Asus ZenBook 14 OLED 2023 models: UX3402VA (Intel), UM3402YA (AMD), Flip UP3404VA (Intel)

On this article we’re discussing the 2023 updates in the usual Asus ZenBook 14 OLED lineup of thin-and-light transportable laptops.

The ones come with the ZenBook 14 UX3402VA (Intel Thirteenth-gen Core P) and ZenBook 14 UM3402YA (AMD Ryzen 7000) clamshell designs, in addition to the 2-in-1 convertible ZenBook Turn 14 UP3404VA (Intel gen Thirteenth Core P).

These types of are top class aluminum builds with 14-inch OLED presentations, just right inputs and ports, in addition to a 75 Wh battery that guarantees lengthy runtimes. Those are light-weight designs made for on a regular basis use and multitasking, however no longer such a lot for not easy a lot.

Alternatively, should you’re focused on extra robust 14-inch laptops, you will have to take a look at our protection of the 2023 ZenBook Professional 14 and ZenBook Professional Duo 14 fashions, in addition to the middleman 2023 Asus ZenBook 14X collection. Or the 2023 ROG Zephyrus G14 gaming collection.

With that during thoughts, I’ve spent a little bit time with a couple of samples of those 2023 Zenbooks, and down underneath we’ll pass in the course of the notable novelties of those generations, in short evaluating them to the former ZenBook 14 fashions. I’ll practice up with our in-depth opinions later within the yr.

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Specifications – 2023 Asus Zenbook 14 lineups

However first, listed below are the specifications sheets of those three ZenBook lineups.

Clamshell ZenBook 14 UX3402 (Intel) / UM3402 (AMD)

Those are constructed at the ZenBook 14 UX3402 chassis which we’ve reviewed extensive on this article.

The novelties for the yr are at the within, with 2023 {hardware} platforms from each Intel and AMD, and an up to date higher-res FHD digital camera that replaces the mediocre 720p shooter at the earlier era.

We’ll get to the specifications in a 2nd, however first, a short lived abstract of the design and ergonomics.

Those ZenBooks are compact and light-weight 14-inch clamshell designs, with Ergolift hinges designed to lift up the principle frame when the use of the laptop, so as to permit for higher airflow into the cooling module.

They’re completely constituted of aluminum, with an anodized end, and really feel strong and sturdy. There’s nonetheless some flex within the keyboard deck and a few creaks break out from the bottom panel, no less than in this early pattern.

The design has been delicate and wiped clean up with those newest ZenBook iterations, and Asus gives each fashions in both blue or silver colours. Our unit is the silver one, whilst the blue is showcased within the earlier article. I choose the blue, however the silver one is the extra carefree selection, because it does a greater activity of hiding smudges and scratches.

Those ZenBooks also are moderately sensible and ergonomic. I recognize the spacious armrest and the sleek hinges, in addition to the power to lean again the show flat to 180 levels. I additionally recognize having a sensible choice of ports.

Alternatively I to find the entrance lip and corners moderately sharp on my wrists and palms, and I’m no longer a fan of getting all of the ports at the proper edge – I might have most popular a reflected design, with the IO at the left and the radiator at the proper.

Inputs and show

Assus be offering color-matched inputs at the two design choices, therefore our unit will get the silver keyboard and touchpad.

We’ve noticed this Asus keyboard perfected over time, and it’s now one of the finest typers to be had within the ultraportable house. The keycaps aren’t as clean to touch in this silver style as on different variants that I’ve used previously – no longer positive if that is by means of design or a quirk of this pattern. They really feel fairly like touching fantastic sandpaper, which I discovered moderately bizarre.

The focused glass touchpad is very good (by means of Home windows house requirements), and doubles as a NumberPad. There’s additionally a finger sensor built-in into the facility key, however no IR digital camera.

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As for the show, Asus gives those 2023 ZenBooks with the 14-inch 16:10 OLED panel we’ve reviewed at the earlier style and encountered on a host of alternative OLED ultraportable designs.

It’s a stupendous panel with a pointy 2.8K solution, 90Hz refresh, and rapid reaction occasions, in addition to superb distinction and punchy colours. It doesn’t get very shiny despite the fact that, at round 400-nits max brightness, and because this can be a shiny contact implementation, it gained’t do neatly open air or in shiny mild environments.

Moreover, since this can be a contact OLED, you’ll have to simply accept the graininess brought about by means of the digitizer layer, which I to find traumatic whilst surfing and studying texts. From what I perceive, Asus may also be offering non-touch OLED variants on those ZenBooks, and that’s certainly the one I’d make a selection if given an choice. It’s nonetheless shiny, however moderately brighter and not grainy.

That apart, a matte show variant with an IPS panel could also be to be had on some ZenBook 14 fashions. That’s a mid-quality 2.5K IPS panel with 400 nits of brightness and 100% sRGB coloration protection, so not anything fancy.

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{Hardware}, efficiency, and battery lifestyles

You’ll to find those 2023 ZenBook 14 fashions in shops in both Intel or AMD variants.

