ASUS Zephyrus G14 (2024) Review - Problems You Must Know!

Summary

The ASUS Zephyrus G14 laptop receives significant upgrades in 2024, boasting an OLED screen, enhanced battery life, and a more compact, lightweight design. Despite minor setbacks like reduced upgradeability and a wobbly lid, the device impresses with its solid build, improved ports, and powerful performance from AMD's Ryzen 9 8945HS and Nvidia's RTX 4070. The laptop also excels in thermal management and offers excellent Wi-Fi capabilities. However, the new model comes at a higher price, prompting potential buyers to weigh the trade-offs between the latest features and value for money.

Takeaways

• 🌟 The ASUS Zephyrus G14 has received significant upgrades, including an OLED screen and improved battery life, while becoming smaller and lighter.
• 🛠 Despite improvements, there are notable issues, such as a wobbly lid and the removal of the memory upgrade slot compared to previous models.
• 🎨 The laptop is available in two color options with a new CNC aluminum chassis, enhancing the build quality and giving it a more metallic feel.
• 📦 Portability is enhanced with the 2024 G14 being lighter and including a smaller, 180-watt charger instead of the previous 240-watt charger.
• 💡 The laptop features 'slash lighting' on the lid with customizable effects, including audio visualizations and system notifications.
• 🖥️ It comes with high-end specs like AMD's Ryzen 9 8945HS processor, Nvidia's RTX 4070 graphics, and a 14” OLED screen with G-Sync, with lower-spec options available.
• ⌨️ The chiclet keyboard has larger keycaps and 1.7mm of travel, providing a clicky feel for typing, but the backlighting can appear patchy.
• 🔊 The G14 boasts a six-speaker setup delivering good sound quality with plenty of bass and clarity at high volumes.
• 🔌 The port selection has been improved, with all ports moved closer to the back and the inclusion of a USB 4 Type-C port for up to 100 watts of charging.
• 🔋 Battery life is impressive, with the laptop lasting nearly 11 hours in a YouTube video playback test and over 2 hours in gaming.
• 🔥 The G14 has three fans for cooling, and despite the slimmer design, it maintains good internal temperatures even under full load.
• 💻 The G14 has a MUX switch for switching between integrated and discrete graphics, and it supports G-Sync in its 2024 OLED panels, a new feature for gaming laptops.

Q & A

What are the new upgrades ASUS has made to the Zephyrus G14 this year?

The new upgrades to the Zephyrus G14 include an OLED screen, improved battery life, a smaller and lighter body, and a CNC aluminum chassis for a more solid feel.

What are the color options and design changes for the 2024 Zephyrus G14 model?

The 2024 Zephyrus G14 is available in platinum white or eclipse grey finishes and features a CNC aluminum chassis, which is a first for the series, enhancing the build quality and giving it a more metallic texture.

How does the hinge and screen movement on the new G14 compare to previous models?

The new G14 has smoother and nicer feeling hinges, but the screen is less flexible and does not go all the way back, only reaching up to 135 degrees.

What are the dimensions and weight of the new Zephyrus G14?

The new Zephyrus G14 is smaller in every dimension compared to the previous year's model, making it more portable. It weighs less than 1.5 kg (3.3 lbs) and increases to 2 kg (4.5 lbs) with the included 180-watt charger.

What is the 'slash lighting' feature on the new G14, and how can it be customized?

The 'slash lighting' is a new design feature on the G14's lid that includes different lighting effects set through software, such as audio visualizations and system notifications, allowing users to get updates even with the lid closed.

What are the specifications of the highest configuration of the new Zephyrus G14?

The highest configuration includes AMD’s Ryzen 9 8945HS processor, Nvidia’s RTX 4070 graphics, and a new 14” OLED screen with G-Sync. There are also lower-specced versions available at a lower price.

How is the keyboard and touchpad on the new Zephyrus G14?

The chiclet keyboard has 1 zone of RGB or white backlighting with larger keycaps and 1.7mm of travel, providing a clicky feel. The glass touchpad is large, smooth, and accurate, but requires more force to click towards the top.

Does the new Zephyrus G14 have a fingerprint scanner, and what about the speaker quality?

