The new Rog Zephyrus G14 laptop from Asus is an absolute wonder of a gaming laptop. It’s amazing to look at and lightweight, so you can put it in your bag and forget it’s there. Let’s know more about Asus Rog Zephyrus G14 2024 gaming laptop.
Asus Rog Zephyrus G14 Review
ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14 has changed it for a better design and uses the new Ryzen series CPUs. It’s a much better gaming laptop, it finally has a webcam and the battery life is amazing.
ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14 is the latest version. It’s not just an upgrade from the previous version, it’s a far superior version of the G14 2021. But it’s not perfect and there are a few things to watch out for!
Design: Asus Rog Zephyrus G14
The ROG Zephyrus G14 is slightly smaller and thinner than its predecessor as a result of a 16:10 screen with smaller bezels. At first, we expected Asus to reuse the main chassis of the previous design, but it is not.
Nevertheless, the core design of this series has not changed. This is still a boxed format with Ergolift hinges. This means that the laptop body is lifted with rubber feet at the bottom of the screen to allow for better ventilation.
This design also means that the radiator is positioned just below the screen and some hot air is blown into the panel. However, Asus recognized this inconvenience and implemented a trick to direct the air upwards and made it less likely to fit into the screen.
This will be discussed in more detail in another section. Opening this laptop can still be operated with one hand, and we noticed that this update improves the laptop’s grip on the desk thanks to larger, better-slip rubber feet on the floor. The entire d-panel has been redesigned with a graphic with a silver part above the cooling module.
Another novelty is the ability to flip the screen back up to 180 degrees. It’s a feature that wasn’t possible on the previous G14, and I find it very useful in a portable design when used on the knee or thigh.
Asus has also moved the internal speaker grille above the keyboard. That said, it’s more difficult to isolate noise with everyday use than when it was positioned on an armrest in the past. Another small but practical change is that the status LED is no longer visible and hidden behind the main chassis, around the ROG Zephyrus brand under the screen.
This is still not ideal, as the light shines through the sparkling branding and stands out when using the laptop in a dark room at night, but at least the LEDs are smaller and dimmer than the previous models and don’t go directly to the line. Same view as the previous G14.
Beyond that, the G14 can still be obtained as an all-white model with a white keyboard, the one here, an update to the previous silver/white design, or an eclipse gray model with a black keyboard.
The latter smudges easily and offers better key contrast with the lighting system, while this white model looks cool and unique and is the type of finish that doesn’t require daily brushing.
White and gray finishes can be scratched or dented if abused, so be careful when carrying both in your backpack and place them inside a protective sleeve.
Another addition to the G14 GA402rk series is the updated Anime Matrix dot array (optional), which can be configured on the lid, allowing you to opt for an advanced system with more LEDs allowing for sharper text and animation.
One last thing to mention here is IO. Since the rear is occupied by the radiator, the ports are still placed on the left and right towards the front of the laptop. The novelty is the UHS-II micro SD card reader of this generation, other aspects remain unchanged.
You can still only use the USB-C port on the left for charging and video output directly from the dGPU, the HDMI port is still 2.0b and not the latest HDMI 2.1 standard, but now the dGPU (formerly connected to the iGPU).
The USB-C port on the left connects to the dGPU and is used for an external monitor when running games to get the most out of the chip’s performance, the port on the right edge connects to the iGPU and outputs video while running the laptop on battery should be considered.
Screen: Rog Zephyrus G14
Asus has a higher 16:10 display on the Zephyrus G14, with all narrower bezels and a smaller chin. This means extra space for your content and a smaller overall footprint with this generation.
They also updated the panel. The series’ FHD and QHD options are now brighter and faster than ever before, with 3ms response times with Overdrive. That means we can finally get rid of the ghosting that the previous two G14 generations had to accommodate in fast-paced games.
Adaptive Sync still exists to prevent tearing, however, setting MUX in dGPU mode does not support GSync on the internal display. To be fair, there is still a quality difference between the entry-level FHD 144Hz display, which only offers 100% sRGB color gamut, and the QHD 120Hz option, which offers 100% DCI-P3 color gamut.
This QHD option is also slightly brighter, but the black and overall contrast is better on the FHD model, so unless you plan to run color-sensitive work on this laptop, that FHD panel might suit most users.
Performance: Zephyrus G14
The Zephyrus G14 GA402 series is now an AMD exclusive design, which is based on RDNA2-based AMD Radeon 680M integrated graphics and dedicated graphics chips for AMD Radeon RX 6700S or AMD Radeon RX 6800S. Here is a detailed comparison of the two AMD Radeon RX 6800S and 6700S chips.
Inside, there is a vapor chamber cooling module. Paired with liquid metal applied to both the CPU and GPU, this thermal module allows the G14 GA402 to run at higher sustained power than the previous generation at up to 105W TGP using AMD Smart Shift. The CPU also runs at 35++W even under demanding loads with burst power up to 85W.
An interesting detail about the cooling of this model is that Asus knows that blowing hot air into the screen isn’t ideal, and for this generation, it has redesigned the internal radiators while still keeping the exhaust vents under the screen so that a little bit of little air is removed from the bezels. Pin prevents entry into the panel and pushes it upwards. But it’s too early to tell how this tweak works in real life.
This G14 device was also pre-production running on initial drivers and software. Thanks to the updated architecture, higher power, and MUX, it should deliver a significant performance boost over the previous G14 generation with the RTX 3060 60-80W dGPU. AMD may share more details at their launch event, so we’ll update as we learn more.
