ASUS Vivobook S14 Flash Review: Balanced Performance for Everyday Use
If you’re in the market for an all-purpose laptop that will see you through the trials of everyday work and life, the latest ASUS Vivobook S14 should warrant some attention. To be straight up, this isn’t one that’s going to blow you away with top-tier, jet-like performance.
Rather, it’s a dependable companion designed to handle everyday tasks with ease. That said, there are a few drawbacks you might want to consider before making the purchase.
Pros
Performance That Covers the Basics
Powered by the Intel Core Ultra 7 255H, the Vivobook S14 is a capable device that will tick the boxes for many standard users. By “standard,” I mean those who aren’t too nit-picky about speed and don’t require top-tier performance. For basic tasks—like word processing, building presentations, and web browsing—the Vivobook runs flawlessly. It’s definitely a great companion for students and professionals to carry around with full confidence in its reliability.
The FHD webcam, while fairly standard, is more than adequate for team meetings and group collaborations. A nice bonus is the built-in physical shutter which helps ease any phobia of being watched.
Built to Withstand the Everyday Grind
Despite its somewhat small-ish 14″ size, the Vivobook is visibly a sturdy device. It’s armored in a metallic frame that meets the MIL-STD 810G military standard. What this simply means is that it has gone through a gauntlet of rigorous stress tests, including shock, vibration, and extreme temperature testing.
It’s undoubtedly a solid device that gives the impression it will last for many years unscathed.
Flexible Hinge for Flexible Workstyles
If your preferred working position involves slouching on beanbags or sitting in odd angles, the Vivobook’s 180-degree hinge will definitely come in handy. That extra tilting leeway is a small but versatile feature, especially if working at a desk isn’t really your thing.
The good news is that the hinge feels smooth in motion, yet sturdy enough that it doesn’t seem like the screws are coming loose even if you tilt it a little recklessly.
A Quiet, Comfortable Typing Experience
I hardly harp on keyboards, but the typing experience on the Vivobook was surprisingly pleasant. It wasn’t too clicky, only letting out keystrokes as soft as a whisper. It’s certainly not one of those keyboards that will annoy your deskmate.
Moreover, the keys were responsive and all easily reachable with my two hands already hovering over the entirety of the keyboard. A plus point is the keyboard backlight, which makes working in dim environments feasible.
Full Array of Ports
One of the reasons the Vivobook S14 makes for a solid all-purpose laptop is its full array of I/O ports. Cutting straight to the chase, it has:
- 2x USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-C (support for display/power delivery)
- 2x USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A (data speed up to 5Gbps)
- 1x HDMI 1.4
- 1x 3.5mm combo audio jack
Cons
(Relatively) Heavy
Don’t get me wrong — the Vivobook definitely isn’t one that’s going to feel like a bag of stones. In fact, I’d go as far as to say that its weight shouldn’t be a deterring factor. But at 1.39kg, it’s easy to find 14-inch laptops that are just as heavy, or way lighter. The Acer Swift Go, which can be as light as 1.3kg, comes to mind. At the same time, it’s still not as hefty as those clunky Dell Inspiron 14 models.
Nevertheless, if I were ever asked to recommend a lightweight 14-incher, the Vivobook wouldn’t be the first to come to mind.
Battery Life: Enough for a Morning, Not the Whole Day
Based on my personal usage, the Vivobook S14 lasts just about six hours of continuous work before it reaches the uncomfortable zone. Of course, this will vary depending on your routine—but for my fairly basic tasks like typing and web browsing, it’s unfortunately not one that will power you through from day to night.
You can still get some decent hours in the morning, but you’ll want to stay close to a power outlet by mid-afternoon.
ASUS Vivobook S14: Should you buy?
Taking a step back and looking at the Vivobook S14 as a whole, I’d say the only real compromise is its less-than-satisfying battery life. Even then, if you’re savvy about managing when and where you charge, it shouldn’t be much of a problem. There’s definitely more to like here than not.
Should you buy the Vivobook S14? In short, yes. If you’re a user that simply needs the laptop for the bare necessities, this is one option we’d recommend anyone to look into. Moreover, with a RM4,099 price tag, the Vivobook S14 isn’t going to tax too extremely on your bank account.
If this has piqued your interest, you can learn more about the Vivobook S14 on ASUS’ official product page.
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