Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 Review: Best gaming laptop under 3500
The Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 has once again proven its mettle as the go-to choice for both gamers and content creators. Building on the success of its predecessor, this year's iteration introduces the groundbreaking AMD Zen4 Phoenix processor, the Ryzen 9 7940HS, paired with Nvidia's latest laptop GPUs for an unparalleled gaming and creative experience.
Our review unit, the ROG Zephyrus G14 GA402XY, represents the pinnacle of the best gaming laptop under 3500$, boasting the formidable AMD Ryzen 9 7940HS, a whopping 32 GB of RAM, a lightning-fast 1 TB PCIe-4.0 SSD, and the powerhouse Nvidia GeForce RTX 4090 Laptop. What truly sets it apart is the inclusion of a matte Mini-LED panel with a mesmerizing QHD+ resolution and an astonishing 165 Hz refresh rate. It's important to note that such excellence comes at a premium, with an RRP of 3999 Euros.
For those seeking a more budget-friendly option, we'll provide an overview of the other models in the Performance section. Our primary focus, however, is to delve into the performance of the cutting-edge AMD processor and witness how this compact 14-inch marvel handles the formidable RTX 4090 Laptop.
Stay tuned for in-depth analyses of the new AMD Ryzen 9 7940HS and the integrated GPU Radeon 780M, as we explore the frontiers of gaming and content creation with the Asus ROG Zephyrus G14.
ASUS ROG ZEPHYRUS G14 REVIEW: PRICE AND CONFIGURATION for this best gaming laptop in 2023
| Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 (2023) | |
|---|---|
| Price | $3,299 / £3,399 as tested |
| CPU | AMD Ryzen 9 7940HS |
| GPU | Nvidia GeForce RTX 4090 laptop GPU |
| Display | 14-inch (2560 x 1600) mini-LED |
| RAM | 32 GB |
| Storage | 1 TB |
| Ports | 1X Thunderbolt 4/USB-C, 2X USB-A, HDMI 2.1, 3.5mm audio, DisplayPort, microSD card reader |
| Dimensions | 12.28 x 8.94 x 0.77 inches |
| Weight | 3.79 pounds |
ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14 (2023) Review: Design
The ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14 (2023) showcases a sleek and surprisingly lightweight design that defies its powerful specifications. Here's what you need to know about its design:
- Sleek and surprisingly light: This laptop manages to maintain a remarkably thin profile given its high-end components.
- Unobtrusive design: The G14 doesn't boast any flashy or ostentatious design elements; instead, it opts for a more understated and sophisticated look.
- Premium feel: The laptop's industrial grey finish exudes a premium feel, and it is resistant to fingerprints, keeping it looking clean and polished.
- Minimal bezels: The thin bezel surrounding the impressive screen adds to the laptop's modern aesthetic.
- User-friendly: The G14 features an easy-to-access divot that houses its solid 1080p webcam, making it convenient to open and close, especially for users on the go.
- Portability: Despite its impressive specs, the new G14 is highly portable, measuring only 0.77 inches in thickness and weighing a mere 3.79 pounds. It strikes a balance between power and portability.
In essence, the ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14 (2023) offers a design that blends elegance, practicality, and performance seamlessly.
ASUS ROG ZEPHYRUS G14 (2023) Review: Display
The display on the ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14 (2023) is truly exceptional, offering a visual experience that rivals the best OLED panels available. With its 16:10 aspect ratio, it delivers an immersive visual experience. However, this aspect ratio can occasionally result in unwanted black borders when viewing 16:9 content.
The G14's display, measuring 14 inches with a native resolution of 2,560 x 1,600 pixels and a blazing-fast 165Hz refresh rate, combines both aesthetics and functionality seamlessly. Effectively offering a 1440p resolution in the 16:10 format, it strikes a harmonious balance between detailed visuals and the high-performance requirements necessary to fully utilize its impressive refresh rate.
The mini-LED technology employed in this gaming laptop's display sets a new standard for non-OLED screens. With 504 dimming zones, the Zephyrus G14's display delivers deep and consistent black levels that rival even the finest OLED TVs. Furthermore, the screen is impressively bright, as demonstrated by our testing results.
Brightness Testing Results
- ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14 (2023): Average Brightness 533.4 nits, Peak Brightness 540 nits
- Acer Predator Helios 300 SpatialLabs: Average Brightness 313.2 nits, Peak Brightness 320 nits
- Dell XPS 17 (2023): Average Brightness 522.8 nits, Peak Brightness 564 nits
- Asus Zenbook 14X OLED: Average Brightness 360 nits, Peak Brightness 364 nits
- MacBook Pro 16-inch (2023): Average Brightness 446 nits, Peak Brightness 1,476 nits
Asus refers to the display as "Nebula HDR," and it lives up to the hype. With a peak brightness of 533 nits, the ROG G14 outshines many other high-end gaming laptops. This mini-LED panel, combined with its stellar brightness, ensures that the screen remains vibrant and clear whether you're gaming during the day or at night, providing a solid foundation for exceptional visual experiences.
