Asus Vivobook 16 Review: Big but a Bit Dim

Whereas the flashy Asus Vivobook 16X and Vivobook 16 OLED may be hogging the headlines with their stand-out screens, that’s not the top of the story with this laptop computer household. There’s additionally the Vivobook 16, which appears to present you a extra fundamental setup with a extra modest 16-inch IPS LCD.

In keeping with Asus, the Vivobook 16 is “the perfect on a regular basis laptop computer for faculty”. With stand-out options resembling a bodily webcam protect, massive 16in show and intensely versatile 180-degree hinge, it may be onto one thing.

Nevertheless, underwhelming battery life, a considerably dim and drab show, and a not-inconsiderable £899 RRP for the range-topping i7 mannequin that I’m reviewing right here may provide you with pause for thought. Do

Particularly with laptops just like the versatile and completed Lenovo Yoga 7i 16 and the Dell Inspiron 16 2-in-1 obtainable for comparable cash. Does the Vivobook 16 do sufficient within the hotly contested sub-£1,000 laptop computer class?

Design & Construct

• Plastic construct
• Comparatively light-weight
• First rate port choice

The Asus Vivobook 16 looks like fairly a fundamental design, with a barely cheap-feeling all-plastic building. Whereas the bottom in all fairness sturdy, with a rounded, rough-textured backside giving it a rugged really feel, the shiny gray plastic across the keyboard and on the again of the show feels somewhat naff.

Jon Mundy / Foundry

Certainly, I’ve observed that a few of that plastic has began to flake away on the highest fringe of the laptop computer in two completely different locations. On condition that I didn’t take the Vivobook 16 out of my home, and barely even eliminated it from my desk through the check interval, that’s a little bit of a priority.

Particularly when you think about that the highest half of the show is prone to be enterprise extra mechanical put on than your common laptop computer. It won’t be a touchscreen or stylus-compatible display screen, however a 180-degree hinge signifies that it’s designed to be manipulated, and will be laid completely flat. 

One optimistic of that plasticky construct is that this isn’t a very heavy laptop computer for its dimension. It weighs simply 1.88kg, which is lighter than each the aforementioned Yoga 7i and the Inspiron 16 2-in-1. 

One stand-out design factor right here is the bodily webcam protect, which presents a easy mechanical slider mechanism within the centre of the highest bezel. It really works merely however successfully, with an orange color indicating which you could’t be seen. 

Jon Mundy / Foundry

When it comes to connectivity, there’s blended information. The inclusion of three USB Kind-A ports and an HDMI port is welcome, however simply the one USB Kind-C port looks like an oversight in 2023. There’s no SD card slot both, which might be a blow for some creatives.

That single USB-C port can’t be used for charging, with the Vivobook 16 counting on a proprietary port. I’d have preferred to no less than have the choice – it makes the system extra of a ache to cart round.

Jon Mundy / Foundry

Keyboard & trackpad

• Strong full-size keyboard
• First rate trackpad
• No fingerprint sensor or face unlock

The typing expertise on the Vivobook 16 is respectable, with a full-sized chiclet keyboard (quieter however with much less journey than a mechanical one) that finds area for devoted numerical keys. The latter does serve to squish issues up considerably, with the Enter key somewhat trickier to find than I’d have preferred, however you’ll alter.

Anyron Copeman / Foundry

There’s a full set of perform keys, too, together with a devoted mic mute button. It’s certainly not the one laptop computer with this selection, however alongside a bodily digital camera blocker, the Vivobook 16 is actually a stable decide for the privacy-conscious.

Key journey is sweet, and I used to be in a position to rapidly make the adjustment from my MacBook Professional workhorse to the Vivobook 16 with out too many false presses. The typing expertise isn’t pretty much as good – this can be a less expensive laptop computer in spite of everything – however it doesn’t really feel like a large downgrade. Every secret’s backlit, although the impact appears to range relying in your angle.

