ASUS consistently sets the benchmark for innovation and elegance. The ASUS Zenbook 14 OLED is no exception. This 2024 iteration redefines what a compact subnotebook can deliver, featuring the latest Intel Meteor Lake processors, a stunning 120 Hz OLED display, and an ultra-lightweight yet durable design.

Design and Build: A Masterpiece in Minimalism

The Zenbook 14 OLED, available in Ponder Blue and Foggy Silver, boasts a sleek and minimalist aesthetic. Constructed from premium metal, its design exudes sophistication while maintaining practicality. Weighing just 1.21 kg, it is among the lightest laptops in its class. The slim bezels around the display add to its modern appeal, though the wider bottom frame provides stability.

The hinges are robust, allowing the display to open to a full 180 degrees without wobble. ASUS has also implemented thoughtful touches like a fingerprint-resistant finish and a compact 65-watt power adapter that makes it an excellent companion for travel.

Display: Visual Brilliance with OLED Technology

“The 120 Hz OLED panel is a game-changer for color accuracy and fluid visuals, outperforming many competitors in this segment.”

Whether you're editing photos, watching movies, or browsing the web, the display's color precision and sharpness are unparalleled. The glossy finish, while enhancing contrast, may result in occasional reflections under bright lighting.

Performance: Packed with Power

Under the hood, the Zenbook 14 OLED is powered by Intel's Meteor Lake processors. The test model, equipped with the Core Ultra 7 155H and 32 GB of LPDDR5x RAM, handled multitasking, intensive applications, and light gaming effortlessly. Paired with the Intel Arc 8-core iGPU, this laptop offers commendable graphical performance for its size.

• Configurations include Core Ultra 5, 7, and 9 processors.
• RAM options range from 16 GB to 32 GB.
• Storage is provided by a fast 1 TB SSD.

Despite its compact form, the device's cooling system keeps temperatures in check during sustained workloads. However, the fan noise can become noticeable under heavy use.

Connectivity: Modern Essentials

The laptop covers most connectivity needs, featuring two Thunderbolt 4 USB-C ports, a USB-A port, HDMI 2.1, and a headphone jack. However, the lack of an SD card reader may be a drawback for some users. Wireless connectivity is top-notch with Intel’s AX211 Wi-Fi 6E module, ensuring stable and fast internet speeds.

The Zenbook's keyboard offers a 1.4 mm key travel, providing a tactile and responsive typing experience. The white backlighting adjusts automatically based on ambient light. The touchpad is spacious and integrates a virtual number pad for added convenience.

Battery Life: Lasts Through the Day

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The Zenbook 14 OLED panel delivers exceptional color accuracy, particularly in the P3 profile. With a coverage of 99.8% for Display P3 and 100% for sRGB, this laptop is well-suited for creative professionals requiring precise color management. Its oversaturation in the native profile can be mitigated using calibration or specific profiles like sRGB for photo editing.

Despite its stellar brightness and contrast performance, the reflective nature of the screen can pose challenges in brightly lit environments. The display excels in maintaining consistent image quality across various viewing angles, though reflections may still be noticeable under direct sunlight.

• Color gamut coverage: 97.6% AdobeRGB, 100% sRGB, 99.8% P3
• Gamma value: 2.17 for balanced contrast
• Response time: Ultra-fast 0.71 ms for black-to-white transitions
• PWM at 480 Hz for brightness levels below 80%

The Asus ZenBook 14 UX3405MA demonstrates a robust architecture but encounters challenges in balancing performance with emissions and thermal management. While equipped with a capable Intel Core Ultra 7 155H processor and an Intel Arc iGPU, the device struggles with consistent fan noise even under light loads. This underscores a thermal management system that prioritizes performance but often at the expense of user comfort.

When it comes to storage, the Micron 2400 SSD offers commendable everyday performance but lags behind competitors in sequential and random write operations. Despite multiple tests, the performance remained consistent, suggesting a potential optimization opportunity in firmware or controller enhancements for the Micron 2400 series.

DPC Latency and Real-Time Performance

The ZenBook 14 stands out in DPC latency tests, achieving impressively low interrupt-to-process latencies compared to peers like the Dell XPS 13 Plus and Tuxedo Pulse 14 Gen3. This makes it a viable option for real-time workloads and multimedia processing, though occasional driver inefficiencies were noted.

Gaming performance with the Intel Arc iGPU remains inconsistent due to driver optimizations that have yet to mature. While synthetic benchmarks position the Arc GPU close to AMD's Radeon 780M, real-world gaming scenarios expose its limitations, particularly with frame stability in demanding titles like Far Cry 5 and The Witcher 3.

• High fan activity, even at idle, can be distracting.
• Storage space of 896 GB usable out of 1 TB initial setup.
• Driver-dependent GPU memory allocation adjustable up to 8 GB.
• Significant performance fluctuations in high-detail gaming scenarios.

Noise and Acoustic Behavior

Fan noise levels range from a quiet idle of 23.4 dB(A) to a noticeable 49.3 dB(A) under load in performance mode. The pulsating noise pattern under load and occasional electronic noises from the SSD are areas for refinement. These acoustic challenges may deter users seeking a quieter workspace.

Despite its high-performing components, the ZenBook 14 sacrifices acoustic tranquility and gaming fluidity, presenting a mixed bag for users prioritizing both power and peace.

Conclusion: A Versatile Performer

The ASUS Zenbook 14 OLED strikes an impressive balance between portability, performance, and display quality. Its lightweight design, vibrant OLED screen, and robust internals make it a versatile choice for professionals and students alike. While minor drawbacks like fan noise and the absence of an SD card reader exist, the overall package is hard to beat.