The new G14 does not have a fingerprint scanner in the power button, continuing the absence since the 2021 model. However, it features 6 speakers that provide high-quality sound with plenty of bass and clarity at higher volumes.

What are the connectivity options and charging capabilities of the new G14?

The G14 has improved ports positioned closer to the back, including a power input, HDMI 2.1 output, USB 4 Type-C port, USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A port, and a 3.5mm audio combo jack on the left side, and a UHS-II MicroSD card slot along with additional USB ports on the right side. Only the left Type-C port supports USB 4 and can charge the laptop up to 100 watts.

How is the battery life and thermal performance of the new Zephyrus G14?

The G14 has excellent battery life, lasting nearly 11 hours in a YouTube video playback test and over 2 hours in gaming. It also has good thermal performance with 3 fans inside and liquid metal thermal compound on the CPU, maintaining cool internal temperatures even under full load.

What are the upgradeability and portability considerations for the new Zephyrus G14?

The new G14 has reduced upgradeability, removing the memory slot for a smaller design, and now only uses TR6 screws. It is more portable with a lighter weight and smaller dimensions, but this comes at the expense of some performance capabilities.

Outlines

00:00

💻 ASUS Zephyrus G14 Upgrades and Design Flaws

The ASUS Zephyrus G14 has received significant upgrades for the year, including an OLED screen and improved battery life, while also being more compact and portable. The laptop is available in two color options with a new CNC aluminum chassis, enhancing the build quality and providing a more metallic feel. Despite minor keyboard and lid flex, the overall design is solid. However, there are concerns about the wobbly lid and the absence of a fingerprint scanner. The G14 now features a 14-inch OLED screen with G-Sync and is powered by high-end components like AMD's Ryzen 9 8945HS processor and Nvidia's RTX 4070 graphics. The keyboard has improved with larger keycaps and 1.7mm travel, and the touchpad is smooth and accurate, though it requires more force for clicks. The laptop also boasts a 6-speaker setup for high-quality audio output. Despite the improvements, there are trade-offs, such as the removal of the memory slot for upgrades and the use of a less common TR6 screw, which may affect the laptop's upgradeability and maintenance.

05:02

🔋 Battery Life and Thermal Performance

The ASUS Zephyrus G14 boasts an impressive battery life, lasting nearly 11 hours in a YouTube video playback test and over 2 hours in gaming tests, outperforming most other laptops. The laptop features a 4-Cell 73Wh battery and includes battery care mode to extend its lifespan. Thermal performance is commendable, with the G14 employing three fans and liquid metal thermal compound for efficient cooling. Despite the slimmer design, the laptop maintains cool internal temperatures even under full load, thanks to the removal of side air exhaust vents and an improved rear lift design. The cooling system allows for different performance modes, with manual mode offering the best results but also the loudest fan noise. The thermal performance indicates that the G14 is capable of handling demanding tasks without overheating.

10:06

🎮 Gaming and Performance Trade-offs

The G14's gaming performance is slightly compromised due to the CPU being limited to 12 watts when the GPU is under load, which is lower than expected. This results in average frame rates that are not as high as other RTX 4070 laptops, with only minor differences observed between the G14 and cheaper RTX 4060 laptops. The laptop's design prioritizes GPU power, and while the CPU performance is decent, it is not the best in its class. The G14's Ryzen 9 8945HS processor, while essentially a renamed 7940HS, shows that generational improvements do not necessarily equate to significant performance gains. The laptop's performance in content creation tests like Adobe Premiere, DaVinci Resolve, and Blender also reflects this trend, with results being close to those of RTX 4060 laptops.

15:08

🖥 Display and Audio Quality Enhancements

The G14 introduces an OLED panel for the first time, offering excellent color representation and fast screen response times. The display is not the brightest but is still competitive with other OLED panels. The absence of backlight bleed and the display's glossy finish contribute to a better viewing experience with less reflection. The screen's fast response time and low system latency make it suitable for gaming. The laptop also supports G-Sync, a feature new to 2024 OLED panels, enhancing the gaming experience. Additionally, the G14 includes a 1080p camera with IR for Windows Hello face unlock and improved microphone quality, providing a better overall multimedia experience.

