If you spend $1,000 on a laptop, you'll most likely get a mainstream model with good application performance inside an aluminum body with a respectable IPS display. In some cases, you can get a higher-resolution IPS panel, such as the 2.2K IPS display on the Dell Inspiron 14 Plus, or an OLED panel, as provided by the Lenovo Slim 7i. The Asus Zenbook 14 OLED Q425 is comparable to the Slim 7i in that it has a 14-inch OLED touch display and an Intel Core Ultra 7 CPU. The Zenbook 14 OLED Q425 stands out from the midrange laptop crowd simply because of the higher fidelity of its OLED display. However, it also feels like a lesser version of the Slim 7i.
Asus ZenBook 14 OLED Q425 (Image Cradit by AUSU)
The Zenbook 14 OLED Q425 is lighter and lasts longer than the Slim 7i, but the added portability comes at the sacrifice of build quality. The aluminum enclosure of the Zenbook 14 OLED Q425 flexes significantly and does not feel as solid as the Slim 7i's hard case. The audio output of the Zenbook 14 OLED Q425 falls short of that of the Slim 7i's quad speakers. Despite these flaws, the Zenbook 14 OLED Q425 is still a viable option among mainstream laptops for $1,050. It's only that the Lenovo Slim 7i provides an even better bundle and typically costs less.
Here are the full specifications of the Asus Zenbook 14 OLED Q425:
Processor:
- Intel Core i5-1135G7 or Intel Core i7-1165G7
Graphics:
- Intel Iris Xe Graphics
Display:
- 14-inch OLED display with 1920 x 1080 resolution
- 100% DCI-P3 color gamut coverage
- Pantone Validated for color accuracy
- TUV Rheinland-certified for eye care
Memory:
- Up to 16GB LPDDR4X RAM
Storage:
- Up to 1TB PCIe NVMe SSD
Connectivity:
- Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax)
- Bluetooth 5.0
Ports:
- 1 x USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A
- 2 x Thunderbolt 4 USB-C
- 1 x HDMI
- 1 x MicroSD card reader
Audio:
- ASUS SonicMaster stereo speakers
- Harman Kardon-certified audio
Battery:
- Up to 16 hours of battery life
Operating System:
- Windows 10 Home
Dimensions and Weight:
- 12.56 x 8.27 x 0.55 inches (319 x 210 x 14.3 mm)
- Approximately 2.78 lbs (1.26 kg)
Other Features:
- ErgoLift hinge for improved typing experience and better cooling
- IR camera for Windows Hello facial recognition
- NumberPad 2.0 for enhanced productivity
- MIL-STD-810H military-grade durability
The Asus Zenbook 14 OLED Q425 model comes in a fixed configuration and costs $1,050 at Best Buy. It includes an Intel Core Ultra 7 155H processor, 16GB of RAM, integrated Intel Arc graphics, and a 1TB SSD. The 14-inch OLED display has a 1,920x1,200 resolution, a typical 60Hz refresh rate, and touch capabilities. A less-priced Q415 model retails for $800 at Best Buy. It has the same OLED display but with a Core Ultra 5 135H CPU, 8GB of RAM, and a 512GB SSD.
When it's on sale at Best Buy, the higher-end Q425 model can be bought for as little as $800, although it's generally sold for $1,050.
The Asus ZenBook 14 OLED Q415 and Q425 are unavailable in the United Kingdom and Australia, however, the identical ZenBook 14 OLED UX3405 is available. It uses the same Core Ultra 7 155H CPU but has a 14-inch OLED display with a greater 2.8K resolution. The ZenBook 14 OLED UX3405 costs £1,100 in the UK and AU$1,899 in Australia.
During testing, the Zenbook 14 OLED Q425 proved to be an adequate mainstream performance. It outperformed the Dell Inspiron 14 Plus and Lenovo Slim 7i in our application benchmarks but fell behind both in our graphics tests. Overall, it seemed fast when using Windows and handled numerous multitasking scenarios without any glitches or lags while being cool and silent.
It also performed exceptionally well in battery testing, lasting more than 13 hours on our online video streaming battery depletion test. That is an excellent runtime for any laptop, particularly an OLED model. Granted, the lower-resolution and slower 60Hz refresh rate allow it to operate longer than higher-end OLED laptops with higher-resolution, 120Hz screens that demand more power, but the Zenbook 14 OLED Q425 remains a laptop oddity by offering both an OLED display and a long battery life.
Understated and lightweight but a bit flimsy
The Zenbook 14 OLED Q425 sports an all-metal chassis in charcoal gray, which matches the keyboard. There is little branding, and the geometric lines that decorate the lids of many Asus laptops are missing. The display is edge-to-edge glass, which gives the laptop a luxurious appearance. The seamless display covering appears far more modern and premium than the bulky, plastic bezels found on many laptops at this price point.
