One of the best gaming laptops of 2020 improves even further in 2021.

The latest iteration of Asus Zephyrus G14 was unveiled at CES 2021 and it succeeds last year’s Zephyrus G14 with some new features. The new Zen 3 CPUs and Nvidia Ampere GPUs replace the older Zen 2 and Turing options, respectively. On the outside, the laptop has remained largely the same. We’ll take a closer look at its key features and configurations below. Also, check out our previous Asus ROG Zephyrus M15 review.

Asus Zephyrus G14: Configurations

Asus offers several options for the users to choose from when it comes to configurations. For the processor, it’s either AMD Ryzen 9 5900HS Processor 3.1 GHz or AMD Ryzen 7 5800HS Processor 3.0 GHz. The laptop can be equipped with either NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 laptop GPU graphics or NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 with ROG Boost up to 1515MHz at 50W. 

For display, users can choose between a 14-inch WQHD (2560 x 1440) 16:9 anti-glare display with 120Hz refresh rate or a 14-inch FHD (1920 x 1080) 16:9 anti-glare display with 144Hz refresh rate. All Asus Zephyrus G14 models come with 1TB M.2 NVM PCIe® 3.0 SSD storage and Windows 10 Pro operating system. All in all, this laptop boasts a very impressive set of specs at a reasonable price.

Design and Features

The 2021 Asus Zephyrus G14 is extremely slim and light for a gaming laptop, which is not a common sight to see. The Moonlight White or Eclipse Gray finishes light up the perforations in the lid with a programmable AniMe Matrix mini-LED display. You can add more animated imagery or text to showcase. If you want something more subtle, go with Holographic White or Holographic Gray color options. 

The AniMe Matrix is a new feature added this year. The display allows users to unleash their creativity through programmable mini-LEDs that illuminate the lid. You can choose to display custom designs, unique animations, or live audio visualizations. Additionally, you can also use this feature to keep track of status notifications about battery life, calendar, and more. A virtual pet from the Zephyrus universe can be displayed on the AniMe Matrix as well. The interactive virtual creature would react to system usage and battery level.

The laptop packs plenty of useful ports. There are two USB 3.2 Type-A ports, one USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C port, and HDMI 2.0b output. There’s also one extra USB-C port that offers charging for the laptop, and DisplayPort for output to a monitor, as well as 3.5mm combo audio jack. All models are Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.1 compatible. 

Asus Zephyrus G14 features a keyboard that has a desktop-inspired layout. It’s equipped with a fingerprint login on the power button for faster access, as well as dedicated gaming hotkeys for easier access to volume, microphone mute, and ROG Armoury Crate software.

The device offers robust sound and great volume thanks to a pair of speakers and another pair of tweeters. The laptop’s sound is powered by Dolby’s Atmos technology and the included Dolby Atmos app lets users pick from several preset audio modes, optimized for gaming, movies, etc. 

How Much is Asus Zephyrus G14 Worth?

So, you currently own the previous generation of this laptop and consider selling it to purchase the newer model? Do Asus trade in with Gadget Salvation! Here are some examples of what you can get for your G14 model, depending on the condition and the specs.

• For a fully functional and flawless ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14 Series AMD Ryzen 7 NVIDIA GTX 1650you can expect to receive $386.
• For ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14 Series AMD Ryzen 7 NVIDIA RTX 2060 in flawless condition you can get $410.
• ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14 Series AMD Ryzen 9 NVIDIA RTX 2060 in good condition will get you $435.

Conclusion

Asus Zephyrus G14 will do all the things you need it to do, from work to intense gaming, with ease and with a lot of flare. Despite its petite size, it’s quite powerful, sturdy, and tough. It’s a well-designed and thought-through gaming laptop that many budget-conscious gamers would appreciate.