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ASUS Vivobook Pro 15 OLED Review
Introduction
The ASUS Vivobook Pro 15 OLED is a laptop designed to cater to the needs of both creative professionals and everyday users who demand high performance and stunning visuals. With its vibrant OLED display, powerful hardware, and sleek design, the Vivobook Pro 15 OLED aims to provide an exceptional user experience for tasks ranging from graphic design and video editing to gaming and general productivity. In this review, we will explore the various aspects of the Vivobook Pro 15 OLED, including its design, display, performance, thermals, battery life, and overall value.
Design and Build Quality
The ASUS Vivobook Pro 15 OLED features a sleek and modern design that is both functional and stylish. The laptop is constructed from a combination of metal and high-quality plastic, giving it a premium feel while keeping it lightweight at 3.97 pounds. The slim profile, measuring just 0.75 inches at its thickest point, makes it highly portable for a 15-inch laptop. The hinge mechanism is robust, allowing for smooth opening and closing, and it maintains the display's position securely.
The laptop's build quality is excellent, with minimal flex and a solid overall construction. The lid features the Vivobook logo, and the keyboard deck is spacious, providing a comfortable typing experience. The overall aesthetic is minimalist and professional, making it suitable for both work and play.
Display
The Vivobook Pro 15 OLED is equipped with a 15.6-inch 4K OLED display, which is one of its standout features. The display boasts a resolution of 3840 x 2160 pixels, delivering incredibly sharp and detailed visuals. The OLED technology ensures vibrant colors, deep blacks, and excellent contrast, making it ideal for creative work such as photo and video editing. The display also covers 100% of the DCI-P3 color gamut, ensuring accurate color reproduction, which is crucial for professional content creation.
The screen's brightness levels peak at around 600 nits, which is sufficient for most indoor environments and even some outdoor use. The display also supports HDR content, providing an enhanced viewing experience for compatible media. The slim bezels on all four sides contribute to a more immersive viewing experience and a modern look.
Performance
Under the hood, the ASUS Vivobook Pro 15 OLED is powered by the latest Intel Core i7-11370H processor, 16GB of DDR4 RAM, and an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 GPU. This hardware combination ensures that the laptop can handle a wide range of tasks, from demanding creative applications to everyday productivity and multitasking.
In benchmark tests, the Vivobook Pro 15 OLED delivered impressive results. In Cinebench R23, it scored over 10,000 points in the multi-core test, showcasing its capability to handle multi-threaded applications efficiently. The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 GPU provides solid performance for tasks such as video editing, 3D rendering, and even some light gaming.
Real-world performance was equally impressive. Applications like Adobe Photoshop, Premiere Pro, and Blender ran smoothly, with the laptop handling multiple layers, high-resolution video files, and complex 3D models without significant slowdowns. The 16GB of RAM ensures smooth multitasking, allowing users to work with multiple applications and browser tabs simultaneously.
Thermals and Cooling
Thermal management is a critical aspect of any high-performance laptop, and the Vivobook Pro 15 OLED performs admirably in this regard. The laptop features an advanced cooling system with dual fans and multiple heat pipes, ensuring efficient heat dissipation. During extended workloads, the laptop remained relatively cool, with CPU and GPU temperatures staying within acceptable ranges.
The fans do get audible under heavy load, but the noise levels are manageable and not overly distracting. ASUS has included different performance modes, allowing users to balance performance and noise levels according to their needs. The “Performance” mode unleashes the full potential of the hardware, while the “Whisper” mode reduces fan noise for quieter environments.
Keyboard and Trackpad
The Vivobook Pro 15 OLED 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 both typing and gaming. The keyboard is backlit, allowing for easy use in low-light conditions. The inclusion of dedicated media 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 Pro 15 OLED is handled by a set of Harman Kardon-certified 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 impressive, particularly for a laptop, audiophiles and creative professionals may prefer using high-quality headphones or external speakers for the best audio experience, especially during audio editing and critical listening sessions.
Battery Life
Battery life is always a consideration for creative professionals who may need to work on the go. The Vivobook Pro 15 OLED is equipped with a 96Wh battery, providing around 8-9 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 video editing or 3D rendering, battery life drops to around 4-5 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 Pro 15 OLED offers a comprehensive selection of ports to accommodate various peripherals and accessories. The laptop includes two USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A ports, one USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C port with DisplayPort 1.4 support, an HDMI 2.1 port, an SD card reader, an Ethernet jack, and a 3.5mm headphone/microphone combo jack. The inclusion of Thunderbolt 4 support on the Type-C port is a significant advantage, allowing for high-speed data transfer and support for external GPUs.
The laptop also features Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.2, ensuring fast and reliable wireless connectivity. These features are essential for creative professionals who rely on cloud services and wireless peripherals.
Software and Features
ASUS includes several useful software tools with the Vivobook Pro 15 OLED, 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 Pro 15 OLED is a compelling option for creative professionals and everyday users looking for a high-performance laptop with a vibrant display and robust build quality. Its powerful hardware, 4K OLED display, and comprehensive feature set make it an excellent choice for tasks ranging from graphic design and video editing to gaming and general productivity.
While it may not be the most portable option, its relatively slim profile and reasonable weight make it suitable for users who need a powerful laptop they can take on the go. The main drawbacks include the relatively short battery life during demanding workloads and the absence of a higher-end GPU option for more intensive creative tasks. 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 Pro 15 OLED stands out as one of the best laptops in its class, delivering a top-tier experience for creative professionals and everyday users alike.
