Asus Zenbook 14X OLED (2023) review: everyday workhorse

The Asus Zenbook 14X OLED is impressively modern, but disappointingly common.

In regards to the Asus Zenbook 14X OLED

The Asus Zenbook 14X OLED is available in three totally different configurations. We reviewed the middle-of-the-road Q420VA mannequin. On the low finish, the Q410A “clocks down” to an Intel Core i5 processor and 8GB of RAM for $800.

The high-end UX3404VC mannequin ($1,500) incorporates a Core i9 processor, 32GB of RAM, 1TB of storage, and devoted Nvidia Geforce RTX 3050 graphics.

Whereas our evaluate unit featured the Inkwell Gray end, the high-end mannequin can be obtainable within the eco-friendly, ceramic-like Sandstone Beige end.

Asus Zenbook 14X OLED specs

• Value as configured: $1,000
• Processor: Intel Core i7-13700H, 14-core (six efficiency, eight environment friendly), 20-thread, max pace 5.0 GHz
• Graphics: Intel Iris Xe (built-in, 96 EUs)
• Reminiscence: 16GB LPDDR5 6400MHz
• Storage: 512GB M.2 NVMe PCIe 4.0 SSD
• Show: 14-inch (2880 x 1800), 16:10, 120Hz OLED, 550 nits HDR peak brightness (rated), 352 nits max (measured), 100% DCI-P3 colour gamut, HDR True Black 500, 1.07 billion colours, Pantone Validated, IPS touchscreen with multitouch gestures and stylus assist
• Ports: 1x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Sort-A, 2x Thunderbolt 4 helps show / energy supply, 1x HDMI 2.1 TMDS, 1x 3.5mm combo audio jack
• Connectivity: Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax, twin band), Bluetooth 5.3
• Battery: 3-cell, 70Wh
• Weight: 3.44 kilos
• Dimensions: 12.67 x 8.88 x 0.67 inches
• Guarantee: Not specified
• Particular options: Home windows Whats up, FHD digital camera with IR, Harman Kardon audio system, backlit chiclet keyboard, trackpad with built-in NumberPad, US MIL-STD 810H military-grade customary construct

What we like

Nice design

The Asus Zenbook 14X OLED’s matte darkish grey physique feels sturdy and stays surprisingly cool below load. The design is distraction-free and the chassis incorporates 30% post-consumer recycled (PCR) plastics. That’s 10% lower than the Acer Aspire Vero, however a commendable alternative nonetheless. Sadly, Asus wasn’t in a position to affirm particulars concerning the recycled supplies utilized in our evaluate unit.

The backlit chiclet keyboard makes nice use of its restricted area. Full-sized keys with dished key caps and 1.4mm lengthy key journey felt nice and made it straightforward to adapt to the brand new keyboard format. The facility button is built-in with the operate key row however doesn’t intervene together with your normal typing routines, in contrast to its placement on the Acer Swift X 14.

The Zenbook’s FHD IR webcam helps Home windows Whats up, making logging into your system a breeze. The face login labored so reliably that I nearly forgot it was enabled.

Furthermore, AiSense and two-way AI noise canceling be certain that you at all times look and sound your finest in on-line conferences. You possibly can management each AI options from the pre-installed MyAsus app to choose the very best setting relying in your state of affairs. I used the options to optimize the lighting and suppress ambient sounds and was happy with the outcomes.

Vivid OLED touchscreen

OLED shows simply hit in another way. Though the Asus Zenbook 14X’s OLED display screen solely reached a most brightness of 364 in our measurements (with HDR enabled), removed from the marketed 550 nits HDR peak brightness, the colours are vivid, and, in comparison with the IPS show on my private laptop computer, the display screen appears subjectively vibrant.

You possibly can’t keep away from smudges when actually going hands-on together with your show—and also you received’t be capable to maintain your fingers off this responsive touchscreen. Thankfully, the Zenbook’s vibrant and shiny OLED show makes the display screen look cleaner than it’s.

Distinctive trackpad

The Asus Zenbook 14X OLED’s multitouch trackpad is responsive and dependable. Though it’s slightly huge, I by no means unintentionally triggered it whereas contact typing. However that’s the naked minimal we anticipate from any laptop computer’s trackpad throughout our checks.

What makes the Zenbook 14X’s trackpad stand out is a characteristic hidden in plain sight: a full numeric keypad constructed into the trackpad permits you to enter knowledge and make calculations on the spot, whereas on the similar time utilizing it for contact gestures.

Faucet the calculator icon within the trackpad’s prime proper to activate the NumberPad mode. Swiping from the triangle within the prime left throughout to the proper will deliver up the Home windows calculator app, and repeating this gesture will shut the app once more. Tapping the triangle adjustments the NumberPad’s brightness.

The primary Zenbook with this characteristic launched in 2018, and it hasn’t misplaced its fascination. The trackpad handles its double obligation with out lacking a beat. Though it’s technically doable to make an unintended knowledge entry whereas utilizing the trackpad with the NumberPad turned on, it’s not one thing I skilled.

In the event you do, you’ll be able to at all times faucet the delete arrow within the NumberPad’s prime proper. One thing else I recognize is that the NumberPad backlight turns off while you’re not utilizing it however comes proper again on while you contact the trackpad.

