Asus’ Republic of Gamers (ROG) has released a new thin and compact gaming laptop in the form of Zephyrus G14 (2022).
Unlike many gaming laptops that are usually bulky and heavy, this is like the ultrabook of gaming. The Zephyrus G14 measures a mere 1.95 thick and weighs only 1.72kg. Thus, it is ideal for the road warriors like yourself.
- Price: From S$3,298, available on ROG Store
- Processor: AMD Ryzen 7 6800HS Mobile
- Graphics: AMD RX 6800S with 8GB video memory
- Display: 14-inch FHD+ (1,920 x 1,200 pixels); 120Hz refresh rate
- Memory: 16GB (Up to 24GB)
- Storage: 1TB SSD
- Weight: 1.72kg
The review unit comes in white (also available in black). And it looks absolutely sleek with its grilled air vents on the side and metallic grilles at its bottom.
| PROS | CONS |
| Sleek compact design with external AniMe Matrix lighting | Not cheap |
| Gorgeous display with 144Hz refresh rate | Can get really hot |
| Keyboard is nice to type on | Gaming performance can be better |
| Plenty of ports | |
| Long battery life |
Not to mention, this gaming laptop features what Asus termed as AniMe Matrix. It is essentially an array of LED white lights dotting the lid that is able to display custom animations, from ROG logo to running lights. I bet the AniMe Matrix will turn many heads when you power up this laptop in the office or cafe.
Lift up the lid and you are welcomed with a gorgeous 14-inch FHD+ anti-glare display. It is bright and sharp as well as offering a refresh rate of up to 144Hz and 3ms response time. The display also supports Dolby Vision HDR. In other words, whether you are playing games or watch movies, the visuals are superb.
This laptop not only looks good, it is pretty practical as well. It has two USB-A ports, a USB-C port and a microsSD card reader on its right side, while the left has a HDMI 2.0b port, a 3.5mm audio jack, a USB-C power delivery port and the power port. So, it is pretty versatile when it comes to connecting any peripherals to this laptop.
Moreover, I really like the backlit keyboard’s tactile response. It feels really good to type on. And I can imagine this gaming laptop seamlessly doubling up as a work laptop.
Plus, in the inside, it is packed with the latest AMD Ryzen 7 6800HS Mobile processor and AMD RX 6800S graphics processor that should be enough to play most games in the market and perform productivity tasks efficiently.
In the PCMark 10 benchmark tests, the laptop scored an impressive 7,290. By comparison, the Razer Blade 15 Advanced Model (2022) can only managed 6,886 while the Alienware x15 had a score of 6,711. So, it is definitely going to be superb for your productivity needs.
However, in terms of actual gaming performance, I found that it can do better. For instance, in the graphics-intensive game Cyberpunk 2077, the frame rates can drop to around 15 frames per second (fps) when the graphics is set to High. At times, it is almost unplayable at this setting.
Only when the graphics setting is set to Medium that the frame rates increased around an average of 80fps in Cyberpunk 2077. It is much more enjoyable with the graphics looking not bad. In less graphics intensive games like Football Manager 2022, the frame rates can go up to an average of 144fps.
Battery life of Zephyrus 14 is excellent, especially for a gaming laptop. In my video loop-back battery test, the Zephyrus 14 lasted 8 hours and 55 minutes. By comparison, most gaming laptops usually last around 2 to 3 hours.
On the downside, the laptop can get very hot when it is processing resource-intensive programs despite its plastic chassis and multiple air vents. For example, when playing Cyberpunk 2077, I can feel the heat being blown out of its side air vents to my mouse-holding right hand. You can feel the entire machine being steaming hot too.
Furthermore, with a price tag starting from S$3,298, the ROG Zephyrus 14 (2022) is not cheap. And you are not even getting a 4K display or top-of-the-line hardware.
VERDICT: Nevertheless, if you are looking for a sleek and trendy laptop for both productivity and gaming, the ROG Zephyrus 14 (2022) will not disappoint.