This spurs the question of whether the G14 GA402RJ configuration of this laptop with the RX 6700S might be the better value option for this generation, especially since that goes for a fair bit less in stores right now. There is often contradicting reports on such notebooks, specifically if these are deemed "gaming" laptops. 10+ hours of battery life is still pretty good for a gaming laptop, don't get me wrong. April 21, 2022 at 1:20 pm. We had the RGB keyboard on the preview sample, but only the white-lit keyboard on this review unit. That means the available workspace is 10+% larger on this G14, but also that youll be left with some black bars when watching video content, etc. While it doesn't quite span the width of the laptop, I never felt cramped while typing on it, and each chiclet-style key has a satisfying amount of travel. In our tests, were talking low to mid-90s on the CPU and GPU on the Turbo mode, as well as some thermal throttling on the GPU side. When we subjected this new Zephyrus G14 to our suite of gaming laptop tests, it put some pretty good numbers on the board. I would have preferred having both options, though. Ive also tested the external thermals with the computer set on the Manual mode and the fans switched all the way up to 100% rpms. I had a test run of a 2021 X13 in January and thought it to be quite a nice product, but wanted to go for a 2022 refresh due to the updated iGPU. Then, the Silent mode limits the fan noise levels of sub 35 dB, and we recorded a combined CPU+GPU TDP of between 55-60W in our tests. both are solid options, but I incline towards the G14 for the more portable format, higher efficiency and better inputs. At this point, its very difficult for me to tell what this hardware would do in a beefier package with superior cooling that would prevent thermal throttling. If you don't like the cut of the Zephyrus G14's jib you could get similar performance out of the Alienware x14 or Razer Blade 14 for a similar price, but neither's screen gets nearly as bright. Flipping the laptop upside down youll notice that Asus have slightly redesigned this part as well. Our test model is a higher-specced configuration of the Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 2022, code name GA402RK, built on an AMD Ryzen 9 6900HS processor, 32 GB of DDR5-4800 memory in dual channel, 1 TB of SSD storage, and dual graphics: the AMD Radeon RX 6800S with 8 GB of vRAM and the RDNA2-based Vega 680M integrated within the AMD processor. The Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 (2022) packs 1TB of SSD storage. This may have something to do with what Asus calls its Smart Amplifier Technology, which the company claims can make the speakers sound really loud without sacrificing sound quality. Older models of Zephyrus G14 didn't come with a webcam built in, but Asus finally added one into the 2022 model. With these out of the way, I was once more curious to see whether this laptop is thermally limited in any way in these tests. The 2022 Zephyrus G14 we reviewed has a better, brighter screen than its predecessor, with good speakers and an AMD CPU/GPU combo that delivers solid gaming performance. Update3: Looks like Asus figured this out and released a Window update fix that takes care of it. Furthermore, the GPU ends up running at 7-10% higher clocks in this case. Oddly, the power port is in the center of the lefthand side, rather than being located back near the screen like it is on most laptops. That aside, the power plug, an HDMI 2.0 port connected into the dGPU, the headphone jack, and a USB-C 3.2 port are placed on the left side. I want to buy one of the two laptops with a dedicated GPU (either 6700S/6800S on G14 or 3050Ti on the X13) as a backup for when I'm needing VRAM for tasks (light photo editing, streaming), but I'd be primarily using the laptop with integrated graphics as I don't game much on PC and when I do, the new iGPU of the Ryzen 6000 series will be quite enough for that. On Turbo, the 6900HS outscores the previous-gen 5900HS by up to 10%. Asus has also upgraded the ROG Zephyrus G14, ROG Zephyrus G15 and ROG Flow X13. Sadly, our Zephyrus G14 (2022) couldn't quite match the battery efficiency of its predecessor, as our review unit lasted roughly 10 hours and 14 minutes in the same test. Youll also find more details about this laptops behavior when connected to an external monitor in this follow-up article. I also tried updating the driver to the beta that should enable HIP for AMD dGPUs, but it doesnt support the graphics chip