Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 (2022) review: This laptop punches above its weight class

Price When Reviewed

$1650 (base value) | $2500 (Radeon RX 6800S, 1TB SSD, 32GB RAM)

Best Prices Today

$1649.99

Free

The original Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 turned the laptop computer world on its head with an unheard-of performance-to-weight ratio for its day. Two years later, Asus is again with a redesigned ROG Zephyrus G14 that once more challenges your notion of simply how a lot efficiency you possibly can jam right into a tiny gaming laptop computer.

Much of this comes from its all-AMD design. Asus blends AMD’s ultra-efficient new Ryzen 9 5900HS processor and Radeon RX 6800S graphics into the revamped ROG Zephyrus G14. Because each CPU and GPU come from the identical mother or father, they’re much more prone to shift energy back-and-forth intelligently than, say, an Intel CPU and an Nvidia GPU.

Asus helps this partnership by utilizing a vapor chamber cooling design relatively than typical warmth pipes. Vapor chambers share a bigger floor cooling space between the Radeon and Ryzen than a conventional warmth pipe system, and profit CPUs and GPUs that intently share energy and cooling.

Besides the brand new internals, Asus strikes from the huge and squat 16:9 side ratio panel to the brand new hotness with a 16:10 side ratio display with a decision of 2560×1600. The panel is rated at 500 nits, 120Hz and 100 p.c DCI-P3 colour area.

More importantly Asus lastly will get an opportunity to repair the one characteristic that’s all the time been a deal breaker on the unique G14 laptop computer: A webcam!

This assessment is a part of our ongoing roundup of the best laptops. Go there for info on competing merchandise and the way we examined them.

Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 (2022) specs

• CPU: AMD 8-core Ryzen 9 6900HS
• GPU: AMD Radeon RX6800S
• RAM: 32GB DDR5/4800 in dual-channel mode
• Screen: Asus ROG Nebula Display 14-inch, 2560 x 1600, DCI-P3, 120Hz, 3ms
• Networking: Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.2 (MediaTek MT7922)
• SSD: Micron 1TB 2450 PCIe 4.0 SSD.
• Ports: MicroSD UHS-II reader, 2 USB-C , 2 USB-A 10Gbps, HDMI 2.0, analog audio jack.
• Size and weight: 12.3 x 8.9 x 0.73. 3.8 lbs. with AniMe Matrix, 3.6 lbs. with out AniMe. Additional 1 pound for 240-watt energy brick.
• Price: $2,500

Adam Patrick Murray

Webcam and audio system

Besides the brand new CPU, GPU, and 16:10 display, essentially the most thrilling change would be the Windows Hello webcam Asus has FINALLY built-in into the Zephyrus G14. Although it’s “just” a 720p digicam, we discovered it about 1,000 p.c higher than the primary and second era fashions that, uh, had no internet cam. Yes, no webcam on a laptop computer. Why? Asus launched the unique G14 within the harmless days of January 2020 and stated an built-in webcam would by no means match an exterior one, so simply use a greater choice. Besides, do you actually use your webcam that a lot? Ahh, such naïve 2019 pondering. Obviously the corporate didn’t foresee the Zoom-filled hellscape our lives would change into. Now lastly, after two years, the corporate is integrating a webcam, giving the G14 the utility it ought to’ve had from day one.

The digicam has a considerably tight angle of view, which suggests you’ll need to be lifeless heart for Windows Hello facial recognition to work. And whereas the standard doesn’t match laptops with 1080p webcams such because the MSI GE76 Raider, it’s about what you count on and once more, an enormous enchancment over not having a webcam in any respect.

We also needs to speak on the audio system of the laptop computer, that are acceptable for a laptop computer this small and hardware-packed. It’s removed from atrocious however not one thing you’ll name somebody over to hearken to, which mainly means the audio is tremendous.

Gordon Mah Ung

What about USB 4 and USB PD?

AMD’s Ryzen 6000 CPUs would be the first chips with USB 4 support exterior of Intel’s and Apple’s chips, which each assist USB 4 through Thunderbolt 4. AMD’s USB 4 implementation will the primary we are able to consider that didn’t begin as Thunderbolt-based. For AMD, USB 4 will assist the complete implementation with as much as 40Gbps switch charges, PCIe tunneling, exterior graphics assist, and DisplayPort 1.4a HBR3, in addition to Thunderbolt assist (for laptop computer distributors who obtain certification). Basically, we’re nonetheless ready to see how the promised USB 4 world that didn’t begin on Thunderbolt shapes up.

