If a lower price is a priority, the Asus Zenbook 14 offers a great balance between cost and features. It has a vivid OLED screen but is slightly heavier and bulkier compared to the Framework Laptop. The Framework Laptop, despite its higher cost, brings the advantage of being more lightweight and portable, with the unique selling point of being highly customizable and repairable. Both have similar storage and memory, but if portability, customizability, and repairability are more important than budget, then the Framework might justify its extra cost. For everyday use both perform well, but for extensive travel or the wish to easily upgrade components over time, the Framework stands out. Give Feedback
this description is based on the product variant with some specs and product variant with some specs. At the time of writing, the variant with some specs cost some dollars and the variant with some specs cost some dollars.
Advantages of the ASUS Zenbook 14
Very good overall display quality
Advantages of the Framework Laptop 13 (2023)
Very good speakers
Key differences
Screen Quality
8.3/10
7.4/10
14.0in
SIZE
13.5in
2880 x 1800
RESOLUTION
2256 x 1504
OLED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
90Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
339.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
472.0 nits
The ASUS Zenbook 14 has a better screen than the Framework Laptop 13 for general use, gaming and AI, and engineering and design, while the Framework Laptop 13 has a better screen for content creation.
The ASUS Zenbook 14 boasts a vibrant display with high resolution and brightness suited for general use and engineering tasks, thanks to a wide color gamut catering to the precision needed for design work. The Framework Laptop 13, while slightly less impressive, still delivers ample clarity and color for everyday tasks and technical applications, offering a good balance for users operating within these contexts. Both, however, fall short for gaming and 3D, as their screens have lower refresh rates that are less ideal for the fast-paced, immersive visuals these activities demand.
Cost
$300
$1,079
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
The ASUS Zenbook 14 has a price of $300 and the Framework Laptop 13 (2023) costs $1,079.
The Framework Laptop 13 (2023) and ASUS Zenbook 14 are both good for general use.
The ASUS Zenbook 14 delivers strong performance for general use, backed by a capable processor and sufficient memory, and its OLED screen offers deep colors and high contrast, giving a rich visual experience which contributes to its fair assessment; however, the Framework Laptop 13 (2023) stands out due to its superb keyboard, repairability, and higher screen brightness, alongside a more modern processor which leads to its good rating for general use, though the ASUS model's larger screen may be preferred by some for productivity or entertainment. Both have similar portability, attributed to their lightweight designs and compact dimensions, but the ASUS has a longer battery life, offering more time away from the charger at the expense of reduced manageability of fan noise and heat.
Gaming and AI
6.1/10
6.3/10
3.7/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.7/10
2880 x 1800
RESOLUTION
2256 x 1504
90Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
6.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.5/10
The Framework Laptop 13 (2023) and ASUS Zenbook 14 are both only fair for gaming and AI.
The ASUS Zenbook 14 offers a high refresh rate of 90 Hz for smoother visuals in gaming and 3D applications, but with an integrated Intel Iris Xe GPU, it's not designed for high-end gaming. Meanwhile, the Framework Laptop 13 (2023) also has an integrated Intel Iris Xe GPU limiting its gaming performance, and its lower refresh rate of 60 Hz results in less fluid motion compared to the ASUS. Both laptops have high-quality screens and capable CPUs, but neither is built for the demands of intensive gaming.
Engineering and Design
7.2/10
7.3/10
7.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.8/10
3.7/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.7/10
8.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
The Framework Laptop 13 (2023) and ASUS Zenbook 14 are both good for engineering and design.
The ASUS Zenbook 14 is equipped with a high-resolution OLED screen which offers vibrant color accuracy essential in design, while its powerful CPU and GPU support demanding engineering software; it also has a larger battery providing longer unplugged usage.
Content Creation
7.3/10
7.5/10
7.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.8/10
2880 x 1800
RESOLUTION
2256 x 1504
8.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
OLED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Framework Laptop 13 (2023) and ASUS Zenbook 14 are both good for content creation.
PerfectRec’s Content Creation Score takes into account the many different features of the laptop that make it more or less suitable for photo editing, video editing and other content creation tasks.
Software Development
7.2/10
7.6/10
7.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.8/10
8.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
2880 x 1800
RESOLUTION
2256 x 1504
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.5/10
The Framework Laptop 13 (2023) and ASUS Zenbook 14 are both good for software development.
PerfectRec’s Software Development Score takes into account the many different features of the laptop that make it more or less suitable for software developers.
Battery
8.0 Hours
7.5 Hours
The ASUS Zenbook 14 has 8 hours of battery life. The Framework Laptop 13 has 7.5 hours of battery life.
Battery life estimate is based on a mix of common use patterns. More portable and higher performing laptops tend to have less battery life.
Portability
Very Good
Very Good
14.0in
SIZE
13.5in
3.0 lbs
WEIGHT
2.9 lbs
0.6in
THICKNESS
0.6in
The Framework Laptop 13 (2023) and ASUS Zenbook 14 both have very good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
7.8/10
7.8/10
The ASUS Zenbook 14 and Framework Laptop 13 (2023) both have good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
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How the ASUS Zenbook 14 and the Framework Laptop 13 (2023) compare to other laptops
"Users who travel frequently and are looking for a portable laptop are in the right place with the Asus ZenBook 14. The sleek case is extremely light (1.2 kg) and surprisingly thin (1.5 cm). Outdoor use is also enjoyable thanks to the bright Full HD display, which is something that can rarely be said about laptops with TN or IPS panels. The excellent battery life complements this as well. Longer trips are no problem with the ZenBook 14. Another plus point is the high-performance Ryzen 7 5700U, which often leaves the Intel competition in the dust thanks to its large number of cores."
"If you’re thinking of investing in your first Framework, now is the time. The kinks and rough edges have all been smoothed out and this is a very nice machine with a bright, upgradable future. The only reason I can think of to wait is the AMD model, which I’ll be sure to test as soon as I can get my hands on one."
Get a great deal on the ASUS Zenbook 14 or the Framework Laptop 13 (2023)
About ASUS
ASUS, a Taiwanese electronics brand, is one of the largest personal computer vendor by market share. The majority of their laptops are targeted towards personal use or gaming. Their most popular product lines include the budget-friendly VivoBook, more premium ZenBook, and their TUF and ROG gaming laptops, the latter of which has a reputation for excellent gaming performance.
About Framework
Framework is a new American laptop manufacturer, specializing in modular and repairable laptops with the goals of promoting longevity and reducing electronic waste. They are a strong proponent of the right to repair movement. Framework laptops have replaceable RAM, storage, ports, keyboards, display bezels, mainboards, and more, making them a great choice for repairability-oriented individuals.
This information was produced and vetted by the PerfectRec laptops team. We are a product research and recommendation organization that meticulously reviews and evaluates the latest laptop information and makes it digestible for you.
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