The Origin EON14-S, a 14-inch gaming laptop boasting an RTX 4070, commands attention with a price tag significantly lower than competitors like the Razer Blade 14. While the 1080p screen and 512GB storage option might seem like reasonable compromises for the substantial price difference, the EON14-S ultimately proves to be a middling machine. This review delves into why this laptop, despite its appealing specifications, falls short of expectations.
Origin EON14-S laptop sitting on a coffee table.
Impressive Specs on Paper
The EON14-S’s allure stems primarily from its robust components. The base model, priced at $1,500, features an Intel Core i7-13700H, an RTX 4060, 500GB of storage, and 16GB of DDR5-4800 RAM. A $200 upgrade offers a compelling jump to an RTX 4070 and a Core i9-13900H. Origin also provides extensive customization options, allowing users to configure RAM up to 64GB and storage up to 8TB, including RAID configurations. Our review unit, equipped with a Core i9-13900H, RTX 4070, 32GB of RAM, and a 2TB SSD, totalled $1,901.
| Feature | Origin EON14-S |
|---|---|
| Dimensions | 12.79 x 8.85 x 0.84 inches |
| Weight | 3.86 pounds |
| Processor | Intel Core i9-13900H |
| Graphics | Nvidia RTX 4070 |
| RAM | 32GB DDR5-4800 |
| Display | 1920 x 1080 IPS, 144Hz |
| Storage | 2TB NVMe SSD |
| Touchscreen | No |
| Ports | 2x USB 3.2 Gen1 Type-A, 1x USB 3.2 Gen2 Type-C, 1x Thunderbolt 4, 1x HDMI, 1x Ethernet, 1x 3.5mm headphone jack |
| Wireless | Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.2 |
| Webcam | 1080p |
| Operating System | Windows 11 Home |
| Battery | 73Whr |
| Price (as reviewed) | $1,901 |
However, the 1920 x 1080, 144Hz display feels underwhelming for a laptop with such high-end specifications. While the lower resolution might seem justifiable considering the price difference compared to the Razer Blade 14 or Zephyrus G14, the EON14-S’s shortcomings become apparent upon closer inspection.
Display Disappoints
Display on the Origin EON14-S.
The EON14-S’s display suffers from several issues beyond its 1080p resolution. The thick bezels, particularly the bottom one, are distracting and make the screen feel smaller than it is. Coupled with the limited resolution and the 14-inch chassis, the overall visual experience feels cramped.
Furthermore, the display’s quality is subpar. With a peak brightness of only 270 nits, it falls short of the 350-400 nits commonly found in modern IPS panels. While color accuracy is decent with a color error of 1.86, the limited color coverage of 74% DCI-P3 and less than 100% sRGB is a significant drawback, hindering content creation and HDR gaming experiences.
Build Quality and Input Devices Fall Short
Keyboard and trackpad on the Origin EON14-S.
The EON14-S’s build quality also disappoints. Although its 3.86-pound weight and 0.84-inch thickness contribute to portability, the all-plastic construction feels flimsy and prone to flex. The small, loosely fitted trackpad provides an unsatisfying clicking experience, and the keyboard, while usable, suffers from a mushy bottoming-out feel that makes extended typing sessions less enjoyable.
Ports on the Origin EON14-S.
The EON14-S lacks the refined design and attention to detail found in competing premium gaming laptops. The oddly placed power button, standard barrel power connector, and generic “notebook computer” label on the bottom all contribute to the impression of a hastily assembled device rather than a carefully crafted product. These seemingly minor details reflect a broader lack of polish that extends to other areas, such as the tinny speakers, excessive fan noise under load, and subpar battery life of only six hours.
Performance Delivers, But at a Cost
Despite its shortcomings, the EON14-S delivers the performance promised by its high-end components. The Core i9-13900H and RTX 4070 handle most tasks with ease, albeit with noticeable fan noise and high temperatures.
origin eon14 s review 14 geekbench multi core
origin eon14 s review 14 cinebench multi core
In multi-core benchmarks, the Core i9-13900H outperforms current AMD offerings. Single-core performance is also strong, although the Ryzen chip in the Lenovo Legion Pro 5 holds a slight edge in Geekbench 5.
origin eon14 s review 14 geekbench single core
origin eon14 s review 14 cinebench single core
PCMark 10 results for the Origin EON14-S.
However, PCMark 10 results suggest the EON14-S doesn’t fully utilize its hardware potential for overall productivity.
Time Spy results for the Origin EON14-S.
Gaming performance is generally strong, with the EON14-S slightly outperforming the Razer Blade 14 in 3DMark Time Spy when in its loud, hot performance mode. However, it still lags behind larger laptops like the Lenovo Legion Pro 5.
Gaming benchmarks for the Origin EON14-S.
Our gaming benchmarks indicate that the default performance mode provides the best balance. The results also highlight that a 1440p display would have been a better fit for this hardware, as the RTX 4070 with DLSS Frame Generation is capable of driving higher resolutions at smooth frame rates.
Conclusion
Cyberpunk 2077 running on the Origin EON14-S.
The Origin EON14-S presents a compelling proposition on paper with its powerful specifications and competitive pricing. However, its numerous compromises in build quality, display, and overall refinement ultimately detract from the user experience. While the EON14-S isn’t a bad laptop, it falls short of being a great one, making it difficult to recommend over more polished alternatives.
