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| Asus' new suite of laptops now costs significantly more in the US than when they launched on April 7. |
Yesterday, Asus unleashed a plethora of laptops onto the US market. While some models had already made their debut in Europe, the all-new Zenbook A14 and Zenbook A16 were fresh, never-before-seen releases for American buyers. For those keeping score at home, here’s the full lineup that landed (complete with links to our earlier coverage):
- Zenbook 14
- Zenbook A14
- Zenbook A16
- Zenbook S14
- Zenbook S16
Initially, the pricing looked almost too good to be true. These laptops started at $999, or $1,149 for the Snapdragon X2-powered variants. But eagle-eyed shoppers quickly noticed something odd: weaker processors were actually more expensive than their more powerful counterparts. Strange, right? Asus seemed to agree – they quickly adjusted those weird price tags. But then things took another turn.
The prices have now risen across the board for every single laptop listed above.
US Buyers Get Hit Hard – Europe Spared (For Now)
Let’s talk numbers, because they’re pretty wild. The Zenbook 14 now starts at a whopping 35% more in the US than it did just yesterday. Incidentally, Asus hasn’t raised prices in Europe at all. Over there, the same laptop retails for €1,299 and £1,249 (VAT included). Go figure.
Meanwhile, the new Zenbook A14 has joined its 14-inch sibling at $1,349. The Zenbook A16 saw a $100 bump, now sitting at $1,699.
And here’s where it gets really interesting: the Zenbook A14 is now significantly more expensive than Asus’ original model – you know, the one that’s currently going for $769 on Amazon. That’s a massive gap for what looks like a very similar form factor.
The S16 Just Became a Steal (Relatively Speaking)
One bizarre side effect of these price changes: the Zenbook S16 is now $100 cheaper than the smaller Zenbook 14. That’s right – you get a larger screen for less money. We’re not complaining, but it definitely adds to the confusion.
Asus has not revealed any official reasons behind these price increases. No supply chain excuses, no tariff talk, no “unprecedented demand” spin. Just silent, overnight hikes that caught retailers and early buyers off guard.
What’s Going On? Our Take
If you’ve been eyeing a new Zenbook, here’s the bottom line:
- Don’t wait if you see a price you like – they’re clearly volatile right now.
- Check European pricing if you have a way to import (though VAT and shipping might eat the savings).
- The original Zenbook A14 at $769 on Amazon is suddenly looking like an incredible deal compared to the new $1,349 version.
We’ve reached out to Asus for comment and will update this story if we hear back. In the meantime, you can verify the new prices yourself at the sources below:
- Zenbook 14 at Best Buy
- Zenbook A14 at Best Buy
- Zenbook A16 at Best Buy
- Zenbook S14 at Best Buy
- Zenbook S16 at Best Buy
- Asus official shop – Zenbook S14
- Asus official shop – Zenbook S16
- Hardware Canucks tweet on the price changes
For now, if you really want that new A14 or A16, be ready to open your wallet a little wider than expected. Or, you know, grab that $769 Amazon deal while it lasts. Your call.