Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 (2021) Assessment

When the Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 first launched final yr, we praised it for combining a 14-inch show (then, uncommon amongst gaming laptops) with Nvidia GeForce RTX 20-Sequence energy and AMD Ryzen processing at a candy value. The up to date 2021 G14 (begins at $1,549.99) makes use of the identical design, however pumps issues as much as RTX 30-Sequence and newer Ryzen 5000 chips. Our $1,999 check unit additionally features a 1440p show and 32GB of reminiscence, so the boosted value of our mannequin isn’t as sturdy of a price as the unique G14, however the entry-point configuration (which nonetheless options an RTX 3060) is a lovely proposition. Additionally, the marketplace for 14-inch gaming laptops has expanded: Competing 14-inchers are actually popping up from a lot of the ordinary suspects (the Razer Blade 14 is our high decide), making the G14 much less of a unicorn. However this new mannequin remains to be an incredible package deal. 

It is All Concerning the Internals

The unique Zephyrus G14 was one of many first killer 14-inch gaming laptops for its mixture of measurement and efficiency, and the previous is similar right here. The outside design is unchanged, as that is mainly a element improve, so we received’t spend an excessive amount of time on that side right here. I ought to notice that we additionally lately checked out a really completely different model of this laptop computer, the G14 Alan Walker Version (geared towards followers of the European digital music star), however will focus right here on this extra commonplace entry for the primary overview and efficiency testing.

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(Photograph: Molly Flores)

The basics are nonetheless essential, although, so let’s run by these. This laptop computer measures 0.7 by 12.75 by 8.7 inches and weighs 3.5 kilos, simply extra transportable than the typical gaming laptop computer. The standard supplies and classy white-and-silver look full an interesting package deal. This unit additionally contains the AniMe Matrix lid, which we beforehand checked out as an elective model of the unique G14. The lid is inlaid with a grid of LEDs, which you’ll be able to customise with results and pictures. (Take a look at our authentic hands-on with the AniMe Matrix for extra element.)

(Photograph: Molly Flores)

The unique G14’s measurement was novel when it launched, however 14-inch gaming machines have develop into extra standard since. The Razer Blade 14 and the Acer Predator Triton 300 SE roughly match its thinness and footprint, although the G14 is the lightest of the three. Even when the G14 is now not alone in its house, it’s nonetheless probably the greatest gaming laptops round that emphasizes portability.

One factor to notice, although: Since instances have modified for the reason that authentic G14 launched (see: the pandemic), it’s additional essential to know that this laptop computer has no webcam in-built. Frequent distant video callers will wish to look elsewhere. (Asus’ logic was that hardcore avid gamers and streamers would wish to add their very own high-performance webcam and maintain the bezels skinny.)

(Photograph: Molly Flores)

For full ideas on the remainder of the construct (together with observations on the keyboard, ports, and extras), learn the unique G14 overview.

Part Verify: The Latest Warmth From AMD and Nvidia

Subsequent, on to the components and options of our explicit overview mannequin. There are just a few flavors of the GeForce RTX 30-Sequence G14, however our tester unit is priced at $1,999. For that, you get an AMD Ryzen 9 5900HS processor, 32GB of reminiscence, the GeForce RTX 3060 GPU, and a 1TB SSD. The show additionally contains a 2,560-by-1,440-pixel native decision and a 120Hz peak refresh fee. 

(Photograph: Molly Flores)

It’s value noting that we preferred the unique G14 partially for its nice worth, however the value of this configuration is way increased. The leap as much as the RTX 30-Sequence is a part of this, however the quantity of reminiscence additionally bumped from 16GB to 32GB, and the show decision to 1440p from 1080p. The brand new show is crisp and appears nice; plus, it’s a decision that’s good for leisure and gaming, as long as you’ve got the {hardware} juice to push it—extra on that under.