Display Testing Results
- sRGB: 108.1%
- DCI-P3: 76.5%
- Delta-E Color Accuracy: 0.1
While the G14's display may not fully cover the DCI-P3 color gamut for serious photo or video work, it offers complete coverage of the sRGB color gamut with an impressive Delta-E color accuracy score of 0.1, one of the best among gaming laptop screens.
In summary, the ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14 (2023) features a display optimized for high-end gaming, offering stunning visuals and impressive performance, making it an excellent choice for gaming enthusiasts.
ASUS ROG ZEPHYRUS G14 (2023) Review: Ports
When it comes to port options, the ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14 doesn't disappoint, ensuring you're well-equipped for the future.
HDMI 2.1 for Future-Proofing
An HDMI 2.1 connection is a notable feature, offering support for high refresh rates and resolutions, helping to future-proof your gaming experience.
Convenient Dual USB-A Connections
The inclusion of dual USB-A connections is a welcome addition, providing versatility for connecting peripherals and accessories.
Port selection on the G14 is strategically placed. On the left side of the laptop, you'll find a single Thunderbolt 4/USB-C connection alongside the HDMI 2.1 port, positioned in the center. These ports are accompanied by a 3.5mm audio jack and the power jack.
On the opposite side, you'll discover a pair of USB-A connections and a convenient microSD card reader. Considering the slim profile of this gaming laptop, the variety of ports available on the 2023 G14 is indeed impressive.
ASUS ROG ZEPHYRUS G14 (2023) Review: Keyboard and Touchpad
The ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14 is well-rounded in its design and performance, and this extends to its keyboard and touchpad.
Responsive and Tactile Keyboard
The keyboard, while not remarkable, offers a reliable and tactile typing experience. It proves itself during intense typing sessions, never feeling less than responsive and tactile.
Efficient and Unfussy Touchpad
The touchpad complements the keyboard seamlessly, providing an efficient and unfussy interface. It offers a slick and intuitive experience, ensuring that neither the keyboard nor the touchpad get in the way of accessing the G14’s outstanding gaming features.
ASUS ROG ZEPHYRUS G14 (2023) Review: Gaming Performance
The gaming experience on the Zephyrus G14 has been nothing short of exceptional, delivering remarkable performance that's hard to beat at its native resolution.
Impressive 1440p Gaming
In terms of value for money, it's challenging to find another 1440p laptop that consistently achieves such high framerates while gaming at its native screen resolution of 2,500 x 1,600 pixels. Throughout our testing, the G14 effortlessly handled a variety of demanding modern games.
Game Benchmarks (in FPS, @ 1080p)
| Game | ROG Zephyrus G14 (2023) | Razer Blade 14 (2023) | Alienware x14 R2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Assassin’s Creed Valhalla | 117 | 102 | 82 |
| Metro Exodus Enhanced Edition | 106 | 87 | 69 |
| Red Dead Redemption 2 | 97 | 73 | 56 |
| Far Cry 6 | 87 | 85 | 74 |
| Shadow of the Tomb Raider | 135 | 67 | 90 |
The above benchmark numbers demonstrate the G14's gaming prowess, especially when compared to competing laptops in its size class. However, these figures only scratch the surface of what this laptop can offer during daily use.
From our testing, enabling Nvidia DLSS 3 in titles like Red Dead Redemption 2 and Cyberpunk 2077 on this laptop consistently resulted in high-quality gameplay with frame rates exceeding 90 fps at native resolution. It serves as a prime example of how Nvidia's AI-driven upscaler can significantly enhance performance in such games.
While high framerates are undoubtedly important, it's the memorable gaming experiences that truly stand out. Playing the PC version of the Resident Evil 4 remake was a delight on the G14, and revisiting the vibrant yet eerie Night City in Cyberpunk showcased the stunning capabilities of the mini-LED display.
One standout gaming experience on the 2023 Zephyrus G14 was this year's excellent System Shock remake. The game's use of fluorescent lighting and dimly lit corridors perfectly showcased the vivid colors and dark atmosphere on the impressive mini-LED screen.
However, it's worth noting that there was a slightly less favorable experience with this year's Dead Space remaster. Stuttering issues were prevalent in this sci-fi horror title, although it's worth mentioning that similar problems occurred on my RTX 4090-powered desktop PC. In essence, Dead Space appears to be poorly optimized, regardless of your hardware.
Despite these minor hiccups, the G14 remains one of the most impressive gaming laptops available, offering an exceptional gaming experience.
ASUS ROG ZEPHYRUS G14 (2023) Review: General Performance
When looking beyond gaming, the ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14 (2023) proves to be a versatile performer, excelling in various aspects of general computing.
Decent CPU Performance
The CPU performance on the Zephyrus G14 is commendable, if not extraordinary. It handles a range of tasks with ease.
Competitive Video Editing and File Transfers
Tasks like video editing and file transfers keep pace with competitors, demonstrating the laptop's ability to handle multimedia and productivity demands efficiently.
