Unveiling the Stunning Laptops of 2025: A Must-See Photoshoot!

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At CES 2025, there was an impressive display of upcoming laptops from various brands, each boasting new hardware from Intel, AMD, Qualcomm, and NVIDIA. The event featured numerous intriguing unveilings, but only a select few stood out enough to be awarded our prestigious “Best of CES 2025” titles.

Currently, I have not one but two laptops on my desk – an ASUS Zenbook A14 (2025) and a Lenovo Yoga Slim 9i 14 (Gen 10). Despite their contrasting designs, they both possess a remarkable quality. These two machines might just be the standout laptops of the year; at the minimum, they certainly rank among the most visually appealing.

So, here’s a photoshoot and my quick first impressions to slake your nerdy heart’s thirst.

What do I need to know about these two laptops?

To start, it’s the Lenovo Yoga Slim 9i (10th Gen), which stands out as the most captivating among Lenovo’s Yoga and ThinkPad unveilings at CES. This laptop encapsulates luxury, combining the powerful hardware we’ve grown accustomed to in recent top-tier Windows laptops with a stunning, unique design, and one of the most advanced and visually appealing displays ever incorporated into a laptop.

The Lenovo Yoga Slim 9i 14 is stylish but somewhat impractical, given its high price point of $1,759.99. This laptop doesn’t seem to offer the best value for money. Instead, it offers a premium experience at a premium cost, featuring unique elements and design that you won’t find elsewhere.

As a tech enthusiast, I can’t help but be thrilled about the Lenovo Yoga Slim 9i. Beyond its Intel Core Ultra (Series 2) chipset, AI capabilities, and top-tier components, this laptop truly stands out with a world-first under-display camera, an extraordinary OLED display boasting a 4K resolution and rapid 120Hz refresh rate, and a stunning all-glass lid that scatters light in a captivating array of patterns.

At CES 2025, the ASUS Zenbook A14 (2025) captured our attention with its elegantly modest design, coupled with a well-rounded and cost-effective set of features. This laptop, poised to outshine pricier competitors, earns our steadfast endorsement.

The Zenbook A14 stands out for its exceptionally lightweight construction, achieved by utilizing a magnesium frame reinforced with ceramic. Remarkably, this design weighs less than 1kg without sacrificing build quality or durability. Handling the device feels like holding an empty model; it’s that lightweight. However, don’t let its featherweight nature fool you – it appears robust and sturdy, with no signs of creaking, flexing, or cracking under pressure. This laptop offers the perfect blend for individuals seeking a highly portable workhorse that can withstand rough handling, without compromising on essential features.

Despite its compact size, ASUS has ingeniously included a large battery in this Zenbook A14 (2025) laptop, teaming it with an ultra-efficient ARM chip to offer astonishing battery life. And the best part? This powerful machine is priced at just $1,099.99 at ASUS, complete with 32GB of RAM and 1TB of SSD storage. A more affordable option is also in the works. Additionally, a new configuration featuring the latest 6-core Qualcomm Snapdragon X series chipset is on the horizon.

What’s the unboxing experience like?

Although the Lenovo Yoga Slim 9i 14 and ASUS Zenbook A14 differ significantly in price, their unboxing process shares some striking similarities. Upon arrival, you’ll notice that both laptops come nestled within the familiar brown cardboard packaging. However, upon opening, you’ll find a refined, premium-quality box containing merely the device and relevant documentation. Yes, both models will include a 65W USB Type-C charger in the package, making it convenient for safe storage when transporting your laptop.

The Lenovo Yoga Slim 9i’s dual-toned packaging showcases a tactile finish and brand logos, making it eye-catching and vibrant. Conversely, the ASUS Zenbook A14’s box is understated and minimalistic, reflecting the laptop within. Simply lift off the lid, and there’s your new machine, ready to shine. Both boxes are eco-friendly, free from plastic materials.

Which laptop has the better display?

If you appreciate visually appealing devices, the Yoga Slim 9i and Zenbook A14 have a distinct front-runner when it comes to aesthetics. However, it’s important to note that ASUS equipped its laptop with an attractive 14-inch OLED screen; nonetheless, it offers a resolution of only 1200p at 60Hz, which is more than satisfactory for most users but may not stand out as extraordinary.

In contrast, Lenovo outfitted the Yoga Slim 9i 14 with an exceptionally stunning display that I rarely encounter on laptops. This is not just a regular 14-inch OLED screen; it’s a 4K display that operates at a remarkably smooth 120Hz. It boasts multi-touch support, can reach up to 500 nits of brightness (with higher levels for HDR content), and offers unrivaled color accuracy, covering at least 100% of both the sRGB and DCI-P3 color gamuts, all with factory calibration. In essence, the Yoga Slim 9i’s display is designed to leave you awestruck.