on this laptop. That seems to increase airflow underneath the laptop (critical for cooling) and pushes the keyboard slightly up at the top, which feels more comfortable under my hands. The difference between the two USB-C ports and the laptops overall behavior when connecting an external monitor via USB-C or when plugged in via USB-C is detailed in this separate follow-up article. Update: The Micron 2450 is a value gen4 SSDs, roughly similar in performance to a higher-tier gen3 drive. Now, the G14 borrows these from the M16 series with much larger status lights, tucked away between the hinges on the back edge, in a way that theyre not directly visible with daily use. So if youre noticing the same bug on your units, give them a little time for that patch to come out and address it. It is quite noticeable on gray\dark backgrounds. Note that these tests were run at 1080p, so you may see noticeably lower framerates when playing these games at the laptop's native resolution (2,560 x 1,600 pixels). In the past, the thicker bottom bezel soaked up most of the heat, but with the smaller bezels on this 2022 generation, the panel itself ends up much closer to the exhausts and reaches higher temperatures while running games and demanding loads on this computer. There's RGB backlighting underneath that you can customize via Asus' pre-installed Armoury Crate app to do things like strobe or cycle through different colors, though since it's backlit rather than per-key the light looks like it's coming from beneath the keys, rather than from them. This layout no longer includes a dedicated key for Print Screen, or any extra column of function keys to the right side, like on other 14-inch laptops. Some of them are hidden underneath some rubber caps, but getting inside should be a fairly simple task here. Our findings are different, so future software updates might change things. It also sports a built-in webcam, something earlier models lacked. You can also configure the AniMe Matrix to display details like time/date, remaining battery power and unread message count via its System Mode, or set it up as a visualizer in Audio Mode which responds to whatever music you're playing out of the G14's speakers. As far as I can tell, 16GB onboard configurations are only available for the top variant with the 6800S dGPU, while the other models only get 8 GB of soldered memory (and thus only up to 16 GB RAM in quad-channel). The CPU performance takes a ~10-15% hit on this mode, while the GPU ends up at about 80% of the performance on Turbo. Open it up and youll find a well-sized keyboard and touchpad laid out beneath a bright 14-inch display, which has nice thin bezels on either side that thicken along the top and bottom. Update (March 1st, 2022): BIOS 308 is out as of late-Feb 2022, and it changes the way Turbo and Manual modes work, by limiting the combined power to only 80W on our sample. The results vary between titles, but the logs indicate a 1-5 degrees C decrease in temperatures on the CPU and 1-3 degrees on the GPU in the tested games. I've been covering mobile computers since the 2000s and you'll mostly find reviews and thorough guides written by me here on the site. For what is worth, Asuss review guide mention up to 90W combined power for this Performance mode, with up to 90W allocated to the GPU. I would go with the R7 if that comes with a discount. RAM: 16GB My findings above are probably isolated to my pre-release reviews unit. amzn_assoc_placement = "adunit0";amzn_assoc_enable_interest_ads = "true";amzn_assoc_tracking_id = "fatherday00-20";amzn_assoc_ad_mode = "auto";amzn_assoc_ad_type = "smart";amzn_assoc_marketplace = "amazon";amzn_assoc_region = "US";amzn_assoc_linkid = "b9262bfd0a741abacb709b2abd1d1026";amzn_assoc_emphasize_categories = "13900871";amzn_assoc_fallback_mode = {"type":"search","value":"laptop"};amzn_assoc_default_category = "PCHardware"; Functionally, what stayed the same is the overall Ergolift thermal design, with hot air being pulled inside from the bottom and through the keyboard, and expelled through the sides and especially the back vents. Ill follow up once I get to restest a retail unit. Update: The G14 GA402RK is now available at BestBuy for $1899, for a Ryzen 9 + 6800S + 16 GB RAM + 1 TB SSD + QHD display configuration. 