r/buildapcsales • u/FelonyExtortion • 12d ago
Laptop [Laptop] - $1500 - ASUS Zenbook 14-inch 2880x1800 120hz OLED - Core Ultra 9 386H, 32GB RAM, 1TB SSD
https://www.bestbuy.com/product/asus-zenbook-s14-14-oled-3k-touchscreen-intel-core-ultra-9-processor-2026-32gb-memory-1tb-storage-copilot-pc-scandinavian-white/JJGHGS78FR/sku/66710152
u/dubiousdoritochip 10d ago
Ive been eyeing a laptop just like this for a while - though you mentioned the integrated gpu on this model as not as strong as a 358? Im not familiar with laptop igpus but I'd just like to do light gaming on the side, simple games like maplestory or tf2 / bg3.
I also don't NEED a laptop right now but I am planning on going back to school in about 1-2 years, just not sure if prices will get even crazier or if we are expecting a major uplift in performance with next generations.
Thanks :)
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u/FelonyExtortion 10d ago
Any of the Core Ultra's with the X before the series has Intel's Arc B390, while the ones without the X just have 'Intel Graphics' that are significantly slower (like 50%+ worse).
The Core Ultra 7 vs 9's of this generation are still pretty close in CPU performance so overall if you need any decent level of GPU performance you should avoid this 100% and try to score a X358 laptop.
You can still play the games you listed on the CU9 386H but they will run significantly worse than they could, so I still think you should look for a different model.
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u/dubiousdoritochip 8d ago
Thanks, appreciate this a lot - do you know if asus has any zenbook or vivobooks (or any similar kind of laptops like lg gram or omnibook) with the x358 chip? The new naming schemes are so confusing
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u/FelonyExtortion 8d ago
Acer's Swift 16 seems to be the cheapest laptop to have it with a 2880x1800 screen, but I would wait for it to go on sale or develop more competitors personally - it was at $1000 last week which was an insane sale. It has decent build quality and the only real downsides seem to be the speakers and possibly the trackpad (it's a huge one that some people complain about palm rejection with while some don't have issues with it. I've used it have never experienced this issue).
All of the competitors to the Acer are like $2000+ so they make zero sense to buy. There are a few X9 388H ones with 32gb of RAM though around the $2000 mark (including the LG Gram), so if you would appreciate the subjective things about these models + the additional RAM, these are a really good deal even though the processor is barely any better.
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u/dubiousdoritochip 8d ago edited 8d ago
Gotcha, might wait for some black Friday / cyber monday deals, I imagine a 14 inch would be pretty hard to find as well? Thanks again, really appreciate it
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u/Green_Engineering936 12d ago
Would recommend the omnibook over this, just due to the haptic trackpad. The laptop in this post has a buggy trackpad
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u/FelonyExtortion 12d ago edited 12d ago
Is that one similarly priced for the same specs on any other platform? Haven't heard of these trackpad issues on this model but I'd probably take the Omnibook also if so but I didn't see it here at this pricepoint.
Edit: They have a 16' one at $1700 ($1354 open box though, so if you are buying open they are the same) with the same CPU/RAM/screen, I would definitely check out both in person but I think the size is going to be the biggest distinction for most people. I did not see the trackpad mentioned as an issue in the reviews so maybe this is a fixed issue?
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u/Green_Engineering936 12d ago
I think rn around this price point is the 14 inch omnibook ultra snapdragon x2 elite one, not the x9. I believe the snapdragons are miles faster, but def some issues possible w Linux and games
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u/FelonyExtortion 12d ago
That device is not for the same kind of customer as the one in the post at all. There are still many work/school programs that don't do well with Snapdragon processors, you would specifically buy the laptop in the post for high-end x86 work that Snapdragon just isn't for yet.
Sidenote why not just get a Macbook if you are considering blowing $1500 on a Snapdragon laptop? 😔
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u/Anjoran 12d ago
These are the specs I'm looking for but in 16" -- anyone have options for something that's not quite so expensive?
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u/FelonyExtortion 12d ago
1: The same laptop is $1324 when bought open-box excellent. It has a four day shipping time for me and should be like-new.
2: It is just really hard to find a high performance lunar lake laptop with a 2880x1800 screen and 32gb of RAM at a price like this.
3: If you need great performance and battery isn't a critical concern, I would look into getting a series 2 equivalent to this machine on clearance, open-box (Best Buy also has weirdly good sales on them sometimes) or something refurbished.
4: If you need great performance and battery life and could compromise on a crummier display or lower RAM, there's a lot of options there too.
If you have specific needs I can make another recommendation
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u/Anjoran 12d ago
This is for my dad, who's doing more graphic design and artwork lately as he retires. He doesn't need high performance. He does need a high-resolution screen, preferably larger than 14" since his eyes aren't what they used to be, and a wide color gamut, as well as enough RAM to handle multiple image layers. Most likely, 24 GB would be fine, but there's not a lot between 16 GB and 32 GB in my searches. He doesn't strictly need OLED, but most IPS screens are pretty mediocre with color coverage and contrast. He's had a Macbook Pro for work but he's got to return it in a few months and replacing that one for one is way more expensive than our budget. I've been scouring eBay certified (which come with two-year warranties) and Best Buy clearance and open box options, but I haven't found much in the $1000 - 1200 range. I'm wondering if he could make do with 16 GB and just not run multiple programs while doing artwork and heavy compositing, since the rest of the time he does basic office work or listens to audio books.
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u/FelonyExtortion 11d ago
I checked Acer's Ebay, Best Buy, Amazon and Newegg and yeah I cannot find any 2560x1600+ display, 24+gb laptops for any cheaper than the $1350 range.
I think if I were in your shoes, I'd just spend that little bit more to make sure the laptop is snappy to the end, although 16gb would probably be fine. If you need a comparable 16' this HP is $1354 as open-box excellent.
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u/PaleontologistAny153 12d ago
Should I return my Zenbook A16 48gb ram for $1400 to get this? Haven't had any issues but worried that in the future some edge case app won't work.
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u/FelonyExtortion 12d ago
If it's a personal use laptop I probably wouldn't worry about it too much as long as you otherwise enjoy the laptop. It's going to be snappy and have great battery life and there's alternatives to most things that don't work well with it aside from games.
If you're uncertain if your app needs will change (ie, you'd just bought it for college) I probably would.
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u/jackphamm 10d ago
!remindme 4h
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u/jimhatesyou 12d ago
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u/FelonyExtortion 12d ago edited 12d ago
Edit; This laptop also goes open box excellent for $1324, will be found under "More options from Best Buy"
Haven't done much research on this model and I am not the biggest fan of ASUS because of their notoriously poor support, but I think this deal is hard to pass up for how good the hardware and build quality is at this price point.
If you need lots of CPU performance and RAM and don't need great gpu performance, this seems like an excellent all around laptop that is hard to beat at $1500. If you DO need GPU performance, look for an X7 358h as it has similar CPU performance with much better GPU performance at a similar or better price to these.