Customer Ratings & Reviews

Lightweight, ultrabook style laptops continue to impress me. For the past couple of years, I’ve used a Windows tablet as a travel device so that I can connect to work easily. It runs on a Snapdragon X processor so when I was introduced to the ASUS Zenbook 14, I was curious how it compared and if it was worth the upgrade. The ASUS Zenbook S UX3480Q makes a strong first impression. When you open the box, the laptop is positioned at an angle that raises the back, almost like it's sitting on a stand. It's a nice presentation that makes the initial unboxing feel a little more special. The laptop is wrapped in plastic, with a soft protective cover between the keyboard and screen. The included 68W USB-C power adapter is an all-in-one design with a permanently attached cable. I wasn't particularly fond of the wall adapter's prongs, which don't fold inward. However, since the laptop charges over USB-C, you have the flexibility to use another compatible adapter if you prefer something more convenient for travel. The display is glorious as the OLED panel provides deep black and vibrant colors. Naturally, one of the other first things I noticed was the keyboard and how comfortable it was to type on. Some laptop keyboards are too squishy, but I thought this one was just right. The initial Windows setup was pretty normal from what I’ve experienced. I did, however, had a strange WiFi issue during the setup process. The laptop accepted my password and showed that it was connected, but Windows then reported that the internet connection had been lost. Switching to another network didn't resolve the problem, but returning to the original Wi-Fi network allowed setup to continue. I still don’t know what caused this issue, but I didn’t notice any further WiFi problems. I set the ASUS up as a new machine rather than copying settings from a previous setup. The process took approximately 19 minutes and 18 seconds, which was considerably faster than the roughly 30-minute setup times I've experienced with some other laptops. I was impressed with the speed, although I can't say whether the Snapdragon processor was specifically responsible. During the setup process, I encountered the typical offers such as Microsoft 365 subscription, suggested apps, and a cloud subscription. I also came across the option to enter an ASUS account. I appreciated that creating an ASUS account wasn't enabled by default and wasn’t required to finish the setup. The ASUS notifications and news option was enabled, though, so that's something to watch for during setup. PERFORMANCE To help test the performance of this laptop, I ran Geekbench 7 as a benchmark test. The laptop recorded a single-core score of 1,847 and a multi-core score of 9,004. Its Geekbench 7 OpenCL score was 8,484. These results provide a useful reference for the laptop's CPU and graphics performance, but I would keep expectations appropriate for its configuration. With 8GB of RAM and integrated Qualcomm Adreno graphics, this is a system aimed more at everyday computing than demanding gaming or intensive creative workloads. To test the display out, I ran an 8K OLED test video on YouTube, and the screen looked striking. Brightness was also strong and I really enjoyed watching media on the laptop. If you spend a lot of time watching videos, browsing photos, or simply looking at content on your laptop, the OLED panel is a particularly appealing feature. I ran a Monkeytype test to see how my typing skills were affected by the keyboard and recorded 71 words per minute. My usual average is around 73 words per minute, so I was close to my normal speed. I didn't notice any major missed keystrokes, and I think my typing speed could improve as I become more accustomed to the keyboard. The trackpad is centered on the laptop rather than offset to one side. It was responsive during my testing, and I didn't experience any major glitches or unexpected cursor jumping. WHO SHOULD BUY IT The ASUS Zenbook S UX3480Q looks like a good fit for someone who wants a laptop for everyday tasks rather than demanding applications. Students, casual home users, and people who primarily use their laptops for web browsing, email, streaming, and basic productivity may find a lot to like here. The OLED display is particularly appealing, and my initial setup experience was largely positive. The 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage are worth considering before making a purchase, especially if you tend to keep lots of applications open or store a large amount of content locally. I would also look elsewhere if gaming or intensive graphics work is a priority. FINAL THOUGHTS I am very impressed with how well the ASUS Zenbook runs and think that it’s a solid machine for standard productivity tasks. I wouldn’t recommend it for gaming, but the laptop is a strong performer for regular use.

