The laptop that we've been raving about all year, the ASUS Zenbook A14, just got a big endorsement from a name you likely recognize.
Oprah — yes, the Oprah — has included the ultralight PC in her list of "Oprah's Favorite Things 2025," an annual collection of some of the best products you can buy this year.
Why the Zenbook A14 made it onto Oprah's Favorite Things list
There's not a lot of explanation as to why exactly Oprah loves the ASUS Zenbook A14 so much, but I think I can fill in the details accordingly.
Here's the blurb from the Oprah Daily website:
"At just over 2 pounds, the ASUS Zenbook A14 is a super‑light laptop powered by the Snapdragon X Plus processor. It can handle anything and everything: with up to 32 hours of battery life, it’s great at home and, now that everyone’s office is everywhere, it's also ideal for hybrid work. It’s sleek, slim, superfast, and won’t weigh anyone down."
The Zenbook A14 indeed weighs in at just 2.16 pounds (980g), yet its dimensions aren't necessarily different than a lot of other, heavier 14-inch PCs. The secret lies in the chassis material called "Ceraluminum," something ASUS cooked up itself.
It's essentially a fancy name for magnesium alloy, but it's 30% lighter and 300% stronger than an average laptop's aluminum design. A ceramic coating further protects the finish from scratches and dings.
Windows Central's laptop expert Zachary Boddy noted in their ASUS Zenbook A14 review:
"I've used far more expensive laptops than the Zenbook A14 that feel lower quality in the hand, due to panel flexing, concerning creaking noises, and a general lack of reassuring solidity. There's none of that with this laptop — it's rock solid through and through, and that's an impressive achievement."
The Zenbook A14's Snapdragon X Plus System-on-Chip (SoC) isn't the most powerful processor out there, but it is more than powerful enough to handle the average user's workload (and probably a bit more).
Windows feels snappy and smooth on the PC, and "casual computing in general is a breeze," according to Boddy. The real benefit comes in the form of efficiency; we were easily able to get 12 hours of real-world screen time from a single charge during our testing, which is well above the Windows PC average.
The 32 hours of life mentioned in the Oprah list is certainly a stretch, but the bottom line is that you shouldn't need to plug your PC in during the day as long as you start with something near a full charge.
Oprah's list doesn't mention the OLED display, which is a shame considering it's one of the laptop's best features. Despite the bargain pricing, it uses a Lumina OLED panel with deep contrast, superb color, and plenty of brightness.
In our review, the Zenbook A14 lost some points due to the pricing setup, which Boddy considered to be too steep. Since launch, however, it's almost always been on sale, alleviating the issue entirely.
As I mentioned, the current $200 discount at the time of writing is great, but I wouldn't be surprised to see it drop further as we approach Black Friday and Cyber Monday.
FAQ
Why is Oprah endorsing the Zenbook A14?
Oprah highlighted its ultralight design (just over 2 lbs), long battery life, and sleek build as ideal for hybrid work and everyday use.
What makes the Zenbook A14 unique?
It uses ASUS’s “Ceraluminum” chassis, which is lighter and stronger than typical aluminum, plus a Snapdragon X Plus chip for efficiency and smooth performance.
How long does the battery last?
Real-world testing shows about 12 hours of screen time per charge, though Oprah’s list cites up to 32 hours under ideal conditions.
Does it have a good display?
Yes — it features a Lumina OLED panel with deep contrast and vibrant colors, unusual for laptops in its price range.
Will the Zenbook A14 see a further price drop during Black Friday?
Considering how many times the Zenbook A14 has been on sale already this year, especially during previous deal events, I would not be surprised at all to see it hit a price lower than the current deal at Best Buy.
There is, however, no guarantee, and if you need a new PC today, the current deal is still a great option.
Is the Zenbook A14 a good laptop for gaming?
The Snapdragon X Plus chip in the Zenbook A14 can certainly handle lighter titles, but it's by no means a CPU built for gaming. If you're in search of a laptop made specifically for gaming, I urge you to check out our roundup of the best gaming laptops recently tested.
What is "Oprah's Favorite Things" list?
Oprah's Favorite Things is an annual gift guide published at the start of the holiday season containing a wide range of what Oprah considers to be the best products of the year. The list in its entirety is published at the Oprah Daily website.
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