Review of the lightweight, high-performing Zenbook A14 laptop
Over the last four years, we've examined a lot of laptops to offer our honest opinions, but I won't lie: we didn't get the idea that there were revolutionary jumps between each iteration. We also did not see a slowdown in creativity and innovation.
Every year, performance increases, and possibly design improves, but the criteria remain the same: if you want a laptop with strong performance, you must accept its large weight, and if you want a light laptop that can be carried anywhere, you must sacrifice performance.
But it's 2025, and things have changed. So, amid the excitement of CES 2025, ASUS made a daring promise: no more sacrificing outstanding performance for mobility. The days of relating performance to weight are past.
What was the result? The new Zenbook A14 laptop is the world's lightest Copilot+. This small companion demonstrates that excellent performance no longer has to weigh you down, either physically or metaphorically! We were fortunate to be given the opportunity to evaluate the laptop, so let's see how ASUS accomplished this engineering feat and what the AI-powered experience looks like.
The Zenbook A14 is available in only one model, the UX3407, and it offers the ideal mix of specifications, making it the clear pick for someone who always travels with their laptop. The gadget fits the users' fundamental requirements, such as lightweight, extended battery life, and tiny size. These features distinguish the Zenbook A14 from other models in the same series, such as the Zenbook 14 and Zenbook S 14, particularly because it is powered by Snapdragon's latest AI processors based on the ARM architecture, which differ significantly from AMD and Intel processors based on the x64 architecture.
ASUS has used the possibilities of this design in an innovative way to challenge the common belief that high-performance laptops must be big and heavy. The tablet also has a sleek appearance, strong speakers, a variety of connection ports, and many more features that we will go over in depth during the review. Here's the whole list of specifications:
Snapdragon X Elite (X1E-78-100) 12-core processor with a maximum clock speed of 3.4GHz and 42MB of cache.
RAM: 32GB LPDDR5X.
Storage capacity: 1TB M.2 NVMe Gen 4 (PCIe 4.0).
Graphics card: Qualcomm Adreno GPU.
AI processor: Qualcomm Hexagon NPU (45 TOPS).
Wi-Fi: Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be) tri-band.
Bluetooth version 5.4.
Battery: 3-cell Li-ion 70Wh, with a 90W rapid charger included.
Display: 14-inch OLED with WUXGA resolution, 600 nits of brightness, and a 16:10 aspect ratio.
Camera resolution: 1080p HD with infrared for Windows Hello compatibility.
The laptop weighs 0.98 kg.
Operating System: Windows 11 Home.
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Audio: A super-linear speaker system with Dolby Atmos compatibility and Smart Amplifier technology.
Additional features include an infrared sensor for facial recognition and a smart touch panel.
Available ports on the laptop:
USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A port.
Two USB 4.0 Gen 3 Type-C connections enable charging and connecting to external screens.
HDMI 2.1 TMDS port.
3.5mm combo audio jack.
We've said it before, but we'll say it again: the Zenbook line of laptops stands out from the rest of ASUS's laptops because the business devotes special attention to the aesthetics and beauty of their design. You can validate this by looking at earlier Zenbook iterations, and you'll note that they all have a high-end design, great quality, and a thin body. The Zenbook A14 follows this series with the same specifications, but with a stronger emphasis on "weight."
The Zenbook A14, which weighs only 980 grams, is a new benchmark in the world of lightweight laptops, so it's no surprise that ASUS is marketing it as the lightest Co.
But don't let the term "lightweight" fool you into thinking this laptop is lightweight; it's actually extremely durable. The secret here is ASUS' use of a new material called "Ceraluminum," which combines aluminum, magnesium, and ceramic elements to create a durable layer with a mottled, ceramic-like texture.
ASUS has previously used this material on laptops like the Zenbook S 16, but it was only used to decorate the back (the display cover), but this time the material is used to cover the entire body of the Zenbook A14, including the back, keyboard frame, and bottom. It may be difficult to express in words, but the feel of this "cerallium" has a unique character. It doesn't feel like high-quality plastic, nor does it have the smoothness of a stone surface, but
ASUS claims that Ceraluminum is 30% lighter, three times stronger than aluminum, and ten times more durable than ceramic. Additionally, it is remarkably resistant to corrosion, scratches, and fingerprints, allowing the laptop to maintain its sleek appearance over time.
The end result is an ideal business laptop for anyone who is always on the go and looking for a lightweight device that will not weigh you down in your bag. Whether you're commuting between meetings, working from a coffee shop, or traveling for work, the Zenbook A14 is a dependable companion for your daily routine.