The ASUS Zenbook 14 stands out right away, in that this is a laptop that costs less than $1,000. This Zenbook 14 comes equipped with a 14in OLED screen, a Qualcomm Snapdragon X1-26-100 processor, 8GB of RAM, and a 256GB SSD. ASUS does a decent job giving the Zenbook 14 a premium design without driving up the price. That said, the 8GB of RAM and 256GB SSD are a couple of areas where corners were cut in order to keep the cost down, with the current inflated prices on RAM and Storage so that is worth noting. One of my favorite things about this laptop is the all aluminum design. The Arctic Blue finish gives it a clean modern look, and the metal construction feels much more premium than what I would typically expect from a budget friendly laptop. I do appreciate that ASUS didn't cut corners with a cheap plastic chassis just to keep the price down even more. The aluminum exterior also gives the Zenbook a more solid feel, making it a good option for students who need something they can carry between classes, and throw in a backpack for everyday use. I feel this laptop is perfect for those in the classroom or the office The Zenbook 14 is powered by Qualcomm's Snapdragon X1-26-100, an ARM based processor With 8 cores that's designed for everyday productivity in mind. Rather than focusing just on maximum performance, this chip aims to balance low power consumption, and battery life. I feel this is well suited for tasks such as browsing the web, working with documents and some light spreadsheets, streaming videos, attending online classes, and running everyday productivity applications. The ARM architecture is also an important part of the laptop's appeal because it can deliver the performance without requiring as much power compared to many other traditional laptop processors. However, you should keep in mind that Windows on ARM can have some compatibility limitations with certain older applications, specialized software, and some games. Most mainstream productivity apps should be able to run fine, but I would check compatibility before buying if you need to run a particular desktop app. I ran the Snapdragon X1-26-100 processor through the 3DMark CPU Profile test, where it scored 4,203 in the Max Threads test and 532 in the Single Threads test.The Max Threads score measures performance when the CPU can use its available processing resources to work on multiple tasks simultaneously. These results suggest that the Snapdragon X1-26-100 has enough processing capability for general productivity and routine multitasking, although the numbers should not be treated as a direct measurement of application speed or compared with unrelated CPU benchmarks without considering the test conditions. This is not a processor I would choose specifically for demanding video editing, heavy rendering, or serious gaming based off of those scores. The display is another major selling point. ASUS has equipped the Zenbook 14 with a 14in OLED panel at 1920×1200 resolution with a 16:10 aspect ratio that provides a little more vertical workspace than a traditional 16:9 display. The OLED screen is particularly appealing because each pixel produces its own light, allowing for deeper blacks, strong contrast, and vibrant colors. Movies, photographs, and everyday content can look noticeably better than they would on a typical LCD panel. That being said, I am a little disappointed that the display does not offer HDR support. With an OLED screen I feel it should have HDR support and would have made this panel way more appealing for movies and other HDR content. Battery life is another area where the Snapdragon platform stands out in the ZenBooks. Since the processor is designed around efficiency, and its low power approach makes it a good fit for students and people who spend much of their day away from an outlet. Actual battery life will depend on screen brightness, Wi-Fi use, background applications, video playback, and how much the system is being used. ASUS claims that the Zenbook can get up to 30hrs of offline video playback and 18+ hours of web browsing. The Zenbook also offers fast charging where the battery can charge to 50% in just 30 minutes. The biggest compromise, in my opinion, with this laptop is in the RAM and SSD. 8GB of RAM can handle basic web browsing, schoolwork, email, video calls, and some light productivity. It leaves less room for multitasking than I would prefer on a modern Windows laptop. With Windows and other background processes already consuming a decent amount of that memory. Due to the increasing RAM prices ASUS clearly is trying to keep costs down while going with 8GB and you should consider this carefully. To help work around that limitation, I recommend looking at the applications that launch automatically when Windows starts up. I would also disable any unnecessary startup apps through Task Manager, so that fewer programs consume memory and system resources in the background. This small tip that can help keep the laptop feeling more responsive, particularly when memory is limited. Storage is the other area where I would make a few adjustments right away. The included 256GB SSD is not enough if you don't have some sort of cloud backup, for your documents, school assignments, photos, videos, downloads, and it can fill up faster than expected. Windows 11 itself, along with the pre-installed programs, updates, and temporary files all take up space before you even sign into the laptop. If you do not plan to use the included programs like Microsoft Office365 or any of the other preinstalled software, I would uninstall those programs to free up storage. I would also keep an eye on downloads, temporary files, and large applications. Removing any unused applications can free up some storage space that can go towards things you will actually use. Connectivity is fairly practical for a thin light weight laptop. The Zenbook includes 2x USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 ports, 1x USB-A 3.2 Gen 1 port, 1x HDMI 2.1 port, and a 3.5mm audio combo jack. I appreciate having both USB-C and traditional USB-A because I can connect newer accessories while still using older peripherals without immediately reaching for an adapter. Having a full HDMI 2.1 port is also convenient for connecting an external monitor that can offer a higher refresh rate. The port selection covers the basics most everyday users are likely to need. I just wish it had one more USB-C port on the right side of the laptop for those times when you would want to charge the laptop from the right side. Pros Premium aluminum design Lightweight weighing in at under 3 lbs 14-inch OLED display with vibrant colors and deep blacks. Long battery life Portable and priced under $1,000. Cons 8GB of RAM limits multitasking. 256GB SSD is too small for storage. No HDR support. Not meant for gaming or heavy workloads. Some ARM application compatibility limitations. Overall, I think the ASUS Zenbook 14 is a well designed everyday laptop. The all aluminum Arctic Blue chassis looks and feels premium, the OLED display is excellent, and the Snapdragon X1-26-100 is geared toward efficiency for everyday usage. For general productivity use, the Zenbook 14 is a good match for those who want a premium looking laptop without spending a fortune. The Zenbook 14 should be well suited for those who are writing papers, browsing the internet, using web based learning platforms, watching videos, and doing routine office work. I particularly feel like it is a great option for high school students who need a Windows laptop while staying under the $1,000 price point.

Not sure there is a more premium laptop then the Asus Zenbook lineup. This model with a Snapdragon chip is on the more affordable side of the Zenbook offerings, but still 100% quality Zenbook. It is definitely well positioned with plenty of quick ports, OLED screen, crisp sounding speakers and second to none build quality. Best of all for a portable laptop, true all day battery life. This Zenbook should be on the short list for those daily computer needs. Notable features: Very smooth one finger lid opening. No screen wobble! All day battery. Standby is only about 4% overnight. Ceramic Aluminum finish is very attractive and feels great to touch. Snapdragon CPU, plenty of power for daily tasks and casual gaming. Can be powered through a USB-C cable. Can leave charger at home. Great thermals. It must have a fan, but yet to hear even on permormance mode. Unboxing: From the second you open the box. The lid opens and lifts laptop to present your new machine. Unwrapped and powered up (charger with USB-C end is included). There is the typical half hour Windows 11 setup. A few updates and maybe a bit of house keeping to get it tailored to the preferences of how you will use your Zenbook. All painless and very easy to follow and understand. The web camera is pretty good and does the Windows hello face unlock. Daily use, build quality: With daily use you will quickly start to see the Energy Star rated battery sipping tech at work. This is the first laptop I have had that, on battery, you can close the lid and leave in standby and it won't be dead overnight after some use. Or I can spend the whole day using it without too much worry of it losing power too early. When you do need a charge. The included charger or a USB-C cable and small GaN charger very quickly tops it back up. From creating/editing docs or having a bit of fun listening or watching content, or even casual gaming. This Snapdragon chip does it all, so far. Everything looks great on the very crisp low gloss OLED screen (non-touch). Speakers are semi underneath and located on the left and right just south of the keyboard. They can be maxed with zero distortion and be loud enough for medium sized room. Although, on a lap you might muffle them, not an issue for desk use. The keyboard is firm, no flex. And more tappy than clicky with nice travel and feel. Keys are single color backlit with a few levels of brightness. Lastly, many laptops getting this thin can suffer heat/thermal issues. The only warmth I feel is expelled out the bottom vent roughly underneath where the "4" "E" "R" keys are. No heat is felt anywhere on the top plate or keys. I also have yet to hear the fan that must surely be in there? This machine is premium level of build quality. Is 8GB/256GB enough?: As for long term use. The global supply of PC stuff has gone insane in 2026. This model ships with a more common of late, 8GB RAM and 256GB SSD configuration. You can increase the SSD storage yourself when needed or if prices improve. Those of you who need to run a more demanding multitude of programs may want to consider if 8GB of RAM is enough, probably is for many. Or get the similarly related Asus Zenbook model with 16GB of RAM. As with most recent laptops. RAM is not upgradeable. For everyday computing tasks. Watching content. Listening to music. And just being able to easily carry around. This Zenbook is ready for many different users. This laptop is ready to go anywhere.

