Asus unveiled the Zenbook A14 at CES 2025, a lightweight Windows laptop positioned as a competitor to Apple’s MacBook Air. Weighing just 2.18 pounds—lighter than Apple’s M3 MacBook Air—and featuring a magnesium alloy chassis with a ceramic-like “Ceraluminum” finish, the A14 prioritizes portability and style. It is powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X processor, promising up to 32 hours of battery life from its 70Wh battery, significantly larger than the MacBook Air’s 52.6Wh cell.
Launching in mid-January at $1,099.99, the base model includes 32GB of RAM, a 1TB SSD, and a 14-inch OLED display with 1920 x 1200 resolution, 600 nits brightness, and 60Hz refresh rate. In March, a more affordable $899.99 variant with a Snapdragon X Plus processor, 16GB RAM, and 512GB SSD will be available exclusively at Best Buy, weighing slightly more at 2.4 pounds.
The A14 offers a broader range of ports compared to the MacBook Air, including two USB 4 Type-C, one USB-A 3.2 Gen 2, a full-size HDMI 2.1, and a 3.5mm audio jack. It supports up to three external monitors, though one must supply power via USB-C.
While the Zenbook A14 stands out for its design, OLED display, and competitive pricing, questions remain about its performance and compatibility. Snapdragon X processors have shown progress in balancing efficiency and performance, but Windows on ARM can still face app compatibility issues. Benchmarks suggest that while the Snapdragon X Plus and X Elite processors compete with Apple’s M3 chip, the A14’s entry-level Snapdragon X may struggle, especially with Apple’s anticipated M4 models on the horizon.
Specs
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Processor | Qualcomm Snapdragon X (base) / Snapdragon X Plus (cheaper variant) |
| Display | 14″ OLED, 1920 x 1200, 60Hz, 600 nits |
| RAM | 32GB (base) / 16GB (cheaper variant) |
| Storage | 1TB SSD (base) / 512GB SSD (cheaper variant) |
| Battery | 70Wh, up to 32 hours claimed battery life |
| Weight | 2.18 lbs (base) / 2.4 lbs (cheaper variant) |
| Build Material | Magnesium alloy with “Ceraluminum” ceramic coating |
| Ports | 2 x USB 4 Type-C, 1 x USB-A 3.2 Gen 2, 1 x HDMI 2.1, 3.5mm audio jack |
| External Display Support | Up to 3 monitors (1 must supply power via USB-C) |
| Starting Price | $1,099.99 (base) / $899.99 (cheaper variant, Best Buy exclusive) |
| Release Dates | January 2025 (base) / March 2025 (cheaper variant) |
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