TheMicrosoft Surface Laptop 7has been one of thebest laptopsyou can buy , along with the best instance yet of the unexampled undulation of Windows on ARM laptop . Qualcomm ’s Snapdragon X lineup has been the driver of this movement , and the Surface Laptop 7 fix enceinte manipulation of the political platform .
But it ’s not alone . The Asus Zenbook A14 combines the Snapdragon X with a lightweight chassis and a moderately efficient OLED display for a neat build and battery life . Can it contend with Microsoft ’s best laptop computer ?
Specs and configurations
The Zenbook A14 only has two available shape . There ’s the $ 1,000 al-Qaeda model with a Snapdragon X Plus chipset , 16 GB of RAM , a 512 GB SSD , and a 14.0 - inch FHD+ OLED presentation . For an supernumerary $ 200 , you get 32 GB of RAM and a 1 TB SSD .
For the same $ 1,000 , you could get the Surface Laptop 7 al-Qa’ida model wit ha Snapdragon X Plust , 16 GB of RAM , a 256 GB SSD , and a 13.8 - inch 2304 x 1536 IPS display . you may upgrade to a 512 GB SSD for an extra $ 200 and to 1 TB for $ 400 more . The Snapdragon X elect ups the base damage to $ 1,400 with 16 GB of RAM and a 512 GB SSD , and then you could opt 32 GB of RAM and a 1 TB SSD for a distinguished aggregate of $ 2,400 .
That makes the Surface Laptop 7 the more expensive laptop by a middling leeway , at the highest shape .
Design
The Surface Laptop 7 is the culmination of several generations of subtlety , lead in a laptop that ’s fabulously well - establish — as are all Surface devices — and enjoys a rather iconic aesthetic . It ’s all - Al and comes in several attractive colour , with just the ripe blend of tones to give the laptop a modern , elegant look . The little display bezel framing a marvellous 3:2 aspect proportion put up out , and palm the Surface Laptop 7 attest to Microsoft ’s care to detail in its premier hardware lineup . Everything just feel great , admit the hinge that allows open up the chapeau with one bridge player and continue it unwaveringly in place .
But , Microsoft is n’t the only company that makes quality Windows machines . Asus Zenbooks have long rivaled Surface in terminal figure of build quality , with all - metal designs that feel as full-bodied . The Zenbook A14 uses a new material that Asus develop , forebode Ceraluminum , which puts aluminum through a procedure that create a unequalled , ceramic - like feel that ’s also incredibly potent . That create it fabulously light at 2.4 pounds versus the Surface Laptop 7 ’s 2.96 pounds . And , it does so without sacrifice a solid feel , with a warm touch that find weird at first glance but grows on you the more you employ it . My one ill is with the Zenbook A14 ’s hinge , which is too loose and permit the lid to fall through around a bit . Aesthetically , the Zenbook A14 is more minimalist and does n’t feature the wide range of colouring ways .
The Surface Laptop 7 is just a little better in terms of its build and esthetic . But you ca n’t go improper with the Zenbook A14 , either .
In term of their keyboards , it ’s another stuffy battle . The Zenbook A14 has a roomy layout with large keycaps , and its switches are light-colored and snappy . The Surface Laptop 7 has an equally comfortable layout , and its switch are firmer and bass . I ’d give Microsoft ’s keyboard the nod here , give the Asus switching ’ bottoming activeness that I did n’t quite find as precise . Both are very well , but again , the Surface Laptop 7 comes out on top .
The Zenbook A14 has a somewhat large touchpad than the Surface Laptop 7 , but it ’s a mechanical variant . I tend to favour haptic touchpads , and the Surface Laptop 7 has a very beneficial example with all of the customization options that the technology affords . This is a bigger advantage for the Surface Laptop 7 than we ’ve see so far .
I ’d give the Zenbook A14 the nod in terms of connectivity , primarily consecrate its inclusion of an HDMI 2.1 port . But , the Surface Laptop 7 has a Surface Connect power connection that keep both firm USB4 ports available for use . That ’s a asset . The Surface Laptop 7 also has the modish wireless connectivity , while the Zenbook A14 is one generation behind .
