The Zenbook 14X OLED, ASUS’s most popular ultraportable, has been updated for this year’s CES. However, ASUS is testing a fancy new ceramic coating on the lid of the laptop for 2023 in addition to the updated specs.
Plasma electrolytic oxidation, or PEO, is the name of the process that was used to make the coating. ASUS is able to add a finish that is not only lighter but also more durable than traditional anodized aluminum because it doesn’t need strong acids or heavy metals to be made and is also better for the environment.
The Zenbook 14X’s ceramic finish feels great in person. It’s even smoother and better at resisting fingerprints than the magnesium chassis that Microsoft used to use on older Surfaces, but it reminds me of that. The disadvantage is that ASUS is using this process for the first time, so the ceramic coating is only available in one color: sandstone. On the bright side, there is also a less expensive model with an aluminum finish in Inkwell gray if you want something a little bit more traditional.
The Zenbook 14X also has a slightly larger OLED touchscreen with a 14.5-inch resolution, a faster 120Hz refresh rate, and a taller 16:10 aspect ratio. New 13th-generation Intel CPUs, support for up to 32GB of DDR5 RAM, and even an optional NVIDIA RTX 3050 GPU all contribute to improved performance. Additionally, ASUS is introducing faster Wi-Fi 6E connectivity, and with a slightly larger 70-watt-hour battery.
With two Thunderbolt 4 connectors, port selection appears solid as well. In addition, there is a new full HD webcam, which is better than the 720p model from last year and supports Windows Hello. It also has dual mics with AI noise cancellation, so you should look and sound better in meetings.
