At this year’s CES 2025 in Las Vegas, ASUS broke the mold by introducing its Zenbook A14 (UX3407), a high-performance laptop that challenges the notion that cutting-edge technology only comes with hefty price tags. In the realm of top-notch laptops, we often find ourselves discussing models priced $1,000 and above. The reason being, it’s where fresh ideas and risky ventures are initially unveiled before they eventually filter down to more affordable consumer PCs.
But not this time.
Priced from $899, with it soon being offered at Best Buy, the Zenbook A14 is definitely worth a thoughtful look when making your next purchase. Let me explain why.
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For your upcoming buy, take a serious look at the Zenbook A14, priced at $899 and coming to Best Buy soon. Here’s what makes it attractive.
Zenbook A14 specs: Extremely light, and extreme battery
Let’s get the specs out of the way as the Zenbook A14 (UX3407) is no slouch.
Initially, this device weighed approximately 2.18 lbs (0.98kg), which left everyone speechless upon first touch due to its hollow, dummy PC-like feel. Amazingly, despite being incredibly lightweight, ASUS managed to incorporate a 70WHr battery within it. To put things in perspective, most ultra-light laptops carry batteries around the 50WHr mark. So, the fact that ASUS has included such a large battery is quite remarkable.
It came as a shock to many that, given its incredibly light weight, it was possible for someone to open the lid using just one hand. This suggests exceptional finesse and precision in design, considering how little material there is.
When paired with Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X processors, specifically the newer version or the Snapdragon X Plus (X1P-42-100), ASUS asserts some remarkable claims about the Zenbook A14’s battery life, which is certainly intriguing.
- Up to 32 hours of offline video playback
- Up to 19.5 hours of web browsing
- Up to 28 hours of online video streaming
The key figure to consider here is the 19.5-hour measurement because it takes into account activities like data processing, opening and closing tabs, displaying graphics, and these are typical laptop tasks (over half of laptop use occurs in a browser). Even if ASUS provides just 15 hours, that’s still an incredible achievement.
As an observer, I note that at its starting $899 configuration, this device boasts a stunning 14-inch OLED 60Hz display. With a resolution of 1920×1200 and covering 100% DCI-P3, it surpasses the Full HD standard (1920×1080) and falls into the WUXGA category. Although not Ultra High Definition (4K), this display offers a respectable middle ground for most users, and also contributes to extended battery life.
This screen also features Lumina display, the latest and cutting-edge OLED technology from ASUS. It boasts a swift response time (0.2 ms), an impressive contrast ratio of 1,000,000:1, VESA DisplayHDR True Black certification for deep blacks, Rheinland low blue light certification for eye comfort, OLED Care to prevent burn-ins, and exceptional color accuracy with full coverage of DCI-P3.
Additionally, it’s an ASUS NanoEdge display, so extra thin bezels, and an anti-glare coating.
The keyboard boasts a generous key travel of about 1.3 millimeters, which is on the higher end, and it also comes equipped with fingerprint-resistant properties.
You won’t find all of that in many $899 laptops.
This device, a Qualcomm Snapdragon X and Copilot+ laptop, initially comes with 16GB of RAM (expandable to 32GB). It’s equipped with an impressive Neural Processing Unit (NPU), allowing it to perform up to 45 Tera Operations Per Second (TOPS). The Asus Zenbook A14 offers a storage capacity that can reach 1 Terabyte through its PCIe 4.0 SSD. It also supports the latest Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3 connectivity. In terms of ports, it provides two USB 4.0 (fully compatible), one HDMI 2.1, a 3.5mm audio combo jack, and one USB 3.2 Type-A for your flash drives and older accessories.
What is Ceraluminum and why does it matter?
It appears that ASUS is enthusiastic about a new material they call Ceraluminum, which debuted in the well-received Zenbook S 16 and Zenbook S 14 laptops last year. For a sense of our previous impressions, take a look at our review of the Zenbook S 16.
