ASUS Zenbook A14 Review – UX3407QA with Qualcomm Snapdragon X1P-26-100 Processor

Windows on ARM has been available for several years now. My first Windows on Arm review was the HP Envy X2 back in 2018, but the overall experience was not great due to poor performance, and many apps were barely usable. My experience wasn’t much better with the Samsung Book Go, but at least that was only a £400 laptop, so the mediocre performance was easier to forgive.

More recently, I reviewed the Acer Swift 14 AI, which used the Qualcomm Snapdragon X1P-64100 10-core chipset, and my experience was far more positive. It was good enough that I could happily use it as my main work laptop and the lightweight design nd superb battery life made it idea for travelling.

The ASUS Zenbook A14 UX3407QA is part of ASUS’s premium ultraportable lineup, featuring the Qualcomm Snapdragon X1P-26-100 processor. This 8-core chip is designed to deliver a balance of performance and efficiency, making it suitable for productivity tasks while offering extended battery life.

ASUS offers two variants in this series: the UX3407QA (my review unit) with the Snapdragon X1P-26-100, and the higher-end UX3407RA with the more powerful Snapdragon X Elite X1E-78-100 processor. Both models share the same sleek chassis and many core features, but differ in processing power, memory configurations, and a few other specifications.

The Zenbook A14 enters a competitive market where Windows on Arm devices are trying to establish themselves as viable alternatives to traditional Intel and AMD-powered laptops. With Microsoft’s improved Arm compatibility and Qualcomm’s enhanced processing capabilities, this generation of Arm laptops aims to overcome the limitations that hampered previous attempts.

Preview	Product	Rating	Price
	ASUS Zenbook A14 UX3407QA 14.0 inch Full HD 600nits OLED...	No ratings yet	£849.99	Buy on Amazon

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ASUS Zenbook A14 UX3407QA vs UX3407RA Specification

Qualcomm Snapdragon X1P-26-100 vs  Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite X1E-78-100

The Snapdragon X1P-26-100 in my review unit is an 8-core processor designed for mainstream productivity tasks. It’s positioned as a more affordable option compared to the X Elite series, but still offers reasonable performance for everyday computing needs.

The Snapdragon X Elite X1E-78-100 found in the higher-end UX3407RA model features 12 cores with a 3.4 GHz base clock speed. This provides noticeably better multi-threaded performance, making it more suitable for content creation and other CPU-intensive tasks.

Both processors feature Qualcomm’s Adreno GPU and Hexagon NPU (Neural Processing Unit), with the latter capable of up to 45 TOPS (Trillion Operations Per Second) for AI workloads. This NPU is particularly relevant for Windows’ Copilot+ features and other AI-accelerated applications.

The X1P-26-100 is designed to strike a balance between performance and battery efficiency, making it well-suited for users who prioritise portability and battery life over raw processing power. For those needing more computational muscle, the X Elite variant would be the better choice, albeit at a higher price point.

Unboxing / Design

The Zenbook A14 arrives in ASUS’s typical minimalist packaging. Inside the box, you’ll find the laptop itself, a 65W USB-C power adapter, and some basic documentation. There are no additional accessories included, which is standard for ultraportable laptops in this category.

The design of the Zenbook A14 follows ASUS’s established aesthetic, with clean lines and a premium feel. Our review unit came in the Iceland Gray colour, which has a subtle, professional appearance suitable for both work and personal use. The aluminium chassis feels solid and well-constructed, with no flex or creaking when handled.

At just 0.98 kg and measuring 31.13 × 21.39 × 1.49 cm, this is a genuinely ultraportable laptop that’s easy to carry in a bag or backpack. The slim profile doesn’t compromise on build quality, and the laptop meets the US MIL-STD 810H military-grade standard for durability, suggesting it should withstand the rigours of daily use and travel.

The lid features ASUS’s concentric circle design, which adds visual interest without being overly flashy. Opening the laptop reveals a clean interior with a full-sized keyboard, generously sized touchpad, and minimal bezels around the display. The power button is integrated into the keyboard layout, positioned in the top-right corner.

