As someone who has been using the first-generation M1 MacBook Pro for over four years, I’ve seen how ARM chips make a difference with laptops–at least for Apple’s MacBooks. They are more efficient than x86-based models, offering better overall performance while improving battery life. Windows has been catching up with the ARM train, and I was given a chance to use one with the ASUS Zenbook A14.
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Trading my MacBook Pro M1 for the Zenbook A14 for a few weeks as my daily driver, how was the experience? As someone who barely used Windows laptops–especially ARM ones–I’m impressed with what the Zenbook A14 is capable of. Here are my key takeaways:
It’s incredibly light.
When I was told that the Zenbook A14 weighs only 899 grams, I was in disbelief. The Zenbook A14’s weight is roughly a few grams heavier than my tablet+keyboard combo, yet it packs a bigger screen, a less cramped keyboard, and a decent port selection that saves me from fumbling through dongles.
Despite being incredibly light (you can count the number of laptops that weigh under 900 grams), I’m impressed at how solid the overall build of the Zenbook A14 is, thanks to ASUS’ Ceraluminum™ material and a matte finish that does a great job of repelling smudges and still keeping the laptop looking classy.
Outside of being light and having a solid build, opening the Zenbook A14’s lid is hassle-free: you only need one finger to lift the lid and get started on your work.
Its battery life can match a MacBook.
One of the biggest game-changers with ARM architecture is how it stretches battery life efficiently. I’ve witnessed that with years of using the first-generation Apple M series chips, and I’m happy that Windows users now have an ARM option with Qualcomm’s line of Snapdragon X chips. While the Zenbook A14 only has a 53wHr battery, which is smaller than what you’d see on your typical 14-inch laptop, I’m amazed at its endurance.
Using it as my daily driver, I was able to comfortably use the Zenbook 14 for the entire workday. My activities on the Zenbook A14 include playing music on Spotify, using Bluetooth earbuds, batch editing photos in Lightroom, writing several articles, and browsing through several Chrome tabs open. Even with that workload, I had around 40% battery left at the end of the day, which is enough for me to watch some of my favorite KPop videos (in 4K resolution no less) on YouTube or save it to catch up on emails the next day.
The fact that the Zenbook A14 has a smaller-than-usual battery YET managed to last me the entire day is proof that Qualcomm’s Snapdragon chips are an excellent alternative to the x86-based processors we’re all familiar with.
Snapdragon X is good enough for most tasks.
While the Zenbook A14 uses the base version of the Snapdragon X, its performance numbers can match a Core i5 or a Ryzen 5 series processor, and that proves that ARM chips on Windows laptops are just as good as ARM chips on MacBooks.
Perhaps the biggest question about ARM Windows laptops is software compatibility, and using the Zenbook A14 as my daily driver for a few weeks proves that Windows on ARM has improved significantly in terms of the number of native apps you can use. Some of my go-to apps like Adobe Lightroom, Capcut, and Slack have native ARM versions, saving me from the need to use x86 emulation that will compromise overall performance.
Speaking of performance, the Zenbook A14 performed well for my needs–especially with batch editing photos and light video editing on the side. I barely felt any delays when I implemented my edits on photos and videos, and my workflow on the Zenbook A14 is just as efficient as when I work using my M1 MacBook Pro.
With weeks of using a Snapdragon laptop like the Zenbook A14, I can safely say that Windows on ARM will be the future of laptops, especially for users who value one that’s ultralight and power-efficient–yet is just as capable as regular x86 laptops.
The Zenbook A14 is priced at Php 65,995 and is available in Zabriskie Beige and Iceland Gray. You can buy it at Authorized ASUS stores (full list here) and those purchasing will get a Lifetime Microsoft Office Home 2024 subscription, 1-year access to Microsoft 365 Basic, and ASUS’ Service Package that consists of a 2-year International Warranty and 1-year Accidental Damage Protection.