Over the years I have tested multiple ASUS laptops and they have yet to let me down and that positive experience is a big reason I continue to consider ASUS when looking at laptops for work and everyday use. This ASUS Zenbook first nicely into that mix, with its premium design, a gorgeous display and a practical focus on schoolwork, office tasks, and daily entertainment. So, lets go over what the new ASUS Zenbook 14 has to offer. Design: Let’s start off what hits you first right as you open the box. A military grade, Ceraluminum lid, all metal construction, beautiful appearance, and portable laptop weighing in at 2.87 pounds and at 0.67 inches thin, making it the perfect to carry between classes, take to the office, or move around the house. The scratch and shock resistant design also adds reassurance for everyday handling. The combination of light weight and durability makes it a particularly appealing option for kids who need a laptop for homework and school, although I’d still want them treating it with care rather than considering it indestructible. Display: The OLED display on this laptop is just absolutely beautiful. The WUXGA 1920 × 1200 resolution keeps text and images looking sharp, while the vivid colors and deep blacks help bring photos, videos, and presentations to life. A nice screen isn’t just something I appreciate when watching a movie, it also makes spending time browsing, reading, and working on documents more enjoyable. My daughter has been using this laptop for about a week now and just loves doing her school work and entertainment. Processor: This Zenbook 14 uses the Snapdragon X1-26-100 processor. It is an 8-core ARM-based processor built for Windows on ARM entry-level and budget-conscious laptops and compact systems. Keeping that in mind, and combined with 8GB of Memory suit the everyday focus of this laptop. Writing papers, checking email, creating presentations, and switching between browser tabs, office apps and entertainment are the kinds of jobs I have in mind for a machine like this. The processor also includes an NPU with up to 45 TOPS of AI acceleration for supported features and applications. Ports: I also appreciate the selection of ports, especially on a laptop this thin. You get one USB 3.2 Type-A port, an HDMI 2.1 port, two USB 3.2 Type-C ports, and an audio combo jack. It’s a practical mix for everyday accessories, an external screen, and a wired headset. Battery Life: The ASUS Zenbook offers an all-day battery life ranging between 20 to 30 hours depending on the usage. One stand out feature is that is that it can reach a 50% charge in 30 minutes, which is handy when you have a short break between classes or need to recharge before heading to a meeting. A 68W USB Type-C charger is included, so you have what you need to get started right in the box. Storage: My only real downside with this configuration is the 256GB of storage. It’s enough to get started with essential programs, school assignments, and office documents, but that space can feel limited once photos, downloads, and other files begin piling up. Fortunately, the storage is upgradeable, so there’s room to expand later rather than being stuck with the original capacity. Still, I would have preferred a little more storage out of the box. Overall, the ASUS Zenbook 14 proves that an everyday laptop doesn’t have to feel ordinary. With its vibrant OLED display, premium design, and easy portability, it brings a little extra polish to schoolwork, office tasks, and downtime. If you’re looking for an everyday laptop that looks great and performs just as well, this Zenbook is worth a look.

Design and Specs This Zenbook laptop features one of the most attractive colors for a Windows laptop I’ve seen in years. It’s arctic blue and the color is similar to other laptop from a different OS a few years ago, which I also owned and like. The laptop feels premium, and it’s mostly made of metal, which Asus called Ceraluminum. It’s not heavy but not super lightweight either. At 2.87 pounds, this is a laptop that’s easy to carry around. Two important things to note about this laptop are its SSD capacity, which is only 256GB, and is pretty much the base storage capacity size for a high-end mobile phone these days; and the 8GB RAM. I had the initial expectation that the 8GB RAM running Windows 11 these days would be an issue. It’s actually not, and I think that’s thanks to how snappy the Snapdragon X processor is. At this point in time when there’s global high demand of RAM and GPU, having an 8GB of RAM for a laptop this nice is quite understandable in order to maintain the targeted price point. The screen is OLED, and it is able display up to 2K resolution. Performance The processor can yield up to 45 TOPS NPU, which is pretty much the performance of the top-of-the line AI Snapdragon chip from a few years ago. Not so surprisingly since I’m familiar with the performance of the chip in this class, the performance of the laptop is excellent for my purposes. I can use words processing, browsing web, watching and streaming movies, without breaking a sweat. Everything just felt quick, responsive and normal. I just have to bear in mind that running different apps or many tabs on the browser all at the same time will consume RAM, which does not have a lot of headroom since the laptop only has 8 GB RAM. There’s some great news from Microsoft from its latest announcement a few week ago, Windows 11 will become more efficient in RAM management so 8GB in the near future can pack more punches. The laptop’s display is great. The screen is bright enough, the colors are vivid, the black levels are deep. The display is also able to absorb ambient light quite nicely and I have no issues working in a room where there’s a lot of light coming from the ceiling and the window. As for the sound quality, it’s about average for a premium laptop. It’s not great but it has enough volume and sound fidelity to be enjoyable. Overall, this laptop makes a strong case as a streaming media consumption device. As for the battery performance, I’m getting about 10 hours of performance, give or take, under typical scenarios for my daily use. These results definitely suit my need so I don’t have to bring a laptop charger with me every time I carry the laptop outside. Conclusion Even with the base spec, the Asus Zenbook 14 brings great value proposition. The 8GB RAM capacity should not be an issue if users understand how to properly manage RAM usage. The Snapdragon X chip is just incredible, and the performance is great. Also, I really like the color and the build quality of the laptop. The OLED display is great and it’s pretty much the cherry on top. This is a great laptop for college students, home use, or professionals who mainly use it for words processing and streaming media consumption.

