Asus Zenbook A14 Review: Snapdragon X Brings Big Hype, But Can It Deliver?

The Asus Zenbook A14, powered by the new Snapdragon X processor, promises sleek design and battery life. But is it worth ₹1 lakh? Dive into our real-world review covering design, performance, compatibility, and limitations.

Asus Zenbook A14 Review: All Style, But Where’s the Power?

The laptop world just got a shake-up. Alongside familiar names like AMD, Intel, and Apple, there’s a new player in town—Qualcomm. Best known for their Snapdragon chipsets in smartphones, Qualcomm has now stepped into the Windows laptop market. Their latest offering? The Snapdragon X series processors, and the Asus Zenbook A14 is among the first to carry this fresh silicon.

After getting hands-on with the Zenbook A14, we were both intrigued and puzzled. While it brings a lightweight design and promises top-tier battery life, performance tells a different story.

First Impressions: Lightweight and Deceptively Premium

The Zenbook A14 arrives in a minimalistic package with a quality carry pouch and a 65W Type-C fast charger. At under 1kg (980 grams to be exact), it’s one of the lightest laptops we’ve tested—lighter than many tablets with keyboard cases.

But the build can be misleading. It feels plasticky to the touch, though Asus claims it uses “Cera Aluminium”—a ceramic-coated aluminum alloy. It looks premium from afar but doesn’t feel as sturdy as you’d expect from a ₹1 lakh device.

The keyboard is backlit, but the lighting isn’t uniform—some keys glow more brightly than others, giving it a patchy look. No fingerprint scanner here, but you do get Windows Hello face unlock with an IR sensor, plus intelligent brightness adjustment when you move away from the screen.

Display: OLED Brilliance With Extra Gloss

The 14-inch OLED panel is impressive on paper: 400 nits standard brightness, peaking at 600 nits. It delivers rich colors and deep contrast. However, it’s extremely glossy—more so than a MacBook—making it challenging to use near windows or under bright lighting.

The Heart of the Matter: Snapdragon X Performance

Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X series comes in three variants:

• Snapdragon X

• Snapdragon X Plus

• Snapdragon X Elite

The Zenbook A14 features the base model—Snapdragon X 1260. It’s an 8-core ARM-based processor, designed more for battery efficiency than raw power. It includes a built-in Adreno GPU and offers 45 TOPS for AI tasks. While that sounds great, real-world performance tells a different story.

CPU & GPU Benchmarks

In comparison tests:

• Geekbench & Cinebench scores of the Snapdragon X lag behind even older Intel i3 U-series chips.

• GPU scores fall significantly short when stacked against Intel Arc and Apple M4’s integrated graphics.

For reference, even a 4-year-old MacBook Pro M1 outperforms the Zenbook A14 in both single and multi-core performance.

RAM & Storage

The laptop packs 16GB LPDDR5X RAM (non-upgradable) and a fast 512GB Gen4 SSD (user-replaceable). So, memory speed and storage aren’t issues—but the processor and GPU limit how far these can stretch.

Software Compatibility: Still a Work in Progress

This Snapdragon processor runs on ARM architecture—like Apple’s M-series chips. That means not all Windows software will run natively.

Supported & Stable:

• Daily-use apps like Chrome, WhatsApp, Telegram, ChatGPT, Signal

• Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)

• Zoom and basic multimedia apps

Currently Unsupported:

• Apple iCloud for Windows

• OBS Studio (screen recording)

• Trello, Adobe After Effects, Steam, Epic Games Launcher, and more

There is an emulator (Prism) built-in, allowing many x86 apps to run. But performance and compatibility vary, especially for professional software.

Real-World Use: Not for Everyone

1. Gaming

Not meant for it. GTA V ran at 60–75 FPS on normal settings, but rendering was choppy. Expect stuttering and inconsistent graphics.

2. Editing

Adobe apps like After Effects didn’t install. GPU limitations make this a poor choice for video editing or rendering tasks.

3. Coding

For basic programming, it’s okay. Python and VS Code worked, but developers using multiple languages or platforms (like C++ and Python simultaneously) might run into issues. Reddit and other forums suggest erratic behavior in multi-language workflows.

4. Everyday Use

Here’s where it shines:

• Fast boot and wake

• Smooth multitasking for Office work, browsing, video calling

• Lightweight and portable—ideal for casual users

Battery Life: The Real Win?

Qualcomm claims up to 32 hours of battery life. While real-world numbers vary, you can expect significantly longer endurance than Intel or AMD laptops in the same category—making it a good choice for travelers or students focused on portability.

Final Verdict: Great Idea, Poor Execution (For Now)

The Asus Zenbook A14 introduces the Snapdragon X platform with a lot of hope—but limited practicality. At ₹1 lakh, most buyers expect power, compatibility, and future-proof performance. This laptop delivers on battery life and portability, but stumbles when it comes to app support, GPU performance, and multitasking muscle.

Buy it if:

• You want a sleek, ultra-light laptop for basic tasks

• Battery life is your top priority

• You’re okay with ARM-based limitations

Avoid it if:

• You need a laptop for gaming, editing, or heavy coding

• You’re relying on Adobe apps or unsupported software

• You expect top-tier performance for the price

Rating: 3.5/5

The Zenbook A14 feels like a glimpse into the future of Windows on ARM—but right now, it’s best suited for casual users with specific needs. Wait for the ecosystem to mature, or explore better-rounded alternatives for the same price.