Jacob Roach / Digital Trends
Over the past few year , the category of 14 - inch play laptops has grow tremendously . You ’ll witness multiple models among thebest gaming laptops , but there are three key intent that are all begging to be your mellow - end portable gaming powerhouse .
I ’m talk about theRazer Blade 14,Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 , andHP Omen Transcend 14 . All three are tenuous and light gambling laptop computer that pack the latest computer hardware from Intel , AMD , and Nvidia , and they all deliver an excellent gaming experience . There are a surprising issue of difference between the three laptop , however , and one of them has a cleared edge .
Jacob Roach / Digital Trends
Specs and pricing
Out of the three , the gentle laptop to start with is the Razer Blade 14 . It ’s the most expensive of the trio , coming in at $ 2,200 for an RTX 4060 and $ 2,700 for an RTX 4070 . Those are the only two GPU option , and Razer pairs them both with an AMD Ryzen 9 8945HS and 1 TB of memory board . The RTX 4060 configuration comes with 16 GB of retention , while the RTX 4070 bumps that spec to 32 G .
With only two main configuration , your choice for customization are limited . You ca n’t get more than 1 TB of storage , for exemplar , but the design of the Blade 14 features slot - in Aries and warehousing , so you could interchange these constituent on your own down the telephone circuit .
The Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 is very interchangeable . Asus also bases its design around the Ryzen 9 8945HS , and you have the selection between an RTX 4060 and an RTX 4070 . Similarly , Asus pack in a 1 TB SSD and 16 GB of storage for the RTX 4060 configuration and 32 GB for the RTX 4070 configuration . It ’s identical to the Razer Blade 14 , but Asus ’ laptop come in significantly cheaper . The RTX 4060 simulation is $ 1,600 , while the RTX 4070 mannequin is $ 2,000 . You ’re saving anywhere from $ 600 to $ 700 compared to the Razer Blade 14 with the same specs .
There ’s one big caveat to the Zephyrus G14 ’s spectacles , however — the RAM is soldered . you could replace the SSD down the line , but you ’re stuck with the RAM configuration . That can be a financial obligation , particularly with the shape with 16 GB of storage .
at last , there ’s the Omen Transcend 14 . It ’s the large going away from the other two in terms of glasses due to the fact that it ’s built around one of Intel’sMeteor Lake CPUs . You have the option between an Intel Core Ultra 7 155H , paired with either an RTX 4050 or RTX 4060 , or an Intel Core Ultra 9 185H , which is geminate with an RTX 4070 . The first configurations add up with 16 GB of memory , while the RTX 4070 configuration comes with 32 GB .
HP offers many more customization option , peculiarly in storage . shape start with a 512 GB SSD , but you’re able to kick downstairs that up to 2 TB . Like the Zephyrus G14 , the RAM is solder , so you ca n’t raise it down the line .
Pricing is tricky because HP provides a destiny more choice . It has a cheaper starting Mary Leontyne Price of $ 1,250 , but that comes with a washy RTX 4050 GPU and only 512 GB of memory board . For a more lineal equivalence , an RTX 4060 configuration is $ 1,400 , while an RTX 4070 shape is $ 1,900 .
HP offer the cheapest laptop computer out of the three , but it ’s not much gimcrack than the Zephyrus G14 for similar constellation . It ’s a necktie between HP and Asus for this round , with Razer ’s options being far more expensive despite packing slotted memory .
Winner : link up between HP and Asus
Design
It ’s punishing to go wrong with any of these laptops . They ’re all craft with an aluminum case , and they all see peachy . There are some minor difference in plan — HP goes with a clear Omen logo on the front , while Razer has an illuminated Razer logo . The Zephyrus G14 stands out most from the crowd with its Slash Lighting , allowing you to localize effects on a string of LEDs situated on the laptop computer ’s hat .
The big difference are between size and weight . The Zephyrus G14 is the flimsy and lightest of the three , coming at only 0.63 in thick and 3.31 pounds . For reference , the HP Omen Transcend 14 is 3.6 pounds and 0.67 inches thick , while the Blade 14 is the largest at 0.7 column inch chummy and 4.05 pounds .
All three laptops are portable , but the Zephyrus G14 encroaches on MacBook territory with its weight and thickness . That , merge with the unique slash firing , ease up it an bound for invention .
Winner : Asus
Keyboard and trackpad
All three of these laptops feature RGB - backlight keyboard and spacious trackpads , but there are a few small conflict between them . The Omen Transcend 14 is easy the weak of the lineup . The keyboard has a strong amount of travel , but bottoming out the key result in a touch of mushiness . The big job , at least for version available right now , is the four - zone RGB lighting .
Both the Zephyrus G14 and Razer Blade 14 financial support per - key RGB light with a range of effect . The Transcend 14 is separated into four zone , immensely limiting your customization option . HP say it will discharge versions with per - key RGB ignition later in the year , but for mightily now , it takes a back seat to the other two options .
Between the Zephyrus G14 and Razer Blade 14 , the laptop computer craft blows bet on what you ’re after . The Blade 14 comes with a large trackpad , though the Zephyrus G14 is n’t far behind . On the other script , the Zephyrus G14 comes with more travel on the keys , making it a bit more well-heeled for farseeing typing session . The Blade 14 is spiffy with a shorter travel .