The market is full of options when it comes to investing in a new laptop. I always consider how the new laptop will meet my needs, and for me, that depends on several factors, such as its ultimate or specific use. I am a screen guy; whether I am at work or at home, the screen is a big part of my daily life because of the nature of my work as well as gaming. In recent years, I have started to lean more towards a 14-inch screen with a slim design because it provides me with comfort and portability. Before getting this ASUS Zenbook 14", I had been using a 16-inch laptop for years. While the larger screen is great in some areas, I often had trouble using it comfortably when I was in bed or relaxing in my recliner. My first impression of this ASUS Zenbook 14 was great. The laptop is very well designed, and ASUS managed to create a laptop that combines both worlds: build quality and performance. The size and weight make it a good fit for portability, which meets my needs. Its lightweight design makes it very easy to carry around, even in my messenger bag when going to work. When I first had it in my hands, it felt solid and premium. The 14-inch display feels perfect for me, and my eyes adapted to the size very quickly. It comes with a gorgeous 2K OLED display with a 60Hz refresh rate. The 60Hz refresh rate does not cause me any issues because, for my everyday productivity, it feels smooth, and most of the games I play are capped at 60Hz anyway. The colors are vibrant, the contrast is excellent, and everything looks sharp and clear. The laptop is powered by a Snapdragon X processor, 8GB of RAM, and a 256GB SSD. These specifications provide a good balance between everyday performance and battery efficiency. I would say Snapdragon X processor is the direct match with the Apple M2 chip. There is no dedicated GPU (dGPU); instead, the Zenbook uses integrated graphics (iGPU), which performs well for everyday graphics, streaming, productivity, and entertainment. Battery life is where this laptop really shines. It provides enough battery life for a full day of typical work, which is one of the best areas of this type of laptop. The keyboard is well spaced and comfortable to use, and the key travel feels great. The touchpad is generously large and responsive, and I found it very convenient for navigation when I don't want to use an external mouse. In terms of I/O ports, the Zenbook includes two USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 ports, one USB-A port, HDMI 2.1, a 3.5mm headphone jack, and Wi-Fi 6E. It has a built-in camera that supports Windows Hello facial recognition, which makes signing into Windows quick and convenient. Audio is powered by Dolby Atmos, and I was impressed by the overall audio quality. The microphone quality is also noticeably clear, making video meetings and calls convenient. Overall, this ASUS Zenbook 14" is a great choice, as it is designed to focus on portability, battery efficiency, display quality, and premium design. My only reservation about this laptop is the 8GB RAM and 256GB storage configuration. In my opinion, the minimum configuration should be 16GB of RAM and 512GB of storage, especially at this price point. Other than that, this laptop has quickly become my daily-use laptop, and so far, I have had no issues with it.

The ASUS Zenbook 14 has several ways to catch your attention: a nature-inspired color, a Ceraluminum lid, an all-metal design, and an OLED display. At 2.87 pounds, it also promises portability without requiring a separate workout routine. Inside are a Snapdragon X X1-26-100 processor, Qualcomm Adreno X1-45 graphics, 8GB of RAM, and a 256GB SSD. Those specifications suggest an everyday productivity laptop, and the Performance test results give that description some useful boundaries. - The display is the attraction The ceramic-like Ceraluminum lid gives this Zenbook a distinctive appearance, while the lightweight metal chassis makes it an appealing travel companion. OLED is another strong selling point. Its deep blacks and strong contrast suit movies, photographs, and dark interfaces. Even your inbox deserves decent production values. This configuration has no touchscreen. For conventional laptop use, that’s an easy arrangement to accept: keyboard, touchpad, and fewer fingerprints interrupting the picture. - Snapdragon brings a different architecture The Snapdragon X X1-26-100 features eight Qualcomm Oryon CPU cores, with ASUS listing speeds up to 2.97GHz. The name remains harder to remember than most Wi-Fi passwords. Its Arm architecture matters more than the branding. Applications built for Windows on Arm run natively, while Microsoft’s Prism emulation supports many conventional x86 and x64 applications. Specialized programs and peripherals requiring drivers still merit a compatibility check. Browsing, writing, streaming, and ordinary office work are sensible targets for this configuration. More demanding workloads deserve closer examination. - What benchmark testing shows I use Passmark PerformanceTest 11.1 to test all my machines and rate them. This machine's result records an overall PassMark rating of 2,504.9, at the 22nd percentile. The breakdown is in the picture - where the lower percentage is better (you want to be 1st). The SSD is the strongest relative performer here. CPU performance places higher than memory and graphics, but the overall result is modest. This scorecard supports measured expectations for heavier work; it doesn’t establish how responsive every everyday application will feel. There’s also a usable 3D graphics result. At only the 23rd percentile, it gives little reason to approach this Zenbook as a demanding gaming machine (which is it NOT). The OLED may make a game look inviting, but it cannot negotiate additional GPU horsepower. - Eight gigabytes is the main constraint The 8GB of RAM needs to accommodate Windows, running applications, background services, and the integrated graphics’ memory requirements. For a restrained workload, that can be workable. A video meeting, numerous demanding browser tabs, and several large applications create more pressure. Windows can move some data to the SSD when necessary, but that is much slower than keeping it in RAM. I'd suggest 16GB as a MINIMUM but prefer 32GB in all my machines now. The 16th-percentile Memory Mark is another weak point in this machine, although the benchmark alone doesn’t establish that limited capacity caused the result. Practically speaking, this configuration encourages a healthy relationship with the Close Tab button. - Storage is reasonably quick—and relatively small The 256GB SSD earns the best percentile ranking in the supplied results. That’s encouraging for storage performance, but capacity remains a separate limitation. Windows, updates, applications, and recovery files consume some of that space before personal files arrive. Documents and a modest software collection are easier to accommodate than a large game library or folders full of video. Cloud storage or an external drive can help, but anyone working with large local files should budget space carefully. The Qualcomm FastConnect 6900 supports Wi-Fi 6E, including the 6GHz band where supported by the router and regional rules. Actual performance depends on the network and signal conditions. It’s useful connectivity, although it cannot rescue an internet connection powered by wishful thinking. - Verdict The Zenbook 14’s strongest attractions are its OLED display, distinctive materials, and manageable weight. The corrected benchmark puts performance in perspective: a 22nd-percentile overall result, with storage standing out and memory and graphics trailing. That makes this configuration most convincing for light productivity, browsing, and entertainment. Heavy multitasking and demanding gaming are less comfortable fits, while specialized software needs an Arm compatibility check. An attractive everyday laptop—provided your workload is as light as your travel bag.

