ASUS 14" E410KA-PM464 Review

Look, this ASUS laptop is cheap. That's the one thing you need to know. For $160, you get a 14-inch Windows 11 machine. But you're buying into a world of compromises. The Intel Pentium N6000 processor and 4GB of RAM are specs from a bygone era, and that tiny 64GB of storage is a joke for modern Windows. It's a basic web browsing and document typing machine, and that's it. Don't expect more.

Honestly, nothing surprised me in a good way. The CPU is in the 7th percentile, which means it's slower than 93% of other laptops. Opening more than three browser tabs will feel like a chore. The 64GB eMMC storage is in the 6th percentile, so you'll be constantly managing space and deleting files. The only mild surprise is the 1080p screen, but even that only scores in the 16th percentile for quality.

It's only worth it if your budget is absolutely, non-negotiable $160 and you need a Windows laptop right now. For anyone else, saving up another $100-$150 gets you a massively better experience with a modern processor and real storage.

Forget the high-end MacBooks and gaming laptops listed. They're in a different universe. The real competition is other budget Chromebooks and used laptops. A $250 Chromebook will feel faster and last longer for web tasks. A refurbished business laptop from a few years ago, like an old ThinkPad, will give you a proper Core i5, 8GB of RAM, and a 256GB SSD for a similar price. This ASUS loses to both of those options.

I can't recommend this for most people. The 4GB RAM and 64GB storage make it a frustrating device from day one. It's a last-resort purchase. If you need a laptop for a young kid to do very basic schoolwork under strict supervision, or as a dedicated machine for a single, simple task, it might work. For any general use, you'll regret it quickly. Save up a little more.