At the Intel facet, the Asus ZenBook 14 UX3402VA is to be had with as much as the Intel Core i7-1360P Thirteenth-gen processor, 16 GB of LPDDR5 reminiscence, and gen 4 garage (unmarried M.2 2280 slot). The Thirteenth-gen Raptor Lake platform is a minor refinement of the Twelfth-gen {hardware} at the earlier gen, with a slight bump in CPU and iGPU clock speeds, and a couple of different refinements, so don’t be expecting this 2023 replace to accomplish a lot better than the Twelfth-gen style reviewed right here.

At the AMD facet, the best-specced variant of the Asus ZenBook 14 UM3402YA will get an AMD Ryzen 7 7730U processor with 16 GB of LPPDR5 RAM and the similar more or less gen4 garage. That is disappointing, because the Ryzen 7 7730U continues to be a Barcelo-R platform and just about a rebadge of the Ryzen 7 5825U processor from 2022. That suggests it doesn’t be offering Zen4 cores and nonetheless implements a mediocre Radeon Vega iGPU.

Zen4 cores aren’t but to be had on Ryzen U platforms, as they’re reserved for the higher-power Ryzen 7000 HS and HX {hardware}, however I might have no less than was hoping for a Ryzen 7 7735U configuration right here, which is the rebadged 6800U with Radeon 680M graphics. And yeah, technique to pass AMD making some of these names so very complicated.

Internally, the two variants are the very same structure, with the similar motherboard design, the similar cooling module, and the similar audio device.

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Be expecting each those laptops to run at mid-power settings on this chassis, at as much as 30W sustained at the Efficiency mode within the myAsus regulate middle.

Of the two, the Intel Thirteenth-gen implementation is the extra competent choice right here, whilst the AMD style will have to be to be had for a inexpensive worth and may be offering higher runtimes on battery use.

Each those ZenBooks be offering a 75 Wh battery, which is greater than the norm for a 14-inch thin-and-light design. Be expecting lengthy runtimes with each {hardware} variants. Each fee by way of USB-C and include a compact 65W charger.

Convertible Asus Zenbook 14 Turn OLED UP3404

The ZenBook 14 Turn UP3404 is the convertible 2-in-1 iteration of the clamshell ZenBook 14 UX3402 style mentioned above. On this a part of the thing, we’ll most commonly contact at the variations between those two fashions.

The 14 Turn most effective comes with Intel {hardware} and it’s a little bit bit greater and heavier than the usual style, on account of incorporating the 360-degree hinges and show. Rather then that, despite the fact that, it seems to be and feels identical to the clamshell variant.

In those following illustrations, the common ZenBook 14 clamshell is at the left facet, and the convertible Zenbook 14 Turn is at the proper.

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For some explanation why, this convertible variant doesn’t be offering the micro SD card reader that’s to be had with the normal design, however entails all of the different ports and a an identical IO structure.

The 360-degree hinge mechanism is attempted and examined on previous ZenBook Turn fashions, with clean and confidently dependable mechanisms. Magnets stay the two aspects hooked up in pill mode, however this pocket book isn’t relaxed to carry and use on this structure, because of its dimension and weight, and particularly because of its sharp edges and pointy corners.

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Asus additionally applied some rubber leisure ft within the corners of the principle chassis, for the display to sit down on when the laptop is closed. For comparability, the clamshell style doesn’t want the ones, because it contains a rubber gasket across the bezels. There’s no such rubber bezel at the Turn style however as an alternative, there’s this skinny and sharp steel framing illustrated within the comparability pictures.

And because we’re discussing the tiny variations between those fashions, I should point out that the Turn will get an IR digital camera and an ordinary persistent key with out a finger-sensor, whilst the clamshell style will get an ordinary digital camera and tool key with a finger-sensor. That’s even though the two incorporate the very same keyboard and touchpad layouts.

As for the display, the 2.8K OLED is the one to be had choice at the Turn, within the contact implementation with the grainy digitizer layer.

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{Hardware} and function

As discussed already, the ZenBook 14 Turn UP3404 collection is most effective to be had with Intel Thirteenth-gen {hardware} and can also be configured as much as an Intel Core i7-1360P with 16 GB of LPDDR5  reminiscence and 1 TB of gen4 SSD garage.

Internally, the 2-in-1 and the clamshell fashions are just about equivalent, with the similar motherboard structure, the similar 75 Wh battery, and the similar audio device. The hinges take more room throughout the 2-in-1 style, despite the fact that, as proven down underneath.

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Pricing and availability

Asus didn’t percentage a lot in those regards, however be expecting some of these ZenBook 14 collection to be aggressive within the mid-tier segments, with sure variants aggressively concentrated on the finances laptop worth magnificence, identical to the ZenBook 14 Q409ZA configuration did on america marketplace ultimate yr.

From what I do know up to now, those 2023 generations will have to be to be had in shops by means of the Spring of this yr, and I’ll replace this segment after we know extra and as soon as I am getting to correctly opinions those.

Within the interim, I’m having a look ahead in your ideas on those ZenBook 14 and ZenBook 14 Turn 2023 updates, so get in contact within the feedback segment underneath.