20:11

💰 Pricing, Linux Support, and Final Thoughts

Pricing for the ASUS Zephyrus G14 varies, with the tested configuration available for $2200 USD on ASUS's website and previously on sale at Best Buy for $2000. The pricing reflects a premium for the newer model, which offers a more portable and OLED-equipped experience but may be considered a step backward in terms of upgradeability and performance compared to the previous model. Linux support is decent, with most hardware working out of the box, although there are some limitations with speaker volume and keyboard brightness controls. The G14's BIOS is basic and lacks customization options. The final verdict suggests that while the new G14 is a viable option for those valuing portability and OLED display, it may not be worth the extra cost for most users, especially when considering the previous model's performance and upgradeability.

Keywords

💡Zephyrus G14

The Zephyrus G14 is a gaming laptop model from ASUS. It is the main subject of the video, with the script discussing its various features, upgrades, and performance. The term is used to refer to the specific laptop ASUS has improved upon for the year, highlighting its new design, specifications, and user experience.

💡OLED screen

An OLED (Organic Light Emitting Diodes) screen is a display technology known for its high contrast ratio, fast response times, and energy efficiency. In the context of the video, the Zephyrus G14 has been upgraded to include an OLED screen, which is a notable feature enhancing the visual experience for users, as mentioned in the script when discussing the display's color and response time.

💡Battery life

Battery life refers to the amount of time a device can operate on a full charge without needing to be plugged in. The script emphasizes the improved battery life of the Zephyrus G14, stating that it lasts for nearly 11 hours in a video playback test, which is a significant upgrade and a key selling point for potential buyers looking for portability.

💡Portability

Portability is the ease with which a device can be carried or moved from one place to another. The video script mentions the Zephyrus G14 being smaller, lighter, and more portable than its predecessor, which is an important aspect for users who require a laptop that is easy to transport.

💡CNC aluminum chassis

A CNC (Computer Numerical Control) aluminum chassis refers to the laptop's body, which is made using CNC machining to create a precise and solid structure. The script describes the use of a CNC aluminum chassis for the first time in the G14, contributing to its enhanced build quality and a more premium feel.

💡Key travel

Key travel is the distance a key on a keyboard moves when pressed. It affects the typing experience. The script mentions that the keys on the Zephyrus G14 have 1.7mm of travel, which is considered a comfortable amount, providing a subtle clicky feel that users generally appreciate for typing.

💡Graphics

In the context of computing, graphics refers to the visual output capabilities of a device, typically related to gaming or graphic design. The script discusses the inclusion of Nvidia's RTX 4070 graphics in the Zephyrus G14, which is a high-performance graphics card that enhances the laptop's ability to run graphically intensive applications and games.

💡Thermal testing

Thermal testing is the process of evaluating how well a device manages heat under load. The script mentions upcoming thermal testing for the Zephyrus G14, which is crucial for understanding the laptop's cooling capabilities and potential for maintaining performance during intensive tasks.

💡Upgradeability

Upgradeability refers to how easily components of a device can be replaced or upgraded. The script points out that the 2024 version of the G14 has reduced upgradeability due to the removal of the memory slot and the use of soldered memory, which is a trade-off for the laptop's smaller form factor.

💡G-Sync

G-Sync is a technology developed by Nvidia that synchronizes the refresh rate of a monitor or display with the frame rate of a graphics card to reduce visual tearing and provide smoother visuals. The script highlights that the new OLED screen in the G14 supports G-Sync, which is a first for ASUS laptops and a benefit for gamers seeking a better visual experience.

💡MUX switch

A MUX switch allows a user to switch between integrated and discrete graphics processing in a laptop. The script mentions that the G14 has a MUX switch, enabling users to choose between different performance modes, which can impact battery life and graphics performance.

Highlights

ASUS’s Zephyrus G14 features upgrades including an OLED screen and enhanced battery life while maintaining a smaller, lighter, and more portable design.

The G14 is available in two finishes, platinum white and eclipse grey, with a new CNC aluminum chassis for improved solidity and build quality.

Keyboard flex and lid flex are minimal, but the lid is noted to be more wobbly compared to previous models.

