The Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 marks the first gaming laptop that made my heart swell, but can Asus replicate the same surprise at CES 2025? I believe so.
The latest Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 has high expectations. It has been five years, yet the original Asus Zephyrus G14 remains the sole laptop that I’ve rated a perfect score.
Of course, the first aspect that seized my attention was the Zephyrus G14 featuring an Nvidia GeForce RTX 5080 GPU. That marks a significant upgrade from last year’s variant, which was capped at RTX 4070. Additionally, there’s the Asus ROG Zephyrus G16, now equipped with an RTX 5090?! These sleek gaming laptops are transforming into powerhouses. The G16 also had a max of RTX 4070 last year.
There’s a lot to examine with these two sleek, shiny gaming laptops. Let’s get started.
Asus ROG Zephyrus G14/G16: Specifications
| Laptops | Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 | Asus ROG Zephyrus G16 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | TBD | TBD |
| Availability | Q1 | Q1 |
| CPU | AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 | Intel Core Ultra 9 285H |
| GPU | Up to NVIDIA RTX 5080, 175W Max TGP, 16GB | Up to NVIDIA RTX 5090, 175W Max TGP, 24GB |
| RAM | Up to 32 GB LPDDR5X 7500 (on board) | Up to 64 GB LPDDR5X 7467 (on board) |
| Storage | Up to 2TB PCIe 4.0 SSD included (1 x SSD PCIE 4.0) | Up to 2TB PCIe 4.0 SSD included (2 x SSD PCIE 4.0) |
| Display | 14-inch, up to 2880 x 1800, 240Hz, OLED | 16-inch, up to 2560 x 1600, 240Hz, OLED |
| Weight | 3.46 pounds | 4.3 pounds |
| Dimensions | 12.24 x 8.66 x 0.63~0.72 inches | 13.94 x 9.69 x 0.59~0.69 inches |
Will my device receive 5 stars once more?
To start with, details regarding pricing and availability are limited. What we do know is that the Zephyrus gaming laptops are expected to launch later in Q1, perhaps as soon as February.
Beyond the immense power these two will provide, I am eager to see the Zephyrus G14 retain an AMD CPU, as that’s been a comparatively consistent achiever due to its extended battery life.
Furthermore, regarding the display, Asus asserts that the Zephyrus G14’s 14-inch, 2880 x 1800, 240Hz OLED display will encompass the entire DCI-P3 color spectrum and generate 500 nits of brightness. If true, this would undoubtedly mark the best display that the G14 has ever featured.
I must mention the design as well. The G14 measures at 12.24 x 8.66 x 0.63~0.72 inches and weighs 3.46 pounds, while the G16 is at 13.94 x 9.69 x 0.59~0.69 inches and weighs 4.3 pounds. These dimensions are quite similar to their predecessors, which is not necessarily unfavorable. The Zephyrus G-series maintains its ultraportable classification. Coupled with a CNC-milled aluminum casing, this adds a touch of premium quality. Once again, they come in Platinum White and Eclipse Gray color options.
At this juncture, I do feel a little apprehensive regarding the pricing. One reason I appreciated the Zephyrus G14 is that it was a premium ultraportable gaming laptop priced below $1,500 with an RTX 2060 GPU. I’ve definitely seen new gaming laptops reach that mark, but how will the new RTX 50-series gaming laptops be priced? I comprehend that an RTX 5080 version may exceed $2K, but I am hoping for a competitively priced RTX 5060 featuring that dazzling display.
I am excited to get my hands on the Asus Zephyrus G14 and G16 once they arrive in our lab. Stay tuned for our comprehensive review and performance benchmarks. In the meantime, check out our ongoing coverage of CES 2025.