Asus Launches Snapdragon X Zenbook A14, Refreshes Lineup With AI Chips

Alongside a stable of updated ROG gaming laptops, Asus announced a host of fresh Zenbook laptops at CES 2025, with the Zenbook A14 particularly catching our eye.

The A14 is a super-portable Copilot+ PC and the first Zenbook to embrace Qualcomm Snapdragon processors. The updated Zenbook Duo and Zenbook 14, configurable with AMD or Intel chips, join the new Zenbook lineup.

The Zenbook A14 will launch on January 13, while the Zenbook Duo and Zenbook 14 will be available in February. See them in action above, and read on for our impressions, details, and pricing.

The Zenbook A14: A Portable Entry-Level Qualcomm Solution

We’ve reviewed many 14-inch Zenbook laptops at PCMag, but the A14 provides something unique. Asus claims this system is the world’s lightest Copilot+ PC, weighing as little as 2.18 pounds (varying slightly by configuration) while meeting the requirements of the Copilot+ AI-ready laptop program.

(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)

Moreover, despite its featherweight build, the laptop is made with Asus’ premium-feeling Ceraluminum material—the first Zenbook to have its entire chassis made of this ceramic magnesium aluminum solution. It comes in either beige or gray, and those are also tied to two slightly different configurations. I’ll touch on that in a moment, but first, here’s what the models have in common.

All feature an eye-catching 14-inch, 1,920-by-1,200-pixel OLED display, an FHD IR camera, Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth, and a 70WHr battery. Ports include one USB Type-A port, two USB Type-C ports, an audio jack, and—a bonus these days for a thin notebook—an HDMI connection.

(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)

The price difference between the configurations and components is not immediately intuitive, and one color is tied to each. For example, the system with the slightly more powerful chip is less expensive because it has less RAM and storage.

Here’s the breakdown: The gray model is $1,099.99 and comes with the new Snapdragon X base chip, 32GB of onboard DDR5 memory, and a 1TB SSD. This is the only model available at launch, specifically through the Asus store and Best Buy online.

(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)

In late Q1, the beige edition will also become available at Best Buy with a lower starting price. For $899.99, it’s equipped with the punchier Qualcomm Snapdragon X Plus (X1P-42-100), 16GB of onboard DDR5 RAM, and a 512GB SSD. Both models use Qualcomm’s integrated Adreno GPU for graphics.

The X Plus is only a modest step up, the first chip in the Plus tier, but it’s set at faster clock speeds and boost frequencies regardless. I’d still rather bank on the doubled memory and storage, but it’s an acceptable baseline if you don’t want to spend an extra $200 (and can wait). Also, the beige color looks a bit more chic and classy.

(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)

All considered, the cost is competitive for an ultraportable with a better-than-average design for its price tier and the advantages of a Copilot+ PC. We’ve tested a decent number of Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X laptops since the platform launched, so while I have a rough idea of what these chips can do, I look forward to testing the A14 when models are available.

The Main Zenbook Updates: New Guts for the Duo and Zenbook 14

The Zenbook A14 has the most going for it as a unique proposition, given its price and quality level, while these next two are chiefly component refreshes on existing designs. They’re still high-end systems, though; their predecessors last year are both product lines we highly regarded. Neither reinvents the wheel, but they bring the latest AMD and Intel processors into the equation. Let’s start with Asus’ twin-screen notebook.

Zenbook Duo: Refreshed With Intel ‘Arrow Lake’

Among the increasingly common dual-screen laptop solutions, Asus’ Zenbook Duo is our favorite existing approach, so I’m curious about an updated model. Design-wise, not much has changed in this refreshed edition—this is about new components, not a design overhaul.

(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)

This is fine, given that executing a complicated concept well is difficult, and the original version was surprisingly elegant. Some dual-screen laptops fumble the execution, and past Zenbook models tried one smaller screen and one “full size” display, which we generally found less helpful than this. And so, the same design is kept intact: dual 14-inch 3K OLED screens, a detachable keyboard, and a 180-degree hinge plus a kickstand to convert and set up the Duo in different orientations.

(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)

You can stack both screens on top of each other with the kickstand for a complete vertical setup, put the bottom screen flat on your desk and use the wireless keyboard, or even put the keyboard on top of the flattened bottom panel and use one screen. Despite all of this, both then and now, the Duo weighs just 3.64 pounds.

(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)

While I’m glad Asus didn’t stray from this success, what is new? Asus selected Intel’s Core Ultra 9 200H processors for the latest edition of the Duo, ramping up the power and performance for modern (and lightly AI-based) workloads. This system runs up to a Core Ultra 9 285H processor, 32GB of memory, and a 2TB SSD. The original Duo ran up to the Core Ultra 9 185H, so we’re not making a big leap here, just updating to a more recent option—Intel’s “Arrow Lake” platform. You’ll also find a lesser Core Ultra 7 chip available.

(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)

The Duo will launch on February 10 at $1,699.99, and additional configurations (one at $1,599.99) will be available later in Q1 of this year.

Zenbook 14: The Chic Ultraportable Meets Latest AI Chips

Finally, Asus has the Zenbook 14, which has much in common with the A14 in its design and features but with a higher performance ceiling and a more premium touch. This is a super-slim (0.59 inch) and light (2.82 pounds) system with an all-metal chassis. I appreciate the current design with the geometric lid, which we reviewed well on models like the Asus Zenbook 14 OLED Touch (UM3406) last year. It looks chic, and this updated edition comes in blue, silver, or black.

(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)

Like the Duo, the most recent processor options are the main upgrade. Unlike the other two systems, you can choose which processor brand you prefer; models with either Intel Core Ultra 200H or AMD Ryzen AI 300 processors are available.

(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)

On the Intel side (model UX3405), you can choose between the Core Ultra 7 265H or Ultra 9 285H, both with Intel Arc graphics. For the AMD version (model UM3406), you can select a new Ryzen AI 7 350 processor. All models max out at 32GB of memory and 1TB of SSD storage.

You’ll also notice some display differences between Intel and AMD. The Intel version flaunts a 14-inch, 120Hz 3K (2,880 by 1,800) OLED panel. The AMD version, meanwhile, packs a less-sharp 14-inch OLED screen with a resolution of 1,920 by 1,200 pixels.

(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)

The Zenbook 14 launches first with the Intel model on February 10 starting at $1,299. The AMD version will launch late in Q1, starting at $999.99.

We look forward to testing all of these systems as models become available, so check back for our full reviews.