Asus Zenbook 14 OLED (2024) Review: A Premium Ultrabook Powered by Intel Meteor Lake

Asus Zenbook 14 OLED (2024) Review

The 2024 edition of the Asus Zenbook 14 OLED makes a strong impression, primarily driven by its new Intel Meteor Lake processor. This ultrabook combines impressive performance, excellent battery life, and a sleek design, positioning it as a top choice for users seeking a portable Windows laptop.

Performance

The Intel Core Ultra 7 155H processor, part of the Meteor Lake series, brings notable improvements. Compared to the previous model's Intel Core i7-1360P, this chip offers better multi-core performance and significantly stronger integrated graphics thanks to Intel Arc technology. In benchmarks and real-world testing, the Zenbook 14 OLED surpassed its predecessor, especially in gaming and productivity tasks. For example, it achieved nearly 40% higher frames per second in Counter-Strike 2 and around 30 fps in Cyberpunk 2077 using its integrated GPU.

However, the processor isn’t without issues. While everyday tasks run smoothly, mixing heavy computations with lighter activities occasionally caused stuttering. Battery life also dropped dramatically under such mixed workloads, falling to just 5-6 hours compared to the impressive 8-10 hours observed during normal use.

Design and Build

Weighing only 1.22 kg, the Zenbook 14 OLED remains incredibly portable despite minor upgrades. Its all-metal construction feels premium, though the lid shows fingerprints easily. Asus has maintained a slim profile while adding versatile connectivity, including Thunderbolt 4 ports. However, the single USB-A port offers slower data transfer rates compared to previous models.

Display

The base model features a 14-inch Full HD OLED panel with a 60Hz refresh rate, 100% sRGB color coverage, and 400 nits brightness. While this is a downgrade from the previous 2.8K, 90Hz display, the screen still excels for photo and video editing. HDR support is limited, as enabling it on battery reduces color accuracy, and the pixel shift technology to prevent burn-in can appear flickerly.

Audio, Keyboard, and Trackpad

Stereo speakers fire downward but deliver clear, loud audio. The keyboard retains Asus’s reputation for quality, offering comfortable 1.4mm key travel and quiet operation, despite the loss of the ErgoLift hinge. The glass trackpad supports advanced gestures and even a virtual numpad, though it can be overly sensitive.

Webcam and Privacy Features

The 1080p webcam performs well for video calls, accurately representing skin tones and exposure. An infrared sensor enables secure Windows Hello face login, and a physical privacy shutter adds an extra layer of security.

Battery Life

One of the Zenbook’s strongest attributes is its battery, lasting a full day under typical use. The shift to Intel’s tile-based processor design and added low-power E-cores contribute to this efficiency. However, heavy multitasking can cut this down significantly.

Verdict

The 2024 Asus Zenbook 14 OLED is a compelling ultrabook, particularly for those prioritizing portability, battery life, and integrated graphics performance. Its premium design and excellent display make it a standout, but potential buyers should be aware of its high price and occasional performance inconsistencies. For users who need more graphics power and can sacrifice some portability, last-gen models with dedicated NVIDIA GPUs may offer better value.