The Zenbook 14 OLED Q425 is one of the most portable 14-inch laptops I've tried, and it's almost as light as the slightly smaller 13.6-inch MacBook Air. At 2.9 pounds, the Zenbook 14 is only slightly heavier than the 2.7-pound MacBook Air. Its dimensions are 12.3 inches wide by 8.7 inches deep by 0.6 inches thick, the same as the Lenovo Slim 7i, however, it is lighter. It is also one of the few 14-inch laptops weighing less than three pounds. The Slim 7i and the HP Spectre x360 14 both weigh 3.2 pounds, while the Dell Inspiron 14 Plus weighs 3.5 pounds. The Acer Swift Go 14, which weighs 3 pounds, is the 14-inch variant closest in weight to the Zenbook 14.
Lighter is not always better, however. With the Slim 7i's higher build quality, I'd say that it's worth carrying a few additional ounces. Its chassis is noticeably more durable than the Zenbook 14's, which has thin aluminum surfaces that flex too much for my liking. The top cover below the display does not bend as much as the lids on many thin laptops, but it feels flimsier than the Slim 7i due to the flex.
When you pick up the laptop, you can feel the top and bottom covers flex between your thumb and fingers, which does not give you confidence in its endurance. However, Asus states that the Zenbook 14 OLED Q425 meets MIL-STD 810H ruggedness standards, which defend against a variety of abuses like drops, vibration, shock, dust, and severe temperatures. The Slim 7i provides the same military-grade toughness and is my preferred option among these two standard 14-inch OLED laptops.
Fortunately, the Zenbook 14 OLED Q425's keyboard deck is stiffer than its top or bottom panels, resulting in less flex under the keys and a more comfortable typing experience. The key travel is modest, yet there is enough bounce that my typing felt quick and accurate. The mechanical touchpad, however, is only average. It successfully recorded my swipes, pinches, and other mousing actions, but the click reaction was a little too delayed, particularly at the bottom edge. It suffers from the "diving board" effect, which makes clicks seem too strong near the top edge and too soft near the bottom edge.
The Zenbook 14's hinge seemed simultaneously too stiff and too weak. I could lift the lid with one finger, but as the display reached approximately 45 degrees -- halfway to completely open -- It got too rigid to continue without elevating the front end, smashing back down on my desk when I let go at approximately 90 degrees. And once I opened the laptop, the hinge wasn't robust enough to keep the screen stable. There is usually some wobble with a laptop display, but I'd say the Zenbook 14 has more than the normal amount.
However, the display itself is outstanding, which is a welcome inclusion given the price of the Zenbook 14 OLED. It has the same specifications as the Slim 7i's OLED panel: a 14-inch 16:10 display with a resolution of 1,920x1,200 pixels, a refresh rate of 60Hz, and touch capabilities. That's a lesser resolution and slower refresh rate than higher-end OLED models, but those are the trade-offs you have to make to get an OLED display for under $1,000. Text isn't as sharp as the 2.2K display of the Dell Inspiron 14 Plus, but the OLED display has more contrast, deeper black depths, and more vibrant colors than an IPS LCD panel.
When tested with a SpyderX Elite colorimeter, the display covered 100% of the sRGB and P3 color spaces and 95% of the Adobe RGB. I measured a maximum brightness of 340 nits, which is less than the display's 400-nit claim. It's also lower than the Slim 7i's measured brightness of 382 nits.
However, because of its outstanding contrast, an OLED requires less brightness to remain visible in direct light than an IPS. I was able to utilize the Zenbook 14 outside on a bright yet hazy day, as well as numerous mornings in my sunny breakfast nook.
The display on the Zenbook 14 is essentially identical to the Slim 7s, but the speakers are not. The Zenbook 14's dual speakers provide far less volume than the Slim 7i's quad-speaker array does. They may be Harman Kardon-tuned speakers, but they produce the standard tinny laptop sound. The Zenbook can produce an astonishing volume, however quality degrades quickly when the volume exceeds 50%.
The 1080p webcam captures sharp, well-balanced images and has an IR sensor, allowing you to utilize it with Windows Hello for easy, safe logins without the need to enter passwords. The laptop lacks a fingerprint reader, therefore facial recognition via the webcam is the only biometric option for logins. The webcam also has a real shutter, which allows you to safeguard your privacy when the camera is not in use. It's a feature I always want to see on a laptop.
The Zenbook 14 has the same port selection as the Slim 7i, with a beneficial combination of Thunderbolt 4 USB-C and USB-A connectivity, as well as an HDMI out and headphone jack. The only thing some purchasers may miss is an SD card slot. Those consumers were most likely creative amateurs looking for an affordable OLED laptop for light media editing and content creation. I say "light" because graphics professionals seeking a content-creation laptop will require more graphics performance than the included Intel Arc GPU provides.
Overall, the Asus Zenbook 14 OLED Q425 provides excellent value for the price. The Core Ultra 7 processor and Intel Arc graphics deliver capable overall performance while still providing excellent battery life. And getting an OLED display for this cheap is a bonus. It's simply that the Lenovo Slim 7i has a virtually comparable OLED display and a similar setup with twice the RAM, all housed in a higher-quality casing. At Costco, the Slim 7i costs $1,000 less than the Zenbook 14 OLED Q425 at Best Buy, which costs $1,050. However, the Zenbook 14 OLED Q425 can occasionally be found on sale at Best Choice for $800, making it a more appealing proposition and possibly the better choice if you value longer battery life than build quality.