Asus Zenbook A14 vs Apple MacBook Air 13 (M4): a close match, but no win.

      I recently awarded the Apple MacBook Air 13 (M4) a rare perfect 5-star rating and declared it the top 13-inch laptop available today. I maintain that assessment, as the MacBook Air 13 is indeed as near to perfect as one can find in a compact laptop. However, the Asus Zenbook A14 also impressed me with its remarkably lightweight design that avoids feeling fragile, along with its stunning OLED display and impressive battery life. But can it compete with the MacBook Air 13 for the top spot?

      **Specs and Configurations**

      | Feature | Asus Zenbook A14 | Apple MacBook Air 13 (M4) |

      |---------------------------|---------------------------------------|--------------------------------------|

      | Dimensions | 12.23 x 8.42 x 0.63 inches | 11.97 x 8.46 x 0.44 inches |

      | Weight | 2.4 pounds | 2.7 pounds |

      | Processor | Qualcomm Snapdragon X Plus X1P-42-100 | Apple M4 (10 core) |

      | Graphics | Qualcomm Adreno | 10 core GPU |

      | RAM | 16GB | 16GB / 24GB / 32GB unified memory |

      | Display | 14.0-inch 16:10 FHD+ (1920 x 1200) OLED, 60Hz | 13.6-inch 2560 x 1664 Retina IPS display at 60Hz |

      | Storage | 512GB SSD / 1TB SSD | 256GB SSD / 512GB SSD / 1TB SSD / 2TB SSD |

      | Touch | Yes | No |

      | Ports | 2 x USB4 / 1 x USB-A 3.2 Gen 2 / 1 x HDMI 2.1 / 1 x 3.5mm headphone jack | 2 x USB-C with Thunderbolt 4 / 1 x MagSafe 3 for charging / 1 x 3.5mm audio jack |

      | Wireless | Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3 | Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.2 |

      | Webcam | 1080p with infrared camera | 12MP Center Stage camera with Desk View |

      | Operating system | Windows 11 on ARM | macOS Sequoia |

      | Battery | 70 watt-hour | 53.8 watt-hour |

      | Price | $1,000+ | $999+ |

      | Rating | 4 out of 5 stars | 5 out of 5 stars |

      The Zenbook A14 comes in two configurations. The base model is priced at $1,000 and features a Qualcomm Snapdragon X Plus chipset, 16GB of RAM, a 512GB SSD, and a 14.0-inch FHD+ OLED display. For $1,200, you can upgrade to 32GB of RAM and a 1TB SSD. The MacBook Air 13 offers greater configurability. The $1,000 base model includes a 10-core CPU/8-core GPU M4 chipset, 16GB of RAM, a 256GB SSD (the sole option), and a 13.6-inch Retina IPS display. Upgrading to a 10-core CPU/10-core GPU increases the price by $100, while moving up to 24GB RAM is an additional $200, and 32GB RAM costs an extra $400. Storage can be increased to 512GB for $200, with a maximum 2TB SSD costing an extra $800, bringing the total for the most expensive MacBook Air 13 to $2,199. The Zenbook A14 offers better low-end configurations and is significantly cheaper at the high end. Although the MacBook Air 13 has more storage options at the highest price point, it comes at a premium.

      **Design**

      I have praised the MacBook Air 13 for its nearly flawless design. It is the thinnest laptop available today while still feeling remarkably solid, exuding quality through its density. Additionally, it has a sleek and elegant appearance enhanced by various attractive colors. The hinge operates smoothly and holds the lid securely, demonstrating Apple’s meticulous attention to design and balance. Clearly, I have a strong affinity for this laptop.

      However, it’s not without competition. The more I interacted with the Zenbook A14, the more I appreciated it. The Ceraluminum material felt somewhat odd initially, but its unusual yet comfortable texture quickly became likable. Its lightweight nature surprised me, but I soon realized it is a well-constructed laptop and not flimsy, unlike some other lightweight models. While it doesn’t quite match the overall feel of the