ASUS Announces New Zenbooks at CES 2026, Then Raises Prices

New Product Announcements at CES 2026

At the CES 2026 technology trade show, ASUS unveiled several new additions to its Zenbook laptop series, including a new model and refreshed versions of existing ones.

Zenbook A16: A New 16-inch Model

The Zenbook A16 is a new 16-inch model featuring a Qualcomm Snapdragon X2 Elite Extreme processor, 48GB of RAM, and a 1TB SSD. It includes a 16-inch OLED touchscreen with a 2880 x 1800 resolution and a 120Hz refresh rate.

The laptop is constructed with a Ceraluminum chassis, weighs between 2.65 and 2.87 pounds depending on configuration, and is offered in a "Zabrinskie Beige" color.

Ports include two USB 4 (Type-C), one USB 3.2 Gen 2 (Type-A), HDMI 2.1, a 3.5mm audio jack, and an SD card reader.

Refreshed Zenbook A14

ASUS also presented an updated version of the Zenbook A14. The 2026 model is equipped with a Snapdragon X2 Elite chip, WiFi 7, Bluetooth 5.4, and features reduced bezels. Its base configuration includes 24GB of memory and 512GB of storage. It retains a 14-inch OLED display.

Zenbook S14 and S16 Updates

Refreshed Zenbook S14 and S16 models were also announced. The Zenbook S14 (UX5406) features Intel Panther Lake processors, with specific CPU models varying by regional market.

All S14 SKUs share common specifications, including 32GB of RAM, a 1TB SSD, a 14-inch 3K 120Hz OLED display, and a 77Wh battery. Details on the Zenbook S16 update were less comprehensive, with sources noting Ryzen AI 5 and Ryzen AI 9 options for the Canadian market.

Post-Review Price Adjustments

Following the publication of reviews by technology outlets, ASUS increased the Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Prices (MSRPs) of several Zenbook models.

Technology channel Hardware Canucks reported that their review of the Zenbook A16 was based on the original, lower price.

The documented price changes are as follows:

• Zenbook A16: Increased from $1,599.99 to $1,699.99.
• Zenbook A14: Increased from $1,149.99 to $1,349.99.
• Zenbook S16: Increased from $1,600 to $1,900.
• Zenbook S14: Increased from $1,900 to $2,000.
• Zenbook 14: Increased from $1,000 to $1,350.

ASUS has not provided an official statement confirming the source or reason for these adjustments.

Reported Performance and Features of the Zenbook A16

Initial performance testing of the Zenbook A16, as reported by reviewers, indicated strong multi-threaded CPU performance in benchmarks like Geekbench and Cinebench.

In these tests, it performed competitively with Apple's 15-inch MacBook Air in multi-threaded tasks but generally had lower single-core performance. The laptop also outperformed an Intel Panther Lake-equipped Asus Zenbook Duo in CPU tests, though the Duo had superior graphics performance.

Reviewers reported the Zenbook A16 provided a smooth experience editing high-resolution photos in Adobe Lightroom Classic, even on battery power.

The device demonstrated extended battery life, lasting a full eight-hour workday of mixed use with approximately 30 percent charge remaining.

A noted limitation, consistent with other Arm-based Windows laptops, is gaming support. While Qualcomm has increased the number of supported game titles, it remains less comprehensive than on x86 Windows systems.

Availability and Market Context

ASUS has not announced official pricing or specific release dates for the new Zenbook A16 and refreshed A14 models unveiled at CES 2026. One source indicates a scheduled release in early-to-mid Q2 2026.

The Zenbook A16 is among the lighter 16-inch laptops announced. For comparison, the Acer Swift Air 16, announced at IFA 2025, weighs 2.18 pounds and features AMD Ryzen AI 300 Series processors, but is not available for purchase in the United States.