More laptops with OLED displays are creeping into the mainstream and ASUS has just announced another: a new Zenbook 14 OLED (UM3402YA-KM067W).
ASUS’ latest is almost like an ’essentials’ version of the Zenbook 14X OLED, eschewing the secondary touchscreen, discrete graphics chip and some navigation keys, but more importantly it shaves off around $600 off the retail price, making it more in line with ‘affordable luxury’.
Designed for multimedia
Much like its expensive cousin, this Zenbook sports an OLED display. Here, we have a 16:10, 2.8K resolution (2,880 x 1,800) and 90 Hz panel with 550 nits brightness. It’s PANTONE validated and covers 100 per cent of the DCI-P3 colour space. It’s also certified DisplayHDR True Black 500, meaning it’s far better than the average screen at reproducing the colour black. It also carries the TÜV Rheinland certification for eye care.
Accompanying the vibrant OLED visuals: a Harman Kardon-certified Dolby Atmos stereo sound system. It features a smart amplifier and algorithms to boost loudness levels by up to 350 per cent without sound distortion. And to complete the multimedia ensemble, ASUS has specced a 720p webcam with ASUS 3D Noise Reduction (3DNR) technology. Through a unique algorithm, the camera sharpens and removes noise from video during calls so your side of the camera looks as crisp as possible.
A slim workhorse
Like most laptops of its slim-and-light ilk, the Zenbook 14 boasts slim bezels and a 90 per cent screen-to-body ratio (that ASUS calls NanoEdge) to complement the new colour and outlook – (Jade) Black is a slimming colour, so it seems.
Not that it matters, as the Zenbook 14 is relatively thin enough at 16.9 mm and weighs a mere 1.39 kg; pretty much what you would look for in a slim everyday workhorse. It also sports the ErgoLift hinge, making it easy to open the lid of the laptop, and in this case, allows for up to 180 degrees of rotation.
Fully featured
Other bells and whistles include the ErgoSense keyboard which has the same key pitch (centre to centre distance of two keys) as a desktop keyboard and features a 0.2mm keycap dish and 1.4mm key travel. The touchpad has an integrated number pad, while a fingerprint sensor is embedded into the power button for an instant wake-and-login experience.
ASUS turned to AMD this time and has selected AMD Ryzen 5000 Series Processor (Ryzen 7 5825U) and AMD Radeon graphics as the heart of the system, along with 16 GB RAM and 512GB PCIe 3.0 SSD for storage. Paired with a full complement of I/O ports – including two USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C ports, one HDMI 2.0 port, one USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A port, a microSD card reader and an audio combo jack – the Zenbook 14 checks all the boxes for the premium mobile workhorse category. Other perks include Wi-Fi 6E supported by ASUS’ WifFi Master Premium optimisation tech, as well as a high-capacity 75Wh battery.
Availability
Priced at $1,799, the ASUS Zenbook 14 OLED (UM3402YA-KM067W) is now available at the ASUS Exclusive Store, ASUS Online Store , and all authorised retailers.