The G14 has a redesigned hinge mechanism that allows for a 135-degree screen opening but no longer reclines fully.

The new model is more portable with reduced dimensions and weight, and it comes with a smaller 180-watt charger instead of the previous 240-watt charger.

ASUS introduces 'slash lighting' on the lid, offering customizable lighting effects and system notifications.

The highest configuration includes AMD’s Ryzen 9 8945HS processor, Nvidia’s RTX 4070 graphics, and a 14” OLED screen with G-Sync.

The chiclet keyboard has improved with 1 zone backlighting and larger keycaps, although the lighting can appear patchy.

The glass touchpad is smooth and accurate, but requires more force for clicks higher up on the pad.

The G14 lacks a fingerprint scanner, continuing a trend since the 2021 model.

The laptop boasts 6 speakers for high-quality sound with plenty of bass and clarity at high volumes.

Ports have been improved and relocated closer to the back, removing side air exhaust vents.

The G14 has a single M.2 2280 slot for storage, and the memory is no longer upgradeable due to the smaller design.

Battery life is exceptional, with the G14 lasting nearly 11 hours in a YouTube video playback test and over 2 hours in gaming.

The G14 now has 3 fans for cooling, with shared heatpipes and liquid metal on the CPU, but no air exhaust vents on the sides.

Internal temperatures remain cool during stress tests, suggesting the removal of side vents does not negatively impact thermals.

The G14 prioritizes GPU power for gaming, with the CPU limited to 12 watts when the GPU is under load.

The new OLED screen offers excellent color, fast response times, and no backlight bleed, contributing to low system latency.

The G14 includes a 1080p camera with IR for Windows Hello face unlock and improved microphone quality.

Game performance tests show the G14's RTX 4070 performing at the lower end of comparable laptops, with minimal differences at higher resolutions.

Content creation tests reveal the G14's performance is similar to that of RTX 4060 laptops, emphasizing the importance of considering value for money.

The BIOS offers limited customization options, lacking the depth of competitors like MSI, Dell, or Lenovo.

Linux support on the G14 is good out of the box, with most peripherals working, but with quiet speakers and some control limitations.

Pricing for the new G14 is considered a premium, with the tested configuration available for $2200 USD, and sales affecting its value proposition.

The 2024 G14 offers a trade-off between portability and performance, with the OLED screen and smaller form factor coming at a higher cost.

Transcripts

ASUS’s Zephyrus G14 gets some awesome upgrades this year!

Like an OLED screen, a new level of battery life, all while being smaller, lighter and

more portable than ever before.

But it’s not all good news.

Unfortunately there are also some big problems that you need to know about!

The G14 is available in platinum white or eclipse grey finishes.

It’s using a CNC aluminum chassis for the first time, which feels more solid compared

to previous generations.

Overall build quality feels excellent, and the texture just feels more metallic compared

to any older G14.

So Keyboard flex is minor, and so is lid flex too, but I found the lid to be more wobbly

compared to before.

It can flop around for quite a while if you bump the table or move the screen.

Despite the wobble the hinges feel nice and smooth, even when ripping the lid open fast.

The screen doesn’t go all the way back anymore either, but it’s enough for me at 135 degrees.

This new G14 is smaller in every dimension compared to last year’s version, it just

feels more portable.

It’s lighter too, at less than one and a half kilos or 3.3lb, increasing to 2kg or

four and a half pounds with the 180 watt charger included.

Last year’s model used a larger 240 watt charger, so this is another change that just

makes the 2024 G14 a more portable package than ever before.

The new design has what ASUS calls slash lighting on the lid.

There are different effects you can set through software, including audio visualizations,

and even system notifications so you can get updates with the lid closed.

I’ve got the highest configuration with AMD’s Ryzen 9 8945HS processor, Nvidia’s

RTX 4070 graphics, and that new 14” OLED screen with G-Sync, but there are lower specced

versions available for less money with the link below the video.

The chiclet keyboard has 1 zone of either RGB or white backlighting.

All keys and secondary functions get lit up, but the lighting looks a little patchy.

The tops of the F keys for instance are harder to see.

Key brightness can be adjusted between 3 levels with the function and F2 or F3 shortcuts,

and you can swap between three basic effects with the Aura key on F4.

