ASUS, the tech giant renowned for its exceptional laptops, is kicking off the new year with a bang with the launch of the 2024 edition of the Zenbook 14 OLED. This ultrabook boasts Intel's latest Core Ultra 7 chips, a sleek 14-inch OLED display with slim bezels, and a host of features that make it a standout in the thin and light laptop category.
The real game-changer here is the impressive battery life. As claimed by ASUS, the Zenbook 14 OLED promises "up to 15 hours of unplugged operation." During my testing, with the brightness cranked up and heavy-duty applications running in the background, it managed a respectable nine hours. With PC makers now aiming to match or surpass Apple's strides in laptop battery life, it's refreshing to see ASUS closing the gap.
Under the hood, the Zenbook 14 OLED is no slouch either. Powered by Intel's new Core Ultra 7 chips with integrated Arc graphics, this laptop boasts a 14-inch 16:10 3K OLED touchscreen display, offering up to 550 nits of peak brightness. The slim and lightweight design, weighing just 1.2 kg and measuring 14.9 mm at its thinnest point, is a testament to Asus's commitment to portability without compromising on power.
The review unit ASUS sent me came with an Intel Core Ultra 7155H processor clocking in at 3.80 GHz, 32 GB of RAM and 1 TB of storage, with a 14-inch touchscreen display.
The laptop also came equipped with an array of features, including dual speakers with Dolby Atmos playback, a 1080p webcam with IR support, and an impressive selection of ports. The inclusion of Thunderbolt 4 USB-C, USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type, HDMI 2.1, dual-band Wi-Fi 6E, and Bluetooth 5.3 ensures versatile connectivity options.
My absolute favourite feature on ASUS laptops is the trackpad, which, at a tap, transforms into a digital numpad, adding an extra layer of versatility to an already phenomenal machine.
Performance
In day-to-day usage, the Zenbook 14 performed like a champ. It handled my workflow — two browsers with at least 15 tabs open on each, Slack, Adobe Acrobat Reader, MS Word, and WhatsApp running simultaneously — with no sweat. The fans would kick in occasionally to cool the system down, but that's it.
Design
The laptop is delightfully sleek and understated. Weighing in at just 1.2 kg and encased in an aluminium body, it was light as a butterfly but stung like a bee — to paraphrase the legendary Muhammad Ali. The screen is stunning, offering a 3K resolution with bright, vivid, punchy colours. The 180-degree hinge makes it easy to work with the laptop in any position.
In conclusion
Depending on your model of choice, the ASUS Zenbook 14 will cost you anywhere between ₹99,990 and ₹1,20,990—a compelling price for the features and hardware on offer. Whether you're a professional looking for a laptop that will power you through your day, or a student who wants a top device that will last you ages, the Zenbook 14 makes a compelling case for itself.
(Edited by : Shoma Bhattacharjee)
