ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14 (2024) Review: The King of Portable Power?

The ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14 has always been a fan favorite, blending impressive gaming performance with a sleek, portable design. Now, the 2024 iteration promises to raise the bar even higher. Sporting the latest Ryzen CPUs and NVIDIA RTX 40-series GPUs in a redesigned chassis, this laptop aims to be the ultimate machine for both gamers and content creators on the go. As seasoned hardware testers, we at XenGamer.com put the new Zephyrus G14 through its paces to see if it lives up to the hype. Does it truly strike the perfect balance between portability and power? Let's dive in.

Build Quality & Design: Premium Feel, Travel-Ready

ASUS has clearly focused on refining the Zephyrus G14's design. The lid and keyboard deck are crafted from a high-quality aluminum alloy, lending a solid and premium feel. Meanwhile, the base utilizes magnesium alloy, further contributing to the laptop's rigidity without adding unnecessary weight. This combination of materials results in a chassis that feels remarkably sturdy. We observed minimal flexing or twisting, even when applying considerable pressure. The dark grey/black anodized finish looks fantastic, though it does tend to attract fingerprints. It's a minor aesthetic downside, but something to consider. We noted no sharp edges or uncomfortable areas, making it pleasant to handle.

Keyboard & Touchpad: A Tactile Treat

The keyboard is a standout feature. The keys offer a satisfying click, more of a quiet thud than a sharp clack, making it suitable for use in quiet environments. The key travel is approximately 1.7mm, which is ample for a laptop of this size, and the actuation force sits around 60g. This combination provides a comfortable and responsive typing experience. Even during extended gaming and writing sessions, the keyboard never felt cramped.

The touchpad is equally impressive. It's responsive and accurate, making navigation a breeze. Palm rejection is also excellent, preventing accidental cursor movements during typing. The fingerprint sensor integrated into the power button offers fast and reliable biometric authentication. We experienced no issues with its performance.

Port Selection: Enough for Most, But Could Be Better

The Zephyrus G14 offers a decent selection of ports: two USB-C ports (one with Thunderbolt 4, one with USB4), two USB-A ports (USB 3.2 Gen 2), an HDMI 2.1 port, a microSD card reader, and a 3.5mm audio combo jack. This is generally sufficient for connecting common gaming peripherals like a mouse, keyboard, and headset, while still leaving room for external storage. The port placement is generally well-considered, minimizing cable clutter.

While the inclusion of a microSD card reader is appreciated, a full-sized SD card reader would be preferable for content creators who frequently work with cameras. The ports feel firmly anchored to the chassis, providing a reassuring sense of durability. They are also clearly labeled with laser-etched icons, making them easy to identify even in low-light conditions.

AniMe Matrix Display: Style vs. Substance

The AniMe Matrix display remains a unique and eye-catching feature. It allows for extensive customization, letting you display custom animations, text, and even system information. However, it does come with a trade-off: expect a 10-15% reduction in battery life when active. Whether the visual flair outweighs the battery runtime penalty is a matter of personal preference. It certainly provides a unique selling point for gamers and content creators who want to personalize their laptop.

Cooling System: Keeping Things Cool Under Pressure

The cooling system is crucial for maintaining performance in a compact gaming laptop. The Zephyrus G14 utilizes copper heatsinks, multiple interconnected heat pipes, and Arc Flow Fans with 84 blades. This design effectively dissipates heat during demanding gaming sessions and CPU-intensive tasks like video rendering. Fan noise levels vary depending on the performance mode. In Silent mode, the laptop is virtually silent. Performance mode offers a good balance between performance and noise, while Turbo mode unleashes the full potential of the hardware, albeit with noticeably louder fans.

The cooling system does a commendable job of preventing CPU and GPU throttling under sustained load. However, the laptop can get noticeably warm to the touch in certain areas, particularly around the WASD keys and the top of the keyboard deck, during heavy use.

Performance: Benchmarks & Gaming Prowess

We tested the Zephyrus G14 (2024) equipped with an NVIDIA RTX 4070 GPU and a Ryzen 9 8945HS CPU. Here are the benchmark results:

3DMark Time Spy Extreme (GPU):

• Overall Score: 7,850
• Graphics Score: 7,700
• CPU Score: 8,500
• Average FPS (Graphics Test): 48

These scores are in line with other laptops equipped with an RTX 4070. We observed no significant thermal throttling during the benchmark, indicating a well-designed cooling system.

Cinebench R24 (CPU):

• Single-Core Score: 115
• Multi-Core Score: 1,150

The Ryzen 9 8945HS performed admirably in Cinebench R24. Under sustained load during the multi-core test, the CPU clock speed remained relatively stable, showcasing the effectiveness of the cooling system. These scores are comparable to desktop Ryzen 7 CPUs from previous generations, demonstrating the significant performance gains in mobile processors.

