Intel's Core Ultra Series 2 processors show improvement from the first generation, but Apple's and Qualcomm's ARM-based chips still lead the way.

The Asus Zenbook S 14 has a unique look and feel that helps you ignore "ceraluminum." You should look at the $1,500 version with 32 GB first.

Asus NUC 14 Pro AI Processor: Intel Core Ultra Processor (Series 2) Graphics: Intel Arc integrated RAM: LPDDR5X support Storage: M.2 2280 NVMe support Connectivity: Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4, 2.5G Ethernet Ports: Thunderbolt 4, HDMI 2.1, USB 3.2 Gen 1, USB 3.2 Gen 2