ASUS Zenbook 14 (2021)
| Manufacturer | Asus |
|---|---|
| Product family | Zenbook |
| Release date | January 2021 |
| Discontinued | No |
| Operating system | Windows 11 Home Windows 11 Pro Windows 10 Home |
| CPU | AMD Ryzen 5 5600H AMD Ryzen 7 5800H AMD Ryzen 7 5800HS AMD Ryzen 9 5900HX |
| Memory | 8 GB or 16 GB LPDDR4X |
| Storage | 512 GB or 1 TB M.2 NVMe PCIe 3.0 SSD |
| Storage slots | 1 M.2 2230 slot |
| Removable storage | Micro SD card reader |
| Display | Screen size: 14 inch Panel type: IPS Coating: Matte (anti-glare) Resolution: 1920 x 1080 Aspect ratio: 16:9 Refresh rate: 60 Hz Brightness: 400+ Nits sRGB: 100 % Screen-to-body ratio: 90 % |
| Graphics | AMD Radeon Vega 7 Graphics |
| Sound | Stereo speakers with harman/kardon Cortana voice-recognition support |
| Camera | 720p HD camera with IR support |
| Touchpad | Glass NumberPad |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac) (Dual band) 2x2 Bluetooth 5.2 1 x USB 3.2 Gen 1 (Type-A) 2 x USB 3.2 Gen 2 (Type-C, DP 1.4, Power Delivery) 1 x HDMI 2.1 1 x 3.5mm headphone/microphone jack |
| Power brick | 100W USB-C AC adapter |
| Battery | 63 WHr Li-ion |
| Keyboard | White backlit |
| Chassis | Color: Aluminum exterior with plastic inner frame Cooling: Two heatpipes and two fans |
| Fingerprint reader | No |
| Facial recognition | Yes, with Windows Hello |
| Website | Asus |
All statements attributed to reviews are the reviewer's own opinion. Note that these claims were accurate at the time of publication and may be dated when you are reading this article. Read more.
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The ASUS Zenbook 14 (2021) is a performance ultrabook designed for portability and style, equipped with AMD Ryzen 5000 series processors and integrated Radeon Vega graphics. It is positioned as a high-value option for users seeking a balance between performance and portability.[1]
Primary Hardware
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Processor
The Zenbook 14 (2021) can be configured with the following processors[1]:
- AMD Ryzen 5 5600H with 6 cores and 12 threads, 19 MB cache, and a max boost frequency of 4.2 GHz.
- AMD Ryzen 7 5800H with 8 cores and 16 threads, 20 MB cache, and a max boost frequency of 4.4 GHz.
- AMD Ryzen 7 5800HS with 8 cores and 16 threads, 20 MB cache, and a max boost frequency of 4.4 GHz.
- AMD Ryzen 9 5900HX with 8 cores and 16 threads, 20 MB cache, and a max boost frequency of 4.6 GHz.
The Ryzen 7 5800H processor in the Zenbook 14 peaks at 60W of power and stabilizes around 35+ W, achieving clock speeds of 3.2 GHz. It operates at temperatures of 95+ degrees Celsius, with fan noise levels around 40-41 dB. This results in high scores for an ultrabook, but the CPU is thermally throttled compared to full-size implementations.[2]
Benchmarks:
- Cinebench R23:
- Multi-core: ~10863 cb
- Single-core: ~1386 cb
- GeekBench 5.3.1 64-bit:
- Single-Core: ~1417
- Multi-core: ~7915
Graphics
The Zenbook 14 (2021) is equipped with integrated AMD Radeon Vega 7 Graphics.
