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ASUS Zenbook A14 (UX3407) vs Apple MacBook Air 13-inch M5

Researched, not hands-on tested.How we review ›

all judged against laptops at a similar price

The Apple MacBook Air 13-inch M5 scores 6.6/10 overall, ahead of the ASUS Zenbook A14 (UX3407) at 6.1/10.

The ASUS Zenbook A14 (UX3407) leads on ports and linux support.

The Apple MacBook Air 13-inch M5 leads on performance and keyboard and build.

They score the same on memory and storage, display and battery life.

The biggest difference is performance, where the Apple MacBook Air 13-inch M5 scores 7/10 to the ASUS Zenbook A14 (UX3407)'s 4/10.

ASUS Zenbook A14 (UX3407)

ASUS Zenbook A14 (UX3407)

6.1/10verdict: good, not the best

The ASUS Zenbook A14 UX3407 is for people who want a light 14-inch Windows laptop with very long battery life and an OLED screen. It suits everyday office, web and admin work where the software runs on Windows on Arm. Developers and homelabbers who need x86 tools, VMs or Linux should look at the limits before buying.

Typically about £649.99 in the UK when we researched itCheck price at Amazon UK (opens in a new tab, affiliate link)

Affiliate link. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Details

MacBook Air (13-inch, M5)

Apple MacBook Air 13-inch M5

6.6/10verdict: good, not the best

The MacBook Air 13-inch M5 is for developers and sysadmins who work in macOS and want a light, silent laptop that lasts a full day away from a charger. It suits people doing everyday coding, containers and remote admin who can live with two Thunderbolt ports. It is a poor fit for anyone who needs Linux on the metal or a wide spread of built-in ports.

Typically about £1,250.11 in the UK when we researched itCheck price at Amazon UK (opens in a new tab, affiliate link)

Affiliate link. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Details

Scores, criterion by criterion

CriterionWeightASUS Zenbook A14 (UX3407)Apple MacBook Air 13-inch M5
Performance25%4/107/10
Memory and storage20%6/106/10
Display15%7/107/10
Battery life15%9/109/10
Keyboard and build10%7/108/10
Ports10%7/104/10
Linux support5%2/101/10
Overall6.1/106.6/10

Specifications

SpecASUS Zenbook A14 (UX3407)Apple MacBook Air 13-inch M5
CPUVaries by variant: Snapdragon X1-26-100 (8 cores), Snapdragon X Plus X1P 42 100 (8 cores), Snapdragon X Elite X1E 78 100 (12 cores), Snapdragon X2 Elite X2E88100 (18 cores)Apple M5, 10-core CPU with 4 super cores and 6 efficiency cores, 8-core GPU in the 16GB/512GB configuration
Memory16GB or 32GB LPDDR5X, soldered on board (not user-upgradeable)16GB unified memory, configurable to 24GB or 32GB
Storage512GB or 1TB PCIe 4.0 SSD; one M.2 2280 PCIe 4.0x4 slot listed on some variants512GB SSD, configurable to 1TB, 2TB or 4TB
DisplayVaries by variant: 14.0-inch 3K (2880 x 1800) OLED 120Hz; 14.0-inch WUXGA (1920 x 1200) OLED 60Hz; 14.0-inch WUXGA IPS-level non-touch 60Hz; 400 nits typical13.6-inch diagonal LED-backlit IPS display, 2560 by 1664 native resolution at 224 ppi, 500 nits brightness, wide colour (P3), True Tone
Battery70 Wh (some lower-tier variants 48 Wh); rated up to 32 hours of sustained battery in ASUS 1080p video playback testBuilt-in 53.8 Wh lithium-polymer battery; Apple claims up to 18 hours video streaming and up to 15 hours wireless web
Ports2x USB 4.0 Gen 3 Type-C with display/power delivery (up to 40Gbps), 1x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A, 1x 3.5mm combo audio jack, 1x HDMI 2.1 TMDSTwo Thunderbolt 4 (USB-C) ports, MagSafe 3 charging port, 3.5 mm headphone jack
Weight2.18 lb (0.99 kg) claimed; PCWorld measured 2.16 lb; sub 2 lb (0.9 kg) on 48Wh battery variants2.7 pounds (1.23 kg); dimensions 11.97 x 8.46 x 0.44 inches
Operating systemWindows 11 Home (ASUS recommends Windows 11 Pro for business)macOS

Strengths and weaknesses

ASUS Zenbook A14 (UX3407)

  • + Long rated battery life, praised by several reviewers
  • + Light, sturdy build at a claimed 0.99kg
  • + Two 40Gbps USB4 ports plus HDMI and USB-A
  • − Low-end Snapdragon X chip called slow by reviewers
  • − Windows on Arm limits app compatibility
  • − Memory soldered on board; base OLED panel only 60Hz

Skip it if:

  • Developers and admins who rely on x86-only software or VM images
  • Anyone who wants to run Linux as their main operating system
  • Buyers who need upgradeable memory
Read the full ASUS Zenbook A14 (UX3407) review ›

Apple MacBook Air 13-inch M5

  • + Measured battery runtimes of 15 to 18 hours
  • + Sharp 2560 by 1664 display with 500 nits
  • + Light, fanless body with a well-liked keyboard
  • − Only two Thunderbolt 4 ports, no USB-A or HDMI
  • − No Linux support listed; macOS only
  • − Owners see little gain over the M4 Air

Skip it if:

  • Anyone who needs Linux running directly on the laptop
  • Buyers who want USB-A, HDMI or an SD slot built in
  • Current M4 Air owners looking for a clear upgrade
Read the full Apple MacBook Air 13-inch M5 review ›

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