Asus launched a new version of its Zenbook 14 on December 14. Called “UX3405” according to the complex nomenclature of the Taiwanese manufacturer, this version of the device adopts an OLED screen but also and above all adopts Intel Core Ultra “Meteor Lake” processors.
We had tested the 2022 model, now we are faced with the new version of the machine, which will serve as ASUS’ spearhead in the ultraportable PC market for at least a good part of the year 2024. Designed to be more environmentally friendly, including the inclusion of 50% recycled materials, this new Zenbook 14 OLED UX3405 has been available in France since December 14, at a starting price of 999 euros.
A laptop PC boosted by Intel’s AI
One of the arguments of this new Zenbook compared to its predecessors comes down to the adoption of Intel Core Ultra “Meteor Lake” processors.
In addition to their better performance and more advanced energy management, the latter now include an NPU part dedicated to AI. If the areas of application are currently limited, especially in Europe where the legislative framework is stricter than across the Atlantic, Asus is highlighting this novelty to boost, for example, the capabilities of its Full HD webcam. On the new Zenbook 14 OLED, the latter (compatible with facial identification) offers, for example, digital noise cancellation by AI to improve the quality of video calls.
Ultimately, however, we can imagine that more third-party software will support the NPU of Intel’s new chips to gain performance and flexibility. In this sense, Meteor Lake processors are above all “ future proof ”, and therefore ready for the future.
A premium technical sheet
For the rest, the Zenbook 14 OLED 2023 generally follows the same lines as its predecessor. Its most accessible version is equipped with a Core Ultra 5 125H, coupled with a 14-inch OLED Full HD+ 100% DCI-P3 screen, capable of increasing brightness to 600 cd/m2.
The best equipped version of the device includes a Core Ultra 9 185H, 32 GB of LPDDR5x at 7467 MHz and up to 1 TB of PCI Gen4 SSD. The set also accommodates a dedicated Intel Arc graphics card and a 14-inch OLED screen, this time with a more generous definition (2880 by 1800 pixels) and a higher display frequency (120 Hz). This panel also reaches a maximum of 600 cd/m2 and fully covers the DCI-P3 color space.
Whatever configuration you choose, you can count on a 75 Wh battery (rather substantial for a 14-inch computer), Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3. At 14.9 mm thick and 1.2 kg, the new ZenBook 14 is also relatively compact. Finally, it has a wide range of connections with two USB-C Thunderbolt 4 ports, a USB-A 3.2 Gen 1 port, an HDMI 2.1 output and a 3.5 mm jack for connecting headphones.
Source: Press release / ASUS briefing
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