By the way, did you know that the Yoga Slim 9i boasts an impressive screen-to-body ratio of 98%, which is the highest among mainstream laptops? This means the laptop has nearly all screen area, featuring rounded edges and a groundbreaking innovation in the laptop industry – an under-display camera. Although we’ve seen this technology in smartphones, the Yoga Slim 9i’s webcam is concealed beneath the 4K display, becoming visible only when activated. The rest of the time, you enjoy a flawless, uninterrupted view with minimal bezels. Frankly, it looks stunning, and it’s brighter than I initially thought.

Which laptop is going to last longer on a charge?

If I were wagering on which laptop would have the longest battery life per charge, I wouldn’t feel confident betting on the Lenovo Yoga Slim 9i 14. Although the Intel Core Ultra (Series 2) promises increased efficiency compared to its predecessor and a large 76Whr battery is packed into this compact device, it’s important to consider that the vibrant, high-resolution OLED screen will likely consume quite a bit of power.

As a tech enthusiast myself, let me tell you about the ASUS Zenbook A14. Unlike other laptops that rely on Intel or AMD processors, this beauty runs on Snapdragon X series chips – these ARM processors are incredibly efficient and can last as long on a single charge as those giants do on their best days, without ever compromising performance. And Now, you might think with a 1200p, 60Hz display, the Zenbook A14 would be lacking in the visual department. But oh, how wrong you’d be! This little champion is ready to rule the battery life game.

As a tech enthusiast, I’ve been putting the ASUS Zenbook A14 and the Lenovo Yoga Slim 9i through their paces, and while ASUS claims up to 32 hours of battery life with the Zenbook A14, I find that claim rather optimistic. However, the Yoga Slim 9i has managed to impress me in other areas, so it’s not all doom and gloom. But when it comes to endurance, the Zenbook A14 outperforms the Yoga Slim 9i hands down, day in and day out.

Which laptop is the best bang for my buck?

Just as clearly as before, the winner in this case is no surprise either. Although Lenovo’s Yoga Slim 9i might be aiming for luxury, it does so at the cost of affordability. In contrast, the ASUS Zenbook A14 offers an affordable taste of luxury that aligns more closely with the priorities of most laptop buyers.

The Asus Zenbook A14 will begin at an affordable $900 price point, featuring 16GB of RAM, a 512GB SSD, and the Qualcomm Snapdragon X Plus. This is almost half the cost compared to the Lenovo Yoga Slim 9i 14. Despite the lower price tag, the Zenbook A14 offers the same ultra-light magnesium frame, OLED screen, and all-day battery life as its pricier counterpart. Additionally, it boasts more connectivity options than the Yoga Slim 9i, with two USB Type-C 4.0 ports that support Power Delivery and DisplayPort capabilities, HDMI 2.1, a USB Type-A port, and even a 3.5mm audio jack, which unfortunately is not available on Lenovo’s laptop.

The inclusion of a high-quality sleeve in the ASUS packaging caught me off guard, not just by its presence, but by its exceptional craftsmanship as well. This sleeve boasts a delightful texture, genuine stitching, and a magnetic closure that keeps it securely shut.

When I assessed the Lenovo Yoga Slim 7x 14 (Gen 9), the unique laptop to receive a flawless 5/5 rating from me, I asserted it made deciding on a single laptop for most casual users seeking a new device incredibly straightforward. The ASUS Zenbook A14 (2025) could potentially take over as the top choice in this category.

Which of these laptops will be the best for me?

Over the next few weeks, you can expect comprehensive and detailed reviews on the Lenovo Yoga Slim 9i 14 (Gen 10) and the ASUS Zenbook A14 (2025), right here on Windows Central. I understand your curiosity about my initial thoughts, but in this case, I would recommend considering both of these laptops. Is that acceptable?

In simpler terms, if budget wasn’t a concern, the Lenovo Yoga Slim 9i 14 would undoubtedly stand out for its exceptional, top-tier display. However, in reality, most people buying Windows laptops each year are working with a limited budget, and this model retails at $1,800. For those seeking a reliable, durable, and portable laptop that can handle daily use over an extended period, the Yoga Slim 9i might be too much (overkill) or slightly less than ideal (compromised) due to its focus on design over practicality.

Compared to the Yoga Slim 9i, the ASUS Zenbook A14 is lighter, has a longer battery life, and costs significantly less. Ignoring that final detail would be foolish. However, it’s important to note that choosing between these two laptops is unlikely for most people. The Yoga Slim 9i and Zenbook A14 are grouped together here simply because they’re two of the most highly anticipated laptops announced this year, coincidentally arriving on my desk at the same time.

Anyway, I’m going to return to my nerd fest over this beautiful hardware. Watch out for my reviews.

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2025-02-19 16:10