Our verdict
The Zenbook A14 is the laptop to consider if carrying weight affects your day. ASUS quotes 980g for the lightest version, and its 78Wh battery, rated by ASUS at up to 32 hours, means you can often leave the charger at home. The 14-inch Full HD OLED screen, where each pixel makes its own light, gives deep blacks and rich contrast. It runs on a Qualcomm Snapdragon X series chip, which uses Arm technology, the same basic design as phone chips, to save power. Mainstream work runs smoothly, but check older programs, drivers and specialist accessories before buying. It also keeps useful sockets: two USB4 ports, USB-A and HDMI 2.1. This version, at around £899, has 16GB of memory and 512GB of storage.
Buy it if
- You carry your laptop every day
- Battery life and low weight matter most
- Your software is mainstream and works on Arm-based Windows
Skip it if
- You rely on older specialist programs or drivers
- You need dedicated gaming graphics
- You mainly work in very bright spaces where reflections bother you
How it would fit your home
Commuting and travel
At under 1kg for the lightest version, with a 78Wh battery, it is easy to carry and can often go a full day without its charger.
Office and study
Comfortable for documents, browser work, Microsoft 365 and video calls, with USB-A and HDMI 2.1 for older accessories and a projector or monitor.
Specialist hardware
Check drivers for printers, VPN tools and music equipment before choosing an Arm-based laptop.
The details, in plain English
Portability and battery
This is where the Zenbook earns its place. ASUS quotes 980g for the lightest version, so you notice it less in a bag, and the lid and base use Ceraluminum, a ceramic-aluminium material. The battery is 78Wh (watt-hours, the energy it holds), which ASUS rates at up to 32 hours; real use will be shorter, but it still reduces the need to carry a charger. ASUS says it charges to 60% in 49 minutes.
Screen
The 14-inch screen is Full HD OLED. On an OLED screen each pixel lights itself and switches fully off for black, so films, photos and dark text look rich. ASUS quotes HDR brightness of up to 600 nits for bright highlights. The surface can reflect windows and overhead lights, so people who often work outdoors or under strong lighting may prefer a bright matte screen.
Snapdragon chip and compatibility
It uses a Qualcomm Snapdragon X series chip. Like a phone chip, it uses Arm technology, which helps battery life. Its NPU, a part of the chip for AI tasks, reaches up to 45 TOPS (trillions of operations a second), enough for Windows Copilot+ PC features. Browsing, Microsoft 365, calls and streaming run smoothly. Before buying, check older printer drivers, VPN tools, music hardware, games and work software.
Sockets and typing
You get two USB4 USB-C ports for charging, fast drives and monitors, a USB-A port for older accessories, HDMI 2.1 for a TV or projector, and a headphone jack. Wi-Fi 7 gives fast connections on a compatible router. ASUS's ErgoSense keyboard has 1.3mm of key travel, how far each key moves, which suits ordinary office typing.
Strengths and drawbacks
What it does well
- From 980g, according to ASUS: easy to carry every day
- 78Wh battery that ASUS rates at up to 32 hours
- 14-inch OLED screen with deep blacks and strong contrast
- Two USB4 ports, USB-A and HDMI 2.1: more useful sockets than several thin rivals
- 16GB of memory and 512GB of storage in this version
What to watch out for
- Arm-based Snapdragon chip: not every program, driver or accessory works
- The OLED screen's reflections can be noticeable in bright rooms
- Full HD resolution is less sharp than some rivals' higher-resolution screens
- Not intended for demanding games or professional 3D work
The Surface Laptop has a more restrained design, the MacBook Air has the most established app ecosystem, and Lenovo offers more configuration choice. ASUS wins on very low weight combined with an OLED screen and a good range of sockets.
Alternatives we have reviewed
| Product | Our verdict | Price | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|
 ASUS Zenbook A14 (UX3407) (this one) | The best travel-first Windows choice, once you have checked that your apps and accessories work on a Snapdragon (Arm) laptop. | Around £899with 16GB memory and 512GB storage, Price recorded 30 Jul 2026 | Check price |
 ASUS Vivobook V16 | A sensible large-screen Windows laptop with the right memory and storage, if you value screen space over low weight. | £79916 GB memory · 512 GB storage, Price recorded 1 Aug 2026 | Check price |
 ASUS Zenbook 14 OLED | A light 14-inch laptop with a sharp OLED screen and generous memory and storage, worth £1,099 mainly if you will actually use the 32GB and 1TB. | £1,09932 GB fast memory · 1 TB storage, Price recorded 1 Aug 2026 | Check price |
 Microsoft Surface Laptop 13-inch | A lovely everyday Windows laptop for documents, calls and streaming, once you have confirmed that your software and accessories work with its Arm-based chip. | £999RRP · 16GB memory and 512GB storage, RRP recorded 12 Oct 2026 | Check price |
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Where our findings come from
This research-based review compares ASUS's stated listed features with independent portability, battery and performance testing. The recommendation remains conditional on checking the buyer's exact Windows applications and hardware drivers.