When choosing between the ASUS Zenbook 14X and the Framework Laptop 16, consider your priorities. The Zenbook 14X, while generally more affordable, offers a balance of performance and portability with a compact form factor, making it suitable for everyday tasks and moderate workloads. On the other hand, the Framework Laptop 16, despite a higher price, is built for customization and repairability, with impressive performance that caters to more demanding applications like engineering and creative software, but is larger and less portable. Extended battery life could be a strong point for the Zenbook, while the Framework Laptop stands out for its sustainability and upgradable components. 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 14X
Very good portability
Advantages of the Framework Laptop 16 (2023)
Very good for general use
Very good for engineering and design
Very good for software development
Very good for content creation
Very good overall build quality
Good battery life
Best in class speakers
Key differences
Content Creation
7.6/10
8.1/10
7.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.1/10
2880 x 1800
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
OLED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Framework Laptop 16 (2023) is very good for content creation, while the ASUS Zenbook 14X is good.
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
7.4/10
8.0/10
7.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.1/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
2880 x 1800
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
The Framework Laptop 16 (2023) is very good for software development, while the ASUS Zenbook 14X is good.
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.
Screen Quality
8.3/10
8.4/10
14.0in
SIZE
16.0in
2880 x 1800
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
OLED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
90Hz
REFRESH RATE
165Hz
339.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
490.0 nits
The ASUS Zenbook 14X has a better screen than the Framework Laptop 16 for engineering and design, while the Framework Laptop 16 has a better screen for gaming and AI, content creation, and software development.
When selecting a laptop for general use, the ASUS Zenbook 14X and Framework Laptop 16 both offer crisp visuals and bright displays, suitable for everyday tasks like browsing and video streaming. For engineering and design work, both laptops provide excellent color accuracy crucial for precise visual work, but may lack the specialized hardware some professional applications require. However, for gaming and 3D modeling, their screens fall short primarily due to lower refresh rates, which can result in less fluid motion and slower response times compared to laptops specifically designed for these tasks.
Battery
5.5 Hours
9.0 Hours
The ASUS Zenbook 14X has 5.5 hours of battery life. The Framework Laptop 16 has 9 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
Good
14.0in
SIZE
16.0in
3.0 lbs
WEIGHT
4.6 lbs
0.6in
THICKNESS
0.7in
The ASUS Zenbook 14X has very good portability, while the Framework Laptop 16 (2023) has good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Cost
$777
$1,699
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
$3,000
The ASUS Zenbook 14X has a price of $777 and the Framework Laptop 16 (2023) costs $1,699.
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Framework Laptop 16 (2023) to be very good for general use, while the ASUS Zenbook 14X is good.
The ASUS Zenbook 14X offers a balance of CPU performance, screen quality, and portability, which suits everyday tasks and on-the-go use, but its battery life may fall short for all-day use without charging. The Framework Laptop 16 (2023) excels with a high-quality screen and robust CPU that tackle demanding applications smoothly, coupled with easier upgradeability including RAM and storage, but its larger size makes it less portable than the Zenbook.
Gaming and AI
6.5/10
6.8/10
3.9/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.0/10
2880 x 1800
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
90Hz
REFRESH RATE
165Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
6.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.5/10
The Framework Laptop 16 (2023) and ASUS Zenbook 14X are both only fair for gaming and AI.
The ASUS Zenbook 14X, with its capable GPU and high screen refresh rate, handles gaming and 3D tasks well, but the Framework Laptop 16 (2023) with its modular design offers flexibility in upgrades which might appeal to users planning for future enhancements; screen quality is a strength for both, although their CPUs are enough for moderate demands yet not the top choice for the most intensive tasks.
Engineering and Design
7.7/10
8.1/10
7.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.1/10
3.9/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.0/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Framework Laptop 16 (2023) to be very good for engineering and design, while the ASUS Zenbook 14X is good.
The ASUS Zenbook 14X offers a robust CPU, ample RAM, and a high-quality GPU, ideal for demanding engineering software, plus its screen quality is excellent for detailed design work. While the Framework Laptop 16 has similar high-end specifications making it also suitable for engineering tasks, it stands out with its modular design allowing for easier upgrades and repairs, alongside good portability and a quality keyboard, but the tradeoff might be slightly more operating noise compared to the ASUS.
Build Quality
7.8/10
8.0/10
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Framework Laptop 16 (2023) to have very good build quality, while the ASUS Zenbook 14X has 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 14X and the Framework Laptop 16 (2023) compare to other laptops
"With the Zenbook 14X, Asus has a 14-incher in its range that is - mostly - a joy to use. First, there is the colorful OLED panel with 3K resolution that displays the sRGB and DCI-P3 color spaces. The Zenbook is also at the forefront in terms of workmanship, input devices and connections with 2x Thunderbolt 4 ports and a generous keyboard layout. A pleasure to use, the Zenbook 14X is a solid, very well-built subnotebook that sits well on the table. A runtime of five hours, however, is below average for a high-end subnotebook nowadays. The OLED screensaver causes increased power consumption when in idle mode."
"The trend towards thinner and lighter laptops is made possible by fusing more and more components onto the mainboard. The main drawback to this approach is that it limits repairability as even a small fault may require replacing entire boards. Framework is one of the only manufacturers looking the other way in an attempt to improve end-user customization and servicing. There's no question that the Laptop 16 is more user-friendly to service than any alternative, but this lucrative feature comes at the cost of size and weight as individual components must be easily replaceable."
Get a great deal on the ASUS Zenbook 14X or the Framework Laptop 16 (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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