Asus debuts the all-ceramic Zenbook A14

I’m still getting over that idea word like “keraluminium” is more than a marketing gimmick. Asus’ latest Zenbook models continue to impress me with their ceramic-aluminum covers. Now enter the Zenbook A14, a new laptop that’s all ceramic, from the lid to the frame to the bottom case. The only parts that don’t carry this awkward material name are the keycaps and the screen itself.

The $1,100 Asus Zenbook A14 weighs 2.2 pounds and is thin enough that I fear I might break it with my fingers. The Zenbook S 14 from 2024 is about 2.8 pounds to compare apples to apples. This is already light. You should have no problem frisbeeing it next to your bed from your desktop. The Zenbook A14 is significantly lighter than this. Because of its rough-coated anodized ceramic material, it doesn’t feel like metal at all.

Part of what makes it so light is the processor. It comes close to the Snapdragon X Elite chip with a 45W TDP. ARM-based processors already do a good job in terms of energy efficiency. The laptop carries a 70 Wh battery, but Asus claims it should be able to provide 32 hours of life with video playback. I find these tests much less useful than the tests for everyday battery use, but we’ll want to test it ourselves.

It has a 14-inch OLED screen with a maximum frequency of 60 Hz, but the best aspect of this computer is still its weight and size. The device has what Asus calls an “easy-lift hinge” that doesn’t require much effort to lift. The easy hinges can be a concern, but Asus has repeatedly told us that the device will stay closed. Asus also claims that the material makes the device even more durable. Even with its slim package, it still includes an HDMI port and two Thunderbolt 4 ports. The device also supports WiFi 7.

There are two color options, although the $900 “Zabriskie Beige” (a reference to the area in Death Valley, California) will only include the Snapdragon X Plus and 16GB of RAM. The gray version will be available in January, but you’ll have to wait until late March for the beige version (which is exclusive to Best Buy).

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