In terms of aesthetics, ASUS has kept the design as quiet as possible, with no decorative graphics or lighting that could "overwhelm" the simple look of the device. The "ASUS Zenbook" series name stands out in a glossy finish in the middle of the back of the device, with a miniature ASUS logo above the keyboard. One of the design additions we liked was the EasyLift hinge, which provides perfect stability for the screen while moving and makes it easy to lift the lid using
The Zenbook A14's keyboard and touchpad complete the comfortable user experience, whether you're working at a desk or on the go. Initially, the keyboard is nicely sized and spaced out, and thanks to ASUS' innovative ErgoLift hinge, the keyboard rises to a comfortable typing angle as soon as you open the laptop, reducing strain while writing reports, composing emails, or coding. The design is carefully considered to ensure your hand is always comfortable during long sessions.
Furthermore, the keys are made of high-quality plastic and are covered with a layer of PVD coating to resist fingerprints. The keys are also designed in a concave shape with a curvature that ASUS claims is 0.1 mm, which makes typing more comfortable and reduces the possibility of unintended typos while improving typing accuracy overall. The keyboard also includes buttons for secondary functions, including a dedicated button to summon the artificial intelligence assistant.
Moving on to the touchpad, it has a generous area that perfectly matches the aspect ratio of the screen. This design allows for smooth control and ensures that the cursor can easily reach all corners of the screen, reducing the need to repeatedly reposition fingers while scrolling or navigating. The result is a comfortable user experience that usually eliminates the need to connect an external mouse.
The Zenbook A14's touchpad is distinguished by its Smart Gesture technology, which allows you to interact with the system with simple gestures. For instance, swiping along the right edge adjusts the screen brightness, swiping along the left edge controls the volume, and swiping along the top
The ASUS Lumina OLED display, which has a maximum resolution of 1200 x 1920 pixels and an aspect ratio of 16:10, is one of the Zenbook A14's most notable features. Despite its small size (14 inches), it's packed with a thoughtful combination of technologies that deliver an exceptional visual experience. It's worth noting that this resolution falls under
The VESA DisplayHDR 600 True Black certification ensures 1/1000000 contrast and deep blacks, resulting in vivid, lifelike colors and crisp details. The display is also capable of covering 100% of the DCI-P3 color gamut, ensuring that every color is displayed with maximum accuracy. With a brightness of up to 600 nits, it is suitable for use in both bright and dark environments.
This laptop's display has a color sensor that detects the ambient light level and automatically adjusts the brightness and color temperature. It also reduces blue light emission by 70% compared to traditional displays, making it compliant with TÜV Rheinland and SGS eye protection standards. The fast response time of 0.2 ms ensures smooth visuals.
Overall, the Zenbook A14's display exemplifies what this laptop is supposed to do, combining specifications that provide a wonderful experience in terms of picture quality and color accuracy.
The Snapdragon X Elite processor, one of Qualcomm's most powerful AI-powered processors, is at the forefront of these technologies, with the Qualcomm Hexagon NPU capable of performing AI-related tasks locally at a whopping 45 trillion operations per second. This is the limit Microsoft has set for a laptop to be par.
The Photos app now supports Windows Studio Effects, Co-creator, and Image Creator, as well as Live Captions, which instantly translate any video being played, and Recall, which allows you to easily return to any activity you did while using your computer or browsing the Internet. Additionally, the Click to Do feature suggests quick actions when you select text or an image, such as summarizing it.
The majority of these features will be noticeable while using the device, but to make the most of the power of the NPU chip, ASUS has equipped the laptop with additional applications such as StoryCube, which unifies your media libraries so that all of your photos and videos are accessible in one place. It collects and organizes them using local AI, making it easier to find and use your content when you need it.
ASUS Adaptive Lock, a feature that uses AI and webcam technologies to detect your presence in front of the device, uses the webcam to protect your privacy. When you look away from the screen, the brightness is automatically dimmed to improve privacy, and when you step away from the laptop, the lock screen is activated for added security.
Finally, the laptop includes the MyASUS app, which is an essential tool for controlling all of the device's features with ease. The app allows you to update the laptop's drivers, adjust cooling settings, modify screen contrast and colors, and control the battery charging mode. Furthermore, through MyASUS, you can check the device and diagnose any problems you encounter, with the possibility of obtaining direct technical support from ASUS and following up on the warranty status.
In addition, the ScreenXpert application helps you manage open program windows if you connect your laptop to an external display. You can divide application windows to display them at the same time but in an organized manner. When you move any window, the Mode Switcher menu pops up at the bottom right of the screen to select the desired division, such as dividing the screen in half or three parts to fit the folded screen.
The AI experience offered by Microsoft and ASUS on the Zenbook A14 is promising and has the ability to expand with additional features in the future. This opens up new opportunities for utilizing AI capabilities.
The Zenbook A14 has a modern array of ports that cater to users' needs and reduce reliance on dongles or adapters on the go. On the right side, there is a USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A port, which allows for fast, high-performance connection of peripherals such as a mouse, keyboard, or external storage devices.