Finally , both laptop computer have 1080p webcams that offer up excellent video tone . And , both have the same 45 tera operation per second ( TOPS ) Neural Processing Unit that power Microsoft ’s Copilot+ PC AI features . You ’ll get full support for everything Microsoft has to offer in terms of efficient on - machine AI processing , although Asus does tot in some extra AI - enabled feature .
Performance
Both laptops are build up around Qualcomm ’s Snapdragon X chipset , but the Surface Laptop 7 offers the Snapdragon X Elite with 12 cores and the fast available speeds . The Zenbook A14 apply the 8 - core Snapdragon X Plus with just eight Congress of Racial Equality and run at a slow hurrying . The Adreno integrated graphics on the Snapdragon X Elite is also truehearted than the Plus mannequin .
Overall , that makes the Surface Laptop 7 a faster laptop computer overall . I ’m allow consequence from the larger 15 - inch model , but carrying into action will be like on the small Surface Laptop 7 . It will be firm for the most demanding productivity users , although gamers wo n’t line up a huge difference in carrying out and neither will creators .
Display and audio
The Zenbook A14 has 14.0 - inch 16:10 FHD+ ( 1920 x 1200 ) OLED display that has the applied science ’s common brilliant , dynamic color and inky-black blacks . Asus compromise with a lower closure to save on battery life , so if you want a really sharp display , it wo n’t stand up to the Surface Laptop 7 . That laptop has a 13.8 - in 3:2 information science display running at 2304 x 1536 . So , it ’s tart , and it ’s also a very good IPS gore with its own very good colors . Both laptops look great for most use , and the Surface Laptop 7 ’s display benefit from a immobile 120Hz refresh charge per unit that makes the Windows user interface run more swimmingly .
According to our tintometer , the Zenbook A14 has wide and more accurate colour that will be in force for creative work , and it has nigh - perfect black and very eminent dividing line . The Surface Laptop 7 has a bright display with more or less narrower and less precise colors . Its contrast is very good for an IPS presentation , but ca n’t match the Zenbook A14 .
If you favour OLED and do n’t mind visualize more pel , then you ’ll bed the Zenbook A14 ’s display . The Surface Laptop 7 ’s video display is also very good , and it ’s sharper and quicker . Some might consider this to be a attraction .
The Zenbook A14 has double downwards - firing off verbaliser that are just okay , liken to the Surface Laptop 7 ’s audio scheme that design sound up from speaker behind the keyboard . It has louder and clearer audio and more freshwater bass , and so you ’ll be less likely to reach for a pair of headphones .
Portability
Both laptops are very portable , with the Surface Laptop 7 being slenderly narrower and shallower but the Zenbook A14 being thinner and lighter . You ’ll probably apprize the Zenbook A14 ’s light weight more than anything .
Even though it ’s light , the Asus pack in a larger 70 watt - time of day assault and battery that helps offset the more power - hungry organic light-emitting diode showing . The Surface Laptop 7 ’s smaller 54 James Watt - hour battery benefits from the more power - efficient IPS panel .
I name the battery test consequence for the large 15 - in Surface Laptop 7 , which might be an hour or so less with the smaller machine . So , it ’s probable that it ’s going to last around the same time as the Zenbook A14 , making them both some of the longest - lasting Windows laptop ever . We ’re talking multi - day electric battery life when doing calorie-free productivity tasks .
It’s very close, but the Surface Laptop 7 comes out ahead
These are two very proficient laptop computer . They ’re well - establish , have great carrying out and even greater battery life , and they ’re attractive enough . In many ways , they ’re very closely matched .
But , the Surface Laptop 7 just has some finer points , like a considerably haptic touchpad , an overall more comfortable blueprint , and fast performance that gives it the border . observe , though , that you ’ll pay a cost . If you want the least expensive laptop computer , then the Zenbook A14 is well worth your consideration .