3DMark stress runs the same test for 20 times in a loop and looks for performance variation and degradation over time, and this unit failed it by a minor margin, which means that the performance degrades a little bit with longer-duration sustained loads, once the heat builds up, but not in a significant way. All of these, alongside the updates in the power stages and VRMs, were required in order to cope with the higher power hardware implemented with this G14 series. The 14-inch WQXGA (2,560 x 1,600 pixels) display on the Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 (2022) looks good in person, and the 16:10 aspect ratio feels roomy when you're juggling a lot of open windows on the desktop. Bottom point, if youre after a compact multi-purpose laptop in the sub $2000 price range, the 2022 ROG Zephyrus G14 is definitely an option to consider. With real-life use, though, the performance differs significantly between the various applications, based on how each software handles the various particularities of the AMD and Nvidia platforms. Obviously, it lasts far less time when gaming without the power cord plugged in. I like to keep my display set a bit brighter than our 150-nit standard, so it's not too surprising that I was rarely able to get more than 5-8 hours of (non-gaming) use out of the laptop before having to plug in the charger. However, at 70+ W the Intel chip ends up faster by about 1-2%. Andrei Girbea, Editor-in-Chief of Ultrabookreview.com. At this point I'm not sure whether Asus has to roll on some sort of update for it to work or not. Once more, well further look at this Silent profile in the next sections of the article. For me, the answer is probably yes, as this is still a capable little laptop on this Performance mode. I'll probably look into getting a 2022 G14. There is another USB-C port on the right side, though, and thats also USB-C 3.2 with support for data and DisplayPort straight into the dGPU. Just know that the new Zephyrus may not be quite as long-lived as its predecessor, so it's a good idea to keep a charging cable handy whenever you're not plugged in. Not sure if it is software or if it is defective. The touchpad beneath the keyboard feels accurate and responsive to the touch, and while I wouldn't recommend you use it for serious gaming it shouldn't cause you any issues when tapping and swiping through your day-to-day tasks. Furthermore, Asus updated the power design of this 2022 G14 series, allowing the 6900HS processor to run at up to 85W sustained in demanding CPU loads, in certain conditions. Future US, Inc. Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, Specs aside, Asus offer the standard four power profiles in the Armoury Crate control app for this laptop: Silent, Performance, Turbo, and Manual, with various power settings and fan profiles between them: Turbo/Manual are only available with the laptop plugged into the wall and are meant for gaming and other demanding loads. We tested several games at QHD+ and FHD+ resolution on Ultra settings, on the stock Turbo and Performance profiles, but also on a Manual mode that Ill explain further down. Update: If interested, our review of the more affordable Ryzen 9 + RX 6700S G14 configuration is also available over here. Amd does not provide drivers directly to users. Finally, the CPU runs at ~50 W on battery as well, on the Performance profile, with scores of 2000+ points. Were going through all of these in the review down below. However, for some reason, Asus took out the fingerprint sensor previously integrated into the power button. I've been considering either the 2022 models of the G14 or the X13, but the thermal situation of the G14 with the vents blowing into the screen has me wondering about the longevity of it. The same BIOS 308 seems to be working alright on other units, based on feedback on Reddit and Youtube. Weight: 3.79 pounds. But despite these upgrades, the new Zephyrus G14 is in some ways weaker than its predecessor. As for biometrics, theres no longer a finger-sensor in the power button with this 2022 Zephyrus G14, but you do get an IR camera integrated within the camera ensemble at the top of the main display, which is arguably a more seamless method of signing into Windows with Hello. In Asuss stress tests, the dust filter allowed the components to run at higher power and lower temperatures after weeks of heavy usage. Tom's Guide is supported by its audience. We were astounded by the longevity of the previous Asus ROG Zephyrus G14, which lasted over 11 hours (11:32, to be exact) in our battery test. As far as I understand, this is what will end up in the retail units. Heres what we got in this case: The CPU still performs well, at about 80% of the scores on Turbo, but the GPU is more aggressively limited and ends