Another day, another Zenbook. We joke, but Asus sells a wide range of differing Zenbook models to meet particular needs, and the Asus Zenbook 14 OLED Q425 (starts at $979.99; $1,049.99 as tested) is one for mobile users. With Intel’s Core Ultra 7 155H processor in tow, this model is lightweight, thin, and can last for nearly a whole day on battery. Its OLED screen and 1TB SSD add to the usability, for a versatile and satisfying little laptop with enough processing power for everyday home and office tasks. Its power ceiling is limited, but it’s a fine deal lacking any major concessions. It’s only undone by Asus’ own Zenbook 14 OLED Touch (UM3406) at $849.99, our Editors’ Choice winner for ultraportable laptops, with a faster AMD Ryzen processor and a better value overall.Configuration: An Intel Core Ultra ZenbookWe’re looking at the Q425 model here, meaning it’s one specific SKU. Priced at $1,0499.99, the Zenbook 14 Q425 comes with an Intel Core Ultra 7 processor, 16GB of memory, and a 1TB SSD. That’s an appealing package, especially if you’re after extra storage (1TB is uncommon at this price) or are particularly interested in Intel’s AI-ready Core Ultra chips. It’s available through Best Buy and Asus’ online store in this configuration.
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Our recent favorite Zenbook 14—the UM3406 model—is priced at $849 for an AMD Ryzen 7 8840HS CPU, 16GB of memory, a 512GB SSD, and the same OLED display. That chip, too, includes AI features, so unless you must insist on the doubled-up storage, it’s a better value overall on paper.Design: Built to Be MovedThis ultraportable isn’t pushing the envelope in terms of design; it’s another straightforward Zenbook look. This basic gray build does the job, adorned only by a metallic Asus logo on the lid. The chassis quality is decent, though you’ll feel flex around the touchpad due to the lightweight plastic material. It’s not going to turn many heads and hardly feels luxe (unlike some other, sleeker Zenbooks), but it’s acceptable for the price.
(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)
The upside of the material used is that this laptop is especially portable. It weighs only 2.82 pounds and measures 0.59 by 12.3 by 8.7 inches (HWD), ready to tuck under your arm or slip into nearly any bag with its super-thin frame. Of course, 14-inch laptops are generally all portable—that’s the reason you’d accept a smaller screen—but this is slimmer still than many of its contemporaries. The fresh Dell XPS 14 is thicker and heavier (0.71 inch, 3.7 pounds), while the Lenovo Slim 7i 14 Gen 9 and Acer Swift Go 14 are just as thick and a bit heavier at 3.15 pounds and 2.91 pounds, respectively. This is the same footprint as its sibling, the Asus Zenbook 14 OLED Touch (UM3406).
(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)
This (and its reasonable pricing) is really its calling card in terms of design—you won’t find much else to write home about. The keyboard is fairly comfortable for typing, and the touchpad is responsive, but neither is especially remarkable.Using the Asus Zenbook 14 OLED (Q425): Display and ConnectivityNaturally, the display is a highlight. OLED screens have become increasingly common in entry-level and lower-end midrange machines, and this Zenbook is yet another model to include such a vivid panel. As we’ve come to expect from OLED, its vibrancy is superior to IPS panels, and even if it’s not exactly a necessity, it’s sure hard to go back.
(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)
If you were hoping for a super-high resolution, this is only a full HD (1,920 by 1,200) screen, though that is the same as all of the alternative 14-inch laptops mentioned above. This isn’t the brightest screen around (more on that in the testing section later), but it’s luminous enough when turned up to max, the colors are vibrant, and it looks sharp.Moving on to connectivity, the left edge of the laptop is home to a single USB Type-A port, while the right side holds two USB Type-C ports with Thunderbolt 4 support, an HDMI connection, and a headphone jack. You will have to occupy one of those USB-C ports for the charger, but retaining a full-size USB port and an HDMI connection is a plus at this size.
(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)
You’ll also find some more extras hidden in this laptop, such as Harman Kardon certified speakers with Dolby Atmos support, which reach high volume without much distortion. The full HD webcam delivers decent quality—the video recorded is a bit grainy but clear enough, and the sensor handles different lighting pretty well. The laptop also supports Wi-Fi 6E.