The backlighting was harder to see on the platinum white model.

The key caps are 12% larger this year.

The keys have 1.7mm of travel and I liked typing on it, there’s just a subtle clicky

feel.

The glass touchpad is fairly big, nice and smooth, and accurate to click with.

The only thing I didn’t like is it needs too much force to trigger a click once you

get higher up.

Unfortunately there’s still no fingerprint scanner in the power button.

The G14 hasn’t had that since the 2021 model.

There are 6 speakers in total, including front facing and some underneath.

They sound really good, better than most other laptops with plenty of bass, while still sounding

clear at higher volume.

Speaking of sounds, it plays this one by default on boot.

Luckily you can disable it through either Armory Crate or the BIOS.

The latencymon results were great, much better than what we were seeing from laptops last

year.

Ports are improved this year because they’re closer to the back.

ASUS were able to remove the air exhaust vents on the sides, but we’ll see if this is a

problem in the upcoming thermal testing.

The left side has the power input at the back, which uses a custom rectangle connector instead

of round now, HDMI 2.1 output, USB 4 Type-C port, USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A port, and a 3.5mm

audio combo jack.

The right side has a UHS-II MicroSD card slot, and there are USB Type-A and C ports on this

side too, but 3.2 Gen 2 for both this time.

So only the left Type-C port has USB 4 support, and it’s also the only Type-C port that

can be used to charge the laptop with up to 100 watts.

So if you wanted to both charge the laptop on Type-C and use USB 4 speeds for something

else then you’re out of luck.

But both Type-C ports have DisplayPort 1.4 support, so you can connect a monitor to either.

And with optimus on, the left Type-C port connects to the integrated graphics, but it

connects to the discrete graphics if you turn optimus off.

The right Type-C port on the other hand always connects to the Nvidia discrete graphics,

whether optimus is on or off.

HDMI always connects directly to the Nvidia graphics too, and we confirmed it could run

our LG B9 TV at 4K 120Hz 12-Bit with G-Sync.

Getting inside requires removing 11 TR6 screws of 3 different lengths, so keep track as you

remove them.

For some reason 2 on the back are covered by these rubber bits, but they’re easy to

remove.

In last year’s G14, the front right screw only came out a bit and helped lift the bottom

panel up, making opening easier.

The 2024 one doesn’t do this anymore, but the pry tools I use, linked below, were able

to open it up easily enough.

Inside we’ve got the battery down the front, Wi-Fi 6E card just above on the right, and

single M.2 2280 slot on the left.

The speeds from the installed 1TB PCIe Gen 4 SSD were decent, but not amazing.

The read speeds from the Micro SD card slot were great though, basically maxing out my

V90 card.

Wi-Fi speed was also excellent, one of the best results I’ve ever measured, and faster

compared to last year’s G14 despite the fact that it had the same MediaTek Wi-Fi card.

My test setup is exactly the same, so I can only assume they’ve somehow improved antenna

placement.

Since 2020, the G14 has always had one memory slot for upgrades, but that’s been removed

this year in favor of the smaller design.

It’s available with 16 and 32 gig options, and although 16 gigs is still ok for most

games, it’s getting difficult to justify for a machine you’ll probably want to use

for years, so probably worth getting the 32 gig option.

On the plus side, soldered memory means faster LPDDR5X-6400.

So the upgradeability score isn’t great this year.

I removed half a point for the change from Phillips head screws to the less common TR6,

and removing the memory slot takes off a full point.

So in this regard, it’s worse compared to any other G14 laptop so far.

The G14 is powered by a 4-Cell 73Wh battery.

We can enable battery care mode through the MyASUS software, which is separate from Armory

Crate, and this limits the charge level to 80% to help improve the battery's lifespan.

Panel power saver is enabled by default, which automatically lowers the screen’s refresh

rate to 60Hz when you unplug the charger to save power.

This is why the screen flashes black, and it goes back to 120Hz when you plug back in.

Battery life was extremely good, almost lasting for 11 hours in the YouTube video playback

test, and over 2 hours in the gaming test.

This puts it well above most other laptops tested, including last year’s G14 which

actually has a slightly larger battery inside.

