ASUS Zenbook 14 OLED Review: Pros, Cons, and Real-World Performance

The ASUS Zenbook 14 OLED aims to strike a balance between portability, power, and value, making it an option worth considering for creative work on the go. This laptop packs an Intel Core i9-13900H processor and a stunning OLED display, making it a versatile machine for tasks like photo editing, video work, and even some gaming.

Coming to you from Jacek Sopotnicki, this comprehensive video breaks down both the advantages and limitations of the ASUS Zenbook 14 OLED. With its vibrant 14-inch OLED display, this laptop offers a crisp 2,880 x 1,800 resolution, which is ideal for detailed photo work and immersive visuals. The display has a 16:10 aspect ratio, 100% DCI-P3 color coverage, and a 90 Hz refresh rate. However, Sopotnicki points out that some aspects of the laptop’s performance—especially when unplugged—may not fully meet expectations. For instance, while the Zenbook 14 OLED handles tasks well when connected to a power source, unplugging it can lead to noticeable drops in performance, especially in demanding applications like video exports and gaming. This means you might have to manage your workload or limit browser tabs to ensure smoother use on battery power.

Sopotnicki also dives into the machine’s real-world photo and video editing capabilities. In DaVinci Resolve, he finds that while the Zenbook can handle 4K footage, certain features, like color grading with curves, tend to lag. When working with high-resolution files, particularly in photo editing software, you may notice a slower preview process and occasional choppiness when browsing through numerous images. These delays don’t stop the laptop from performing adequately overall, but they’re worth noting if you’re accustomed to a faster editing flow on higher-end machines.

Nonetheless, the Zenbook 14 OLED has a respectable set of specs for its price range:

  • Processor: Intel Core i9-13900H (13th Gen), 14-Core
  • GPU: Intel Iris Xe
  • Display: 14” OLED, 2,880 x 1,800 resolution, 16:10 aspect ratio, 90 Hz refresh rate
  • Memory and Storage: 16 GB LPDDR5 RAM (not upgradeable), 1 TB M.2 NVMe SSD
  • Inputs/Outputs: 2x USB-C (Thunderbolt 4), 1x USB-A 3.1/3.2 Gen 2, 1x HDMI 2.1a
  • Wireless: Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3
  • Battery: 4-cell, 75 Wh
  • Weight: 3.06 lbs

The specs reflect a solid mid-to-high-range device capable of handling a variety of workflows. However, Sopotnicki highlights some quirks you might encounter in day-to-day use. While the machine supports Intel’s AI-enhanced graphics technologies like XeSS, it can still experience performance fluctuations in gaming, particularly when multiple applications are running in the background. Sopotnicki suggests updating all drivers and making adjustments, like turning off hardware acceleration for smoother video playback, as these steps significantly improve the experience.

Overall, the Zenbook 14 OLED presents an affordable option that can handle a range of creative and productivity tasks, though there are performance sacrifices to be aware of if you need it to operate unplugged or manage heavy multitasking. Sopotnicki notes that despite its limitations, the Zenbook’s OLED display and overall build quality make it a strong choice for users who prioritize portability and don’t require consistent high-end performance across all tasks. Check out the video above for the full rundown from Sopotnicki.

Alex Cooke's picture

Alex Cooke is a Cleveland-based portrait, events, and landscape photographer. He holds an M.S. in Applied Mathematics and a doctorate in Music Composition. He is also an avid equestrian.

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2 Comments

I have this laptop with 32 GB RAM, not 16 as listed above, and it does not slow when using the battery for video or image editing. Remember that 32GB RAM really is the minimum to use for such functions.

I have used this on numerous commissions whilst travelling in the past few months when a 'quick' image was required for social media or press coverage - it never let me down or felt slow in operating,

So for a laptop that does not require a charging brick to be carried, that can be charged in your car or from a power bank that is fast with a really good display I highly recommend it.

The non-upgradable RAM is an issue. On windows 11, 16GB of RAM is horribly low considering that the OS is more memory hungry, and many applications are using more RAM these days. Edge, Chrome, and Firefox also use more RAM than they did in the past. Sadly the push for laptop makers to solder the RAM on instead of using SO-DIMM modules, means that you can't purchase a laptop with the base RAM spec, then buy a 64GB kit (2x32GB) for $100-140, and then upgrade the laptop to 64GB of RAM.

For Davinci resolve, it would be good to test it with task manager opened and the GPU tab pulled up as I suspect, it is not properly using the integrated GPU for the full range of acceleration.
For Adobe bridge, it is good to check if it is using GPU acceleration or not, for Intel GPUs, it is hit or miss as to whether it would like to use it, and sometimes it will be disabled by default. (Intel is gradually fixing many of their driver issues, though it requires the user to really be proactive in keeping up with their monthly updates.

PS, if using Firefox, be sure to go to the about:config page, and then search for media.wmf.hevc.enabled and set the value to 1, and you should have a better video experience across the board while on windows. It also better handles Intel GPUs in terms of ensuring that the right power state is invoked when playing video.