The ASUS Vivobook S14 S433 was launched at the same time as the Zenbook 13 UX325. Both notebooks have caught the eyes of many because of their 11th-Gen Intel core processor. With the year coming to an end, a lot of people are considering to upgrade their gadgets especially since we’d be expecting to still live this ‘new normal’ come 2021. As we constantly hope for an end to this pandemic, we’d definitely need something that can be handy whether we work from home, or when the time comes and we’ll be out and about. To help you choose which laptop may be good for you, here’s our review on the ASUS Vivobook S14.
Design and build
If you’re someone who enjoys expressing yourself through the things you own, you’re in luck because the Vivobook S14 offers four different flashy colors namely, Dreamy White, Gaia Green, Resolute Red, and Indie Black which we have on hand. When opened, you’re greeted by an Enter key with yellow color-blocking edges to further add color and still maintain a minimalist feel. It also features a backlit full-size keyboard to provide a comfortable typing experience.
The slim and lightweight VivoBook S14 has a 15.9mm thickness and a weight of 1.4kg. This notebook has a textured metal chassis, giving it better grip when on the go. It also features an anodized diamond-cut edges giving it an even more svelte appearance with the new VivoBook logo on the right.
On the trackpad, just like the ZenBook 13, the VivoBook features a number pad that can be used to make working with numbers easier or as another way to type in your password with Windows Hello Pin. The number pad can easily be activated and deactivated by tapping on the number pad logo on the upper right. This unique feature makes me want to use it often but it might take some getting used to since I’d still end up using the numbers on the keyboard than the trackpad. It doesn’t have a fingerprint scanner and isn’t available for Windows Hello Face that works as a facial recognition.
The Harman Kardon-certified speakers are found underneath the laptop. For someone who enjoys music while working and studying, I was a bit disappointed with this. The vocals weren’t very clear; they were a bit muddy. The lows needed more bass, while the high frequencies like cymbals were lacking in sharpness and clarity.
VivoBook S14 is equipped with the reversible USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-C port, featuring an any-way-up design to make connecting devices as easy as possible. You also get USB 3.2 Gen 1 and USB 2.0 ports, HDMI output, and a microSD card reader — so you can easily connect all your peripherals, displays and projectors with zero hassle. I got to say, I really appreciate the 3 USB ports and microSD card because these are important for me and other content creators or artists.
Left side Right side
Display
The NanoEdge display provides you with an immersive viewing experience, and enables a more compact footprint so VivoBook S14 takes up less space on your desk or in your backpack. On top of that, its Full HD display offers wide viewing angles and exceptional color reproduction for truly vivid visuals. 14-inch, 85% screen-to-body ratio, 178° wide-viewing angle. It still has a relatively thick border on its top and bottom compared to its sides.
Camera
On the top of the screen, the VivoBook S14 features a 1MP camera with a 16:9 (1280×720) resolution. Its quality would suffice for any conference call you need when working from home or on the go because it also has digital video stabilization. For the videos, it offers 720p with up 30fps and a 60Hz flicker reduction.
Under the hood
The VivoBook S14 is powered by Intel Core i7 1165G7 processor with up to 8GB RAM and NVIDIA MX250 graphics. A large capacity 512GB PCIe SSD gives you the storage so you can access what you need quickly. Its software and pre-installed applications take up a total 40GB. Its other variant is available with an Intel Core i5 1135G7 and Intel Iris Xe graphics.
Working in this new normal — whether at home, a quaint downtown café, or the airport — your office is wherever you choose it to be. Intel Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) delivers super-fast networking speeds for quick large file transfers, responsive online gaming, and smooth video chats. It’s expected to be three times faster than Wi-Fi 5 and offers up to 75% lower latency.
The laptop sports a 50Wh 4-cell polymer battery that can last for about a day to keep you productive all day long. The fast-charge feature helps recharge a low battery to 60% in just 49 minutes.
Verdict
The VivoBook S14 S433 retails for P49,995 for the Intel Core i5 variant and P59,995 for the Intel Core i7. As a midrange laptop, the VivoBook with all its colors offered at two different prices could help bring out one’s creativity through this laptop you can afford. Its multiple ports and impressive battery life are a huge bonus especially when you’re working or studying out. These would also prevent you from spending a lot on the dongles just to get the extra ports you need. The only room for improvement would ironically be its Harman-Kardon speakers but overall, I would recommend this laptop.
Pros
- Non-reflective screen
- Minimalist design
- Number Pad
- Multiple ports
- Battery life
- Camera
Cons
- Speakers
Price and Specification