(Photograph: Molly Flores)

That’s to not say these upgrades aren’t well worth the added value, however the value has moved the G14 into the high-end tier of gaming laptops slightly than the midrange, so the “worth” side dissolves considerably for this explicit configuration. Not all G14 RTX 30-Sequence fashions are as costly; at this writing, a configuration at Finest Purchase was priced at $1,549.99 for a similar CPU, GPU, and storage as this mannequin, however with 16GB of reminiscence and a full HD (1080p) display, a recipe nearer to that of the unique G14 we examined.

Efficiency Testing: Blazing-Quick Processing and 60fps Gaming

To gauge these up to date parts, we put the brand new G14 by our suite of benchmark checks and stacked up the outcomes to a bunch of aggressive laptops. You’ll be able to see their names and specs within the desk under…

Productiveness Exams

The principle benchmark of UL’s PCMark 10 simulates a wide range of real-world productiveness and content-creation workflows to measure general efficiency for office-centric duties similar to phrase processing, spreadsheeting, internet shopping, and videoconferencing. We additionally run PCMark 10’s Full System Drive check to evaluate the load time and throughput of a laptop computer’s storage. (See extra about how we check laptops.)

Three benchmarks concentrate on the CPU, utilizing all out there cores and threads, to fee a PC’s suitability for processor-intensive workloads. Maxon’s Cinebench R23 makes use of that firm’s Cinema 4D engine to render a posh scene, whereas Primate Labs’ Geekbench 5.4 Professional simulates standard apps starting from PDF rendering and speech recognition to machine studying. Lastly, we use the open-source video transcoder HandBrake 1.4 to transform a 12-minute video clip from 4K to 1080p decision (decrease instances are higher).

Our ultimate productiveness check is Puget Methods’ PugetBench for Photoshop(Opens in a brand new window), which makes use of the Artistic Cloud model 22 of Adobe’s well-known picture editor to fee a PC’s efficiency for content material creation and multimedia functions. It is an automatic extension that executes a wide range of basic and GPU-accelerated Photoshop duties starting from opening, rotating, resizing, and saving a picture to making use of masks, gradient fills, and filters.

Merely put, the brand new G14 is the quickest laptop computer on this group. It doesn’t lead on PCMark, however throughout the extra demanding multimedia and processor stress checks, it boasts the most effective outcomes. The margins aren’t enormous, but it surely’s sufficient to notice that this machine will provide you with faster enhancing capabilities than most gaming laptops, and received’t depart you hanging in a pinch. On a regular basis use is a breeze, it has speedy storage, and the eight cores and 16 threads are prepared for something you throw at them.

Graphics and Gaming Exams

We check Home windows PCs’ graphics with two DirectX 12 gaming simulations from UL’s 3DMark, Night time Raid (extra modest, appropriate for laptops with built-in graphics) and Time Spy (extra demanding, appropriate for gaming rigs with discrete GPUs).

We additionally run two checks from the cross-platform GPU benchmark GFXBench 5, which stresses each low-level routines like texturing and high-level, game-like picture rendering. The 1440p Aztec Ruins and 1080p Automotive Chase checks, rendered offscreen to accommodate completely different show resolutions, train graphics and compute shaders utilizing the OpenGL programming interface and {hardware} tessellation respectively. In GFXBench, the extra frames per second (fps), the higher.

Plus, we run three real-world sport checks through the in-game benchmarks of F1 2021, Murderer’s Creed Valhalla, and Rainbow Six Siege. These characterize simulation, open-world action-adventure, and aggressive/esports shooter video games, respectively. Valhalla and Siege are run twice (Valhalla at Medium and Extremely high quality, Siege at Low and Extremely high quality), whereas F1 2021 is run twice at most settings, first with Nvidia’s performance-boosting DLSS anti-aliasing setting turned off, after which once more with it on. All checks are run at 1080p decision, although we’ll do extra runs at a laptop computer’s native decision for anecdotal outcomes if it’s a 1440p or 4K display.