(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)
Testing the Asus Zenbook 14 OLED (Q425): A Just-Fine Showing for Intel Core UltraTo judge the Q425 model’s performance in practice, we put it through our usual benchmark test suite. The results will be compared with those of the following laptops:
Many of these were mentioned previously as size comparisons, but they’re also competitively priced 14-inch ultraportables. The Acer Swift Go 14 ($999.99 as tested) and the other Asus Zenbook 14 ($849.99) are the less expensive alternatives, while the Lenovo Slim 7i 14 Gen 9 ($1,240 as tested) and especially the Dell XPS 14 (9440) ($2,099 as tested) are the pricier options. The XPS 14 is not a price competitor as configured, but it’s included to show how much of that added cost manifests as performance improvement—its discrete GPU should certainly demonstrate as much.Productivity and Content Creation TestsWe run the same general productivity benchmarks across both mobile and desktop systems. Our first test is UL’s PCMark 10, which simulates a variety of real-world productivity and office workflows to measure overall system performance and also includes a storage subtest for the primary drive.Our other three benchmarks focus on the CPU, using all available cores and threads, to rate a PC’s suitability for processor-intensive workloads. Maxon’s Cinebench R23 uses that company’s Cinema 4D engine to render a complex scene, while Geekbench 5.4 Pro from Primate Labs simulates popular apps ranging from PDF rendering and speech recognition to machine learning. Finally, we use the open-source video transcoder HandBrake 1.4 to convert a 12-minute video clip from 4K to 1080p resolution (lower times are better).Finally, we run PugetBench for Photoshop by workstation maker Puget Systems, which uses the Creative Cloud version 22 of Adobe’s famous image editor to rate a PC’s performance for content creation and multimedia applications. It’s an automated extension that executes a variety of general and GPU-accelerated Photoshop tasks ranging from opening, rotating, resizing, and saving an image to applying masks, gradient fills, and filters. (The 2023 Acer Swift Go was not able to run this benchmark.)
The Zenbook 14 Q425’s results on these tests were not especially impressive, mostly hanging around the lower end of the group. On PCMark 10’s productivity test and Geekbench, it stuck around the middle of the pack but was a bottom outlier on others. As far as general aptitude for these different scenarios, this means the Q425 can perform adequately and it’s more than punchy enough for average everyday use, but it isn’t a machine you’ll want to turn to for media editing and processing outside of a few quick tasks.Graphics TestsWe test the graphics inside all laptops and desktops with two DirectX 12 gaming simulations from UL’s 3DMark, Night Raid (more modest, suitable for laptops with integrated graphics) and Time Spy (more demanding, suitable for gaming rigs with discrete GPUs). We normally also test the cross-platform GPU benchmark GFXBench 5, but we encountered a server error at the time of testing that prevented recording results.
None of these systems with integrated graphics (all but the XPS 14) are too well equipped for graphics or 3D workloads. The XPS 14’s GPU demonstrated the superiority of a discrete GPU on the Time Spy test, though as we noted in its review, it mysteriously fell off dramatically in Night Raid. Ultimately, discrete GPUs aren’t too common in the ultraportable space, especially not around the entry-level or lower midrange price tier, and when they are, their power ceiling is limited due to device thinness. The unusual Night Raid result in the XPS 14 aside, snagging a laptop with one of Nvidia or AMD’s GPUs will unlock a different performance tier. Integrated graphics, as in this laptop, have improved and may do in a pinch and for some light or low-settings gaming, but you’ll want to grab a larger or much more expensive model if you need graphics horsepower.Battery and Display TestsWe test each laptop and tablet’s battery life by playing a locally stored 720p video file (the open-source Blender movie Tears of Steel) with display brightness at 50% and audio volume at 100%. We make sure the battery is fully charged before the test, with Wi-Fi and keyboard backlighting turned off.To gauge display performance, we also use a Datacolor SpyderX Elite monitor calibration sensor and its Windows software to measure a laptop screen’s color saturation—what percentage of the sRGB, Adobe RGB, and DCI-P3 color gamuts or palettes the display can show—and its 50% and peak brightness in nits (candelas per square meter).
The Q425’s battery life result was fantastic, the longest-lasting system in this group on our rundown test despite some already impressive results. This is true all-day battery life and then some, which is a must for a laptop prioritizing portability. You won’t worry about this laptop lasting to your next destination or dying in class if you’ve charged it relatively recently, a big win for a system you’ll likely throw in your bag frequently.As for the display testing, this panel pushed top-notch color coverage, and the brightness result backed up my eye test. For what it’s worth, Asus claimed 500 nits brightness on this panel, but we only measured 353 nits. To my eyes, it’s bright enough at maximum, but only just, and lower levels seem a little too dim in many settings. Verdict: A Portable OLED for an Appealing PriceThis particular take on the Zenbook is clear in its purpose and audience. The Q425 is super portable with exceptional battery life, an enjoyable OLED display, and a snappy enough processor. This makes it a smart fit for those seeking a simple laptop for basic travel needs like answering emails and watching videos or mobile professionals doing lighter work in Microsoft Office or Google’s ecosystem from the road.It’s an impressive value, but it’s beaten by Asus’ own Zenbook 14 OLED model UM3406, which delivers superior performance with only a couple of concessions for less money through Walmart. The design of this system won’t wow you, and a higher resolution display requires spending more cash, but you won’t miss any essentials. The Asus Zenbook 14 OLED Touch (UM3406) retains its Editors’ Choice award in this category, but the Q425 is a worthwhile consideration if it suits your needs better.
Asus Zenbook 14 OLED (Q425)
The Bottom Line
The Q425 model in Asus’ Zenbook 14 OLED ultraportable laptop line is a fit for frequent travelers or commuters, thanks to its trim design, all-day battery life, plenty of storage, and wide selection of ports.
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