Asus has long been a leader in thin and light laptops, and the Zenbook A14 continues that tradition. But this time, there’s a twist. The A14 is powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X series, marking a shift away from the usual Intel and AMD options. This move promises better efficiency, longer battery life, and improved thermals, but does it come at the cost of performance?
After spending some time with the Zenbook A14, it’s clear that this laptop has a lot going for it but also a few compromises that might not make it the best fit for everyone.
Design: Ultra-Light Without Feeling Cheap
At just 980 grams, the Zenbook A14 is one of the lightest laptops you can buy. This is thanks to Ceraluminum, a hybrid material combining ceramic, aluminum, and magnesium. It’s lighter and stronger than traditional aluminum, making the laptop feel premium without sacrificing durability. Asus has extended this material across the entire chassis instead of just the lid, which adds to its sleek, seamless look.
The Iceland Gray and Zabriskie Beige color options give it a unique aesthetic, with the latter being especially eye-catching. MIL-STD 810H certification ensures it can withstand everyday wear and tear, while the well-balanced hinge and ergonomic design make it comfortable to use for extended periods.
Despite being ultra-thin, Asus has not compromised on ports. The left side houses an HDMI 2.1 port, a Thunderbolt 4 USB-C, a USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C, and a 3.5mm headphone jack, while the right side features a USB Type-A port. It’s a solid selection for a laptop this size.
Display: Beautiful OLED, But Stuck at 60Hz
The 14-inch OLED display delivers punchy colors, deep blacks, and strong contrast, thanks to 100% DCI-P3 color gamut support and HDR10 certification. Asus has branded this as Luminous OLED, and while marketing terms aside, the screen quality is excellent for watching content and creative work.
Brightness peaks at 600 nits, which is more than enough for indoor use and decently usable outdoors. Glare is minimal, making it comfortable for long work sessions. However, there’s one clear limitation—the display is locked at 60Hz.
While this won’t bother most users, if you’re used to 120Hz or higher, the difference is noticeable.
Performance: Efficient, But Not for Power Users
The Snapdragon X Elite brings ARM-based computing to Windows laptops, and it does an impressive job in terms of battery efficiency and thermals. The 16GB LPDDR5X RAM and 512GB PCIe Gen 4 SSD ensure smooth performance for everyday tasks—browsing, media consumption, and productivity apps all run flawlessly.
Multitasking is fluid, and the laptop handles Chrome tabs, video calls, and office work effortlessly. The Adreno GPU also provides decent graphical performance, but this isn’t a machine meant for gaming or heavy creative workloads.
For CPU-heavy tasks like video editing or 3D rendering, the Snapdragon X Elite struggles compared to Intel Core Ultra and AMD Ryzen 7000 series processors. App compatibility is also an issue, as not all x86 applications are optimized for ARM-based Windows. While Microsoft and Qualcomm are working to fix this, users who rely on niche software should be cautious before making the switch.
Keyboard, Touchpad, and Audio: Mostly Great
The ErgoSense keyboard is well-spaced with 1.3mm key travel, making typing comfortable. The anti-fingerprint coating helps keep it looking clean, and the backlighting ensures usability in low-light conditions.
The large touchpad is smooth and supports gesture controls for adjusting brightness, volume, and more. Asus has nailed the haptic feedback, making it one of the best trackpads in this category.
The dual speakers with Dolby Atmos support are loud and clear, though bass is lacking, as expected from built-in laptop speakers. At high volumes, some crackling occurs, so external speakers or headphones are recommended for the best experience.
Software: Clean, Minimal Bloat, But Still an ARM Transition
Running Windows 11, the Zenbook A14 benefits from AI-powered optimizations thanks to the Qualcomm Hexagon NPU, capable of 45 TOPS of AI performance. This means better video call enhancements, real-time noise cancellation, and AI-powered search through Microsoft Co-Pilot.
Asus includes MyAsus software, which lets users switch between performance modes, update drivers, and monitor battery health. It’s functional without being intrusive.
However, Windows on ARM still has some rough edges. While most everyday apps run fine, some older x86 applications require emulation, leading to occasional slowdowns. Microsoft and Qualcomm are improving support, but if you use specialized creative or development tools, it’s best to check compatibility first.
Battery Life: Absolutely Incredible
This is where Snapdragon X Elite truly shines. Asus claims up to 32 hours of battery life, and while that’s optimistic, real-world usage delivers over 20 hours on a single charge in standard mode.
In a mixed-use scenario, browsing, writing, streaming, and video calls, the Zenbook A14 consistently lasted between 17 to 19 hours before needing a charge. Switching to performance mode reduces this slightly, but it’s still leagues ahead of most Intel and AMD-powered ultrabooks.
Charging via 90W USB-C is fast, bringing the laptop from 0 to 50% in about 40 minutes.
Verdict: Is the Zenbook A14 Worth It?
Priced at Rs 99,990, the Asus Zenbook A14 is a fantastic thin and light laptop for those who prioritize battery life, portability, and everyday performance. Its premium build, gorgeous OLED display, and incredible efficiency make it a great choice for students, office users, and frequent travelers.
However, if you rely on specific x86 applications or need raw power for creative workloads, an Intel or AMD-based laptop is still the safer bet. While Windows on ARM is improving, it’s not quite there yet for power users.
For those who understand its strengths and limitations, the Zenbook A14 is a glimpse into the future of Windows laptops, one with better thermals, longer battery life, and a more efficient computing experience. If that sounds like what you need, this is an easy recommendation.