Gaming Performance:

• Alan Wake 2: At high settings with ray tracing on "Medium" and DLSS set to "Quality," the Zephyrus G14 achieved an average framerate of 35-40fps. DLSS significantly improved performance without a major hit to image quality. The realistic reflections and lighting effects were beautifully rendered.
• Cyberpunk 2077: At "Ultra" settings with ray tracing disabled and DLSS enabled (set to "Balanced"), the laptop maintained a stable framerate of around 55-65fps during intense gameplay sequences. The demanding lighting and particle effects were handled well. Average framerate in benchmark runs was 60fps.
• Valorant: At the highest possible settings with a refresh rate of 165Hz, the Zephyrus G14 consistently achieved framerates above 144Hz. The game felt incredibly responsive, with no noticeable input lag or stuttering.

Software & Features: Armoury Crate Analyzed

Armoury Crate (version 5.5.0) is ASUS's central software hub for controlling various aspects of the laptop, including performance profiles, fan curves, and RGB lighting. The software is generally intuitive, but can feel a bit cluttered at times. It effectively allows you to customize the laptop's performance, offering Silent, Performance, and Turbo modes.

Armoury Crate can consume a significant amount of system resources, even when idle. We did not experience any conflicts with other programs or drivers during testing. The different performance modes noticeably impact gaming and content creation performance. For example, switching from Silent to Turbo mode resulted in a 10-15% framerate increase in Cyberpunk 2077. Armoury Crate provides extensive RGB lighting customization options, allowing you to personalize the keyboard and AniMe Matrix display.

Gaming and Content Creation Experience: Long Sessions & Creative Work

During extended gaming sessions (3+ hours of Cyberpunk 2077), the keyboard became warm, but not uncomfortably so. The chassis became noticeably hot to the touch, especially around the WASD keys and the palm rest. The fan noise was noticeable, particularly during quiet moments in the game, but it was not overly distracting. The noise changed based on the selected performance profile, with Turbo mode being the loudest.

The Zephyrus G14 is well-suited for content creation tasks. The 16-inch QHD+ (2560x1600) IPS panel with 100% DCI-P3 color gamut is accurate enough for color-sensitive work. The laptop can handle large video files and complex editing tasks in Adobe Premiere Pro without significant lag or stuttering.

During a real-world test, the battery lasted approximately 2 hours and 15 minutes while editing a 5-minute 4K video. The integrated GPU accelerates video encoding and decoding, significantly reducing rendering times.

The built-in speakers, tuned by Dolby Atmos, are upward-firing and offer surprisingly good audio quality for a laptop. They are suitable for immersive gaming and clear video conferencing. The audio reproduction is clear and detailed, particularly in the mid and high frequencies. The microphone effectively filters out background noise during voice chat or recording. The microphone placement is ideal to avoid picking up keyboard noise.

Value for Money: Is It Worth the Investment?

The ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14 (2024) is priced at approximately $1,999 (as configured with the RTX 4070).

Feature	ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14 (2024)	Razer Blade 14	Lenovo Legion Slim 7
Price (approx.)	$1,999	$2,399	$1,799
GPU	RTX 4070	RTX 4070	RTX 4060
CPU	Ryzen 9 8945HS	Ryzen 9 7940HS	Ryzen 7 7735HS
Portability	Excellent	Excellent	Very Good
Build Quality	Excellent	Excellent	Good
Unique Features	AniMe Matrix	Sleek Design	Good Performance for Price

The Zephyrus G14 offers a compelling combination of performance, portability, and features. It's a worthwhile investment for both content creators focused on portability and gamers who want a powerful machine that they can take on the go.

Strengths and Weaknesses: A Clear Picture

Strengths:

• Excellent build quality and premium design
• Powerful performance for gaming and content creation
• Comfortable keyboard and responsive touchpad
• Good port selection
• Unique AniMe Matrix display
• Effective cooling system

Weaknesses:

• AniMe Matrix display impacts battery life
• Chassis can get warm during heavy use
• MicroSD card reader instead of full-sized SD card reader
• Armoury Crate can be resource-intensive

Conclusion: The Verdict is In

The ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14 (2024) is a remarkable laptop that excels in both gaming and content creation. Its powerful hardware, sleek design, and excellent portability make it a top contender in the 14-inch gaming laptop category. It is best suited for users who value a balance of performance and portability, such as gamers, content creators, and students. It's definitely worth buying, with the caveat that you need to be mindful of the battery drain from the AniMe Matrix display if you are away from power outlets.

XenGamer Score: 9.2/10

• +: Exceptional performance in a compact form factor.
• +: Premium build quality and comfortable user experience.
• +: Unique AniMe Matrix display for personalization.
• -: Battery life impacted by AniMe Matrix.
• -: Chassis can get warm during demanding tasks.