The device's left side has an HDMI 2.1 port, two USB 4 Type-C ports with data transfer speeds of up to 40 Gbps, and a 3.5 mm headphone jack. These ports can be used to connect the device to a display with a resolution of up to 4K or even 8K, as well as to charge the battery.
In terms of wireless connectivity, the Zenbook A14 features the most recent high-speed connectivity technologies, including an improved version of Bluetooth 5 (dual-band) for long-range, stable connectivity to a variety of wireless devices and accessories. The device also supports Wi-Fi 7, which offers exceptional stability and speeds up to 4.8 times faster than Wi-Fi 6. These features make the on-the-go experience even more efficient, especially since the device does not have
This is perhaps the most important part of the review. The Zenbook A14 is extremely lightweight, but what makes it different from the rest? If its performance was modest, it wouldn't outperform other devices. But what if this lightweight is what gives it its strength? An equation that appears impossible, but it is made possible thanks to the ARM architecture, which is based on the Snapdragon X Elite processor.
The Zenbook A14 is powered by the flagship Snapdragon X Elite chipset built on a 4nm process, specifically the X1E-78-100 version, which includes a powerful Qualcomm Oryon 12-core CPU clocked at up to 3.4GHz and a Qualcomm Hexagon NPU capable of achieving an impressive 45 TOPS of AI performance. When we tested the laptop using Cinebench R24, it scored 1044 points, which is definitely an excellent performance that will be reflected
The integrated Adreno X1-85 graphics processor is capable of handling a wide range of professional tasks, from high-resolution video playback to light gaming and 3D drawing. To boost performance, this processor is paired with 32GB of the latest and fastest LPDDR5X RAM, clocked at 8533MHz, allowing even large and complex projects to run smoothly and without noticeable lag or stutter.
The device is also equipped with a 1TB PCIe Gen 4 SSD M.2 NVMe, which is the common type in most modern laptops. Read and write speeds vary depending on the device's specifications, and to evaluate performance, we used Crystal Disk Mark. The results showed a read speed of about 7 GB/s and a write speed of 6 GB/s, which is considered a distinctive performance that contributes significantly to the speed of Windows startup, running, and working on programs.
The Zenbook A14 has a Microsoft Pluton security chip built directly into the CPU, as opposed to the TPM chip, which is installed separately on the motherboard. This chip works behind the scenes to secure BitLocker and Windows Hello credentials, personal data, and encryption keys, protecting them from possible security attacks.
In terms of cooling, the gadget includes two efficient fans that disperse heat, keeping the laptop body barely warm when in use. Additionally, the device has several ventilation holes that improve the cooling system's efficacy.
The battery is undoubtedly a key factor in achieving the goal of a laptop like the Zenbook A14, which is primarily designed for on-the-go use. ASUS is well aware of this and has managed to fit a large 70Wh lithium-ion battery inside this relatively small laptop without compromising its lightweightness. For those who don't know, all lightweight laptops on the market today have batteries that don't exceed 50 Wh.
The Zenbook A14's large battery, combined with Snapdragon X's power-saving technologies, allows the laptop to last up to a full day—sometimes up to 32 hours—without needing to plug in the charger. This is a clear advantage in favor of the device, as tests have shown that it can work continuously for nearly 20 hours with typical use such as watching movies, browsing the internet, and writing documents.
The laptop comes with a 90W USB-C charger, but thanks to USB-C Easy Charge, you don't have to rely on the included charger alone. You can charge the laptop using a power bank or even a phone charger with a voltage between 5 and 20 volts, which is a great addition that allows you to use the device easily while on the go or traveling.
The Zenbook A14's audio experience is quite satisfactory, whether you're watching YouTube videos or listening to music on Spotify. The dual-speaker stereo system delivers great, clear sound and powerful bass. According to ASUS, these speakers are based on Super-linear technology and are manufactured using special materials and designs that ensure high-quality sound output without distortion even when the volume is turned up.
Furthermore, all speakers come with Dolby Atmos and Smart Amp technology, allowing users to enjoy exceptional sound quality and experience "spatial audio," which gives the impression that sound is coming from multiple directions, just like in modern phones. Overall, if you intend to use your laptop to watch movies or listen to music, these speakers will do the job and more, without the need for external speakers.
The laptop's built-in microphones also rely on AI technology to ensure superior quality in group calls. ASUS AI Noise Cancellation technology reduces disturbing ambient sounds while using the built-in microphones, ensuring clear audio output in various conditions. In addition, the technology enables noise isolation from the other party, allowing you to hear their voice clearly even if their device does not support the same technology.
The Zenbook A14, like all ASUS devices, comes with a one-year ASUS PERFECT WARRANTY against accidental damage. For example, if you accidentally drop your device and break the laptop screen, ASUS will repair or replace the screen at no additional cost, as long as the device is still covered by warranty. This unique warranty is an exclusive initiative from ASUS and has yet to be offered by any of its competitors in the laptop industry.