Asus Zenbook 14X OLED (2023) review

Spend sufficient time testing and writing about laptops and also you don’t typically see real innovation, however Asus has delivered some on the most recent Zenbook 14X OLED (UX3404).

It’s not in regards to the gorgeous display 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 should pay by means 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 could possibly be onto a very good factor right here.

Design & Construct

• An progressive, handsome and durable chassis
• First rate port choice
• Just a little weightier and thicker than many rivals

Go for the Sandstone Beige model of the Zenbook 14X and also you’ll get the sort 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 seems like ceramic – tactile and textured – and the coating helps it keep away from scuffs and stops it from exhibiting 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 because of MIL-STD-810H certification, construct high quality is spectacular.

There’s affordable connectivity, too. The Asus has two Thunderbolt 4 ports and a full-size USB port. It’s bought 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 Whats up, 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 mentioned, there’s no card reader and the MacBook Professional 14 has an SD slot.

The Zenbook 14X OLED doesn’t get a lot fallacious right here, however it’s slightly thicker and heavier than its rivals. At 16.9mm and 1.56kg it received’t weigh your bag down, however solely the MacBook Professional 14 is bigger.

Keyboard & Trackpad

• Quiet and comfy keyboard
• No numberpad workaround is awkward
• Massive, {smooth} and correct trackpad

It could 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 bought extra motion than most laptops on this class, and that journey is paired with a gentle, 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 dimension of laptop computer. Urgent a button lays a software program numberpad over the trackpad, as with many different Asus fashions, however it’s an ungainly stopgap. The trackpad is best in its extra regular guise, the place it’s {smooth} and correct.

Display & Audio system

• Excessive-resolution OLED show
• 120Hz refresh fee
• Tinny audio system

There’s tons to love in regards to the show. OLED panel tech means excellent black ranges and the sensational distinction that you just received’t get from any IPS or Mini LED panel.

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 top. Extra unusually, the 120Hz refresh fee delivers butter-smooth motion in each app and it makes the whole lot look slicker than typical 60Hz shows.

There’s no scarcity of high quality on provide, both. The delta E of 0.97 is great, and the 14X’s display 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 can deal with virtually any artistic activity – solely the keenest designers will need extra Adobe RGB skill. And that OLED {hardware} means distinction is good black ranges are suitably ink.

Mike Jennings / Foundry

Films, TV exhibits, pictures and web sites all look unbelievable, and also you’ll be hard-pressed to discover a rival display that compares. The MacBook fashions use Mini LED that’s virtually pretty much 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 should pay a minimum of $1,549/£1,699 to get that pocket book with its 4K OLED show.

There’s just one concern – an absence of HDR skill. The brightest ranges of this show peak at 600 nits, however that stage isn’t excessive sufficient for any significant HDR impression.

If it pursuits you, there’s additionally a convertible Zenbook 14 Flip OLED mannequin.

Don’t anticipate a lot from the audio system, both. They’re high-quality for background music, however an absence 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 affordable 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 could discover the 14X with an Nvidia GeForce RTX 3050 that provides fundamental esports and inventive skill.

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 means of at 12,024, whereas the i7-1260P contained in the XPS 13 Plus might solely handle 8,781 – and the traditional XPS 13 is not any quicker.

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 an awesome all-rounder.

The outside stays cool though there’s loads of CPU energy contained in the 14X, and the fan noise is fairly quiet and inoffensive even if you use robust apps – that is a simple laptop computer to reside with.

That’s strong, however the M2 chip contained in the MacBook Professional 14 hits about 14,000 factors in Geekbench and it’s quicker in single-threaded workloads, so it’s a viable different if you would like a giant velocity enhance.

There are a few areas the place the 14X disappoints. In 3DMark Night time Raid the Asus might solely rating 14,151, which is low even for an Intel built-in core. Don’t anticipate a lot gaming assist right here.

The weakest a part of this transportable 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 battle and Apple’s machines are much better for longevity. At the very least 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 affordable 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.

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 worth rises in case you add the OLED show.

Unsurprisingly, each MacBook fashions are pricier. The MacBook Professional 13 can’t compete on velocity however nonetheless prices $1,299/£1,349. The 14in model is quicker, however you’ll should 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 shouldn’t be large and the worth rises to round $1,499/£1,499. So this mannequin is much less tempting.

Take a look at our chart of the very best laptops and greatest 2-in-1 laptops in case you’d wish to see extra choices.

Verdict

That inexpensive pricing is without doubt 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 respectable connectivity to create a laptop computer with the facility and skill to deal with most on a regular basis duties.

Battery life is the 14X’s greatest weak point, and we’d advise a MacBook in case you want all-day longevity – and the 14in mannequin in case you want much more velocity.

For many conditions, although, the Asus Zenbook 14X OLED ticks the precise bins. 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 Whats up
• 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