Is it just a buzzword? Not as far as I can tell.
According to ASUS, Ceraluminum combines the strength of ceramic with the adaptability of metal. In other words, this unique material gives the Zenbook A14 its lightweight yet robust construction. Notably, while ASUS introduced Ceraluminum last year, the Zenbook A14 is the first device to incorporate it throughout its entire body (including the lid, keyboard frame, and base).
The one-of-a-kind manufacturing technique for Ceraluminum involves immersing aluminum in hot water and adding a ceramic component, leading to an intriguing speckled pattern (it boasts a tactile appeal as well). Of particular interest is that this method is eco-friendly, swapping out the conventional acidic aluminum anodization process with pure water. As a result, the two color variants, Iceland Gray and Zabriskie Beige, do not undergo painting or dyeing but rather emerge from the oxidation procedure in Ceraluminum’s production. Consequently, if you scrape it, you won’t reveal any underlying material beneath the scratch. Additionally, it offers a (reasonably) smudge-resistant surface. Truly remarkable!
The field of material science is growing more significant in the tech industry, and ASUS showcases this with its exclusive Ceraluminum. This innovative material has been a standout feature for the Ultrabook lineup, but it’s now also being used in an affordable $899 laptop, which might come as a surprise.
Why is the Zenbook A14 is so great?
Prior to CES 2025, I had an extended period using the Zenbook A14, and it stands out as nothing like any other laptop I have encountered.
This device is incredibly lightweight, giving it an exceptional feel thanks to its Ceraluminum construction. Its earthy colors lend a natural beauty to its design. Moreover, it boasts Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X processors, which are currently superior to AMD and Intel for my specific needs (though I plan to test its performance daily to confirm this).
I must admit, I’ve rarely been this impressed by a laptop priced at $899. This aspect matters significantly because although I often suggest high-end laptops costing over $1000, the vast majority of the market falls below that price point. Now, I understand that $899 is still not inexpensive, but I’m confident that with sales, it will become more affordable over time.
It’s pleasing to notice an Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM in this case, ASUS) lowering prices rather than raising them. A significant part of this is thanks to Qualcomm, whose Snapdragon X series processors have been competitively priced compared to Intel and AMD, and even come with 16GB of RAM as standard.
What does the “A” stand for in Zenbook A14?
This little story is quite amusing. You see, ASUS initially planned to name this particular laptop the ASUS Zenbook Air 14. However, it seems that their legal team disapproved, likely due to some clear and understandable causes.
So, “A14” it is!
When is the Zenbook A14 available?
Here, there is some good news and bad news.
The exciting update is that the Zenbook A14 (UX3407QA-PS76) goes on sale on the 13th of January. You can purchase it from both the ASUS Online Store and Best Buy, online. This model comes equipped with the newly announced Snapdragon X (X1-26-100), packs 32GB of RAM, and boasts a 1TB SSD. However, it’s priced at $1,099. It is only available in Iceland Grey color.
Unfortunately, the model priced at $899 (UX3407QA-X1P512), which comes exclusively in Zabriskie Beige, won’t arrive until March. However, you’ll be able to purchase it both online and in physical stores at Best Buy.
It’s interesting to note that the $899 Best Buy model, boasting 16GB of RAM and a 512GB SSD, features a slightly enhanced Snapdragon X Plus (X1P-42-100) processor instead of the standard Snapdragon X. The main distinction lies in the fact that the Plus chip offers a 3.4 GHz single-core boost and operates at a faster speed by 200 MHz. This means you’ll experience a bit more power surge during brief, intense tasks.
As an enthusiast, I’d recommend holding off on the purchase until March, unless you absolutely require a whopping 32GB of RAM right away. Don’t fret about the storage space though! You can easily upgrade the SSD yourself, and with some extra effort, even bump it up to a roomy 2TB if that appeals to you.
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2025-01-07 20:42