Performance testing results paint a picture of the Zephyrus G14's capabilities in real-world scenarios:
| Geekbench 5 multi-core CPU | 25GB file copy speed test | Handbrake video editing time | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 (2023) | 12,035 | 1,651 Mbps | 4:51 |
| Razer Blade 14 (2023) | 11,121 | 1,230 Mbps | 4:45 |
| Alienware x14 R2 (2023) | 11,299 | 1,863.9 Mbps | 6:20 |
| Acer Predator Helios 300 | 13,830 | 1,580 Mbps | 4:30 |
| Dell XPS 17 (2023) | 13,299 | 2,086.6 Mbps | 5:10 |
| MacBook Pro 16-inch (2023) | 15,044 | N/A | 4:03 |
The AMD Ryzen 9 7940HS CPU delivers respectable performance in our Geekbench 5 tests. This solid showing is further validated by impressive results in our 25GB file transfer test, measuring the top speed achieved when transferring multimedia files across the SSD.
Additionally, the ROG impresses in the video editing department, with a time of 4 minutes and 51 seconds in our video editing test. This test measures how quickly the laptop transcodes a 4K video down to 1080p using Handbrake. While it's slightly behind the Razer Blade 14, it's only about 20 seconds slower than the Acer Predator Helios 300.
While gaming is undoubtedly the primary focus of the new G14, the table above illustrates that it is a well-rounded performer, capable of meeting both work and leisure demands.
ASUS ROG ZEPHYRUS G14 (2023) Review: Battery Life and Heat
Let's take a closer look at the battery performance and heat management of the ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14 (2023).
Impressive Battery Life
Battery life is yet another area where the G14 excels. When not engaged in gaming, it showcases remarkable stamina.
Compared to the disappointing 3+ hours of the Acer Predator Helios 300 SpatialLabs gaming laptop, the Zephyrus impressively clocked in at 9 hours and 51 minutes in our battery rundown test, which simulates web surfing via Wi-Fi. This longevity is quite commendable and outperforms the Razer Blade 14 by over an hour.
Acceptable Heat Management
The G14 strikes a balance in terms of heat output, keeping it just within acceptable limits.
During our heat testing, after subjecting the laptop to 15 minutes of video playback, we used a heat gun to measure the temperatures. The highest recording we observed was 98.2 degrees on the underside of the laptop. The rest of the laptop averaged about 95 degrees. While this is on the edge of what we consider acceptable for everyday use, it's important to note that the G14 houses a powerful GPU and CPU, making this result reasonable considering its performance capabilities.
In summary, the ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14 (2023) impresses with its strong battery life and maintains heat levels within acceptable bounds, offering a well-rounded experience for users.
ASUS ROG ZEPHYRUS G14 (2023) Review: Audio
Let's delve into the audio and webcam performance of the ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14 (2023).
Impressive Audio Quality
The G14 boasts full-bodied speakers that deliver exceptional audio quality. To truly appreciate its audio capabilities, this laptop deserves to be experienced at full volume.
Equipped with a four-speaker system featuring 'Smart Amplifier Technology,' the speakers are strategically placed to provide an immersive audio experience. Dolby Atmos support and AI noise-canceling technology enhance the overall audio performance.
Listening to your favorite tunes on platforms like YouTube, the G14 consistently delivers rich, full-bodied sound—especially when played at the laptop’s highest volume. The lyrics are crisp and impactful, and the bass is delivered with remarkable vigor. Considering the laptop's slim design, the audio quality creates a room-filling soundscape that defies its compact form.
Excellent Webcam Quality
The G14's webcam impresses with assured 1080p image quality, even in nighttime conditions. ASUS has not compromised on webcam quality in 2023, opting for a full 1080p webcam over the outdated 720p standard.
Whether you're in well-lit or dimly lit environments, the Zephyrus webcam consistently delivers sharp and detailed images, regardless of ambient light levels. It excels in low-light conditions, capturing fine facial details effectively. This webcam represents a significant upgrade from the 2022 Zephyrus G14's camera.
Final Verdict
For my money, the ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14 is one of the finest gaming laptops reviewed by Tom’s Guide. When it comes to high-end performance, few competitors can match the compelling package offered by this new ROG laptop.
Throw the most demanding Steam games at the G14, and it consistently delivers stellar performance. The laptop's screen resolution complements its powerful specifications, resulting in gaming experiences that are as smooth as they are visually striking.
While it may not be a budget-friendly choice, in the realm of high-performance gaming laptops, it stands out as an enticing option in terms of both performance and value compared to similarly-priced alternatives in the market.
As for competitors, the Razer Blade 14 is another outstanding gaming laptop, featuring a blazing 240Hz QHD panel. Pairing it with an RTX 4070 for $2,700 strikes a balanced combination of price and performance.
If you're open to a slightly larger option, the impressive Asus ROG Strix G18 is worth considering. Equipped with an RTX 4070 and a powerful Intel Core i9-13980HX, it delivers comparable framerates to the Zephyrus G14. It also comes at a slightly lower price point, with the 2TB version priced at $2,600. However, I'd lean towards the lighter and more portable G14 with its superb display over the bulkier Strix's LCD panel.
In conclusion, I am thoroughly impressed with the ROG Zephyrus G14. Its mini-LED display, gaming performance, and overall design leave me with a strong sense of admiration.