With a 240-watt energy brick, you might need anticipated the laptop computer to assist the latest USB Power Delivery specs and completely cost utilizing USB-C, which may now attain 240 watts. Asus officers, nevertheless, say they determined towards a pure USB-C charging system because of the inefficiencies of it proper now. Asus didn’t completely go on USB-C charging although. Like lots of its laptops, it should cost by its USB-C port at as much as 100 watts, so if you wish to go away the bigger 240 brick at house whereas on the street, you are able to do so supplied you get by with slower charging.

Adam Patrick Murray

Keyboard and trackpad

One weak spot of the unique Zephyrus G14 was the meh keyboard, which had mediocre backlighting and felt somewhat mushy. The white backlighting is somewhat higher on the G14 however definitely not the brightest we’ve seen. In a really darkish room it’s tremendous however even in dim workplace lighting you’ll discover the backlighting washed out. More mild appears to leaks from round base of the keys relatively than by the letters, making them tougher to see when the backlighting is on relatively than off. That partially because of the white backlighting on white keys. Gamers anticipating very vibrant RGB backlighting received’t discover it right here.

The trackpad is glass easy and really decently sized although and we had no complaints about it.

Upgrade choices

For most laptops, the one actual improve choice is storage. Content creation and gaming laptops go one step additional with reminiscence, typically providing enlargement storage. Being a really compact laptop computer, you get a single full-size M.2 drive that may be changed by eradicating the underside panel of the G14 (which is connected with Philips-head screws).

For RAM, a single DDR5 SO-DIMM slot is accessible as effectively, however improve choices get stickier. While you would exchange that 8GB or 16GB DIMM module, the remainder of the RAM is soldered to the motherboard. That means 8GB of everlasting RAM with 8GB in a module on 16GB variations of the laptop computer, and 16GB of everlasting RAM with 16GB in a module on the 32GB model. The situation will principally apply to individuals who purchase 16GB variations of the G14 with plans to improve their reminiscence later. In that case, you’d have say, 24GB of RAM (or 40GB if we see 32GB DDR5 modules, which might not all be working in dual-channel mode).

Is {that a} deal breaker? It very a lot is dependent upon what you do, how a lot RAM you want, and whether or not you want bandwidth or capability. If you’re not the kind of one that usually upgrades the reminiscence in your laptop computer, don’t sweat it in any respect.

Performance

The actual pleasure of the latest ROG Zephyrus G14 is the way it performs. We’ll kick that off with Cinbench R20, which is a 3D rendering benchmark based mostly on Maxon’s Cinema4D engine. The extra CPU cores you could have, the higher the efficiency. We really examined the ROG Zephyrus G14 in its default “performance” setting in addition to its “turbo” setting whereas plugged into the wall.

Although it will probably’t dethrone the a lot bigger and far sooner MSI GE76 Raider with its 12th-gen Core i9, the efficiency for the G14 is nonetheless spectacular given its dimension and weight. For instance, the 3.7 pound laptop computer (it’s even lighter with out its nifty miniLED AniMe lid) outperforms the heavier and thicker ROG Strix G15 Advantage with its Ryzen 9 5900HX CPU.

IDG

Although PC makers and CPU makers prefer to entice customers with CPU cores, the overwhelming majority of purposes that folks run don’t really use all of these cores. It’s additionally essential to take a look at single-threaded efficiency utilizing Cinebench R20 which supplies you a greater indicator the place the G14 may run Photoshop and even browse the Internet.

The single-threaded efficiency places the G14 in good firm and once more confirms that most individuals received’t discover the distinction between a brand-new laptop computer and one a era behind it. Laptops such because the MSI GE76 Raider and the GF76 Katana with their 12th-gen CPUs, nevertheless, would disagree considerably as they clearly supply a crisper really feel in evenly threaded duties. Whether you possibly can really feel that or not although is replace for debate. You mainly received’t be hurting for efficiency within the new G14.

IDG

Most of the assessments above are pretty quick masses so we additionally attempt to gauge the laptop computer’s efficiency working a lengthier process. We use an older model of Handbrake to transform a 30GB 1080p video utilizing the Android Tablet preset. On default, the G14 is mainly lifeless even with the thicker and heavier ROG Strix G15 Advantage Edition and set to Turbo, it once more punches exterior its weight class.