Spectacular stereo sound

You shouldn’t choose a laptop computer based mostly on its sound high quality—however for those who choose listening to music, podcasts, and so forth with out headphones, the Asus Zenbook 14X OLED’s stereo Harman Kardon audio system with Dolby Atmos sound received’t allow you to down. It received’t change correct audio system, however in a pinch, audio will sound nice with clear highs and a strong bass.

Paired with Asus’s personal audio booster and a sensible amplifier, the quantity will get a distortion-free enhance. To totally optimize the Zenbook’s sound, head into the pre-installed Dolby Entry app to allow Dolby Atmos for films, music, voice, or your personal customized sound profiles. This stage of management made the audio system really pleasing for me.

Furthermore, the intelligent speaker placement can produce a extra energetic sound. With the audio system located alongside the laptop computer’s beveled left and proper sides, sound waves can bounce off of the floor the place the gadget rests.

Relying on the floor materials, this could improve the audio high quality. For instance, when positioned on a tough and easy floor like glass, the Zenbook’s audio system will mirror sound into the room. Laptops with audio system dealing with up, straight down, or to the aspect could sound quieter as a result of the sound waves aren’t redirected within the common route of your ears.

What we don’t like

Underwhelming efficiency and battery life

The Asus Zenbook 14X OLED performs higher than its predecessor, however it doesn’t stand out among the many plethora of different skinny and lightweight laptops which have come out within the final couple of years.

Its CPU and GPU efficiency are middling at finest—and I do imply middling. Other than our 3DMark built-in GPU take a look at for Home windows PCs, the Zenbook 14X fell within the literal center of practically all our CPU and GPU checks in comparison with all the opposite laptops we’ve benchmarked this 12 months.

Its internet software efficiency was notably disappointing, scoring barely worse than Microsoft’s 2021 Floor Laptop computer 4 and nicely behind final 12 months’s Zenbook 14 OLED.

The Zenbook 14X additionally fell greater than 2 hours wanting its marketed 10-hour battery life, and even its predecessor by a number of minutes, in response to our checks. However not less than it will probably final for practically 8 hours, or simply sufficient for a full day’s work with out plugging it in to cost.

Poor port placement for righties

Apart from the USB-A port, you’ll discover all ports on the laptop computer’s proper aspect, together with the USB-C charging ports, the HDMI port, and the audio jack. Being right-handed, this bothers me. When hooking the laptop computer as much as an exterior show whereas charging and utilizing a mouse, the Asus Zenbook 14X’s port placement grew to become a nuisance.

No built-in card reader

At first look, you would possibly suppose that the Asus Zenbook 14X OLED has an extreme quantity of card readers on its left aspect. Sadly, these are simply air vents to offer higher cooling. You received’t discover a card reader on this mannequin, which makes this a lesser alternative for passionate photographers.

Do you have to purchase the Asus Zenbook 14X OLED?

Perhaps, for those who want a sturdy laptop computer for work or college

The Asus Zenbook 14X OLED has a powerful, modern look and intelligent design decisions, just like the built-in numerical keypad or using 30% recycled plastics within the chassis. The laptop computer runs on a high-end Intel processor, has the correct amount of RAM, and sufficient space for storing. The keyboard, trackpad, and touchscreen reliably registered all my inputs and have been easy to the contact. A vivid OLED show and Harman Kardon audio system with Dolby Atmos sound make this Zenbook come alive.

Most trendy productiveness laptops carry out at a reasonably excessive stage, so our subjective expertise was a lot better than our benchmark numbers recommend. In the event you want further efficiency, you may get the Dell Inspiron 14 Plus, however you’d must make do with out an OLED display screen. In case your major goal is excellent battery life and a sub-par keyboard received’t part you, the HP Dragonfly Professional (2023) has greater than double the battery lifetime of the Zenbook 14X OLED.

Our major gripe is the port placement. In the event you’re right-handed and wish to make use of this laptop computer past its max battery life, you might need to inconveniently place your mouse hand if all of the ports are full, particularly with an exterior monitor plugged in. If that’s a priority, any laptop computer with HDMI and USB-C charging ports on the left aspect of the laptop computer is a more sensible choice, such because the Lenovo Slim Professional 7 14.

However for those who persist with the Asus Zenbook 14X OLED, you’d nonetheless get a productiveness laptop computer with glorious, quality-of-life options for watching TV exhibits earlier than mattress, workplace duties, and even gentle gaming.

Asus Zenbook 14X OLED (2023)

The Asus Zenbook 14X OLED sports activities a Thirteenth-gen Intel processor and follows within the Acer Aspire Vero’s tracks with using recycled supplies.

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Meet the tester

Tina Sieber

Contributor

Tina is a seasoned tech journalist with a background in science and sustainability. Along with writing tutorials and options, she has reviewed a large scope of {hardware}, together with audio merchandise, batteries, photo voltaic panels, productiveness instruments, and extra. Her bylines have appeared on Android Authority, Digital Tendencies, MakeUseOf, and Sound Guys. When not at her desk, Tina likes to spend time round mountains and waters within the Pacific Northwest or are likely to her indoor plant jungle.

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