Asus is able to tackle the MacBook Air with its Zenbook A14

For a very long time, Apple has dominated the marketplace for light-weight, highly effective laptops. The MacBook Air has set a excessive bar for some other expertise behemoths to step in and attempt to attain. Asus has formally debuted its new Zenbook A14, an ultra-lightweight laptop powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X sequence of chips. The corporate publicizes that the $899 Zenbook A14 is the “world’s lightest Copilot+ PC.”

I bought an opportunity to shortly go hands-on with the Zenbook A14 forward of CES 2025. As a fan of the MacBook Air, I needed to seek out myself delighted by Asus’ newest innovation — particularly for the reason that MacBook Air, and particularly any of the M-series-powered fashions, has at all times been the perfect mannequin to lug round on my work journeys. Within the time spent trying on the Zenbook A14, I shortly started to wrap my head round its potential. Other than the interior specs, main me to consider it is a first rate workhorse for productiveness, its sheer measurement and weight invited the concept that Asus may very well be my subsequent journey companion.

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A MacBook Air in all however its title

Asus did not shrink back from its inspirations when creating the Zenbook A14

As quickly as Asus revealed the Zenbook A14 throughout a behind-closed-doors session, it was clear that they’d aspirations of creating their very own MacBook Air. There aren’t any subtleties when what Asus needed to hold over from Apple’s long-running light-weight gadget and the unique spin the corporate wished to include. The Zenbook A14 arrived as a 14-inch gadget with an FHD Lumina OLED display screen, and for these maintaining observe at residence, it positioned the gadget’s measurement proper within the candy spot between the 13- and 15-inch M3 MacBook Air.

Sustaining a minimalist design, Asus makes use of an all-Ceraluminum chassis. The corporate states that utilizing this tactile materials, the Zenbook A14 may be 30 p.c lighter and 3 times stronger than if utilizing anodized aluminum. On prime of creating it extra sturdy and light-weight, its Ceraluminum chassis ensures the Zenbook A14 can face up to minor scrapes and scratches. The chassis has been examined for hurt towards keys, cash, and different probably dangerous hazards you’d have in a backpack or piece of bags. At launch, the Zenbook A14 will likely be accessible in nature-inspired colorways together with Iceland Grey and Zabriskie Beige.

Holding the Zenbook A14, it simply feels gentle sufficient to solely carry with one hand. Being 31.07 x 21.39 x 1.34cm (12.22 x 8.42 x 0.53-inches) in measurement, the Zenbook A14 is barely a small fraction bigger than the 13-inch MacBook Air. Nonetheless, Asus’ newest gadget is 31.7oz (899g), lighter than the 43.7oz (1,240g) of the MacBook Air. The load felt glorious in my palms — I might see myself utilizing this once I do not wish to convey a extra intensive laptop computer with me on a visit or stroll to a espresso store.

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The potential to wow in efficiency

The jury continues to be out if Zenbook A14 can snuff out the competitors

The Zenbook A14 is not simply fairly on the eyes — there’s additionally various energy and effectivity below the hood. Asus leverages the Snapdragon X processor every day to ship sturdy efficiency and stellar battery life. Relying on the mannequin, Asus contains the Snapdragon X Elite and Snapdragon X Plus chips with CPU TDP of as much as 45W. Asus additionally pairs the Zenbook A14 with Qualcomm’s Adreno graphics, as much as 32GB LPDDR5x 8533 MHz RAM and as much as 1TB SSD storage. The corporate additionally claims that the Zenbook A14 will provide a “multi-working-day battery life.” Sadly, what that’ll imply for traditional productiveness workflows nonetheless has but to be decided.

I used to be solely capable of spend a brief period of time utilizing the Zenbook A14 in any tactile sense, however navigation by way of the UI felt snappy and responsive. I am a sucker for any OLED show, and I need to say that the 14-inch FHD Lumina OLED display screen used on this gadget appears to be like beautiful — it is brilliant and vibrant with a pleasant shade distinction. I am nonetheless desirous to see how streamed content material appears to be like on it in an open workplace setting or espresso store with extra direct daylight, although.

The gadget’s keyboard feels good to the contact with responsive keystrokes, and in addition presents a 1.3mm key journey. The Zenbook A14 contains an enlarged touchpad that includes Sensible Gesture controls. Utilizing the trackpad, I might swipe left or proper to manage media skip choices and the standard up and down to manage quantity. Asus confirms that Sensible Gesture controls work throughout all media gamers, which may very well be a neat perk in case you’re watching movies on YouTube or controlling quantity on Netflix.

With out intensive hands-on time, I am not sure if Asus has the means to dethrone Apple and its MacBook Air from its place. I am particularly desirous to see if the Snapdragon X Plus chipset, when optimized for the Zenbook A14, can outpace the M3-series MacBook Air. Apple’s laptop computer can present round 18 hours of use on a cost with distinctive productiveness utilization, so if Asus can replicate that or come near benchmarking the M3 MacBook Air, I might be impressed.

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Zenbook A14 is primed for AI options

Asus’ laptop computer helps Copilot+ PC function and safety perks

With its promise of being a Copilot+ PC gadget, Asus is supporting a catalog of AI-driven options. When you’re accustomed to Microsoft’s Copilot+ PC platform, you will seemingly know what you are getting on this case. The Zenbook A14 contains assist for Cocreator’s text-to-image AI era, and there is additionally Reside Captions, which makes use of AI to translate dwell or recorded audio, displaying subtitles in real-time. Home windows Studio Results is a function that makes use of AI results from the onboard FHD AI IR digital camera and microphone to enhance lighting and audio, and, in fact, this additionally contains assist for Microsoft’s largely controversial Recall function.

The Zenbook A14 does embody a collection of privateness options and different perks. Asus explains that this contains Adaptive Lock and Adaptive Dimming choices to safe your info if it’s good to step away from the gadget. The laptop computer additionally helps Home windows Telephone Hyperlink, so you may join your iOS or Android gadget to Home windows for cross-device compatibility. That means, you may take cellphone calls, display screen mirror, and file share simply and successfully.

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These options are mere perks on prime of what looks like a sturdy and smooth new gadget from Asus. AI options and privateness assist are nice to pad out the Zenbook A14’s choices. Nonetheless, primarily based on my hands-on time, I have been way more desirous to see how the {hardware} itself handles from a productiveness standpoint and day-to-day utilization. The Zenbook A14 has the potential to climb the ranks in direction of outmatching Apple’s MacBook Air or, on the very least, be a compelling different available on the market. Nonetheless, I am going to chorus from closing judgment till it launches in February.