Not like the processor, the G14’s GPU isn’t on the entrance of the pack, however that’s to be anticipated. Between one other RTX 3060 in an even bigger laptop computer and the Blade 14’s RTX 3070, this was by no means probably the most potent GPU on paper. That mentioned, efficiency on the artificial checks is in an honest spot, loads succesful for 3D duties and gaming. I’ll say that in isolation, the worth tag is a bit excessive for this stage of uncooked GPU energy, however a number of the associated fee goes towards the opposite parts and options. For those who’re extra involved with fps-per-dollar, this configuration isn’t the most effective deal.

As for the real-world sport checks, the story is comparable, but it surely offers a really clear image of the kind of efficiency you’ll be able to anticipate for gaming. On a really demanding AAA title like Murderer’s Creed Valhalla, medium-quality settings are extra real looking for 60fps, however the sport nonetheless seems nice at these settings, and that’s good for a laptop computer this measurement. The G14 also can make good use of its high-refresh (120Hz) display, as proven on Rainbow Six Siege, and the F1 outcomes present how a lot of a lift DLSS can present a system on the border of 60fps.

After all, that is all at 1080p, versus the laptop computer’s native 1440p decision. We ran all of those identical checks at 1440p, as nicely, and as you’d anticipate, the body charges dropped noticeably. On Medium and Extremely high quality, Valhalla went right down to 52fps and 36fps, whereas on Low and Extremely, Siege went right down to 156fps and 114fps. Lastly, F1 2021 dropped to 43fps with TAA on, and 60fps with DLSS on. That’s fairly a dip on common, and in titles like Valhalla, may make the distinction between sustaining 60fps and seeing some uneven gameplay. In video games like Siege, that begins to eat into the excessive body fee benefit you ought to be getting out of your show. You’ll be able to at all times run less-demanding video games at native decision, and provides the body fee a lift on more-demanding titles by dialing right down to 1080p.

As talked about, the worth is slightly excessive for that stage of energy, however it’s also possible to see that it’s similar to the Blade 14’s efficiency regardless of the (on-paper) superior GPU and better value. However, the Alienware is way inexpensive, however a greater performer partially because of the bigger chassis measurement permitting for freer thermals. All in all, the G14 is available in the place it ought to given the worth: not the most effective worth purely for gaming body charges, however pretty priced as an general package deal and nonetheless a very good gaming laptop computer.

Battery and Show Exams

We check laptops’ battery life by taking part in a regionally saved 720p video file (the open-source Blender film Tears of Metal) with show brightness at 50% and audio quantity at 100% till the system quits. We be sure that the battery is totally charged earlier than the check, with Wi-Fi and keyboard backlighting turned off.

We additionally use a Datacolor SpyderX Elite monitor calibration sensor and its software program to measure a laptop computer display’s shade saturation—what share of the sRGB, Adobe RGB, and DCI-P3 shade gamuts or palettes the show can present—and its brightness in nits (candelas per sq. meter) on the display’s 50% and peak settings.

The battery life is nice on this method, particularly for a gaming laptop computer. Its transportable measurement is an ideal associate for the 10-hour runtime, permitting you to take it on the highway with out worrying about discovering the subsequent outlet quickly.

On the display-quality facet, shade protection is stable. Even when this is not a laptop computer designed for media professionals, this and the processing velocity may do them proud, if obligatory. The display additionally will get loads shiny at most for a gaming laptop computer, coming in at 325 nits.

A Excellent Laptop computer for Touring Avid gamers

So far as the design and construct are involved, we love this laptop computer simply as a lot as we did the primary time round. It’s transportable, nicely made, and totally featured, even when the worth side is lessened by our explicit configuration. The upside of that’s higher efficiency, although, because of the RTX 3060 and 32GB of reminiscence. And the 1440p show is a pleasure to observe and play on. 

This 14-inch machine could also be much less of a rarity out there now, but it surely’s nonetheless a positive decide in its personal proper. On the value of this config, we give the sting to Razer’s Blade 14 for a fair nicer construct, a bit extra energy, and a really related characteristic set. The 2021 Zephyrus G14 is available in an in depth second, and in the event you go for one of many midrange configurations with an RTX 3060 as an alternative, you’re getting an incredible worth.