Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 (2024) Review
A perfect package of portable performance
Verdict
The Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 (2024) is a luxury reimagining of the excellent laptop range. Compared with its predecessor, it’s thinner and lighter as well as offering a more classy look, including an OLED display. It even features some of the best speakers you’ll find on any gaming laptop. To achieve this delicate balance though, power is toned down and it all comes at a high price.
Pros
- Luxury portable redesign
- Excellent keyboard
- Luscious OLED display
- Impressive graphical performance
Cons
- Expensive
Key Features
- New lightweight designWeighing just 1.5kg, this is one of the most portable gaming laptops you can buy.
- AMD Ryzen 8000 processorsPowered by the very latest processors from AMD, with up to 8 cores and 16 threads.
- OLED screenThe upgrade to an OLED display will boost the contrast of the screen, making colours look more vivid.
Introduction
The Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 (2024) is a laptop that looks to take a top-notch portable device to an even higher level. It’s also part of an emerging 14-inch lightweight, yet graphically powerful, laptop trend meaning it has some stiff competition.
Windows laptops have long strived to take on the MacBook Pro, but rarely can they offer such a complete package, even with the advantage they have on the gaming front. However, improving technology on the Intel and Nvidia side of things are allowing machines to edge closer and closer.
Asus isn’t claiming this device is some sort of MacBook Pro-killer, especially with gaming performance as its priority. But, the suite of specifications, features and design suggest it could very well have a good go at Apple’s 14-inch Pro. It also has contenders like the HP Omen Transcend 14 and Lenovo Legion Slim 5i 14 to contend with too. Let’s see how it fares.
Design and Keyboard
- Breathtakingly thin and light
- Gaming-friendly and comfortable keys
- Solid set of ports
Despite having used the Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 (2024) for a few weeks now, I still can’t get over just how thin and light this machine is. This graphically powerful laptop manages to weigh in at just 1.5kg. For context, that’s slightly less than the 15-inch MacBook Air.
Then, it’s just 16.3mm thick, which is thinner than this year’s Razer Blade 14 (at 16.8mm), comfortably down from the 20.5mm thickness of last year’s G14 and, even, tops its key HP Omen Transcend 14 competitor (at 1.79mm). These numbers go some way to conveying the remarkable portability of the G14, but I’m not sure it’s possible to truly get it across without experiencing its low footprint in tandem with the impressive power. It’s a stunningly potent team up.
The overall look has been significantly updated from the 2023 model too. Put simply, it’s been given a dose of luxury, pushing the G14 closer to the likes of the MacBook Pro and Razer Blade 14.
For some, its sleeker and more understated look may be a tad disappointing as it does mean there’s no longer room for its AniMe Matrix rear panel. Instead, it’s replaced by something less imposing, and that’s the Slash Lighting.
It remains customisable but its a simple diagonal slash of lights across the lid, so no room for text or cheeky characters this time around. Nevertheless, I find the overall look to be one that takes this machine to the next level, with its all-aluminium chassis once again playing into its newfound luxury factor.
You can pick it up in Eclipse Grey or, a largely silver, Platinum White hue. On my Platinum White review model, the white keys, along with the glass trackpad and power button, provide a delightful contrast to the tame silver design.
It may be small, but the G14 (2024) manages to offer up a well-sized trackpad alongside increasing the keycaps by 12% compared with the previous model. The extra room on the latter combines with plenty of travel and a smidgen of feedback to make for a keyboard that’s ideal for both gaming and long typing sessions.
When a device shoots for thin-and-light that often means a lack of ports, but not this laptop from Asus. On top of the rectangle connector power port, the G14 (2024) packs in 2x USB-C, 2x USB-A, an HDMI 2.1, a Micro SD and an audio jack. Only the USB4 port on the left side provides power delivery.
Unlike with its Zenbook and Vivobook ranges, Asus isn’t aggressively touting recycling and sustainability chops but the packaging is pleasingly a largely cardboard affair.
Display and Sound
- 3K OLED 120Hz panel
- Top-tier laptop speakers
Asus has always been on the ball when it comes to whacking OLED technology into its laptops, whether that’s as part of its gaming ROG range or squeezing it into budget laptops like the Asus Vivobook Go 15 OLED.
The key factor previously holding back OLED gaming laptops has been the existence of panels that offer a higher refresh rate, but now they’re here.