Super nice laptop. Right away you can tell the quality of it. Even the box it comes in is super nice. The laptop itself has a metal bluish hue to it (not really metal, but from far away it does looks like it) which has a nice grainy texture to it. They include a small AC adapter which has a permanently attached type C USB cable for charging, and it does charge super fast (it has a tiny LED that lights up amber to indicate its charging). Setting it up was super easy, I just turned it on and I was greeted by the old regular Windows setup (even though its using an ARM compatible version of it, however you can't even tell the difference). I set on my Wi-Fi network and then logged into my Microsoft account then it setup some other things (like language, keyboard type etc.) and it checked for updates, after a short time, I was welcomed by the familiar Windows desktop. There were some Windows updates and also it has an Asus (My ASUS) program to check for driver and/or firmware updates, and there was one that prompted a restart. All this time I was thinking of plugging in an external mouse, however the very nice super large trackpad made me forget about it (you can use quick combinations, like swipe down or up with two fingers to scroll down or up on a window among other ones), it was super responsive and had no tracking issues. To my surprise, once registering the laptop with ASUS, I got an email from them congratulating for my new laptop and they even gave me a complimentary 1 year accidental damage insurance! Great value! The laptop is fast and responsive and actually super quiet and had no fans rumbling and it stayed super cool. You get most of your apps, if not all from the Windows app store, unless the app you are looking for externally has a version for ARM CPU's, which this one has. The Snapdragon chip is super quick and cool as I mentioned, it even has an NPU, if you need any local Neural work and this version of Windows does have their Ai assistant, COPILOT, which you can use for any of your Ai needs. Its a very nice laptop I would say for work and home office, the battery life is outstanding too and the screen is a gorgeous OLED display (although not a touchscreen). It also has plenty of ports (like USB and HDMI and headset jack). The external sound is also good and supports Dolby Atmos (I use a Bluetooth headset with it anyways). If you are looking for a lightweight full productivity laptop, with great battery life and a great OLED screen, this is the one for you, highly recommend it!

For the last week, I've been testing the Zenbook 14 14" 2K OLED Laptop. The version I evaluated came equipped with the Snapdragon X1-26-100 processor, 8GB of RAM, and a 256GB SSD. While this is the entry-level spec, it serves as an excellent example of a capable everyday laptop that delivers premium features and design without breaking the bank. The first thing that stands out is the top-notch build quality. Beyond being exceptionally lightweight, the Ceraluminum chassis feels distinctly premium to the touch, featuring a smooth, matte texture reminiscent of a river rock. Combined with the Arctic Blue finish, it gives the laptop a clean, sophisticated look. The OLED display is stunning. It produces vibrant, color-accurate visuals with the deep, inky blacks that OLED technology is known for. Although it is rated at 300 nits, it remains bright enough for comfortable outdoor use, while text rendering is razor-sharp and easy on the eyes. The keyboard features three levels of backlighting to ensure full visibility in any lighting condition, and typing on it is an absolute pleasure. Below it, the trackpad is a good size and well tuned to prevent accidental palm inputs. Audio performance is equally solid—the speakers deliver plenty of volume, clear sound and an acceptable amount of bass for a thin chassis. Wireless connectivity was flawless during testing, with Wi-Fi pairing instantly and maintaining a rock-solid link. Battery life easily carries through a full day of heavy productivity, and when it’s time to top up, the included 68W charger restores a full charge in roughly an hour. The only drawback--which is to be expected with these specs--is that the system would benefit from additional memory. At idle, system operations consume roughly 4GB to 6GB of RAM. Despite that RAM limitation, performance remains surprisingly snappy for standard daily multitasking. Some minor features are not included such as a touchscreen and a physical webcam privacy shutter. Finally, the 256GB (175GB available) storage capacity can fill up quickly, making an external drive or cloud storage a practical necessity. With all that said, the Zenbook 14 OLED is still a remarkably well-rounded ultraportable that offers exceptional value for daily tasks. Based on the premium feel and its performance I wouldn't hesitate to recommend it.

If quick response, a bright, high-contrast screen, and long battery life are your primary objectives, this machine should be on your list. Start with the display. The OLED panel is incredible. The viewing angles are great all the way around. It's sharp, clear, and with no color shift whether you're square in front of it or off to the side. It's not 4K, but at 14 inches, it's all you need. If you spend your day staring at a laptop screen, OLED is worth the investment The keyboard is comfortable. The backlighting is mild rather than bright, which I'm fine with, though it bleeds a little bit at various points around the keys. The keys have very good travel, similar to the Logitech keyboard I use at my desk. There's a distinct lack of additional cursor control keys, such as Page Up and Page Down. This makes navigating spreadsheets a little more challenging, but the large, comfortable touchpad generally makes up for it. The battery is the other headline. It's simply amazing. I've managed to watch a couple of movies on it. It seems to run down roughly 10% per hour. That will certainly vary depending upon your workload, but for streaming and browsing it goes a long way between charges. Anyone on the go will appreciate the long life coupled with the light weight. Performance is better than the processor would suggest. The chip sits in roughly the same class as a Core i3, which doesn't sound like much on paper. In practice, browsing is very responsive. Screen updates and page loads feel a lot faster than similar machines I’ve used with the basic Intel silicon. Qualcomm has found a way to compete in a tough market and Intel should be running scared. Excel is where it shows its limits. It slows down a little, but not as much as I’ve seen on some others. The 8 GB of memory acquit themselves very well. Ports are a good mix, including built-in HDMI. No dongle needed to get onto a TV or a monitor. There’s limited upgradability. RAM is soldered into the main board. Only the SSD is separately upgradable from the included 256 GB. My biggest disappointment is the lack of a touchscreen. On a screen this good, it feels like a missing piece. If you've gotten used to touch on a laptop, know that going in. Bottom Line: A gorgeous OLED screen and battery life that gets you through a couple of movies, with performance that punches above its processor class for browsing and everyday work. If you mostly browse, stream, and do light office work, this is an easy recommendation.