Specs: Asus Rog Zephyrus G14
Talking about space the laptop comes with 24GB of DDR5 RAM with 1TB NVMe SSD internal storage. There is also MUX via M.2 slot, DDR5-4800 memory support, and PCIe gen4 storage. As with other Zephyrus models, the memory is partially soldered to the motherboard and one DIMM is available for upgrades. You can also upgrade to an M.2 slot by removing the back panel retainer with a few Phillips screws.
Keyboard and Clickpad: Zephyrus G14
At first glance, the larger clickpad of the Zephyrus G14 stands out. This is because the chassis is slightly higher and the available space is better utilized.
The keyboard appears to be similar to the previous design, with only minor changes to the bottom row. Here, the Space key is now shorter and the dedicated PrintScreen key has been removed to make room for the wider directional keys.
The updated model seems to have a bit deeper stroke depth and a bit quieter operation. Overall, has gotten a bit better with firmer feedback and quieter presses, especially on the Space key.
The novelty of this implementation is RGB backlighting, but previous generations only offered white-light keyboards. The LEDs are quite bright and only single zone control is possible in the Armory Crate app.
Battery: Asus Rog Zephyrus G14
With a 76Wh battery that should provide a fair runtime for performance. Inch Asus now has to accept the thicker bricks as they have moved their internal speakers above the keyboard and have had to ramp up the charger to 240W. You can also opt for USB-C charging when traveling.
Now I can guess you are wondering how long will Asus Rog Zephyrus G14 last! Asus mentions 10+ hours of usage in their marketing material, but considering how previous generations only offered around 5 hours of multitasking and 6 to 7 hours of streaming, it would be surprising if this could last more than 10 hours per day between different configurations. Choosing the FHD+ screen option will help if you plan to maximize the runtime of your battery.
Other features:
For biometrics, this Zephyrus G14’s power button no longer has a finger sensor, but you get an IR camera integrated within the camera ensemble on top of the main display. This is arguably the smoother way to sign in to Windows with Hello. It’s unclear why Asus decided to ditch the finger-sensor button.
Price
The latest Asus Zephyrus G14 costs less than $1500 in the AMD Ryzen 9 / RX 6700S configuration, and the high-end RX 6800S model is also available for few dollars extra. Later we could see more budget-oriented machines in the latest releases, something Asus has done in the past with its predecessors.
Zephyrus G14 or G15 which model is better?
The G14 is a much better hitter with a quick and accurate response. The M15 is second and the G15 is third a shallower, smoother, and somewhat unforgivable implementation. The G14 and G15 only show when the backlight is on, while the M15 uses RGB illuminated keys.
Should I buy Asus Rog Zephyrus G14?
If you’re looking for a small, versatile laptop priced under $2,000, the ROG Zephyrus G14 is an option to consider. Compared to the previous G14, this model has a sleeker look and more ergonomics, better inputs and ports, better screen options, a webcam, and more hardware with updated thermal modules.
But it’s no surprise that the robust specs inside the compact chassis lead to higher internal and external temperatures, especially on AMD-only platforms. So, before diving into this laptop, check out what you can expect from this laptop.
Conclusion
All in all, this Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 GA402 is an overall improvement with a collection of small improvements from the previous generation. We appreciate the more grippy rubber feet, 180-screen design, hidden status LEDs, and the fact that there is now a camera on top of the main display, more powerful specs with updated inputs, screen options, and more advanced specs. thermal module.
You still need to go through the proper rotation before making any conclusions about performance. The cooling design handles continuous loads in terms of temperature and noise levels.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is the Zephyrus G14?
The latest Asus Zephyrus G14 starts at $1,649 in the AMD Ryzen 9 and the high-end RX 6800S model is also available for $2,499.
When will the G14 be available?
The Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 is available from March 23, on Amazon.
Can I upgrade my ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14?
The laptop comes with 8GB or 16GB of memory soldered to it, and yes there is a free SODIMM slot for future upgrades.
How long will the ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14 last?
With 10-hour battery life and incredibly lightweight, you can take it anywhere, anytime.
Does ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14 ga402 have windows?
The all-new Zephyrus G14 comes standard with Windows 11 OS.
Is the ROG Zephyrus G14 good for engineering?
The ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14 is a laptop with everything you need to keep up with the latest demands in the tech industry. It is not specially made for engineers but it can be a good choice for engineers as well.
Does every G14 have an AniMe Matrix?
The AniMe Matrix is supported by the GA401 and GA402 series. However, some GA401 and GA402 series models do not support the AniMe Matrix display.
Does the Zephyrus G14 have a webcam?
Yes, the new Zephyrus G14 has a webcam on the top.
Does the Zephyrus G14 have an extra m2 slot?
The G14 has only 1 slot (up to 1TB), but you can use PCIe 4.0 M. 2 2280 size SSDs in the G14.
What RAM is compatible with Zephyrus G14?
All models of G14 have 8GB soldered on. You can add another 4, 8, or 16 GB RAM stick. If you want your ram to work properly in a dual-channel.
Does the G14 come with an external camera?
Yes inside the laptop, the box is an external webcam.
Does the Zephyrus G14 have an RGB keyboard?
As always RGB is our favorite keyboard, the G14’s keyboard now has RGB backlighting.
Can I upgrade my ASUS Zephyrus G14 graphics card?
No, the GPU is not upgradeable. However, ASUS offers other sub-models of this laptop with more powerful GPUs.
Does the Zephyrus G14 have a glass trackpad?
There is a glass trackpad that has grown in size this year and remains reasonably responsive.
