ASUS Zenbook 14" UX3405CA-DS51T-CA Ponder Blue 2025

At 1.28kg, this ZenBook is one of the most portable laptops around, packing an 82nd-percentile CPU and a gorgeous OLED. But the integrated graphics cough up a miserable 19.5 gaming score, and the 512GB SSD is average at best. Unless a featherweight build is your number-one must-have, $1450 is too much for what you get.

The heart of this machine is a 14-core Core Ultra 5 225H that posts an 82nd-percentile CPU score. That means it outpaces the vast majority of laptops in our database for raw processor grunt—impressive for something this thin. Multi-tab browsing, large spreadsheets, and even light video editing feel effortless. The 16GB of LPDDR5X RAM is about average (52nd percentile) and soldered, so don't expect to upgrade later.

Graphics, on the other hand, are strictly average. The integrated Arc 130T sits at the 64th percentile, fine for a Netflix binge, casual photo edits, or pushing that 1920x1200 OLED. But the moment you fire up a modern game, the 19.5 gaming score reminds you this is not a play machine. The 60Hz panel also caps the smoothness, so twitchy esports titles are out of the question. It's a capable media partner, just not a fast one.

Stacked against the Samsung Galaxy Book5 Pro, you get a higher-resolution OLED and often a more generous SSD for a similar or lower price—that machine simply gives you more screen real estate and storage per dollar. The MSI Prestige 13 (PRE13EVOA2088) shaves off even more weight while keeping CPU muscle close, though its display might trade some punch. Apple's MacBook Pro M5 Pro starts higher but flattens this ASUS in GPU muscle and brightness, plus its mini-LED 120Hz panel is a big step up for creative work. If you're dead set on Windows and 1.28kg with an OLED, the ZenBook holds its own; but for most people, the Galaxy Book5 Pro offers a better-rounded package for the same cash.

At $1450, the ZenBook 14 OLED asks premium money for a mid-pack ultrabook. You're essentially paying for that beautiful OLED and featherweight chassis. But the storage sits at the 53rd percentile, the RAM is average, and the integrated GPU can't hold a candle to even entry-level discrete chips. Competitors like the MSI Prestige or Samsung Galaxy Book5 Pro often deliver similar or better CPU, more storage, and a comparable display for less. Unless you're absolutely smitten by the 1.28kg weight, you'll find more balanced value elsewhere.

At just 1.28kg, this ZenBook 14 OLED is a standout for portability, sitting in the 84th percentile among all laptops we've tested. That weight, combined with a 14-inch OLED touchscreen that pumps out 400 nits and full DCI-P3 coverage, makes it a lovely entertainment companion—our entertainment score hit 71.3, and the screen lands in the 76th percentile. If you're a student or commuter who mainly streams, browses, and types, the form factor alone is a huge draw.

But the numbers tell a more mixed story. Intel's Core Ultra 5 225H pushes CPU performance to the 82nd percentile, so everyday snappiness is a given. The trouble is the integrated Arc 130T graphics, which drag the gaming score down to 19.5 and keep the total score at a middling 65.8. You're getting a premium-feeling ultrabook with a mediocre graphics punch, and at $1450, that trade-off stings.

Anyone who needs gaming performance or GPU-accelerated work should skip this entirely. The 19.5 gaming score is a flashing red light. If you're a storage hoarder, the 512GB SSD (53rd percentile) will fill up fast with no user-upgradeable slot. Creatives who demand high refresh rates for smooth scrolling or ultra-sharp 4K timelines will also be let down by the 60Hz, 1920x1200 panel. At this $1450 price point, you can find thin-and-light competitors with discrete graphics or at least a more generous SSD.

The ZenBook 14 OLED is a gorgeous, ultraportable notebook with a lovely screen and a CPU that punches above its weight class. If your day revolves around web apps, documents, and streaming video, you'll adore it. But the weak GPU and meager 512GB storage make $1450 a tough pill to swallow when Samsung and MSI offer OLED ultrabooks with more generous specs for less. It's a solid choice only if you prioritize weight above all else and rarely venture beyond basic tasks.