Display

The ASUS Zenbook A14 UX3407QA can be configured with either a 14-inch WUXGA (1920 x 1200) OLED display or a higher-resolution 3K (2880 x 1800) OLED panel. My review unit featured the WUXGA OLED display, which offers a 16:10 aspect ratio that provides more vertical screen space compared to traditional 16:9 displays.

The OLED technology delivers exceptional contrast with true blacks and vibrant colours. Brightness reaches 400 nits, which is adequate for indoor use but might struggle in very bright outdoor conditions. The display supports 100% of the DCI-P3 colour gamut, making it suitable for creative work that requires colour accuracy.

Text appears crisp and readable on the WUXGA panel, though the 3K option would offer even sharper visuals for those who prioritise display quality. The 16:10 aspect ratio is particularly beneficial for productivity tasks, providing more vertical space for documents, spreadsheets, and web browsing.

ASUS has included its OLED Care technology to reduce the risk of burn-in, which can be a concern with OLED displays. The screen also features TÜV Rheinland certification for reduced blue light emissions, which may help reduce eye strain during extended use.

Touch functionality is not available on our review unit, which is worth noting if that’s a feature you value. The display hinges allow the screen to lay flat at 180 degrees, providing flexibility in how you position the laptop.

For multimedia consumption, the OLED display truly shines, with excellent colour reproduction and contrast that makes videos and images pop. The 16:10 aspect ratio does mean you’ll see small black bars when watching 16:9 content, but this is a minor trade-off for the additional vertical space in other applications.

Keyboard

The keyboard on the Zenbook A14 follows ASUS’s typical laptop keyboard design, with a chiclet-style layout and white backlighting. The keys have 1.3mm of travel, which provides a decent typing experience despite the laptop’s slim profile.

The key spacing is comfortable, and the full-sized layout means you won’t need to adjust your typing style. The arrow keys are slightly compressed, as is common on laptops of this size, but remain usable. Function keys provide access to various system controls, including brightness, volume, and keyboard backlight adjustment.

The keyboard backlighting has three levels of brightness, which can be cycled through using the function key combination. The lighting is even across all keys, making typing in dim environments straightforward.

During extended typing sessions, the keyboard proves comfortable, with good tactile feedback and minimal flex. It’s not quite as premium-feeling as some high-end business laptops, but it’s more than adequate for most users’ needs.

The touchpad is generously sized for a 14-inch laptop, offering plenty of space for multi-finger gestures. It uses Microsoft’s Precision drivers, ensuring smooth tracking and responsive gesture recognition. The surface is smooth and comfortable to use, with a satisfying click mechanism that isn’t too loud or stiff.

Ports & External Display Support

Despite its slim profile, the Zenbook A14 offers a reasonable selection of ports:

• 2x USB 4.0 Gen 3 Type-C ports with support for display output and power delivery (data speeds up to 40Gbps)
• 1x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A port (data speeds up to 10Gbps)
• 1x HDMI 2.1 TMDS port
• 1x 3.5mm combo audio jack

This selection should cover most users’ needs without requiring dongles for common peripherals. The inclusion of a USB-A port is particularly welcome, as many ultraportable laptops have moved entirely to USB-C.

For external display support, the USB-C ports and HDMI output provide flexible options. The HDMI 2.1 port supports 4K output at 60Hz, while the USB-C ports can drive displays via DisplayPort Alt Mode. This allows for multi-monitor setups if needed for productivity work.

The USB 4.0 ports also support power delivery, meaning you can charge the laptop from either port. This adds convenience when setting up your workspace, as you’re not limited to a specific side for the power connection.

Storage

The ASUS Zenbook A14 UX3407QA comes with a 1TB M.2 NVMe PCIe 4.0 SSD. The use of PCIe 4.0 ensures good storage performance, with sequential read speeds approaching 5000MB/s and write speeds over 3500MB/s in our testing.

These speeds translate to quick boot times, fast application launches, and smooth file transfers. The 1TB capacity should be sufficient for most users, providing ample space for the operating system, applications, and personal files.

The storage is user-upgradeable, with access to the M.2 slot after removing the bottom panel. This provides future flexibility if your storage needs grow. The laptop includes a single M.2 2280 PCIe 4.0 x4 expansion slot, so there’s no option for dual drives.