Let’s check out thermals next.

The G14 has 3 fans inside now, up from last year’s 2, but one of those fans is where

the memory slot used to be.

There are heatpipes shared between the CPU and GPU with thermal grizzly liquid metal

on the CPU and paste on the GPU.

There are holes directly above the air intake fans, and air gets exhausted out of the back.

There are not any air exhaust vents on the sides this year, despite the slimmer design.

The rear lift up design is also missing this year, so it’s harder for fresh air to get

in underneath.

ASUS’s Armoury Crate software allows us to change between different performance modes,

which from lowest to highest are silent, performance, turbo and manual.

Both turbo and manual modes apply this overclock to the GPU, but only manual mode lets you

customize it.

Manual mode also lets you control CPU and GPU power limits, temperature limits, and

gives you some control over the fan curves.

Whenever we’ve tested manual mode, all power and temp sliders were maxed out with fans

on 100% speed for best results.

The internal temps were fine when just sitting there idle considering the fans were off.

The rest of the results are from combined CPU and GPU stress tests which aim to represent

a worst case full load scenario.

The internal temps are all running cool in this workload, regardless of the performance

mode in use.

It barely got warmer with the lid closed, so no problems if you want to dock it.

The cooling pad I test with, linked below, didn’t make a difference though.

Only running the fans at full speed was able to lower temps, but you just don’t need

to considering that worst case we’re below 80 degrees Celsius.

This is a great result, so removing the air exhaust vents from the side doesn’t seem

to matter.

These are the clock speeds during the same tests.

There’s not really a difference between performance, turbo and manual modes, which

explains why the temperatures weren’t that much different either.

Checking the power levels explains why.

The processor was limited to just a 12 watt TDP when the GPU is under load, which is quite

low - definitely one of the lowest I’ve ever seen, which is why the 8 cores of the

Ryzen 9 8945HS were averaging 2.5GHz in performance, turbo and manual modes.

Though to be fair, those are decent clocks for the lower power level, so I’m wondering

if the 8945hs is binned well.

Clock speeds only went higher in silent mode, and that’s because the CPU was able to run

with more power, but at the expense of less GPU power.

The Nvidia control panel software says that this is a 90 watt RTX 4070, and that’s what

we’re running at in turbo and manual modes.

So not what I’d consider to be a full powered 4070.

This behavior is confirmed in a game test.

Performance, Turbo and Manual modes were all limited to 12 watts on the CPU so that the

GPU can sustain 90 watts, and this mix seems to be working.

The G14 has a high 2880 by 1800 resolution, so it makes sense to prioritize GPU power

for gaming, though considering these frame rates you’ll definitely want to make use

of features like DLSS.

For context, last year’s thicker G14 was able to run between 100 and 125 watts, so

the 2024 G14 sacrifices some GPU power for the thinner design.

I don’t think this is too bad though, because based on my own testing there’s only a slight

difference in game FPS between running the RTX 4070 at 90 and 100 watts, with 100 watts

offering just 1.5% more FPS in a 10 game average.

The CPU can use more power if the GPU is idle, like in Cinebench.

Up to the mid 70 watt range was seen, but with Ryzen processors adding more power results

in diminishing returns faster when compared to Intel processors.

This explains why the multicore score isn’t changing too much between the different performance

modes.

Although game performance isn’t great in silent mode, as we just saw, CPU only performance

is still good.

Now let’s not forget that the 8945HS is essentially just a renamed 7940HS from last

year.

They’re both Zen 4 chips with the same core count, same thread count, same clock speeds,

and same amount of cache.

The only difference is the 8945hs has a better npu for AI work.

In turbo and manual modes I actually found last year’s G14 with 7940HS to perform better,

both in single and multi core performance, but that’s because the 2023 version was

able to send more power to the processor.

This results in the 8945HS coming in a little behind the other Zen 4 laptops that I’ve

tested, so don’t be fooled by the name looking like a higher number - it’s meaningless

in terms of performance differences.

Now to be fair, the new 2024 version of the G14 is also smaller than those other Ryzen

laptops too.

ASUS have prioritized a smaller laptop this year, but the expense is less performance,

granted not too much.

