The Asus Zenbook A14 and Vivobook 16 are certainly unique launches in the laptop space. The Zenbook A14, at just 980 grams, is one of the lightest 14-inch laptops ever. And guess what? Asus claims it has a record-breaking 32-hour battery life—all thanks to the incredibly frugal Qualcomm Snapdragon X processor.
Speaking of the Snapdragon X, these two Asus laptops mark its debut in India. So, what’s new with it? Well, it’s currently the most entry-level processor in Qualcomm’s ARM-based Snapdragon X laptop series, sitting below the Snapdragon X Elite and Snapdragon X Plus. It features a lower-clocked 8-core CPU, reduced cache, and a significantly weaker GPU—all in a deliberate effort to maximize battery life. In terms of GPU capabilities, the Snapdragon X’s integrated Adreno GPU offers up to 1.7 TFLOPS of performance. In comparison, the Snapdragon X Plus’s GPU ranges from 1.7 to 3.8 TFLOPS, and the Snapdragon X Elite’s GPU delivers up to 4.6 TFLOPS. This substantial difference in GPU performance highlights the Snapdragon X’s focus on energy efficiency over raw graphical power. The NPU, however, remains unchanged, still pushing 45 TOPS of AI performance.
Essentially, these laptops are all about AI, battery life, and efficiency. Asus managed to cram a 70Wh battery into the Zenbook A14, while the Vivobook 16 gets a 50Wh battery. And at ₹65,000, the Vivobook 16 is one of the most affordable AI PCs with the Microsoft Windows CoPilot+ certification. These laptops are power-efficient, AI-ready, and battery-life-focused—not performance beasts.
The Asus Zenbook A14: This thing is light!
The Zenbook A14 immediately grabbed my attention when I picked it up—it feels ridiculously light. Honestly, it was even lighter than expected. Typically, sub-1 kg laptops stick to 13-inch displays, but this 14-inch machine manages to feel featherlight without compromising screen real estate.
Then there’s Asus’ latest marketing buzzword—”Ceraluminum” finish. (Go on, try pronouncing it right on the first go—I dare you.) Having reviewed previous Asus laptops featuring Ceraluminum, I’m somewhat familiar with the concept. It’s basically a ceramic-aluminum fusion designed to offer a premium feel and distinct aesthetics. And for the most part, it does work and gives a uniquely premium touch to the laptop.
However, the Zenbook A14’s finish feels different compared to the Zenbook S16 and Zenbook S14. Those leaned more ceramic, less aluminum—whereas this one leans the other way. The result? A smoother surface rather than a textured one. My guess? Asus made this trade-off to shave off extra weight and keep it under 1 kg. I really appreciate the fact that it’s not a smudge magnet. Huge plus.
Now, aside from the big talking points—32-hour battery life, Snapdragon AI processor, ultra-lightweight build, and Ceraluminum finish—what else makes this laptop worth ₹99,990?
For starters, it has a bright, colorful 14-inch OLED display with deep blacks. But, there’s a catch—I wish Asus had included the higher-resolution 3.2K OLED panel that comes with the Zenbook 14 OLED. Instead, this model gets a 1080p, 16:10, 60Hz display. Clearly, a cost-cutting decision to keep the price under ₹1,00,000.
Still, my first impressions are positive—the weight, form factor, and design are all on point. And if real-world battery life lands anywhere between 20-22 hours, that’s still better than most laptops in this price range.
Oh, and there’s also a Snapdragon X Elite variant of the Zenbook A14—but it’ll cost you ₹30,000 more. Personally, I’d go for that one because the Snapdragon X’s GPU is… well, let’s just say underwhelming.
The Asus Vivobook 16: Affordable AI Laptop for the Masses?
The Vivobook 16 is all about affordability. The biggest selling points? Snapdragon AI processor with 45 TOPS of AI performance and up to 27 hours of battery life. At ₹65,000, it’s hard to find another AI PC with Windows CoPilot+ certification, solid NPU power, and great battery life.
However, the lower price tag does call for some compromises. The Asus Vivobook 16 weighs 1.9 kg—yes, almost double the Zenbook A14. It’s all plastic build (for the most part that I could figure out at the demo zone), has a substantial footprint, and that makes me wonder—who is this actually for?
Creators? Nope. The integrated GPU is too weak. Professionals? Unlikely. They’d prefer a more compact, lightweight device. Students? Maybe, but most would opt for a budget gaming laptop instead—at least that way, it doubles as an entertainment machine.
So, the only real audience left? Anyone specifically looking for an AI-powered Windows CoPilot+ laptop with excellent battery life and who doesn’t mind the weight. If weight and footprint aren’t dealbreakers, sure—give it a test drive at the new Snapdragon Experience Zones at a Croma Store near you.
Final Thoughts: The AI PC race is heating up!
We’ll be testing these laptops soon for a detailed review on our website and YouTube channel. But let’s be honest—the real story here is battery life. Globally, reviews have been mixed. The Zenbook A14 has been praised for its battery life, but reviewers aren’t thrilled with the Snapdragon X’s performance—and for good reason. The Snapdragon X processor isn’t built for power users. The Zenbook A14 is priced dangerously close to the MacBook Air M3—which makes it a tough sell, performance-wise. The Snapdragon X series is an interesting move by Qualcomm, and it’s definitely making Intel and AMD pay attention. But the real game-changer will be when we start seeing sub-1.2 kg laptops priced at ₹49,999 with Snapdragon X, delivering real-world 20-hour battery life. A sub-50 K truly thin and light everyday laptop with ridiculous battery life and a 45 TOPS NPU would surely send the cat amongst the pigeons!
