ASUS VivoBook 15 Laptop Review

The Asus VivoBook 15 is one of many laptops out there that are designed specifically for office workers and students and it’s solid performance is the main reason why it has a spot on our best laptops under 600 list. If you are on the fence with this one, our expert in-depth review will definitely help you make an informed choice.

PROS AND CONS

DESIGN

The Asus VivoBook 15 is a 15.6” FHD laptop The body is made out of plastic which isn’t substandard but isn’t ideal either. The plastic body gives a nice metallic look and it helps in making the device lighter and affordable. The model measures at 14.1 x 9.1 x 0.75 inches, which is nearly as thick as most laptops out there and it weighs at 3.75 pounds which is fairly portable. In addition the body has a fantastic curvy design that gives it a classy elegant look. This device is available in a stunning Slate gray color.

WEBCAM

If we talk about the webcam, it is a standard HD (720p@30 FPS) webcam. The webcam is not the strong suit of this model, as it merely gets the job done nothing more. If you video call regularly, then it is strongly advised to order a webcam along with it as well.

KEYBOARD/MOUSEPAD

The keys are nicely spaced, which is amazing for fast typers and people with large hands. Furthermore the keys are comfortable to use as well as the Ergolift design improves writing position, which helps in avoiding Carpal tunnel syndrome (a condition in which a person feels numbness from prolonged use of a keyboard). Additionally you will be happy to know that the keyboard is in fact backlit, which is a great help for late night usage. Fortunately Asus was even able to squeeze in a numeric keypad as well. The mouse pad is smooth and super sensitive (to the point that it can be deemed as a bit too sensitive). However it is very comfortable to use, the fingerprint sensor is on the top right corner of the mouse pad, which can cause a bit of a nuisance, furthermore there are no physical buttons, which can make clicking a bit annoying.

CONNECTIVITY

Asus has added four different types of ports in this model, which include a USB 3.1 Type-C, one USB 3.1 Type-A, one USB 2.0, and a HDMI port. Furthermore wireless connectivity to the internet is provided through the newest Gigabit Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac) which is faster than the 802.11a/b/g/n and to add on the good news, it is backward compatible. A Micro SD card port is also offered that can help you boost up your internal storage, which is relatively cost efficient. Regretfully no Kensington lock is present which poses as a security threat, but the fingerprint sensor and Windows security features (which include password protection and face recognition lock) do make up for the unavailability of the Kensington lock. Sadly the VivoBook 15 doesn’t offer a CD ROM but it doesn’t come as a surprise, as newer models tend to exclude it, so if you wish to run a CD or DVD then you would have to use an external CD ROM.

DISPLAY

The ASUS VivoBook 15 has a 15.6” FHD display that delivers great colors and outstanding brightness levels. In addition it has a nanoedge display, meaning more screen area. The bezels are fairly thin and cause no annoyance what so ever. This model makes use of the IPS panel, which offers wider viewing angles (virtually you can watch from any angle), faster response time, better color accuracy and contrast than both VA and TN panels, however the IPS panels are more expensive than its competitors and the response time, unfortunately, falls behind that of the TN panel, in addition the IPS panels tend to consume a bit more energy (about 15% more). The screen has a glossy finish, which creates more focused images in comparison to a matte finish, furthermore the display offers anti-glare capabilities as well, which makes it easier to work outdoors. Unlike most laptops out there, the display lid for this specific model can’t be pushed back 180 degrees, the panel sadly reaches its limit at 120-135 degrees. To further pile up on the bad news, this model also doesn’t offer touchscreen compatibility.

SPEAKERS

The speakers used are the ASUS SonicMaster, which are bottom firing, so the surface on which this device is used matters a lot (the softer the surface the better the sound quality). This specific model regretfully, loses its appeal, when it comes to speaker quality. The quality is terrible to the point that the speakers become useless so the use of headphones or external speakers is strongly recommended.

STORAGE

HDD/SSD

VivoBook 15 makes use of a 128GB SSD as its internal storage. 128GB is enough for your usual day to day work along with documents from your school or office as well. Furthermore you can run most games on it except for very heavy games like Fortnite or newer versions of Resident Evil. SSD is the recommended storage device for games as it reduces latency (the time taken before transfer of data begins). In addition SSD’s dissipate less heat as well as weigh less than a HDD, helping your laptop to stay cooler and lighter. However upgrading a SSD is an expensive task, so it is advised to use either an external HDD or a Micro SD card in order to increase your storage.

RAM

The model comes with preinstalled 8GB DDR4 SDRAM RAM. The SDRAM is faster and more efficient than the conventional RAM’s. Unfortunately the model only contains a single RAM slot so the RAM is only upgradeable up to 16GB, which is enough for day to day tasks and the occasional games as well.

PERFORMANCE

This model stores the Dual core Intel Core i3-8145U CPU (2.10GHz up to 3.9GHz) under the hood. It is great for everyday productivity, such as browsing, online shopping, watching Youtube, movies etc. Furthermore it can run most of the softwares and apps out there. The motherboard contains the integrated Intel UHD Graphics 620 (1.150 MHz). The UHD 620 is best suited for lighter laptops and Ultrabooks and is tailored for light games like Roblox or Rocket League. The laptop supports a refresh rate of 60Hz, which is more than enough for casual gaming. However it fails to support 3D.The processor is great for running light softwares and games , but you should avoid pressuring the processor as you start to lose responsiveness when the pressure increases. Sadly the processor does indeed get hot and so a fan is installed to counter this problem but unfortunately the fan starts even when the processor is put under regular pressure and the fan gets really loud, to the point that it sometimes becomes unbearable. The OS is the Windows 10 in S mode. The S mode is installed to ensure security and Windows does this by only allowing apps from the Microsoft store and Microsoft edge as the default browser in order to browse safely. You can go to update and security in settings and then to security in order to deactivate S mode.

BATTERY LIFE

This model contains a 2-cell Li-ion battery, which thankfully is user replaceable(but the base of the laptop would have to be unscrewed in order to carry out the task). The average battery is advertised to be 7 hours, but it actually lasts around 5 to 6 hours, which is more or less adequate for people. The weight does make the laptop a good traveling partner but the battery life becomes a hurdle when it comes to taking the laptop on long trips, the battery life will last, if you take it with you to your workplace, but it sure won’t hold if you take it on a long flight or train ride. However the battery life is excellent if you are a movie enthusiast or someone who carries out light editing or office work.

SOFTWARES AND FEATURES

Both Microsoft and Google offer 5GB and 15GB of free cloud storage respectively. Cloud storage gives you the freedom to access files anytime and anywhere on any device. Furthermore you can easily share files and add multiple users to a cloud storage for better synchronization. Moreover it is quite cost-efficient and secure. You can increase the allotted space quota by paying a yearly fee. Typical applications present include the pre-installed Microsoft apps such as Word, OneNote, Powerpoint etc. Additionally more apps can be installed either through the internet (It is recommended that the website should be trusted) or through the Microsoft store that houses thousands of apps including some android apps such as Whatsapp, Instagram etc.

BUY IT IF

You require a device for school related or office related tasks as this is great for students and employees alike. Furthermore if you love watching movies, working, socializing then this device was made for you. It has a great display, excellent processor and satisfactory graphics card for light gaming. The battery, although not being that great, is just enough to last through your school or office hours and the dimensions and weight help to make it fairly portable as well .

DON’T BUY IT IF

You video call routinely as the webcam, sadly, isn’t that great and coupled with the speakers, it is advised to look at other options. The battery life being what it is won’t be able to accompany you on long travels and as stated above this is not a gaming laptop, so it can’t be used for heavy gaming.