Key takeaways

• The Asus Zenbook A14 is available at Best Buy, with configurations starting at$999.
• Asus' new ultraportable is a fantastic balance of innovation and value with a brilliant OLED display, competitive hardware, and a satisfying physical form.
• While its use case is clearly defined, the laptop has its limits when it comes to high-end performance.

$1,099.99 at Best Buy

When Asus officially announced theZenbook A14 at CES this year, I wasn't the only one to be low-key enamored with it. It's a great laptop in its own right, but it stands out as a successful balancing act between performance and affordability while hitting all the right notes that consumers care about. 

Made of Asus' proprietary ceraluminum material, the Zenbook A14 almost feels like a prototype model that's empty inside, as it's exceedingly light at just 2.1 pounds (for reference, the 13-inch MacBook Air is 2.7 pounds). When you set it down, the device opens easily with the lift of a single finger, revealing the brilliant OLED display. 

Also: I tested Asus' dual-screen laptop, and it sparked my creativity in the best way

Asus committed to a neutral-forward aesthetic with the A14. The brand messaging features muted tones and quiet, sophisticated imagery punctuated by natural motifs, and, overall, it works to form a cohesive identity. 

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Asus Zenbook A14

The Zenbook A14 balances innovation with value, and has one of the longest-lasting batteries we've seen.

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View at Best Buy

This aesthetic highlights Asus' determination to deliver a cohesive brand message while balancing innovation and cost. For example, the display on the Zenbook A14 looks good right out of the box. It's bright, crisp, and efficient. But closer inspection reveals that it's not as premium a display as you'd find on, say, Asus' ProArt P16. 

The display is framed by plastic bezels carefully designed not tolookcheap, but again