199 within the UK.
That’s cheap pricing. The Dell XPS 13 is typically cheaper – an equal specification prices $1,099/£1,199. However whereas that laptop computer is lighter than the 14X, it’s far slower and doesn’t have an OLED display screen.
Mike Jennings / Foundry
The Dell XPS 13 Plus prices $1,249/£1,499 with a Core i7 CPU, however that chip is slower than the CPU contained in the Asus – and that value rises in case you add the OLED show.
Unsurprisingly, each MacBook fashions are pricier. The MacBook Professional 13 can’t compete on pace however nonetheless prices $1,299/£1,349. The 14in model is quicker, however you’ll need to pay a minimum of $1,999 or £2,149 for the privilege.
You’ll get extra energy in case you purchase the Core i9 model of this rig, however the efficiency distinction just isn’t big and the value rises to round $1,499/£1,499. So this mannequin is much less tempting.
Try our chart of one of the best laptops and greatest 2-in-1 laptops in case you’d wish to see extra choices.
Verdict
That inexpensive pricing is likely one of the Asus Zenbook 14X OLED’s spectacular attributes. It doesn’t simply undercut rivals on the checkout: it outpaces them due to the Core i7 processor and has a greater show than most, too.
The modern seems to be from the beige mannequin mix with a snug keyboard and first rate connectivity to create a laptop computer with the ability and skill to deal with most on a regular basis duties.
Battery life is the 14X’s largest weak spot, and we’d advise a MacBook in case you want all-day longevity – and the 14in mannequin in case you want much more pace.
For many conditions, although, the Asus Zenbook 14X OLED ticks the fitting containers. It’s a cultured, spectacular and inexpensive all-rounder.
Specs
- Mannequin examined
- OS: Home windows 11 House
- Show: 14.5in 2880 x 1800 120Hz OLED
- CPU: Intel Core i7-13700H
- Reminiscence: 16GB onboard
- Graphics: Intel Iris Xe
- Storage: 1TB PCIe NVMe M.s SSD
- Webcam: 1mp Home windows Hey
- Connectivity: 2 x Thunderbolt 4/USB 3.2 Gen 2 Kind-C/DisplayPort/Energy supply, 1 x USB 3.2 Gen 2, 1 x HDMI 2.1, 1 x audio
- Networking: Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.2
- Battery capability: 70Wh
- Dimensions: 225 x 321 x 16.9mm
- Weight: 1.56kg
- Guarantee: 1yr RTB