Asus Laptop/Asus Vivobook 15
Asus is now turning its attention to budget-conscious consumers with the release of the Asus Vivobook 15 (touch), priced at Rs 44,990. Despite its affordability, the laptop offers a satisfying experience with its lightweight design, spacious 15.6-inch touch-enabled screen, and convenient features like a touch sensor and webcam shutter.
While these features may appeal to specific users, such as students with particular requirements, some potential buyers might have reservations about the Intel Core i3 processor, traditionally considered less powerful than the i5, i7, and i9 counterparts. However, it’s important to note that the Vivobook 15 is equipped with the latest 12th-Gen processor, delivering notable performance improvements compared to its predecessors. For those seeking higher performance, there are pricier variants available with up to a 12th-Gen Core i5 processor.
Asus Vivobook 15 design
The design of the Asus Vivobook 15 gives off a premium vibe, especially with the attractive blue color option catering to a younger audience, while a silver option is available for traditionalists. However, to maintain affordability, Asus opted for a plastic build, raising concerns about durability, though my brief testing didn’t reveal any immediate issues.
The trackpad placement is commendable, providing ample palm rest space, but its plastic finish might not please everyone. Fortunately, external mice are a viable solution. The port selection, including USB-C, USB Type-A, HDMI, and an audio combo jack, is decent, although the absence of an ethernet port might disappoint some users.
While the Vivobook 15 meets most expectations, there are laptops with better build quality in the market, such as those from Xiaomi or Realme. The plastic build contributes to a lightweight design, making it convenient for daily use. Additionally, the laptop holds a US MIL-STD 810H durability rating, providing reassurance in terms of ruggedness.
Asus Vivobook 15 display
The Asus Vivobook 15 places a significant emphasis on its display, and it lives up to expectations. The 15.6-inch screen is well-suited for various tasks, from watching movies to using applications like Chrome. Although the bezels are not the slimmest, they are not distracting. The touch capability is a valuable addition, particularly for users who prioritize it at this price point.
The screen is tiltable up to 180 degrees, with a firm hinge that minimizes wobbling. Whether utilizing touch features or not, the display provides an enjoyable experience, boasting vibrant colors and decent viewing angles. The glossy finish adds to the visual appeal, and the Full-HD resolution is in line with standard laptop displays. Overall, the Asus Vivobook 15’s display proves to be a strong feature.
Asus Vivobook 15 keyboard
The Asus Vivobook 15 features a spacious keyboard with a Numpad, common for larger-screen laptops. The typing experience is excellent, with keys offering a 1.4mm travel and sufficient spacing. While there are ample hotkeys for regular users, it’s worth noting that the keyboard lacks backlighting, which could be a consideration for some users.
As an additional feature, Asus claims the Vivobook 15 is protected by Asus Antibacterial Guard, designed to inhibit bacteria growth by over 99%. While this claim is challenging to verify without specific tools, it’s a considerate addition, especially in the context of the ongoing pandemic.
Battery life
Despite its relatively small 42Wh battery, the Asus Vivobook 15 performs well with a U-series CPU, delivering a commendable 8 hours and 40 minutes of web browsing or 6 hours and 5 minutes of video playback. These battery tests are conducted under specific conditions: Windows Better performance setting turned on, screen brightness set to 120 nits, and all other programs except the one under testing turned off.
Port
The I/O options on the Vivobook 15 could use improvement. It currently includes one USB 2.0 port, two Type-A 3.2 (Gen. 1) ports, an HDMI 1.4 port, an audio jack, and a USB Type-C 3.2 (Gen. 1) port. However, it’s worth noting that the USB Type-C port only supports data transfer and lacks Power Delivery or DisplayPort features.
Asus Vivobook 15 performance
The Asus Vivobook 15 is powered by a 12th-Gen Intel Core i3 (1220P) processor, accompanied by 8GB LPDDR4 RAM, a 512GB PCIe 4.0 SSD, and a discrete Iris Xe GPU. While it handles older games and some newer titles at moderate settings, gaming performance is not exceptional, as observed in stutters during games like Apex Legends.
For productivity tasks, the laptop smoothly runs popular applications such as Chrome and Excel, as well as Windows 11 without crashes in brief usage. However, the 8GB RAM may limit performance for heavy multitasking, with potential tab refreshes in memory-intensive apps like Chrome. Upgrading to 16GB RAM is an option for those seeking enhanced productivity.
In benchmarks, the Vivobook 15 achieved 4110 points on PC Mark10’s CPU test, a competitive result compared to 11th-Gen Core i3 CPUs. The GPU test on 3D Mark yielded an average score of 722 points.
The laptop’s battery, featuring a larger 42Whr unit than its predecessor, offers approximately 5 hours of runtime on a single charge. Charging is efficient with the bundled 65W charger, taking just over an hour to fully charge the notebook.
Asus Vivobook 15: Feature
The ASUS Vivobook Pro 15 boasts key features, including a stylish design and a stunning display. It is equipped with a potent Ryzen 9 processor and Nvidia RTX GPU for robust performance, as detailed in the performance section below.
Turning attention to the camera and audio aspects, the laptop features a 1080p webcam with a privacy shutter for added security. While the image quality is acceptable, it doesn’t stand out. The AiSense camera is intended to enhance your appearance in virtual meetings, but its impact may not be noticeable in practical use. The audio system is powered by Dolby Atmos and certified by Harman Kardon, offering two-way AI Noise Canceling for clear speech and background noise reduction during microphone use.
In terms of connectivity, the laptop provides three USB-A ports (two USB 2.0 and one USB 3.2 Gen 1), a USB 4.0 Gen 3 Type-C slot. The HDMI 2.1 port supports 8K 60 Hz external displays, but only one external monitor can be used at a time. The USB-C port is not dedicated for display purposes but offers high-speed data transfers up to 3.5 GB/s.
Asus Vivobook 15: Price
The ASUS Vivobook Pro 15 is priced between $700 and $1,500, varying with the selected specifications. Since its release in September 2021, higher-spec configurations have seen a decrease in price to around $1,200, while lower-end models, featuring a GeForce GTX 1650 GPU and Ryzen 5 CPU, are available for around $800.
The laptop offers processor options, including the Ryzen 5 series (low-end), Ryzen 7 series (mid-range), and Ryzen 9 series (Pro-level). Additionally, there are models featuring Intel processors, such as the 13th Generation Core i9.
Some retailers may offer a complimentary 3-month subscription to Adobe Creative Cloud with the purchase of the laptop, providing users with a chance to explore Adobe’s suite of creative applications.
Pros:
Striking 15.6-inch OLED display.
Optimal performance.
Affordable pricing.
Excellent audio quality.
Cons:
Audio volume could be louder.
Poor webcam quality.
Subpar battery life.
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