The ASUS Zenbook A14 (UX3407) is an interesting working machine. It's an ultraportable CoPilot+ PC that carries a unique design philosophy and build. All the while, I thought this wouldn't have a place in my office since I already owned a Zenbook 14 OLED and a Mac — but I was wrong.
I didn’t expect it to make a strong impression right away, but after spending time with it, this machine has quietly proven that it’s more than just a lightweight laptop - it’s a serious contender for anyone who wants solid performance in a thin and practical form.
Review Summary:
Pros
- Ultra-lightweight and compact laptop
- Long Battery Life
- Feature-packed software with CoPilot+
- Snappy Performance
Cons
- Speakers need improvement
Design: Meet Ceraluminum
At first glance, the ASUS Zenbook A14 doesn’t scream for attention. It keeps a clean and modern look with a matte metal finish that feels solid without being flashy. We have an "ASUS Zenbook" branding on the lid which takes inspiration from some of the company's minimalist designs. There's no ErgoLift hinge here, we only got a lid that's very easy to lift with one hand.
This is also my first time to experience the "Ceraluminum". This design is an electrochemically treated aluminum finish that mimics the texture and durability of ceramic, which offers a sleek matte look with improved scratch resistance. It gives the Zenbook A14 a premium feel while keeping the chassis lightweight and more resilient than standard metal finishes. With this material technology, the laptop is subtle enough to blend into both creative and professional setups, which is something I appreciate.
Weighing only around 899 grams and featuring a thin profile, it’s one of those laptops you forget is in your backpack until you take it out. And despite its light profile, it doesn’t feel fragile. ASUS nailed the build quality here - no creaky panels, no flexing under pressure, just a sturdy frame that feels like it’s built to last.
The Zenbook A14 meets the US MIL-STD 810H military-grade standard, meaning it's built to withstand everyday wear and tear, as well as tougher conditions like sudden temperature changes, vibration, and accidental drops; this makes the laptop a reliable travel companion.
Display
Let’s be clear - this isn’t an OLED panel, and it doesn’t try to be. What you get is a 14-inch IPS display with a WUXGA resolution (1920×1200), and it delivers a practical, well-balanced viewing experience. The 16:10 aspect ratio gives you more vertical space, which is always welcome when browsing, reading, or working with documents.
Colors are decent and brightness is more than enough for indoor use. I wouldn’t recommend it for hardcore photo editing, but for general productivity, content consumption, and light media work? It absolutely holds up. The display's matte finish also helps minimize glare, which is very ideal for on-the-go work. One advantage of the LCD panel is its efficient power consumption, which helps extend battery life; especially useful for a lightweight laptop you’ll likely be carrying everywhere.
The display quality is quite okay when I'm doing photo edits, watching HDR content, or just browsing. It gives close to accurate colors and pretty black and whites. For creatives who don’t need top-tier workstation specs, this display is already a big win.
Performance: More Than You'd Expect in This Form Factor
The ASUS Zenbook A14 is powered by the Snapdragon X X1E-78-100 processor, an 8-core, 8-thread chip with a 30MB cache and clock speeds of up to 2.97GHz. It’s paired with a Qualcomm Adreno GPU and a Hexagon NPU capable of up to 45 TOPS, built to handle AI-powered tasks with efficiency.
With 16GB of LPDDR5X RAM and a 512GB M.2 NVMe PCIe 4.0 SSD, the A14 delivers smooth performance for day-to-day productivity, creative work, and light multitasking. The AI engine may be ahead of its time for most casual users, but it’s ready for future workloads and accelerated tasks. Thermal performance is also worth highlighting. Despite the compact chassis, ASUS managed to keep heat well-managed. Even during heavier use, the base stayed comfortable.
The ASUS Zenbook A14 performed admirably in our benchmark tests. On Geekbench 6.0, it posted a Single-Core score of 1,878 and a Multi-Core score of 6,031, reflecting its solid processing capabilities. For graphics, the Adreno GPU delivered 9,320 in the OpenCL test and 13,741 in Vulkan. Over on Cinebench R23, the laptop scored 333 points in the Single-Core test and 3,046 in Multi-Core, making it a reliable performer for everyday tasks and light creative workloads.
Keyboard and Trackpad
We have a chiclet-type keyboard that's very comfortable to type on. The keys have great feedback and travel distance. It is also backlit so typing in a dark room would not be an issue. I occasionally found myself pressing the wrong key. It’s one of those minor quirks that you learn to adapt to, rather than a persistent hindrance.
The trackpad, on the other hand, is generously sized and easy to navigate. It feels tactile and responsive in most cases, but I do wish it registered clicks a bit more accurately. Still, it’s reliable enough for daily tasks and doesn’t get in the way when working on the go.
Ports, Connectivity, and Audio
When it comes to ports and buttons, the Zenbook A14 has a generous set. It offers a solid port selection with two USB-C 4.0 ports, a headphone jack, a USB-A 3.2 Gen 2 port, and a full-sized HDMI port. This makes it convenient to travel without extra dongles; though I do wish the USB-C ports were placed on opposite sides for more flexibility when charging.
If there's a part of the Zenbook A14 experience that doesn't quite keep up with the rest of the package, it's the speakers. Positioned at the bottom, the sound leans on the thinner side and lacks the punch you’d expect when pushing the volume up. ASUS did try to boost audio quality with Smart Amp technology and a built-in speaker system, but there’s only so much you can expect from a chassis this slim.
