I recently had the opportunity to review the Asus Zenbook 14 OLED, a model equipped with a Ryzen processor. Walmart is currently selling this machine for $799 (compensated affiliate link) – a really good value.
This Asus Zenbook 14 is powered by an AMD Ryzen 7 8840HS processor and comes with 16GB of DDR5X RAM. This configuration is quite robust, allowing for tasks like gaming and video editing without significant slowdowns. It also includes 512GB of NVMe SSD storage.
One of the standout features of this laptop is its 14-inch 1920×1200 60hz OLED touch display. OLEDs are not common at this price point and the display has a great million-to-one contrast ratio and 100% coverage of the DCI-P3 color gamut. Although it’s effectively just a 1080p resolution at 14 inches the screen looks great.
In terms of battery life, the Zenbook 14 excels, offering between 15 to 18 hours of usage on a single charge under typical work conditions. This makes it ideal for long commutes or travel, ensuring productivity remains uninterrupted.
The build quality of the Zenbook 14 is impressive with an all-metal design and a total weight of just 2.82 pounds, making it both durable and portable. However, the device features a non-convertible design but the display can sit flat on the desk for using a stylus.
As far as ports are concerned, the Zenbook 14 features a full size USB-A port, two USB-C ports (one of which supports Thunderbolt via USB4), a full size HDMI output, and a headphone/microphone jack. However, it lacks an integrated card reader, which might be a minor inconvenience for some users.
The keyboard of the Zenbook 14 is comfortable to use, with decent key travel and backlighting. It also includes a unique feature—a ‘co-pilot’ key linked to Microsoft Bing and OpenAI, although its functionality is currently limited.
The laptop’s performance in web browsing and basic tasks is flawless, and it handles video editing and gaming decently for its configuration. The integrated 1080p webcam supports Windows Hello for facial recognition, enhancing security and convenience.
I also tested the laptop’s compatibility with Linux. Most hardware components were detected and functioned correctly except for the speakers, which did not work despite being recognized by the system. This is likely a minor issue that could be resolved with future driver updates.
Overall, the Asus Zenbook 14 OLED with Ryzen provides significant value for its price, making it an excellent alternative to more expensive models like the MacBook Air, especially for users who prioritize battery life and display quality.
Disclosure: This laptop was provided on loan from Asus and they did not provide any compensation. They did not review or approve my video and post before it was uploaded and all opinions are my own.