The ROG Zephyrus G14 (2024) comes with a crisp and colourful 2880×1800 120Hz 0.2ms display that I’ve found to be an absolute delight, no matter the task. The OLED technology and high resolution means this laptop offers bags of details and rich colours whether you’re diving into AAA games or taking in a movie on this machine.
That’s all backed up by some impressive testing results too, coming in at 100% sRGB, 96% Adobe RGB and 100% DCI-P3 for professional-grade colour coverage. It also came in at a peak brightness of 440.1 nits, which is a solid result and helps deal with my only qualm with this display – the glossy panel can be a tad reflective in awkward lighting.
Being an ROG laptop, the priority for this device is, of course, gaming. The sound on offer here absolutely helps this device not only offer excellent audio in AAA games, but also makes it a top all-rounder. Audio is crisp and clear at all volumes, while it does manage to pack in a satisfying bass, offering a big overall sound.
Performance
- Ryzen 9 8945HS and RTX 4070 (90W) combo
- 60fps+ FHD gaming at Ultra settings
- Can get very hot when pushed hard
The Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 (2024) is one of the first laptops to sport AMD’s new Hawk Point series of chips and my first impressions have been remarkably positive. Before I get into our comprehensive testing results, along with the AMD Ryzen 9 8945HS, my review model comes with an Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 (90W) GPU, 32GB RAM and 1TB SSD storage. All that will cost you £2399.99 in the UK, so a mighty investment.
Curiously, this is the only model available in the UK, which hurts this device as a value proposition as, by comparison, the HP Omen Transcend 14 offers a wider range of models and, as such, a lower £1699.99 starting price. However, in the US, more models of the G14 are showcased on the Asus website, offering RTX 4050 and RTX 4060 options just like the HP. But, only my review model is currently available and will set you back $2199.99.
I was mightily impressed throughout my real-world experiences with this machine, especially seeing what this RTX 4070 and its toned down 90 watts were able to achieve. When pushed hard, the underside of the G14 and the portion of the device just above the keyboard could get very warm, but I never noticed major hiccups in performance.
The Asus tri-fan setup can also get rather loud, though, for such a thin device, it makes plenty of sense that this is necessary. It’s a hum that sits in between high and low, meaning it isn’t overly disturbing but also remains plenty noticeable.
Our test results, both holistic and in-game, show the ROG Zephyrus G14 in an impressive light. The AMD Ryzen 9 8945HS deserves kudos too. Up against the Core Ultra 7 155H and Core Ultra 9 185H, which features in the HP Omen Transcend 14 and Asus ROG Zephyrus G16 (2024) respectively, the AMD chip performs impressively. It tops both in several holistic benchmarks, but then trades wins with the Core Ultra 9 in different multi-core tests.
In-game results may disappoint some, but the slim and light form factor has to be considered here, as what it can achieve is still impressive. It’s in Cyberpunk 2077 at QHD and Ultra settings where some concerns may arise, with the RTX 4070 G14 only managing to slightly top the RTX 4060 HP Omen Transcend 14, but this result is an exception rather than the rule.
Across most other tests, the G14 stunningly manages to keep in touching distance with RTX 4070-powered laptops that wield more wattage, like the significantly larger Lenovo Yoga Pro 9i 16 and its 100W GPU. If you’re after QHD gaming at around 60fps, you may have to rein in some settings if you’d like consistency but those frames rates are well within reach at FHD.
Beyond gaming, the Zephyrus G14 is an extremely capable creative tool as well. In our Blender benchmark testing, the results saw it keep pace with the creator-focused Surface Laptop Studio 2 as well as the RTX 4070-powered Lenovo Yoga Pro 9i. As such, comfortable 4K video editing and 3D rendering is well within reach.
The SSD speeds of the G14 aren’t in the top tier of the gaming laptop category, and fall well short of devices like the MacBook Pro. But, the results are by no means poor, coming in at 5010.11MB/s read and 3440.10MB/s write, achieving similar scores to the HP Omen Transcend 16. I didn’t find this to be detrimental to performance in any way, but if super speedy storage is a big priority for you then it may give you pause for thought.
Battery Life
- Solid for a compact gaming laptop
- Rectangle connector and USB-C charging options
As a supremely compact 14-inch gaming laptop, the Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 (2024) was always unlikely to stun in the battery life department. The result is average.