For those who need additional storage, external solutions via the USB ports would be necessary. The USB 4.0 ports provide excellent bandwidth for external storage devices, including high-speed external SSDs.

Benchmarks and Performance

The Qualcomm Snapdragon X1P-26-100 processor in the Zenbook A14 UX3407QA represents a middle ground in Qualcomm’s new laptop processor lineup. With 8 cores, it offers reasonable multi-threaded performance while maintaining efficiency for better battery life.

In synthetic benchmarks, the X1P-26-100 performs admirably for its class. In Geekbench 6, it achieves single-core scores around 1,800 and multi-core scores around 8,500. This puts it ahead of many Intel Core i5 processors in the ultraportable category, though it falls behind the 12-core X Elite variant and high-end Intel or AMD options.

For productivity tasks like web browsing, document editing, and video conferencing, the Zenbook A14 performs smoothly with no noticeable lag. The 16GB of LPDDR5X RAM in our review unit provides sufficient memory for multitasking with numerous browser tabs and applications open simultaneously.

The integrated Adreno GPU handles basic graphics tasks well, including casual gaming and video playback. However, this is not a gaming laptop or a workstation for intensive 3D rendering. Games like Minecraft and other less demanding titles run acceptably, but modern AAA games would struggle without significant compromises to resolution and detail settings.

One area where the Snapdragon processor excels is in thermal management. The Zenbook A14 remains cool under load, with minimal fan noise even during extended work sessions. This contributes to a pleasant user experience, especially in quiet environments.

The Hexagon NPU provides dedicated hardware for AI tasks, which becomes increasingly relevant as more applications leverage AI capabilities. Windows’ Copilot+ features benefit from this hardware acceleration, as do compatible creative applications that use AI for image or video processing.

Windows on Arm and Compatibility – Day-to-day performance

Windows on Arm has come a long way since its early days, and the experience on the Zenbook A14 reflects this progress. Microsoft’s emulation layer for x86 applications has improved significantly, allowing most standard Windows software to run without obvious issues.

Native Arm applications, including Microsoft’s Office suite, Edge browser, and various Windows system components, run smoothly and efficiently. These applications benefit fully from the Snapdragon processor’s capabilities and contribute to the laptop’s excellent battery life.

For emulated x86 applications, performance is generally good but can vary depending on the specific software. Common productivity applications like Chrome, Slack, and Zoom work well, with only occasional minor hiccups. More intensive applications, particularly those that rely heavily on x86-specific optimisations, may show reduced performance compared to native Arm versions.

During daily use, the distinction between native and emulated applications is rarely noticeable for most tasks. The system feels responsive and capable, with quick application launches and smooth multitasking. The 16GB of RAM helps maintain performance when running multiple applications simultaneously.

One area that still presents occasional challenges is software compatibility with specialised or older applications. While the vast majority of mainstream software works without issues, some niche applications or utilities may not function correctly under emulation. Before committing to a Windows on Arm device like the Zenbook A14, it’s worth checking compatibility for any critical software you rely on.

Gaming remains a limitation for Windows on Arm devices, including the Zenbook A14. While casual games and older titles may run acceptably, serious gamers would be better served by a traditional x86-based gaming laptop with dedicated graphics.

Battery Life and Charging

Battery life is one of the standout features of the Zenbook A14, thanks to the efficiency of the Snapdragon processor. The laptop is equipped with a 70Wh 3-cell lithium-ion battery, which provides impressive endurance for an ultraportable device.

In typical mixed-use scenarios-including web browsing, document editing, video playback, and occasional video calls-the Zenbook A14 consistently delivers 12-14 hours of battery life. This is enough to get through a full workday with battery to spare, making it an excellent choice for users who need to work away from power outlets.

For more intensive tasks, battery life naturally decreases, but even under heavier loads, the laptop typically manages 8-10 hours. Video playback is particularly efficient, with the laptop capable of playing back local video content for up to 15 hours at moderate brightness.

