At the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2025, Asus unveiled its latest attempt to dethrone Apple's MacBook Air as the ultimate ultraportable laptop. The Zenbook A14 is a featherweight Windows machine that boasts an impressive 32-hour battery life, making it an attractive option for users who need a reliable and portable productivity tool.

The Zenbook A14 is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon X processor, which enables the laptop to achieve its remarkable battery life. Weighing in at just 2.18 pounds, the A14 is also significantly lighter than the current M3 MacBook Air. Its ultralight magnesium alloy chassis is treated with Asus' "Ceraluminum" ceramic coating, giving it a matte, stone-like finish that helps keep its weight down.

In terms of pricing, the Zenbook A14 is positioned to undercut Apple's M3 Air. The base model, which features an eight-core Snapdragon X processor, 32GB of RAM, 1TB SSD, and a 14-inch OLED display, will start at $1,099.99 in gray when it launches in mid-January. A cheaper $899.99 model in beige will follow in March, featuring a slightly higher-end eight-core Snapdragon X Plus chip but with 16GB of RAM and 512GB of storage. This model will be exclusively sold at Best Buy.

The Zenbook A14's display is capable of 1920 x 1200 resolution at 60Hz, with 600 nits of peak brightness. It also features a decent selection of ports, including two USB 4 Type-C for charging and data, one USB-A 3.2 Gen 2, a 3.5mm combo headphone/mic jack, and a full-size HDMI 2.1 port. The laptop can connect to up to three external monitors with its lid open, compared to the M3 MacBook Air's two monitors while its lid is closed.

While the Zenbook A14's specifications look promising on paper, there are still concerns about compatibility issues with certain apps and games on Windows on Arm. Additionally, the performance of the new lower-end Snapdragon X processor remains to be seen, particularly in comparison to Apple's M3 and anticipated M4 models.

Based on a brief hands-on experience with the Zenbook A14, it's clear that Asus has managed to create a surprisingly light and well-built laptop. The matte finish and beige aesthetic may not appeal to everyone, but the laptop's overall quality is impressive. The hinge, for example, can be opened with just one finger, a feature that sets it apart from many other Windows laptops.

The Zenbook A14 is the latest in a long line of "MacBook killers" that have attempted to challenge Apple's dominance in the ultraportable laptop market. While few have succeeded in offering a complete package that rivals Apple's offerings, the Zenbook A14's combination of excellent battery life, solid build quality, and affordable price tag might just make it a serious contender.

Only time will tell if the Zenbook A14 can live up to its promises and provide a compelling alternative to Apple's MacBook Air. As the laptop becomes available in the coming months, we'll be keeping a close eye on its performance and how it stacks up against its competitors.