This is a tie between the Zephyrus G14 and Blade 14 . I prefer the longer locomotion of the Zephyrus G14 , but if you want a rattling , Macbook - alike response , the Blade 14 is the way to go .
success : Tie between Razer and Asus
Ports and connectivity
The Blade 14 , Zephyrus G14 , and Omen Transcend 14 come with almost superposable offerings in terms of porthole . All three laptops include a full - size HDMI 2.1 port , two USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type - A ports , and two USB - C port wine . The HP and Asus laptops split these USB - coulomb larboard between a single USB 4 and a USB 3.2 Gen 2 specification , while both ports on the Blade 14 support USB 4 .
The main difference of opinion is that the Zephyrus G14 has a micro Mount Rushmore State add-in slot , which is something both the Blade 14 and Omen go past 14 deficiency .
you may institutionalise all three laptop computer via USB - C king legal transfer , though the Omen surpass 14 uses this interface alone for charging . That means you ’ll only have access to one USB - C port while you ’re using the Omen Transcend 14 most of the meter . The Blade 14 and Zephyrus G14 come with a larger courser and a dedicated port for it .
The Blade 14 and Zephyrus G14 are once again tied here . The Blade 14 has an sharpness in that both of the USB - C port support mightiness obstetrical delivery , but the Zephyrus G14 comes with a micro South Dakota wit expansion slot . I envisage the micro SD card slot will be more useful to more people , but it comes down to preference between the two .
Display
Up to this point , it ’s been mostly a battle between the Blade 14 and Zephyrus G14 , with the Omen Transcend 14 taking a little back tail . That changes with the displays . Both the Zephyrus G14 and Omen Transcend 14 let in a 2.8 K OLED display at 120Hz . That ’s a resolution of 2,880 x 1,800 , with support for variable refresh rate and reaction times quoted at 0.2ms .
It ’s the exact same screen on both laptops , and the difference between the two amount to split hairs . They ’re some of the most colour accurate laptop computer screens we ’ve ever tested , though the Zephyrus G14 gets slightly shining at 670 nits ( the Omen Transcend 14 top out at 606 nit ) . The big reward for the Asus laptop is a MUX permutation that permit you to switch between the integrated and discrete artwork on the screen .
The Blade 14 is a percipient step behind . The IPS panel is color precise and gets bright enough , but it ca n’t hold a candle to the inky Shirley Temple and innumerable contrast allot by organic light-emitting diode . The main point in the Blade 14 ’s party favor is the 240Hz refresh charge per unit , doubling what you get on the HP and Asus laptop computer .
Still , HP and Asus have an undeniable lead here with their OLED displays . You ’re getting a gamy resolution , a speedy refresh pace , and the wondrous vividness and HDR that organic light-emitting diode bring to the table .
Performance
All three of these laptop computer are decent performers , but there are a few gamy - level difference between them . Above , you’re able to see an overview of a handful of games we examine across these laptops . We were only able to try the RTX 4060 configuration of the Omen Transcend 14 , so the results are understandably depleted compared to the two laptops packing an RTX 4070 .
Our revaluation for these laptops ( linked at the top of this clause ) curb far more benchmarks , so you should look into those if you want the full partitioning of performance .
There are some notable departure when compare them straight , however . The most glaring is that the Zephyrus G14 and Omen overstep 14 use a lowerTotal Graphics Power ( TGP)for the graphics identity card liken to the Blade 14 . Even with an identical GPU on paper , the Blade 14 squeezes out more carrying out in games on modal .
The conflict is only a few frames typically , but there are suit where the break is much expectant , as showcased byCyberpunk 2077above .
In addition , the Core Ultra central processor in the Omen Transcend 14 is broadly decrepit than the Ryzen offerings in the Blade 14 and Zephyrus G14 , at least for the Core Ultra 7 155H that we reviewed . The Core Ultra 9 185H will likely close up the spread , but the Razer and Asus laptops have a svelte edge for overall public presentation .
That does n’t make a huge difference in this section , however . If you ’re after the highest operation , there ’s no good option than the Razer Blade 14 . The Zephyrus G14 gets cheeseparing , and the Omen Transcend 14 is n’t far behind in third spot , but the Blade 14 still tops the chart .
Winner : Razer
Which 14-inch gaming laptop should you buy?
Tallying up the wins , the Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 comes out on top . In some place , such as pricing , the Omen Transcend 14 is a bit good . In others , such as flush operation , the Blade 14 come in out on top . The Zephyrus G14 is balanced , however . It declare oneself enough performance for a much low damage liken to the Blade 14 , and it ’s thinner and light than the Omen Transcend 14 .
This is a very tight fight , though . For me , the voiceless decisiveness is between the Razer Blade 14 and Zephyrus G14 . After using both , I found that the Blade 14 is the unspoilt laptop — however , it ’s not deserving the surplus $ 600 to $ 700 Razer is asking for it . Even expend an extra $ 200 on it is hard to justify with how great the Zephyrus G14 is .
The Omen Transcend 14 is in last place . It does n’t feel quite as premium as the other two modeling , and it has a price to reflect that . It ’s not a uncollectible laptop , hitting like scratch to its two rivals here , but most mass are better off with the Zephyrus G14 or Blade 14 if you have the John Cash to spare .
One laptop computer I omitted from this gunfight is theAlienware x14 R2 . It ’s a great 14 - inch gaming laptop , but it has n’t see an update for 2024 quite yet . If you ’re look a second , that ’s by all odds one to keep an oculus on — the Alienware x16 received an update of late , so I ask an update to the x14 is in the works .
