8GB of RAM is a hard limitation, though, that will affect some people more than others.
This review was made possible thanks to a review sample provided by ASUS.
The company did not see the contents of the review before publishing.
It’s a simple design, but not an ugly one.
It’s a decent setup, especially when paired with the attractive aluminum chassis and OLED touch display.
The Q425M model costs an extra $250 for its upgrades, retailing for$1,049.99 at Best Buy.
This is still an excellent option, but breaking that $1,000 barrier is going to deter some buyers.
In the box, you get the ASUS Zenbook 14 and a 65W USB key in-C fast charger.
After all, you want your more premium products to stand out, right?
The entire chassis and lid are aluminum, with an all-glass display and touchpad.
This is a thin and light laptop, even with the added thickness of the touch display.
That last point is because the ASUS Zenbook 14 (Q415M) actually has a solid port selection.
Oh, and there are two LED indicators on the right side, too.
Basically, this display looks phenomenal at every brightness level, with vibrant and saturated colors.
On the left side you have one USB Type-A 3.2 Gen 1 port.(Image credit: Windows Central | Zachary Boddy)
I never once thought the FHD+ resolution was an issue.
However, it is perfectly suited for the exact people this laptop is aimed at and their workflow.
It doesn’t ruin this laptop, but it does limit it.
On the right side you have the LED indicators for power and charging, two USB Type-C Thunderbolt 4 ports, a 3.5mm audio jack, and an HDMI 2.1 port.(Image credit: Windows Central | Zachary Boddy)
Speaking of benchmarks, the Q415M performs well in the tests I was able to run.
The Intel Core Ultra 5 is very competitive with thenew Qualcomm Snapdragon X Plusinside devices like theASUS ProArt PZ13.
Finally, thermal performance is very good.
It’s not the highest resolution or highest refresh rate display out there, but it’s still stunning to look at.
This helps the Core Ultra 5 compete with the beefier Core Ultra 7 inside hotter laptops.
Charging is quick and easy, too, with 65W USB key in-C charging on board.
This keyboard is comfortable, well laid out, and feels great to key in on.
Right out of the box, this is a very color accurate display.
It’s not a major issue, but this touchpad is a little too sensitive.
Another great feature to see at this price point.
Above average (but not exceptional) audio is another win for $800.
Vents along the bottom, the rear, and on the left side help keep this laptop cool.
If you just need a really good, long-lasting laptop for casual browsing, it’s worth looking into.
Just one small change would’ve made a world of difference… and that’s more RAM.
Most casual users will be fine, and ASUS is aiming at these consumers with this laptop.
This is far from the fastest SSD, especially the write speeds, but you don’t notice it with casual usage.(Image credit: Windows Central)
Just mind the RAM.
In this general productivity benchmark, the Zenbook 14 (Q415M) kept up with more premium devices like the Surface Laptop 7.(Image credit: Windows Central)
The Core Ultra 5 inside the Q415M goes toe-to-toe with the new 8-core Snapdragon X Plus, and even competes with some Core Ultra 7 laptops.(Image credit: Windows Central)
Despite technically not having Intel Arc graphics because of the RAM limitation, the Q415M still performs surprisingly well with gaming.(Image credit: Windows Central)
When encoding 4K video, though, the Zenbook 14 (Q415M) is on the slower end of the spectrum.(Image credit: Windows Central)
There’s a large battery stashed inside this chassis, but it doesn’t quite translate to class-leading endurance.
I love this keyboard enough that it makes up for the too-sensitive touchpad.
The webcam quality is average, but you do get an LED indicator, an IR sensor, and a physical privacy shutter.
The Q415M is a good example of an Intel Evo certified laptop, but new Windows on ARM PCs put up a lot of competition.
The display opens completely flat, although the hinge doesn’t feel the most sturdy at this extreme angle.