Asus Zenbook 14 inch OLED laptop. Arrived nicely boxed with Asus tip up box – makes it easy to take the computer out. At first look, the fit is excellent, and the case seems to be all plastic. When I turned it on, it takes you through the usual Microsoft start up and updating procedure. I trimmed all the unnecessary apps, shortcuts, and limited startup apps. The computer has modest specs, but its performance didn't reflect that. Just a few specs... It comes with only 8Gb LPDDR5X ram, a Snapdragon X with 8 cores, and 8 threads @ 2.97 Ghz. It does boast of a NPU with 45 trillions operations / sec. Storage is limited to 256Gb SSD, with no micro SD slot. If more storage is needed, an external device would have to be used. The screen is a beautiful 14 inch OLED 1900 X 1200 @ 60Hz, rated at 300 nits. However, I found the screen excellent with enough brightness at 80, with saturated colors. Keyboard is backlit with 3 levels of brightness, and the keys had a good travel when typing. Ports consist of 1 x HDMI 2.1, display connection via USB port, 1 HDMI port, 1 USB-A port, 2 USB-C port, and headphone jack. Front facing 1080P camera. Loaded my preferred browser and mail client and started putting the computer through its paces. Again, I was surprised - with what the installed components are - how well this computer ran. Multiple browser tabs, and apps open at the same time, and it preformed very well. It is even capable of simple games that don't put too much demand on graphics. Although the price appears a bit high, it seems that with the chip manufacturing shortage going on, all electronics are jumping in price. That being said, this is a comparative bargain, and excellent choice for casual user, student, etc. My only complaint would be the limited storage, with no card slot for additional storage. Would give 4 ½ stars if possible....

This ASUS Zenbook is a well-made laptop with premium build quality and a sleek, compact design. This particular model features a 14-inch 2K OLED display, a Snapdragon X processor, 16GB of DDR5 memory, a 256GB SSD, and integrated Qualcomm Adreno graphics. For connectivity, it includes one HDMI 2.1 port, two USB-C ports, one USB-A port, and a headphone jack. Setting up the laptop is very straightforward. It comes with a charger and a quick setup guide. I recommend plugging it in before starting the setup process. I charged mine for about 30 minutes and was able to reach 98% battery. You will need a Microsoft account, and the laptop guides you through the remaining steps. After connecting to Wi-Fi, the installation and setup process took approximately 20 minutes to complete. In everyday use, the laptop runs smoothly and responds quickly. I have not experienced any freezing or performance issues. However, since this model uses a Snapdragon processor and integrated graphics, I would not recommend it for demanding graphics-intensive games. It performs very well for work, school, web browsing, email, and streaming content on Netflix or YouTube. It also handles Microsoft Office applications and everyday multitasking without any problems. One of the biggest highlights is the display quality. I watched several shows on Netflix and immediately noticed how impressive the picture looked. The 2K OLED screen produces bright, sharp, and clear images, making movies and other video content enjoyable to watch. The laptop also supports Dolby Atmos audio, although I found the speakers a little underwhelming. Even at 100% volume, the sound seemed relatively quiet. After examining the laptop, I noticed that the speakers are located on the bottom, which may contribute to the audio sounding less direct depending on the surface the laptop is sitting on. Overall, this ASUS Zenbook is an excellent option for everyday computing, work, and school. Its compact size and lightweight design also make it a great travel companion. The build quality feels premium, the setup is simple, and the OLED display is a real standout feature. If you are looking for a portable laptop with a beautiful screen and reliable performance for everyday tasks without spending a fortune, this Zenbook is definitely worth considering.

With the cost of computers on the rise over the past few years, it is nice to see a laptop with good specs can still be obtained for a reasonable price. This Zenbook from ASUS has some really nice features and components without costing an arm and a leg. Pros: - The Zenbook 14 is thin and lightweight which makes it perfect for people on the go. It can easily be stored in any backpack or shoulder bag and the weight will hardly be noticed. It's perfect for students or folks that travel a lot. - The track pad is very large and responsive. Multi-finger gestures worked flawlessly for me, making operation a breeze. - The 14" OLED screen produces beautiful visuals. While it does not have 4k resolution, you wouldn't notice on a screen this size anyway. Both HD videos and games look gorgeous. - The onboard speakers are of good quality for a budget laptop. There is also a headphone jack and Bluetooth if you choose to use other devices. - The 8GB of RAM was more than enough to keep me multitasking without issue. - The laptop boots up quickly and loads programs promptly thanks to a solid state drive, plenty of RAM, and a solid Snapdragon processor. Cons: - While I understand that a lot of folks utilize cloud or external storage these days, sometimes I really like to have dedicated internal storage and this laptop comes with only 256GB on a solid state drive. Less than 200GB of space is available after you set the laptop up for the first time (Windows takes up a lot of space). This is a budget model laptop so some of the components will reflect that. But if you aren't using this device to store large files (video) or games, you shouldn't have issues. - Don't plan to do any high end gaming. This laptop is not designed for that. This laptop is an excellent option for anyone looking to get good performance without having to spend too much. I just wish it had a little bit more storage capacity.