The GPU performance is not competitive by today’s standards. If gaming or graphics-intensive tasks are a priority, consider alternatives with dedicated graphics.[2]
Benchmarks:
- 3DMark 13 – Fire Strike: ~3783 (Graphics – 4177)
- 3DMark 13 – Night Raid: ~16381 (Graphics – 17752)
- 3DMark 13 – Time Spy: ~1447 (Graphics – 1269)
- Uniengine Superposition – 1080p Medium: ~2524
- Uniengine Superposition – 1080p Extreme: ~811
Memory
The Zenbook 14 comes with either 8 GB or 16 GB LPDDR4X memory soldered onto the board, supporting dual-channel configurations.[1]
The memory is dual-channel, the newer SR kind, with acceptable timings and latencies.[2]
Benchmarks:
- PassMark10: ~5580
- PCMark 10: ~6308
Storage
The Zenbook 14 can be configured with either a 512 GB or 1 TB M.2 NVMe PCIe 3.0 SSD. The SSD is positioned farther from the CPU and features a metal heatsink and thermal pad for better heat dissipation. No performance issues were noted during use.[2]
Co-processors
The Zenbook 14 does not include any dedicated co-processors.[2]
Input Devices
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Keyboard
The Zenbook 14 features a backlit chiclet keyboard with 1.4mm key travel. The keyboard offers three brightness levels for the backlight, which is adequate for use in the dark. The uniformity is good, with minimal light leakage from under the keycaps.[2]
Touchpad
The Zenbook 14 is equipped with a glass NumberPad that can function as a numeric keypad. The touchpad is spacious and smooth, providing an excellent user experience for daily tasks.[2]
Webcam
The Zenbook 14 includes a 720p HD camera with IR support for Windows Hello. The webcam is adequate for occasional calls but lacks quality, appearing washed out.[2]
Microphone
The Zenbook 14 features a built-in microphone with Cortana voice-recognition support.[1]
Output Devices
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Display
The Zenbook 14 features a 14-inch FHD (1920 x 1080) IPS display with a 16:9 aspect ratio and a 60Hz refresh rate. The display is matte and non-touch, with a 100% sRGB color gamut and a screen-to-body ratio of 90%.[1]
The display measured over 500 nits of brightness at maximum settings, with good contrast, fair blacks, wide viewing angles, and decent color coverage at 100% sRGB.[2]
Benchmarks:
- Coverage: ~96.7% sRGB, ~67.0% Adobe RGB, ~69.0% DCI-P3
- Max brightness in the middle of the screen: ~518.53 cd/m2
- Min brightness in the middle of the screen: ~30.23 cd/m2
- Contrast at max brightness: ~1185:1
Audio
The Zenbook 14 is equipped with stereo bottom speakers with harman/kardon branding. The speakers are fairly loud at 78-80 dB at head-level, with average sound quality and limited bass. They distort at maximum volume and transmit vibrations into the frame.[2]
Connectivity
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WiFi
The Zenbook 14 is equipped with Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac) (Dual band) 2x2.[1]
The WiFi performed well, maintaining a strong signal at 30 feet with obstacles in between.[2]
Bluetooth
The Zenbook 14 comes with Bluetooth 5.2.[1]
SD Card Reader
The Zenbook 14 includes a microSD card reader.[1]
USB
The Zenbook 14 is equipped with the following USB ports[1]:
- 1 x USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A
- 2 x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C with display and power delivery support
Display Outputs
The Zenbook 14 includes 1 x HDMI 2.1 FRL for display output.[1]
Case
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The Zenbook 14 features an aluminum exterior chassis with a plastic inner frame. The UM425QA series is slightly thicker and heavier than other ZenBook 14 variants but remains portable. The design feels premium, though some creaks and pops are present in the chassis.[2]
Maintenance
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To access the SSD and WiFi chips, the back panel must be removed, secured by Torx screws. The SSD and WiFi chips are the only upgradeable components.[2]
Cooling System
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The Zenbook 14 features a more advanced thermal module with two thick heatpipes and two fans grouped together on a single radiator.[2]
Heat
The panel averages temperatures in the high-40s Celsius near the radiator on Performance mode.[2]
Noise
Fans operate at 40-41 dB on Performance mode and 37-38 dB on Standard mode.[2]
Energy Management
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Power Consumption
The Zenbook 14 comes with a 100W USB-C charger with quick-charging capabilities. A full charge takes about 2 hours.[2]
Battery Life
The Zenbook 14 is equipped with a 63 WHr battery. It offers approximately 8+ hours of use for text editing, 10+ hours for 1080p video on YouTube, 12+ hours for Netflix, and 6-8 hours for browsing in Edge.[2]
Biometrics
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The Zenbook 14 supports facial recognition with an HD+IR webcam and Windows Hello. It does not have a fingerprint reader.[1]
Software
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The Zenbook 14 ships with Windows 10, with a free upgrade to Windows 11 available. It includes the MyASUS app for power profiles, battery, and screen settings.[1]
Preinstalled Software
The Zenbook 14 comes with preinstalled software such as McAfee and MyASUS, which includes features like AppDeals, System diagnosis, Battery health charging, Fan Profile, Splendid, Tru2Life, Function key lock, WiFi SmartConnect, and Link to MyASUS.[1]
Accessories & Warranty
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The Zenbook 14 comes with a 100W USB-C AC adapter and paperwork. Warranty details are not specified.[1]
Reviews Summary
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Overall Sentiment
The ASUS Zenbook 14 (2021) is considered a good-value performance ultrabook, offering a powerful CPU in a portable chassis. It is praised for its advanced cooling module, style, practicality, and battery life. However, the Ryzen H configuration is somewhat unbalanced with only Vega iGPU graphics, and the design that blows hot air directly into the screen is a drawback.[2]
Problems Summary
- Unbalanced Ryzen H configuration with only Vega iGPU graphics.
- Design flaw where hot air is blown directly into the screen.
- Chassis has some creaks and pops.
- Speakers distort at maximum volume and transmit vibrations into the frame.