Asus' compact gaming laptop serves as an unexpected remedy akin to the MacBook Pro I was unaware of.
The Asus ROG ally Zephyrus G14, a gaming laptop from ASUSTeK Computer Inc., offers a compelling alternative to the MacBook Pro for those seeking versatility and performance.
This laptop boasts an expandable storage and a more versatile port situation compared to the MacBook Pro, making it a more palatable choice for users with diverse needs. The Asus ROG ally Zephyrus G14, priced at $2,500 in the US, is more affordable than the 14-inch M4 MacBook Pro with 24GB of RAM and 2TB of storage, which costs $2,799 in the US.
Under the hood, the Asus ROG ally Zephyrus G14 houses an AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 processor and a discrete graphics card, providing a significant performance boost over its predecessor at AAA games, with a performance gain of roughly 30%.
In terms of gaming performance, the Asus ROG ally Zephyrus G14 shines. Black Myth: Wukong stays close to 42-48fps with ray-tracing enabled at QHD+ resolution and cinematic graphics, while the combination of 4x frame generation and DLSS 4 (balanced) pushes the performance over 95fps ballpark. Forza Horizon 5 is comfortably playable at 100fps+ at the extreme graphics tier, with DLSS and frame generation active. Doom: The Dark Ages plays well at the ultra graphics preset on the Asus ROG ally Zephyrus G14, offering a fairly stable 60fps+ output at QHD+ resolution.
The laptop's cooling system, including two heatsinks, three fans, thermal paste, a large fiber-and-mesh heatpipe, and a dust filter over the air intake area, ensures that the powerful components stay cool during intense gaming sessions.
The Asus ROG ally Zephyrus G14's display is a 120Hz OLED panel with 3K resolution, ultra-low 0.2ms response time, Dolby Vision, Nvidia G-Sync, and VESA Display support. While the OLED panel offers lovely color output, high contrast levels, and great viewing angles, it suffers from glare due to its glossy finish.
The laptop also caters to the users' aesthetic preferences with fully customizable RGB-backlit and slash lighting LEDs at the back. The keyboard on the Asus ROG ally Zephyrus G14 is stiff compared to the MacBook Pro, but has extra key travel, providing a comfortable typing experience.
The Asus ROG ally Zephyrus G14 is an unabashed gaming laptop, but it's not just for gamers. With its versatile port situation, expandable storage, and powerful performance, it also serves as an antidote to the MacBook Pro for those who can't imagine their workflow blossoming on macOS. The laptop's onboard NPU aboard the AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 processor can muster 50 AI TOPS, qualifying it as a Copilot+ PC.
The laptop's security features include an IR sensor array for Windows Hello face unlock, ensuring your data stays safe. The Asus ROG ally Zephyrus G14's all-metal chassis, made from aluminum, anodized, sandblasted, and polished, gives it a premium feel.
In conclusion, the Asus ROG ally Zephyrus G14 is a powerful gaming laptop that offers a compelling alternative to the MacBook Pro. With its versatile port situation, expandable storage, and powerful performance, it's a great choice for both gamers and professionals seeking a high-performance laptop. The golden resolution for gaming on the Asus ROG ally Zephyrus G14 is 1200p.