While we have a few mid to high-end spec'd laptops that we use for our heavier work, we were in the market for a general-use laptop that had great battery life and would be pleasant to use (with additional capability than Chrome OS based laptops). While there are many really good options, the ASUS Zenbook 14, with its sleek design and OLED screen really stood out. This particular model has 8GB memory (the type is LPDDR5X, which if you are not familiar with that, it is really fast!) and 256 GB SSD storage. This likely isn't what most would select if expecting to use it for a normal mid/high-productivity use, but for what our purpose for it, mainly being streaming, web browsing and light games (think solitaire, mahjong, etc.), it fits perfectly. What also fits perfectly is the power sipping Qualcomm Snapdragon X Series X1-26-100 processor. No, this isn't the historically typical AMD or Intel processor. You might recognize the brand/family name for their mobile device CPUs (mostly Android based… my phone has a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite). The Snapdragon X series is Qualcomm's first that has been dedicated to only Windows PCs. And they work great! I have a Microsoft Surface Pro with last year's CPU and just got another Surface Pro with a Snapdragon CPU for my son. Because of the design, it helps with increasing battery life dramatically. Depending on how it is used, it is mentioned it can get up to 30 hours on a single charge. The 14" OLED screen is so great! The resolution is 1920 x 1200, which goes along with the normal 16:10 ratio that most laptops have moved to recently. The colors are so vibrant, so watching movies is quite enjoyable, even for a smaller screen (at least it's bigger than a phone and most tablets). The chassis design is really nice! All smooth, rounded edges and corners, which makes it comfortable to carry around. The shell it their patented Ceraluminum, in which they have "ceramized" the aluminum (a process that basically grows ceramic material from the aluminum), making extremely rugged and durable (one mentioned test was a 18,000 continuous strokes in a single location ending witih no scratching or scuffing), while keeping it lightweight. Think of it being the new "Gorilla Glass" standard for laptop chassis. The lid hinge is strong/not too loose but opens easily one-handed (or one-fingered as mentioned on their product site) while the laptop stays in place. The lid itself is very sturdy, with only a very slight flex to it. Even with its smaller size, it still hasn't skipped out on some of the connectivity ports that some will. It has a USB Gen 3.2 Type-A on the right, two USB 3.2 Gen Type-C and a HDMI 2.1 port along with a 3.5mm sound output on the left. Charging is supported on either Type-C port using the included power supply, which is a 68W max, smaller-sized block with USB Type-C. It is also multi-mode where it can charge any modern mobile device, supporting 15W min, then 27W, and 45W (seems to be PD 3.0 and PPS based on what my phone displays). The inputs are nice as well. The backlit keyboard, while slightly compacted width-wise) has a really quiet, easy to type feel. And the touchpad may be one of the best I have ever used. It is so smooth (feels like almost no friction and completely quiet when gliding across) and responsive.

I won't bury the lede - I am so, so impressed with this laptop. It might actually be my favorite PC that I've ever used. Is it the "best"? No - it's running a mid-tier Snapdragon with 8GB of RAM so it has its limitations on performance; this isn't going to edit 4K video quickly or play AAA games, but that's not what PCs in this class are for. I'll start with the build quality, because I've used laptops that cost twice as much as this unit that haven't been built even half as well. It's got a one-finger lift hinge, the soft touch material is great (it's either the highest quality plastic I've ever touched on a computer, or it's made of the softest metal I've felt outside of a Macbook), the key travel & keyboard layout are outstanding, the trackpad is large and responsive...even the little laptop speakers pump out sound far better than I was expecting. And then there's the screen...this OLED panel is crystal clear, sharp, and color accurate. With it being a 14 inch display, 2K is plenty of resolution; I can't see a single pixel until I get my face a few inches from the screen. Moving on to performance - this laptop does everything I could expect of it, and does it well. The 8GB of RAM really only shows up in my workflow when it comes to opening applications (it takes a few seconds longer than a machine with more memory), but everything reasonable that I threw at this machine went wonderfully. Microsoft apps like Word, Excel, Outlook, and Teams were snappy and responsive, web browsing in Edge, Chrome, and Firefox had no issues whatsoever, and I was able to run Spotify in the background with no performance hiccups. I was able to play light Steam games like Stardew Valley with no lag or stuttering, and I was able to stream via Xbox Live smoothly. I didn't try any of my heavier workflow (like editing audio & video), but I wouldn't expect a $700 PC to be able to handle tasks like that. If you can't tell...I'm very impressed with this laptop. It's going to be staying in my bag for a long time.

Overall, this is a pretty decent laptop. The specs on paper feel a little bit lackluster between the CPU and RAM (which I guess is indicative of the really horrible PC parts market right now), but the overall experience of using this device doesn't appear to have been hampered too badly by this. I've been able to watch YouTube while working with Office documents without any issue, I can play some light and small games like vanilla Minecraft, and the system stability seems to be perfect - no weird crashes or bluescreens. ARM64 compatibility has been progressing pretty well, so for the most part I haven't noticed any issues with programs not working. From a hardware perspective, this computer is really nice. It's super lightweight and relatively compact and has a really great battery life, so it's pretty much a perfect machine for taking places to work on the go. The screen has sufficient brightness and clarity (though something bothers me about the way Windows handles display scaling on this model and I can't put my finger on it), and the trackpad and keyboard just both generally feel pretty nice to interact with. The speakers are really decent, while I wouldn't listen to music on them probably they were pretty good for playing YouTube videos or TV. The biometric login (face scan) is quick and responsive and doesn't get stuck "getting ready", and the power-on times feel even faster than my gaming laptop. The body of the computer feels and looks great as well - I especially like how the lid looks and how it's slightly different from the rest of the body, the whole two-tone appearance going on there is cool. Overall the whole thing feels like it's built pretty well - I haven't noticed any issues with flexing or strain when opening the lid or anything like that that might indicate this laptop would start having hinge problems or fall apart. One thing to note is that if you need to reset this device, MyASUS in WinRE (in the recovery menu) says it does not support ASUS Cloud reset. So, whether you're passing this computer on to someone else or recovering from an issue, the workflow appears to rely on Windows' own internal reset function. It seems to get it right - I didn't notice any issues with important drivers or software missing - but it felt like something to remark on. Overall, I think this is a pretty good ultraportable laptop for productivity away from home. I think this machine would be a great choice for business or college students or even just someone who travels a lot and wants a computer instead of a tablet or phone while on the go. Unless you're specifically looking for something that can do heavier games or really need something that only runs on AMD64, I think I can absolutely recommend this as a good laptop that feels like it'll last a long time and do everything the average user needs it to do.