It just depends if that’s a tradeoff you’re willing to make.

CPU Performance lowers if we unplug the charger and instead run off of battery power.

It’s ahead compared to last year’s G14 now, but it’s difficult to say how much

of this is due to generational laptop differences, battery chemistry, or just straight up silicon

lottery luck.

Regardless, this is a decent result compared to the same selection of laptops.

Most laptops I test are in the low 30 degrees Celsius range on the keyboard at idle, and

the G14 was in-line with this and felt cool.

It’s warmer in the middle with a stress test running.

The middle of the keyboard only felt warm, not hot.

The back was hotter, but you don’t need to touch there.

The higher performance mode was fairly similar, but the fans are louder now to compensate

for the extra power.

Turbo mode was a little warmer in the center of the keyboard, but it’s still only a bit

warm.

The left and right sides are quite cool as air goes through the keyboard.

Actually just for some context, here’s last year’s G14 in the same workload in turbo

mode.

The center of the keyboard is around 10 degrees Celsius warmer, so the 2024 model is a nice

improvement in this regard.

It’s possible to get the 2024 model even cooler in manual mode with the fans maxed

out, but this makes it much louder too, let’s have a listen.

The fans were off most of the time at idle.

They briefly turned on from time to time, which is why I’ve got two results, but they

were still quiet.

The fans get louder in the higher performance modes, as expected, and although the cooling

pad didn’t really lower the temperatures it was able to reduce the fan noise by around

4 decibels.

It’s fairly loud in manual mode with the fans maxed out, but as we saw earlier, there’s

no real benefit to doing this as the internals aren’t hot enough to justify the extra volume.

And considering that the internal temps were cool, I’ve got to assume that the main reason

they’re limiting the processor to just 12 watts with the GPU also active is to keep

the exterior cool.

Because last year’s G14 could feel pretty hot when under load.

The fans on this one did sound a bit higher pitched as well, which might be annoying,

but it didn’t really annoy me because I always wear headphones.

Alright, we really need to talk about the screen, because this is the first time ASUS

have given an OLED panel to the G14.

The colors look excellent, as expected from an OLED panel.

It’s not super bright or anything, but above 400 nits in SDR mode isn’t bad, and this

puts it in-line with other OLED panels that I’ve tested recently.

You’ve really got to go for Mini-LED if you want much brighter.

Backlight bleed doesn’t exist, because black on an OLED turns off the pixels.

It’s a glossy display, but we noticed less obvious reflection compared to previous OLED

laptops.

Screen response time is another area where OLED really shines.

On average we’re looking at less than a millisecond for transitions to occur, which

is super fast when compared against non-OLED gaming laptops.

This makes it faster when compared to last year’s G14, but honestly 4ms is such a great

result anyway that I doubt most people will notice the difference.

The total system latency is the amount of time between a mouse click and when a gunshot

fire appears on the screen in Counter-Strike 2.

The fast OLED screen contributes to it getting such a fast result here, but that said other

laptops without OLED are quite close.

The G14 has a MUX switch, so you can turn optimus on and off through ASUS’s Armory

Crate software, but that needs a reboot.

You don’t have to do that though, as it has advanced optimus, so you can use the Nvidia

control panel to enable or disable optimus without rebooting.

The G14 also has G-Sync, which is a new feature available in 2024 OLED panels.

Gaming laptops with OLED before this year were not able to support G-Sync.

Like other ASUS laptops with OLED screens, the software has some OLED care options to

help reduce the chance of burn in over time.

There’s a 1080p camera above the screen.

It has IR for Windows Hello face unlock, and mic quality is way better compared to last

year.

Here’s how the camera and microphones look and sound, and this is what it sounds like

while typing on the keyboard, and as you can see there is a little bit of screen wobble

when doing this.

Now let’s find out how well the new G14 performs in games.

We’ve tested with these settings for best results.

Cyberpunk 2077 was tested with our own custom test run, and I’ve got the G14 shown by

the red highlight.

At 1080p it’s one of the lowest results from an RTX 4070 laptop, basically matching

MSI’s similarly sized Stealth 14 from last year.

Razer’s Blade 14 with the same GPU was 12% ahead though.

