ASUS launches Zenbook 14 in Australia from AUD $2,099

ASUS has launched the Zenbook 14 in Australia, with prices starting at AUD $2,099.

Part of Microsoft's Copilot+ PC category, the new laptop also brings ASUS's Ceraluminum chassis material to the Australian market in Arctic Blue and Komodo Coral finishes.

The rollout begins with Snapdragon-based versions, while Intel and AMD models will follow later. ASUS has listed configurations ranging up to AUD $3,999 for a version with an Intel Core Ultra 9 processor, 24GB of memory and a 1TB solid-state drive.

The first Snapdragon model includes a 14-inch WUXGA OLED display, 16GB of LPDDR5X memory and a 512GB SSD. Depending on the configuration, the Zenbook 14 weighs between 1.1kg and 1.3kg.

Material focus

A key feature of the launch is Ceraluminum, a material treatment ASUS says it developed over four years. The water-based process changes the properties of aluminium to create a chassis designed to combine lower weight with greater surface hardness.

ASUS says the finish is designed to resist scratches and wear while giving the laptop a matte texture. The treatment extends across the lid and chassis, with matching colours carried through to the backlit keyboard.

The Zenbook 14 is aimed at users who need a lightweight device for working away from a desk. ASUS is positioning it toward mobile professionals and people combining salaried work with freelance or project-based activity.

"Australians are increasingly turning their passions into secondary incomes, and they need technology that can keep up with a highly mobile lifestyle," said Bradley Howe, Head of Consumer for ASUS Australia.

"The Zenbook 14 is designed specifically for this new way of working. We've combined incredible battery life and powerful AI performance with a beautiful, tactile design and new colour options that users actually want to carry with them everywhere," Howe said.

Battery and AI

Battery life is one of the headline specifications. ASUS says certain models can deliver up to 33 hours of offline video playback, a figure that would place the laptop among the longer-lasting thin-and-light notebooks if matched in everyday use.

Supported configurations also offer up to 50 TOPS from the neural processing unit. PC makers increasingly use that measure to describe the level of local AI processing available for image editing, transcription, search and other tasks that can run on-device rather than in the cloud.

Processor options span Qualcomm's Snapdragon platform as well as Intel and AMD variants. That gives ASUS coverage across the main chip suppliers now competing for AI PC sales, a market that has grown more crowded as manufacturers try to persuade buyers to upgrade after a prolonged slump in personal computer demand.

Display options

Screen specifications vary by model. Higher-priced versions include a 14-inch 3K OLED touchscreen with a 120Hz refresh rate, while other models use lower-resolution OLED panels with 60Hz refresh rates and no touch support.

Select displays carry TÜV Rheinland low blue light certification, according to ASUS. The company also highlights an 89% screen-to-body ratio, an enlarged touchpad with gesture support and an easy-lift hinge intended to improve typing comfort.

Those features place the Zenbook 14 in the premium ultraportable segment, where buyers are balancing weight, battery life and display quality against rising prices. In Australia, that segment has become more competitive as brands try to differentiate products through design materials, OLED screens and bundled software offers rather than raw processor performance alone.

Pricing spread

The local range includes Snapdragon, Intel Core Ultra and AMD Ryzen AI variants. Listed prices start at AUD $2,099 for entry-level Snapdragon models, rise to AUD $2,499 for an Intel Core Ultra 5 version with a full HD OLED display, and include AUD $2,799 and AUD $2,999 for several Intel models with 3K OLED touchscreens, AUD $2,999 for an AMD Ryzen AI 7 model, and AUD $3,999 for the top Intel configuration.

Australian purchases also include bundled digital subscriptions, including trial access to Adobe Creative Cloud, Google AI Pro, GoPro Premium+, Dropbox storage, Goodnotes Essential and an ASUS backup service.

Retail distribution covers the ASUS Store and selected chains including JB Hi-Fi, Harvey Norman, The Good Guys and Officeworks, depending on the model. Some colour and processor combinations are limited to online sales or specific retailers, with Komodo Coral available on fewer configurations than Arctic Blue.

The first Snapdragon version to reach shelves is the UX3480QA-SF003W, priced at AUD $2,099 with a 14-inch WUXGA OLED display, 16GB of memory and a 512GB SSD.