ASUS revealed the Zenbook A14 at CES 2025 and it’s the MacBook Air rival I have actually been desiring for

I understood I had actually discovered my favored computer system of CES 2025 early last December, long prior to I had a possibility to see what most various other computer manufacturers were preparing. It originates from ASUS and it’s the brand-new Zenbook A14, a system that the business had actually joked concerning calling the Zenbook Air.

To be reasonable, the name would certainly have been suitable: the note pad considers much less than 2.2 extra pounds (or 1kg), a fifty percent an extra pound lighter than Apple’s the majority of graceful MacBook Air. In practically every regard, the ZenBook A14 tops Apple’s ultraportable, with specifications like a 14-inch OLED display and as much as 32 hours of battery life. The only catch is that it operates on Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X and X Elite chips, which restricts compatibility with older Windows applications (together with some gadgets).

What’s most impressive concerning the Zenbook A14, however, is that it just really feels excellent to hold. The lightweight is a large component of that, however its likewise covered in ASUS’s one-of-a-kind Ceraluminum product, which really feels substantially various than a normal steel situation. ASUS has actually released Ceraluminum throughout its superior schedule for several years, however this is among the very first times we have actually seen it on almost every surface area of a laptop computer (the top cover, key-board workdesk and base).

The Zenbook A14 likewise includes a lot of thoughtful layout aspects. It’s simple to open one-handed, many thanks to a polished joint that counter-acts the laptop computer’s little structure. It likewise has an unusual quantity of ports, consisting of one USB Kind A link, 2 USB C ports, HDMI 2.1 and an earphone jack. That’s all connection we’ll never ever see on a MacBook Air.

In my brief time with the Zenbook A14, its key-board and trackpad likewise really felt reasonably comfy. ASUS claims the tricks use 1.3 mm of traveling, and while they might constantly be much deeper, they appeared penalty for laid-back keying. The laptop computer likewise sporting activities a 1080p IR cam, audio speakers with Dolby Atmos assistance and Wi-Fi 7. Essentially, it has every little thing we would certainly desire in a costs laptop computer in 2025.

The ASUS Zenbook A14 begins at $900 with a Snapdragon X And Also CPU and 16GB of RAM (in a somewhat chunkier 2.4 extra pound situation). The lightest 2.18 extra pound version is offered for $1,100 with a Snapdragon X Elite chip and 32GB of RAM.

We’re reporting real-time from CES 2025 in Las Las Vega from January 5-10. Follow our CES 2025 liveblog for the most up to date from the program flooring.