Still, it's an understandable trade-off given the laptop’s ultra-light build. Personally, I’m okay with the compromise - as long as the machine stays light and efficient, I can always plug in my earphones for better audio. On a more positive note, the built-in array mic performs surprisingly well for voice input and online meetings, making it a dependable choice for day-to-day productivity.
The inclusion of Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3 on the Zenbook A14 is a solid move, ensuring you get fast, reliable connections whether you're working or streaming. In my experience, this means smoother online sessions and hassle-free pairing with peripherals, which really adds to the overall convenience of the laptop.
Software: CoPilot+ AI PC
The Zenbook A14 comes with a solid set of ASUS apps that really make a difference in day-to-day use. I liked StoryCube for quickly turning photos into video stories, and ScreenXpert plus GlideX made juggling multiple screens and devices smoother than I expected. MyASUS is basically the hub where you can check your system’s health, tweak the fan settings, manage battery charging, and lock function keys - all nice touches that give you more control.
For the display, Splendid lets you tweak colors, and ASUS OLED Care helps keep the screen in good shape. WiFi SmartConnect and TaskFirst help keep my internet connection steady, which is something I appreciate when working or streaming. AI Noise Canceling and AdaptiveLock add extra convenience, especially during calls or when stepping away from the laptop.
It also comes with Microsoft Office Home 2024 and Microsoft 365 Basic preloaded, so you don’t have to worry about setting up the basics yourself. Overall, the software feels thoughtfully put together and complements the Zenbook’s hardware. The IR Webcam with Windows Hello is also a great addition for seamless login.
The Zenbook A14 has a CoPilot+ AI assistant integrated into the system. It’s like having a smart helper right at your fingertips. This makes multitasking easier by offering quick suggestions and automating routine tasks, which really speeds up my workflow.
The laptop even has a dedicated CoPilot button. There are tons of possibilities you can make with this software. My favorites are image generation, planning, getting advice, and even taking quizzes.
Battery Life
More than just being power-efficient for an ultra-thin laptop, the Zenbook A14 stands out with its impressive battery life. Equipped with a 48Wh battery, I was genuinely surprised by how long it lasted. In my everyday use, the laptop easily powered through an entire day without needing a recharge. From morning meetings and content creation to half an hour of video streaming, an hour of music, and even a 30-minute gaming session, it kept up without breaking a sweat.
For remote work or travel days when you don’t want to be tethered to a wall socket, this battery performance is very reassuring.
Conclusion: Quiet Confidence in a Compact Package
The ASUS Zenbook A14 (UX3407) doesn’t try too hard to wow you upfront - but the more time you spend with it, the more it earns your trust. It’s a great example of how thoughtful design, solid performance, and useful features can come together in a package that just works.
If portability is a priority but you still want long battery life and smooth performance, the Zenbook A14 is a solid choice. It’s not designed to be a gaming powerhouse or handle heavy 4K video editing, but for professionals, students, and creatives who need a reliable laptop on the move, it strikes the right balance between power and portability. At Php 65,995, it offers great value for what you get.
ASUS Zenbook A14 Specs
Color Options: Zabriskie Beige, Iceland Gray
Operating System: Windows 11 Home (ASUS recommends Windows 11 Pro for business)
Processor: Snapdragon X X1 26 100 Processor (30MB Cache, up to 2.97GHz, 8 cores, 8 Threads)
Neural Processor: Qualcomm Hexagon NPU up to 45 TOPS
Graphics: Qualcomm Adreno GPU
Display:
14.0-inch WUXGA (1920 x 1200)
16:10 aspect ratio
IPS-level panel
60Hz refresh rate
400 nits brightness
100% sRGB color gamut
Anti-glare
TÜV Rheinland-certified
Non-touch
90% screen-to-body ratio
Memory: 16GB LPDDR5X (on board)
Storage: 512GB M.2 NVMe PCIe 4.0 SSD
Expansion Slot: 1x M.2 2280 PCIe 4.0x4
I/O Ports:
1x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A (10Gbps)
2x USB 4.0 Gen 3 Type-C (40Gbps, supports display and power delivery)
1x HDMI 2.1 TMDS
1x 3.5mm Combo Audio Jack
Keyboard & Touchpad: Backlit Chiclet keyboard with 1.3mm key travel, precision touchpad
Camera: FHD camera with IR support for Windows Hello
Audio: Smart Amp Technology, built-in speaker, built-in array microphone
Network & Communication: Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax) triple band 2x2, Bluetooth 5.3 (version may vary with OS)
Battery: 48WHrs, 3-cell Li-ion (3S1P)
Power Supply: USB-C 65W AC Ultra Mini Adapter (20V DC, 3.25A), input 100-240V AC, USB-C cable rated for 240W
Weight: 0.90 kg (1.98 lbs)
Dimensions (W x D x H): 31.07 x 21.39 x 1.34–1.59 cm (12.23" x 8.42" x 0.53"–0.63")
Built-in Apps: StoryCube, MyASUS, ScreenXpert, GlideX
MyASUS Features: System diagnosis, battery health charging, fan profile, Splendid, function key lock, WiFi SmartConnect, TaskFirst, live update, ASUS OLED care, AI noise canceling, AdaptiveLock
Office Suite: Microsoft Office Home 2024 + Microsoft 365 Basic
Military Grade: US MIL-STD 810H military-grade standard
Ecolabels & Compliance: Energy Star 8.0, RoHS, REACH
Security Features: BIOS boot user password, firmware TPM, BIOS setup user password, Microsoft Pluton security processor, McAfee, IR webcam with Windows Hello support
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