up at about 60% of what it can do at max power. You will receive a verification email shortly. The IR system works well with Windows Hello, but I still would have preferred having both biometric options. So youll want to opt for QHD Medium settings instead for the Performance and Silent profiles with recent games. That's over an hour less than its predecessor, which is disappointing. Color accuracy on the new display is also pretty good, as the 2022 Zephyrus delivered 104.5% of the sRGB color gamut (100% is most accurate) with a Delta-E score of 0.23 (0 is most accurate). With Witcher 3, we ended up with temperatures in the high 70s and low 80s for the CPU/GPU, while with Cyberpunk we recorded 95C on the CPU and 85 on the GPU. Still, the difference could justify this trick, or even using a cooling pad with this Zephyrus G14. This is definitely not a great laptop for gaming unplugged. QHD+ 120Hz 3ms response, 500-nits, 100% DCI-P3, Pantone validated; FHD+ 144Hz 3ms response, 400-nits, 100% sRGB, Pantone validated. Finally, you can also opt for the Silent profile, in which case the fans wont go over 35 dB. Heres what we got on our review unit in terms of battery life, with the screens brightness set at around 120 nits (~50 brightness) and on Hybrid mode. Yes, the R7 and R9 are almost identical, with only slightly higher clocks for the R9. The only big complaint I have about the port selection is that all the USB-A ports are on one side, so if you're plugging in an older mouse and keyboard you'll have to do some frustrating cable routing. Of course, what matters, in the end, is how all these technologies translate into real-life internal and external temperatures. Inside youll find all the components, the battery, the speakers, and the thermal module that occupies more space than in the past design. thats still hot in my book, but lower than on Turbo or Manual. At the same time, this laptop runs very hotly internally, with the CPU and GPU both averaging temperatures in the 90s, and the GPU even thermally throttling on the Turbo mode, as explained above. Here are the results. But even if you dont, the Zephyrus G14 looks slick, with rounded corners and tapered edges balancing out the sharp diagonal vents scattered across the chassis. This is our detailed review of the 2022 Asus ROG Zephyrus G14, in the top-tier GA402RK configuration built on an AMD Ryzen 9 6900HS processor and an AMD Radeon RX 6800S graphics chip, with a MUX. Thank you for signing up to Tom's Guide. Accessing the components requires to pop-out the back panel, which is held in place by a couple of Philips screws. The little robot can appear on the AniMe Matrix, display system stats or play mini-games with you. With the laptop sitting on the desk, the CPU temperatures drop a fair bit in comparison to the Turbo on-desk profile, but the GPU temperatures remain about the same, so were looking at high-80s for the CPU and the GPU in most games, with some differences between titles. Can you share the source for the supposed USB4 support? All rights reserved. Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips. Thats quite bright for a gaming laptop, easily outshining competition like the Alienware x14 and Razer Blade 14. That's the AniMe Matrix on our review unit, a $600 cosmetic upgrade. Moreover, most consumers do not check it since the rely on the pre-installed OS, such as the Windows 11 Home Edition, which does not offer full bitlocker features. The ROG Zephyrus G14 ships with a reasonable selection of pre-installed software from the likes of AMD, Asus and Dolby. With the X13 I noticed that the biggest problem of it is the air intake being blocked due to the small stubby feet, which could be countered by raising it a bit through some means. And when you factor in the lack of DLSS support on the AMD platform, its obvious that RT performance could be a major drawback for the 2022 G14. However, not all G14 keyboards are RGB, as some variants might still ship with a white keyboard. Instead, because they are larger and brighter, they reflect into the bottom bezel right where the shinny black ROG Zephyrus branding is placed, and they can even reflect into the display from a certain angle. Heres how this 2022 Zephyrus G14 does on the Performance profile, which limits the fans to around 40 dB at head level. The MUX plays a bigger role at FHD resolution in high-framerate titles such as Doom or CS:Go. Once more, the system allows for a higher power allocation for a second or two in each run, and then the power limit kicks in.