The ASUS Zenbook A14 has captured significant attention this year. With promises of all-day battery life, an OLED display, and a groundbreaking material called Ceraluminum, it certainly has a lot going for it. Plus, it’s one of the first laptops equipped with the newly launched Snapdragon X processor. However, what might really catch your eye is the price point. This model just hit the shelves starting at $1,099, offering impressive specs including 32GB of RAM and a 1TB SSD. A budget-friendly variant is set to release in March at $899, but the version that’s available now is definitely worth considering.
Even though we’re just in January, it’s not an overstatement to call the Zenbook A14 one of the year’s standout laptops. It snagged the title of best laptop at CES 2025, overshadowing a swath of newcomers from various big-name manufacturers. The Zenbook A14 managed to rise above the noise, thanks to its impressive features and design.
The freshly launched model boasts a Snapdragon X processor and a 14-inch FHD+ display that can shine up to 600 nits. Dubbed as a Lumina display, it uses ASUS’s latest and greatest OLED technology. Coupled with 32GB of RAM and a 1TB SSD, it sports a solid spec sheet for a sleek, compact laptop.
Under the hood, the Zenbook A14’s specs and its cutting-edge chip enable it to function as a Copilot+ PC. Its AI capabilities are powered by 45 TOPS, courtesy of its NPU, making it well-equipped for handling AI-driven tasks.
ASUS didn’t hold back on port options either. The Zenbook A14 is well-equipped with two USB 4.0 ports, an HDMI 2.1 port, a 3.5mm audio combo jack, and a USB 3.2 Type-A port.
An Extremely Light Laptop
One of the Zenbook A14’s most impressive features is its minimal weight, which left Editor-in-Chief Daniel Rubino and the press in awe. Rubino remarked, "It felt almost hollow, like a dummy PC. It’s absurdly light."
Considering its compact size, the Zenbook A14’s specs are quite remarkable. It houses a 70WHr battery, much larger than typical super-light devices. Moreover, you can open this laptop with just one hand—a rare feature for computers weighing under 1 kg (2.2 lbs).
ASUS promises that the Zenbook A14 can last up to 32 hours playing offline videos. However, since most people won’t use it just for that, the claim of 19.5 hours of web browsing on a single charge is more relevant. Even if it doesn’t hit that exact mark, you can likely count on it to last all day—and maybe even stretch into the next, depending on your usage.
What is Ceraluminum?
Ceraluminum is a term I’ve mentioned a few times, so let’s dive into what it actually is. This innovative material combines aluminum and ceramic and first appeared in the Zenbook S 16 and S 14. The manufacturing process involves submerging aluminum in hot water within an electrolytic bath. This unique procedure results in its distinctive color options and finishing, making Ceraluminum more environmentally friendly compared to traditional aluminum anodization.
ASUS explains, "The material is an oxidized layer that emerges from aluminum as it’s submerged in an electrolytic bath of pure water and minerals—it’s not a coating; it’s an integral part of the aluminum, making it 100% recyclable."
Putting science and manufacturing methods aside, Ceraluminum is both durable and flexible while also resisting smudges. The Zenbook A14 pushes the envelope by using Ceraluminum throughout its entire chassis, whereas previous models employed it solely for the lid.