IDG

Looking for a considerably lighter process, we additionally use UL’s PCMark 10. It measures the efficiency of a PC working a number of duties in textual content modifying, picture modifying, spreadsheets, and a few content material creation. Although PCMark 10 doesn’t use business purposes, its use of open-source free software program a minimum of offers us a very good really feel for the way a laptop computer performs that’s nearer to actuality. The result’s once more fairly good for the Zephyrus G14, which is once more performing far exterior its weight class. The outcomes additionally present that for essentially the most half, you’re unlikely to essentially really feel that a lot of a distinction between any trendy laptops in these duties. Obviously, the MSI GE76 Raider would disagree. It’s clearly the quickest which suggests it will probably be somewhat extra crisp.

IDG

Gaming efficiency on the Zephyrus G14 is clearly essential. We say that as a result of when you’re going to pay for a laptop computer with a strong discrete GPU, you in all probability need to use it. AMD’s new Radeon RX 6800S is actually a power-optimized model of the Radeon RX 6800M within the ROG Strix G15 Advantage Edition. You surrender some efficiency to get right into a laptop computer that’s a lot thinner, however the tradeoff is probably going worthwhile when you worth portability.

The ROG Zephyrus G14 is roughly 16 p.c slower in Turbo mode in comparison with the ROG Strix G15. Nvidia’s GeForce RTX 3080 is clearly very quick, however as you restrict is energy consumption it will get nearer than you’d count on, with the Razer Blade 14’s GeForce RTX 3080 solely slighty sooner than the ROG Zephyrus G14.

IDG

Synthetic benchmarks could dependable, however they’re arduous to narrate to an precise sport, so we run video games to gauge efficiency. Not everybody performs cutting-edge video games so we use the 2015-era Rise of the Tomb Raider in DirectX 11 mode as a stand-in for older video games. Clearly, the larger and extra highly effective laptops with greater wattage GPUs win this, however the ROG Zephyrus G14 is once more doing fairly effectively contemplating its weight class. It’s mainly about lifeless even to a GeForce RTX 3070 Laptop GPU with a 140 watt TGP, and might outrun a GeForce RTX 3080 Laptop GPU with its wattage restricted to 100 watts.

IDG

We did need to get a really feel for the efficiency of Asus’s laptop computer on a extra strenuous sport, so we use Metro Exodus set to its Extreme preset. The ROG Zephyrus G14 once more gives distinctive efficiency for its weight, and once more is neck and neck with the GeForce RTX 3070 and 3080 GPUs.

IDG

Our closing take a look at seems to be on the battery lifetime of the Zephyrus G14 whereas enjoying a 4K video in airplane mode, with ear buds set to 50 p.c quantity and the display brightness set between 250 nits and 260 nits. You might imagine it’s all in regards to the CPU or GPU for a video rundown take a look at however the dimension of the battery in addition to how a lot energy the display customers issues simply as a lot.

Asus nonetheless manages to get an honest 74 watt hour battery contained in the G14 regardless of its small body, which supplies us simply over six hours of runtime. That’s truthful battery life for a laptop computer with a QHD+ display however it will probably’t fairly match the XPG Xenia 15 KC, which additionally has a QHD display in addition to a battery that’s 27 p.c bigger.

IDG

Conclusion

We can’t stress sufficient simply how a lot the unique Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 wowed everybody in January of 2020. At the time, it simply destroyed Intel’s hulking Ninth-gen gaming notebooks by providing much more efficiency in a really compact and really mild laptop computer. As arguably the primary AMD premium gaming laptop computer of the day, it additionally helped cement that an AMD laptop computer could possibly be nearly as good and even higher than its Intel-based rivals.

Today, the Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 faces far stiffer competitors, however its improved in-your-face AniMe Matrix, spectacular AMD CPU and GPU combo, and much better 16:10 panel and webcam actually removes any points we had with the unique model. It’s definitely not a low-cost different like the unique G14, with the brand new mannequin sporting a price ticket of $2,500, however you’re getting one of many smallest, quickest, and actually flashiest laptops we’ve ever seen. The Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 punches far above its weight class.

Adam Patrick Murray