ASUS ZenBook 14 OLED Review: A Glimpse into the AI PC Future. The ASUS ZenBook 14 OLED offers an enticing blend of features, including Intel’s latest Core Ultra chips, a vibrant OLED screen, and a generous selection of ports. However, despite its notable advancements, this premium ultraportable seems to lack the design finesse seen in competitors like Apple and Microsoft. In this comprehensive review, we’ll explore the ZenBook 14 OLED’s strengths and weaknesses, delving into its hardware, display quality, AI capabilities, and overall user experience.
Hardware and Design
ASUS
ASUS ZenBook 14 OLED review (2023)
80
SCORE
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80
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Pros
- Intel Core Ultra chip is both fast and efficient
- Gorgeous OLED screen
- Excellent battery life
- Plenty of ports
- Solid value for the price
Cons
- Boring design
- Keyboard feels shallow
- Trackpad is stiff
- AI apps aren’t readily available yet
While ASUS has made significant strides with its Zephyrus G gaming line, the ZenBook 14 OLED falls short in terms of design evolution. The laptop’s build doesn’t match the sleekness of the MacBook Air or the refinement of the Surface Laptop. It appears as though an AI-generated a generic ultraportable image, lacking the premium feel expected in this category. Despite this, the ZenBook 14 OLED outshines competitors in terms of value, offering configurations with a Core Ultra 7 155H chip, 32GB of RAM, and a 1TB SSD for $1,300 at Best Buy.
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Port Selection
ASUS has included a commendable array of ports, a notable advantage over some Mac options. The ZenBook 14 OLED boasts a USB-A connection, two USB-C Thunderbolt ports, an HDMI socket, and a microSD card slot. This diverse port selection enhances the laptop’s connectivity and usability, especially for users requiring various peripherals.
Display Quality
One of the standout features of the ZenBook 14 OLED is its 14-inch 3K OLED screen. The display impresses with its vivid and bright visuals, capable of rendering inky dark blacks characteristic of OLED technology. The addition of a 120Hz refresh rate contributes to smoother scrolling, making it a suitable choice for both work and entertainment. The thin bezels create an immersive experience, although the overall design lacks the vibrancy seen in the display.
User Experience
The OLED screen enhances the multimedia experience on the ZenBook 14, making it ideal for streaming content on platforms like Netflix or catching up on YouTube videos. However, the lackluster design becomes more apparent in other aspects, such as the keyboard’s shallow feel and the trackpad’s stiffness. These nuances may impact the overall satisfaction for users who prioritize a tactile and responsive typing experience.
Intel’s Core Ultra Chip and AI Capabilities
The touted highlight of the ZenBook 14 OLED is Intel’s Core Ultra chip, equipped with an NPU for AI tasks. While the chip delivers commendable performance gains over its predecessors, especially in graphics-intensive applications, the real standout feature is the NPU. The integration of the NPU positions the laptop as an “AI PC,” paving the way for potential future developments in AI-powered applications. Notable examples include Adobe and Audacity working on AI features for their applications, and Microsoft’s Studio Effects showcasing improved background diffusion and person detection in video chats.
| None | Geekbench 6 CPU | PCMark 10 | Cinebench R23 | 3DMark Wildlife Extreme |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ASUS ZenBook 14 OLED (Intel Core Ultra 7, 2023) | 2,240/10,298 | 6,170 | 1,599/7,569 | 4,827 |
| ASUS ZenBook S 13 (Intel i7-13700H, 2023) | 2,479/13,367 | 5,165 | N/A | 2,784 |
| Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch (Apple M3, 2023) | 3142/11,902 | N/A | 1,932/10,159 | 8,139 |
Performance and Gaming
In performance benchmarks, the review unit with a Core Ultra 7 155H, 32GB of RAM, and Intel Arc graphics outperformed ultraportables running Intel’s 13th-gen chips. The laptop exhibited significant gains in PCMark 10, outscoring competitors with older processors. While not positioned as a gaming machine, the ZenBook 14 OLED’s Arc graphics handled casual gaming, reaching between 30fps to 49fps in Halo Infinite at 1080p with low graphics settings. Streaming games over Xbox cloud gaming showcased impressive results, thanks to the laptop’s robust wireless hardware.
Battery Life
One notable strength of the ZenBook 14 OLED is its impressive battery life. Lasting 12 hours and 43 minutes in the PCMark 10 Modern Office battery benchmark, it outperformed other laptops tested. During real-world usage, the laptop held up well for a day and a half of general productivity tasks. However, it falls short of the M2 MacBook Air’s exceptional 16 hours and 30 minutes in the same benchmark. Fan noise remains a drawback, with noticeable spinning during podcast recording, unlike the fan-less MacBook Air.
ASUS ZenBook 14 OLED Review: A Glimpse into the AI PC Future
In conclusion, the ASUS ZenBook 14 OLED offers a compelling package with its vibrant OLED display, powerful Core Ultra chip, and diverse port selection. Despite its notable strengths, the laptop’s design lags behind industry leaders like Apple and Microsoft. The incorporation of an NPU for AI tasks positions it as a forward-looking investment, with potential future applications in AI-powered features. While the ZenBook 14 OLED may not match the style of its competitors, its value for the price makes it a strong contender for users prioritizing performance and functionality over design aesthetics.