I confirmed that the CPU was still limited to 12 watts with this game running, just like

the stress tests earlier, but it doesn’t seem to be limiting 1080p performance as much

as I thought.

There’s a much smaller difference between those 14 inch laptops at the higher 1440p

resolution, but the G14 is still one of the lower 4070 results and not too different compared

to cheaper 4060 laptops.

Red Dead Redemption 2 was tested with the game’s benchmark.

Again at 1080p it’s closer to the bottom of the 4070 laptops tested, but the difference

isn’t that big, and to be fair the G14 is smaller compared to many of those.

It’s not doing so well at 1440p, actually getting beaten by RTX 4060 laptops now.

Look, the difference is only minor and honestly within the margin of error range, but it just

goes to show that it might not be worth spending more money for the 4070 in this year’s G14.

That said, it does still offer an increase compared to last year’s G14 with 4060.

It’s a similar deal in Control at 1080p, the G14 is one of the lower RTX 4070 results

and not too different when compared to RTX 4060 laptops, like last year’s cheaper G14.

And then it’s the same deal at the higher 1440p resolution as well.

Here are the 3DMark results for those that find them useful, now for some content creator

tests.

Adobe Premiere and DaVinci Resolve were similar to the games, one of the lower 4070 results

and close to the RTX 4060 laptops.

Adobe Photoshop was a bit better, but this test depends more on single core performance

than the GPU.

4070s in Blender are only a little ahead of the 4060, regardless of laptop size.

The BIOS looks nice, but there’s almost no customization available, just the basics

and no tuning of any kind.

Come on, what are you doing asus?

It’s especially bare when compared to other brands like MSI, Dell or Lenovo.

Linux support was tested with an Ubuntu 23.10 live CD.

By default the keyboard, touchpad, camera, and Wi-Fi all worked.

Speakers kind of worked, but were super quiet, like I was hearing an internal speaker, but

I couldn’t change it in the sound settings.

Keyboard shortcuts to adjust screen brightness and volume worked, but keyboard brightness

and effect controls did not work.

Pricing and availability will change over time, so check the link below the video for

updates and current sales.

And if the G14 does have a good sale, we’ll be sure to add it to our gaminglaptop.deals

website.

We update that everyday to include all of the latest sales, so make sure that you check

it out regularly to save money on your next gaming laptop.

At the time of recording, the configuration I’ve tested goes for $2200 USD on ASUS’s

website, but it was on Best Buy a few days ago for $2000, not sure why they removed it.

Again, availability will change over time, so you’ll have to refer to the link below

the video.

For some context, last year’s G14 with 4070 but half the RAM goes for $150-350 less without

a sale.

So you’re definitely paying a premium for this newer model which arguably is a step

backwards in some regards.

The 2024 G14 with lower tier RTX 4060 and 16 gigs of RAM apparently goes for $1600 USD,

but last year’s version is $550 less on sale at the moment, which is why we’ve got

it on the gaminglaptop.deals website.

Without the sale though, it’s the same price as the newer 2024 model.

Ultimately, I don’t have a problem with ASUS offering this version of the G14 as an

option.

If you’re someone that likes OLED and wants a more portable, smaller and lighter version

at a higher cost, then here’s a new option for you.

But on the other hand, if you prefer more upgrade options, slightly better performance

but a slightly bigger laptop that’s still quite portable as it’s 14 inches, then last

year’s G14 isn’t going anywhere and will still be available for less money.

For most people, I don’t think that it’s worth spending more money on this newer G14.

Unless it has a great sale or has something that you really want to spend the extra money

on.

But if you do go for this new model, as much as your wallet’s going to hate it, you probably

want to go for the 32 gig RAM option.

I’ve actually been told that some regions might not even have the 16 gig option for

sale, which might be for the best, as it will keep this laptop running longer and help reduce

E-waste.

If you’re after something with way more upgradeability that’s far less likely to

be E-waste any time soon then check out this video next where I’ve tested Framework’s

Laptop 16.

Yeah, it’s a bigger 16 inch gaming laptop, but I mean you can take out the GPU and swap

it, as well as way more cool things - I’ll see you in that video next!