The included 65W USB-C charger replenishes the battery quickly, reaching about 60% charge in 45 minutes and a full charge in under 2 hours. The laptop can be charged through either of its USB-C ports, adding flexibility when setting up your workspace.

ASUS includes battery health features in the MyASUS software, allowing you to limit maximum charging to extend the battery’s lifespan. This is particularly useful if you frequently use the laptop while plugged in, as it can help prevent battery degradation over time.

Price and Alternative Options

Preview	Product	Rating	Price
	ASUS Zenbook A14 UX3407QA 14.0 inch Full HD 600nits OLED...	No ratings yet	£849.99	Buy on Amazon

Buy from AmazonBuy from ASUS

The ASUS Zenbook A14 is available in the UK direct from ASUS with two configuration options:

• UX3407RA-QD005W with Snapdragon X Elite X1E 78 100 12 Core-Processor, 32GB Ram, 1 TB NVME for £1200
• UX3407QA-QD244W with Qualcomm Snapdragon X X1 26 100 8-Core Processor, 16GB RAM, 1TB NVME for £1100 – review sample

For competing ARM laptops, you have:

• HP EliteBook Ultra 14” G1q8 with Qualcomm Snapdragon Plus X1P-42-100, 16GB RAM, 512GB storage for £1025
• Dell XPS 13 with Snapdragon X Elite X1E-80-100, 16GB RAM, 512GB storage for £1179
• Microsoft Surface Laptop 7 with Snapdragon X Plus (10 Core), 16GB of RAM, 512GB storage for £1249
• Samsung Galaxy Book4 Edge with Snapdragon X Elite X1E-80-100, 16GB and 512GB of storage for £1399

The Acer Swift 14 AI, which I previously reviewed, is still available for only £900. However, it weighs more and has an LCD display. The chipset should provide superior performance.

The ASUS Zenbook S14 (UX5406) would be an appealing alternative, it runs an Intel Core Ultra 7 Processor 256v 8 Core-Processor, has 16GB of RAM, 1TB storage, a similar 14″ OLED display and uses Thunderbolt 4 instead of USB4, all for £1200. This weighs more, and the battery life probably won’t be as good, but you won’t have to worry about any compatibility issues, though the Snapdragon chipset is technically faster in many benchmarks.

Overall

The ASUS Zenbook A14 UX3407QA with the Qualcomm Snapdragon X1P-26-100 processor is an excellent Windows on Arm laptop. It successfully balances performance, battery life, and portability in a premium package that should appeal to a wide range of users.

For users whose computing needs centre around productivity tasks, web browsing, media consumption, and general office work, the Zenbook A14 offers a compelling package. The combination of long battery life, premium design, and capable performance makes it well-suited for professionals, students, and anyone who values portability.

The improvements in Windows on Arm compatibility mean that most users won’t notice they’re using an Arm-based system in day-to-day use. Native Arm applications run smoothly, and the emulation layer handles most x86 software without obvious issues, but you may experience issues legacy applications and many games,

The £1,100 price point positions the UX3407QA as a premium device, but the build quality, display, and battery life justify the cost. For those who can stretch their budget by £100, the UX3407RA model with its more powerful processor and additional RAM represents even better value.

James Smythe( Editor-in-chief )

I am James, a UK-based tech enthusiast and the Editor and Owner of Mighty Gadget, which I’ve proudly run since 2007. Passionate about all things technology, my expertise spans from computers and networking to mobile, wearables, and smart home devices.

As a fitness fanatic who loves running and cycling, I also have a keen interest in fitness-related technology, and I take every opportunity to cover this niche on my blog. My diverse interests allow me to bring a unique perspective to tech blogging, merging lifestyle, fitness, and the latest tech trends.

In my academic pursuits, I earned a BSc in Information Systems Design from UCLAN, before advancing my learning with a Master’s Degree in Computing. This advanced study also included Cisco CCNA accreditation, further demonstrating my commitment to understanding and staying ahead of the technology curve.

I’m proud to share that Vuelio has consistently ranked Mighty Gadget as one of the top technology blogs in the UK. With my dedication to technology and drive to share my insights, I aim to continue providing my readers with engaging and informative content.

Last update on 2025-07-13 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API