I managed to get just over 6 hours in our PCMark 10 Modern Office battery life test and, using this laptop day-to-day for my fairly intensive productivity workload, around 4 and a half to 5 hours.
The battery performance is aided by a MUX Switch, Nvidia Advanced Optimus and settings with Asus’ ROG Armoury Crate software, all of which work together to make sure the dedicated GPU is only being used when required. In Asus’ software, I found the Eco Mode particularly helpful, which lets you completely disable the GPU and, then, you can easily switch it back on when required.
For charging, Asus offers a two-pronged approach, which is accommodated by two sets of chargers coming in the box. You get a larger 180W rectangle connector and a 100W USB-C charger. It’s nice to have both, giving you the option of a more compact USB-C choice when you want to go more portable. Both enable fast recharge, with the former getting you back up to 100% in under an hour and the latter not much over the hour mark.
Software
- Mostly helpful ROG Armoury Crate
- One odd hibernation quirk
Visually, the Asus ROG Armoury Crate isn’t the most user-friendly, with its command center and almost BIOS-like vibe unlikely to appeal to average users. But, it does get the job done.
I found the different power modes particularly helpful when it comes to managing the balance of this device’s graphical grunt, fan noise and battery life.
One issue I did stumble upon was with something called Asus’ Modern Hibernation Assist. The setting says it puts the system into hibernation if it is running beyond the Power setting for a set period of time. But, I found this was occurring when I was simply playing music from the G14. It’s easy enough to turn this hibernation assist off in ROG Armoury Crate though, if you encounter this quirk.
Of course, this is a new PC in 2024, so it features some AI smarts courtesy of the NPU inside the AMD Ryzen chip. The NPU can do plenty behind the scenes, as well as enabling Windows Studio effects, allowing you to natively blur your background, use auto-framing and auto-eye-contact features when using your webcam for video conferencing. It works like a treat alongside the G14’s solid 1080p webcam.
The webcam itself is inoffensive, if basic, but it handily enables Windows Hello face login. There’s no room for fingerprint login here though, despite the rather large and free power button.
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Should you buy it?
You want a luxurious balance between power and portability
The Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 (2024) is likely to be the dream laptop for those who have desired a device that can offer high-end gaming, portability, a stunning OLED display and impressive speakers.
You want one of the most powerful gaming machines
This Asus laptop is all about balance, as such it isn’t made for providing the best gaming experience possible.
Final Thoughts
The Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 (2024) is the best laptop I’ve ever tested. It’s a hyperbolic statement that I’ve had to mull over – especially as performance has had to be somewhat reined in to create such a balanced machine in other areas – but I’m comfortable with making it, as that balance is truly astounding.
This edition of the G14 is a joy to use, no matter what you task it with. The OLED display is astounding, across gaming, creative work and taking in videos, while the keyboard is invitingly immersive.
Astoundingly, Asus has managed to massively upgrade the speakers in this compact laptop too, putting it up there with the very best around. Moreover, the port selection hasn’t been compromised and there’s a well-sized trackpad. And, while I’ve mentioned the toned-down performance, this is still capable of top-tier performance all in a breathtakingly portable chassis.
It doesn’t come cheap though, demanding more than a couple of grand, but if it’s within your budget you won’t be disappointed. The balance of features and capabilities will delight many but it may fall short for those who desire gaming prowess above all. If you want more power, there’s a range of top options in our gaming laptops guide, including the monstrous Asus ROG Strix Scar 17 X3D.
How we test
Every laptop we review goes through a series of uniform checks designed to gauge key things including build quality, performance, screen quality and battery life.
These include formal synthetic benchmarks and scripted tests, plus a series of real-world checks, such as how well it runs popular apps.
We used the device as our main laptop for at least a week.
Tested the performance via both benchmark tests and real-world use.
We tested the battery with a benchmark test and real-world use.
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FAQs
Both the 2024 models of the Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 and G16 are excellent laptops, but we rated the former as 5-stars and the latter as 4.5-stars. In our testing, we found the AMD chip inside the G14 to be a difference maker compared with the Intel option in the G16. But, if you require a larger display then the G16 remains a great pick.
The Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 (2024) has been given a significant redesign compared with last year’s model. It is thinner, lighter and has an all-aluminium chassis. It also features AMD’s latest 8000 series CPU. The AniMe Matrix panel on the rear is now gone, with the Slash Lighting a more understated alternative.
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Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.
Editorial independence
Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.
