The Zenbook A14 feels lighter than a MacBook Air, but is being lighter truly an advantage?

      CES 2026 has made a grand entrance, and much like Dorothy arriving in Oz, the Asus Zenbook A14 floats in, feeling almost weightless. While it's uncertain if any wicked witches were harmed during its descent, one thing is for sure: the MacBook Air would have taken a hit first due to its heavier weight. Indeed, the Zenbook A14 is remarkably light. But is that necessarily beneficial?

      Whenever I receive a new laptop to review, I always evaluate its size and weight against the competition, but in recent years, laptops seem to be becoming overly compact and lightweight. I experienced this firsthand when reviewing the Dell XPS 13 9345 back in 2024, where I found the typing surface surprisingly cramped.

      At what point does a laptop become too lightweight? Having had the chance to use the Zenbook A14, I have some opinions on this.

      Is lighter always better?

      The Asus Zenbook A14 has an astonishing weight of just 2.18 pounds. For perspective, the M4 MacBook Air weighs in at 2.7 pounds, making it half a pound heavier than the Zenbook. But is there a noticeable difference in feel? Absolutely; it felt like a prop: incredibly easy to lift, and if it were powered off, you might struggle to believe it’s a genuine laptop. We are dangerously close to achieving a weight similar to my child’s LeapFrog 2-in-1 laptop, which weighs 1.3 pounds.

      I was particularly concerned about the Zenbook A14's durability. If my child were to bump into me, this device could easily soar through the air like a paper airplane straight toward my TV. While that might still happen, at least the laptop would survive the encounter. My durability worries were quickly put to rest by the MIL-STD 810H certification badge. For those unfamiliar, this certification signifies that it has endured rigorous testing for drops, shocks, dust, extreme temperatures, and more. So, despite feeling insubstantial in my hands, it is actually quite sturdy.

      Yes, it is made of metal. Well, sort of. It features Asus’ unique ceraluminum material, which combines ceramic with magnesium aluminum. Asus has been using it for some time — it presents an unusual texture for a laptop, but I find it appealing.

      Rami Tabari/Digital Trends

      I encountered some difficulty opening the lid, which wasn't surprising given its lightness. Nevertheless, with dimensions of 12.23 x 8.42 x 0.53~0.63 inches, it provides a reasonable size, allowing my hands to find adequate space on the keyboard. When I typed, the keys felt pleasantly bouncy and well-spaced, though I did notice a slight flex on the deck. Meanwhile, the touchpad was smooth and reasonably wide.

      Then it was time to appreciate the display. I adore a good OLED screen, and with Asus having improved the brightness on all its OLED displays this generation, I was excited. The Zenbook A14 boasts a 14-inch, 1920 x 1200 OLED display rated for 600 nits of HDR brightness.

      While HDR quality can vary, Asus has also enhanced the standard dynamic range brightness. The previous model reached around 350 nits, so I would be satisfied if this one achieved at least 450 nits. The best part is it is rated to cover 100% of the DCI-P3 color gamut, ensuring vibrant colors. Although I couldn't adjust the screen during my hands-on time, it appeared bright and colorful in the environment I was in.

      Rami Tabari/Digital Trends

      Moving to the specifications, Asus has made some bold claims. The new Qualcomm Snapdragon X2 Elite chipset is certainly impressive, but I am more interested in how it affects battery life. The Zenbook A14 is claimed to last for 28 hours on a single charge. While this figure is specifically for video playback and doesn’t reflect typical usage, it’s still an astonishing number. If the Zenbook A14 can actually deliver on that promise, it could become a strong competitor to the MacBook Air for various reasons.

      Extended battery life is a significant advantage for any laptop, but I still have mixed feelings about the weight of the Zenbook A14. It’s so light that I worry about dropping it frequently, and even if it is built to withstand impacts, that’s still a source of frustration.

      For those seeking something a bit sturdier, the new Zenbook A16 might be a better option. Weighing in at 2.65 pounds, it is still impressively lightweight while feeling more like a traditional laptop. It also features an enhanced 16-inch, 3K OLED display rated for 1100 nits of brightness, which sounds impressive.

      The pricing for the Zenbook A14 hasn’t been announced yet, but it is expected to be available toward the end of March