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ASUS VivoBook 15 Review
Introduction
The ASUS VivoBook 15 is a budget-friendly laptop designed to meet the needs of students, professionals, and everyday users. With its sleek design, decent performance, and a range of features, the VivoBook 15 aims to provide a reliable computing experience at an affordable price. In this review, we will explore the various aspects of the VivoBook 15, including its design, display, performance, thermals, battery life, and overall value.
Design and Build Quality
The ASUS VivoBook 15 features a modern and minimalist design, making it an attractive choice for users who appreciate aesthetics and functionality. The laptop has a plastic chassis with a matte finish, giving it a sleek and professional look. The build quality is decent for its price range, with minimal flex in the lid and keyboard deck. The VivoBook 15 is relatively lightweight at 3.5 pounds and has a slim profile, measuring just 0.78 inches at its thickest point, making it easy to carry around.
The laptop is available in multiple colors, including Slate Grey, Transparent Silver, and Peacock Blue, allowing users to choose a model that best suits their style. The lid features the distinctive VivoBook logo, adding a touch of elegance to the overall design.
Display
The VivoBook 15 is equipped with a 15.6-inch Full HD (1920 x 1080) IPS display. The screen offers sharp and clear visuals with good color accuracy and wide viewing angles. The display covers 72% of the NTSC color gamut, which is sufficient for everyday tasks such as web browsing, video streaming, and office applications. However, it might not be the best choice for professional photo and video editing due to its limited color accuracy.
The screen's brightness levels peak at around 250 nits, which is adequate for most indoor environments, though it might struggle in direct sunlight. The slim bezels on the sides and top contribute to a more immersive viewing experience and give the laptop a modern look.
Performance
The ASUS VivoBook 15 is powered by the latest Intel Core i5-1135G7 processor, 8GB of DDR4 RAM, and Intel Iris Xe integrated graphics. This hardware combination ensures that the laptop can handle a variety of tasks, from everyday productivity to light creative work and casual gaming.
In benchmark tests, the VivoBook 15 delivered respectable performance. In PCMark 10, it scored over 4,000 points, indicating strong performance for everyday tasks such as web browsing, video streaming, and office applications. The Intel Iris Xe graphics, while not designed for heavy gaming, are capable of handling casual games and light photo and video editing.
Real-world performance was smooth and responsive. Applications like Microsoft Office, Google Chrome, and even some light photo editing software ran without significant slowdowns. The 8GB of RAM allows for efficient multitasking, enabling users to work with multiple applications and browser tabs simultaneously.
Thermals and Cooling
Thermal management is an important aspect of any laptop, and the VivoBook 15 performs adequately in this regard. The laptop features a basic cooling system with a single fan and heat pipe, ensuring that the internal components remain cool during regular use. During extended workloads, the laptop remained relatively cool, with CPU temperatures staying within acceptable ranges.
The fan noise is minimal during regular use and only becomes noticeable under heavy load. ASUS has included different performance modes in the MyASUS software, allowing users to balance performance and noise levels according to their needs. The “Performance” mode maximizes hardware potential, while the “Whisper” mode reduces fan noise for quieter environments.
Keyboard and Trackpad
The VivoBook 15 features a full-sized keyboard with a numeric keypad, providing a comfortable typing experience. The keys have a good amount of travel and tactile feedback, making them suitable for extended typing sessions. The keyboard is backlit, allowing for easy use in low-light conditions. The inclusion of dedicated function keys and customizable shortcuts adds to the overall convenience.
The trackpad is spacious and responsive, supporting Windows Precision drivers for accurate and smooth tracking. The integrated fingerprint reader within the trackpad provides an added layer of security and quick login via Windows Hello.
Audio
Audio quality on the VivoBook 15 is handled by a set of stereo speakers located on the sides of the laptop. The speakers deliver clear and loud sound with a decent amount of bass. The inclusion of ASUS SonicMaster technology enhances the overall audio experience, providing a richer and more immersive sound.
While the built-in speakers are sufficient for everyday use, audiophiles and professionals working with audio may prefer using high-quality headphones or external speakers for the best audio experience.
Battery Life
Battery life is a crucial factor for users who need to work on the go. The VivoBook 15 is equipped with a 42Wh battery, which provides around 6-7 hours of mixed-use battery life under normal usage scenarios, such as web browsing, video streaming, and light productivity tasks. During more demanding workloads, such as photo editing or gaming, battery life drops to around 3-4 hours.
The laptop supports fast charging, allowing the battery to reach 60% capacity in just 49 minutes. This feature is particularly useful for users who need to quickly top up their battery during breaks.
Connectivity and Ports
The VivoBook 15 offers a comprehensive selection of ports to accommodate various peripherals and accessories. The laptop includes one USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A port, one USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-C port, two USB 2.0 Type-A ports, an HDMI 1.4 port, an SD card reader, and a 3.5mm headphone/microphone combo jack. The inclusion of USB-C is a significant advantage, allowing for high-speed data transfer and charging.
The laptop also features Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.0, ensuring fast and reliable wireless connectivity. These features are essential for users who rely on cloud services and wireless peripherals.
Software and Features
ASUS includes several useful software tools with the VivoBook 15, enhancing the overall user experience. The MyASUS software provides access to system settings, performance profiles, and system updates. It also includes features such as AI noise-canceling technology, which reduces background noise during video calls and recordings.
The laptop also features an integrated HD webcam with a privacy shutter, providing peace of mind for users concerned about security. The webcam’s quality is adequate for video calls and streaming, though it might not meet the standards of professional content creators who require higher-resolution cameras.
Conclusion
The ASUS VivoBook 15 is a solid choice for budget-conscious users who need a reliable laptop for everyday tasks. Its sleek design, decent performance, and a range of features make it an attractive option for students, professionals, and casual users. The standout features include a modern design, a comfortable keyboard, and the convenience of USB-C connectivity.
While it may not be the most powerful option for heavy gaming or intensive creative work, its relatively slim profile, lightweight design, and affordable price point make it a compelling choice for everyday use and light to moderate productivity tasks. The main drawbacks include the limited color accuracy of the display and the relatively short battery life during demanding workloads. However, these are minor trade-offs considering the overall performance and capabilities of the laptop.
With its competitive price point and impressive specifications, the ASUS VivoBook 15 stands out as one of the best budget laptops in its class, delivering a reliable and stylish computing experience for a wide range of users. Whether you need a laptop for work, study, or entertainment, the VivoBook 15 is a reliable and affordable option that is sure to meet your needs.