I have been enjoying the ASUS - Zenbook 14 14" 2K OLED - Snapdragon X1-26-100 Laptop for almost a week now and it does not disappoint. Asus is well known for building quality desktops, laptops, screens and components such as motherboards that I’ve always used in my custom PC builds. This laptop is no exception - it is thin and light with a ceramic-lid, aluminum construction, solid and sturdy. Despite its relatively small size, Asus was able to pack some mid-level performance into a slim package at about 2/3” thick and just over 2.8 lbs. This model comes with the power efficient 8-core Snapdragon X1-26-100 CPU and an NPU capable of 45 trillion operations per second for local AI optimization. The built-in Qualcomm Adreno video is good enough for web browsing, productivity apps and consuming some entertainment and streaming in HD on the beautiful, vivid OLED 2K touchscreen. When it comes to multi-tasking for productivity Apps, media or play this is an efficient laptop running at up to 3 GHz. Moreover the 8 GB of high speed LPDDR5X of memory is just enough to simultaneously run a few modern apps, create and edit documents, graphics, videos, spreadsheets and presentations. Also contributing to the decent performance is the 256 GB M.2 PCIe 4.0 Solid State Drive that helps boot this laptop fast. Battery life is great with the 3-cell Li-Ion battery and 68 Watt USB-C charger. You can practically get 18-30 hours of battery life, depending on what apps you’re running or Wi-Fi or Bluetooth use. Where this Zenbook truly shines is the 14” OLED screen that has very bright and vivid colors in WUXGA FHD+ resolution (1920x1200) with thin bezels, great for work productivity and HD movies. Speaking of HD movies, this system has Dolby Atmos sound for very immersive sound coming out of a laptop. Additionally it also incorporates a quality 1080p webcam with IR that seamlessly unlocks with Windows Hello integration. Another nice touch is the back-lit keyboard which makes this laptop easy to type on in any lighting conditions. As for external connectivity, the Zenbook is very well equipped with one USB 3.2 Type-A for legacy devices and two USB-C ports as well as an HDMI 2.1 port for quick TV connectivity. This laptop also comes with the latest generation low-power consumption Bluetooth as well a very fast Wi-Fi 6E, 2x2, wireless card. The initial setup is pretty standard completion of the Windows 11 installation and updates, and a few Asus specific apps, but not much bloatware compared to other brands. A few things would have made this a nearly perfect travel laptop for me: Larger storage, 512 GB to 1 TB would be the sweet spot Upgradable memory or at least 16 GB built-in Smaller touchpad, though the over-sized one it comes with works well All in all, I would recommend this to anyone who is looking for an all around low to mid-range, good travel companion laptop with a beautiful OLED screen, office and school work, media consumption/creation/editing and occasional light gaming.

If you are looking for an ultra-lightweight travel companion that won't tie you to a power outlet, the ASUS Zenbook 14 2K OLED Laptop is a striking machine. I've spent some quality time testing out this Snapdragon-powered variant, and overall, it punches well above its weight class for everyday productivity. The Highs (Pros): Incredible Portability & Design: Weighing under 3 pounds and featuring a stunning, minimalistic Arctic Blue finish, this laptop practically disappears in a backpack. The Ceraluminum build feels remarkably premium and smooth to the touch. Breathtaking OLED Panel: The 2K OLED display is an absolute standout. Text is crisp, blacks are pitch-black, and colors pop brilliantly for streaming video, editing photos, or multitasking across multiple windows. Phenomenal Battery Life: Thanks to the energy-efficient Snapdragon X architecture, battery performance is stellar. You can easily leave the charging brick at home for a full day of office work, web browsing, or classes. Comfortable Input & Extras: The keyboard offers a satisfying, tactile snap for long typing sessions, and the touchpad is smooth and responsive. Little additions like the physical camera privacy shutter are greatly appreciated. The Lows (Cons): Base Configuration Limits: This specific configuration comes with 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage. While it's zippy for basic web browsing, word processing, and streaming, heavy multitaskers or those with large file libraries will fill up that 256GB SSD quickly. ARM Architecture Quirks: While native Windows-on-ARM app support has come a long way, some legacy software, specialized enterprise tools, or older games simply will not run properly. Be sure to check your essential software compatibility beforehand. Glossy Screen Glare: Like many OLED laptops, the display is quite reflective under bright overhead lights or direct sunlight outdoors. The Verdict If your workflow consists heavily of web apps, document editing, media consumption, and working on the go, the ASUS Zenbook 14 OLED is a fantastic, premium-feeling machine. Just keep the 8GB/256GB limits in mind if you plan on heavy-duty computing!

We needed a new laptop for streaming, browsing, social media and the very basic of usage. I think this one will do very well with what is needed. This ZenBook only has 8gb RAM but since there's going to be very little multitasking, the amount is more than sufficient. This nice little laptop won't be used for heavy gaming, or video editing. The 2K OLED display is a great upgrade from the old standard LED. Color saturation makes every thing pop and the black, or dark, scenes look amazing. The battery life is unbelievable. I have left the charger in my work bag and I've not needed it for days. It barely takes any battery during sleep. It charges with a USB-C and when I have had to recharge, it fully charged in what felt like less than an hour. The sound is ok. Speakers are on the back of the laptop. I think they are trying to use the table top for bounce back bass. It's got none to really speak of. They are not very loud. You'll want to connect to a Bluetooth speaker or headphones. I am not going to mark down for this, I kind of expected it for a sub $1000 laptop. The chassis feels like quality and I love the arctic blue color. The backlit keyboard and trackpad work well as I expected. I've had no issues with this or any Asus I have owned and I have had several. These are quality machines. I wish there was a slider switch for the camera for privacy. I know it's built into windows privacy settings but I like the switch I can see. This is a fun little laptop that weighs under 3lbs so it is great for travel, school, and streaming. Don't forget your Bluetooth headphones.

I've used so many laptops throughout the years, more than most I think, and each one was at a certain price level and each one had a unique purpose. The Asus Zenbook has to be one of the best laptops I've owned at this price point. Now I say this because, as long as your expectations of what this laptop is and what it can do, and you compare it to cost, then you realize what an exceptional value it is. First, the construction of this computer is so solid. It feels premium yet so light. Easily portable for anyone needing a laptop on the go. The keys has a great tactile feel and is lay out without being cluttered, it is backlight as well which surprisingly, not every laptop has. The trackpad has ample space and is not too small. It is smooth and all the clicks also is tactile, you know you clicked on it. Again, many laptops don't have that feature. But, imo, the best feature of this computer has to be the screen. One of the better screens I've seen at this level. The colors just pop and everything is just so vivid and crisp. The speakers are also very good for a laptop, bass was above average and it got sufficiently loud. Although it has basic specs, the performance didn't show this. Everything I ran, ran smoothly and without hiccups. I wouldn't use this laptop for any type of heavy gaming or for any serious business purpose, I think it is a wonderful laptop and perfect for most people, especially students.