One other function Asus appears eager to push to the fore – no less than judging by the massive sticker to the correct of the touchpad – is its Antimicrobial Guard Plus, which supposedly protects these frequently-touched surfaces. It’s not possible to check, after all, past confirming that I didn’t fall unwell throughout my time with the laptop computer. However it’s a pleasant concept, particularly if you happen to’ll be sharing your laptop computer with a number of folks in your family.

I discovered the touchpad to be completely purposeful, with respectable sensitivity and a well-sprung bodily click on. Nevertheless, its off-centre positioning – a consequence of that quantity pad, little question – proved somewhat off-putting, and made it a wrestle to stretch my proper thumb throughout to left-click. I rapidly resorted to double tapping the trackpad as a substitute, which works effectively in its place.

Anyron Copeman / Foundry

Notable by its absence is the fingerprint sensor that comes with pricier laptops such because the Vivobook 16X. With that 720p digital camera not in a position to provide Home windows Good day facial recognition, you’ll should depend on an quaint pin or password for entry, which is a little bit of a ache, particularly if you happen to’re shelling out for the highest mannequin.

Show & audio

• 16in LCD FHD+ decision
• 60Hz refresh price
• Enough stereo audio system

The principle factor that may be stated for the Vivobook 16’s show is that it’s a pleasant dimension. Not solely does it measure 16in, however a 16:10 facet ratio feels significantly spacious when doing something aside from watching movies and taking part in sure video games.

You’re most likely not going to wish to do an terrible lot of both of these issues right here, although. Whereas different family members supply punchy OLED shows, the common Vivobook 16 has a considerably drab IPS-level LCD panel. It maxes out at a 60Hz refresh price, and packs an everyday 1920 x 1200 (FHD+) decision.

Anyron Copeman / Foundry

See also  Google Pixel 8 Review: No Longer a No-Brainer

Asus claims a decidedly unspectacular most brightness of 300 nits, which I confirmed in recording a median measured luminance of 304 nits. It’s dim sufficient that you simply’ll wish to keep away from open air utilization altogether, including to the final sense that this isn’t a very transportable laptop computer.

Color accuracy isn’t nice both, with a median sRGB gamut protection of 62.9% in opposition to a gamut quantity of 63.5%, and a median Delta E of 4.71 (the nearer to 1 the higher). HDR just isn’t supported.

Touchscreen operation isn’t supported both. Taken along with the truth that this “IPS-level” show doesn’t have something past satisfactory viewing angles, I used to be left questioning what the purpose of the Vivobook 16’s 180-degree hinge was.

When it comes to audio output, you get a pair of bottom-mounted stereo audio system which can be able to good clear highs, however not a lot else. They’re completely fantastic for vocal output like podcasts, YouTube movies, and video calls (through an satisfactory 720p digital camera), however they lack the bass for sustained music and film audio output, and there isn’t an enormous quantity of discernible separation.

Specs & efficiency

• Twelfth-gen Intel U-series CPUs
• No discrete GPU possibility
• Strong on a regular basis efficiency

The Vivobook 16 unit that Asus despatched for evaluate runs on a Twelfth gen Intel Core i7-1255U processor, which seems to be the top-of-the-line possibility within the UK. The Asus UK web site can be displaying i5-1235U, i3-1215U, and i3-1115G4 choices, whereas Amazon additionally seems to be promoting a Ryzen 5 mannequin. 

Anyron Copeman / Foundry

Sticking with my check mannequin, this isn’t the very newest Intel processor technology, nor even essentially the most highly effective instance of its technology, however then we’re not speaking a few top-end laptop computer right here. These processors are paired with both 8- or 16GB of DDR4-SDRAM, with my i7 mannequin packing the total quantity. My check mannequin additionally has a 512GB PCIe SSD, however lower-end fashions drop all the way down to 256GB.

In utilization I discovered this i7 iteration of the Vivobook 16 to be moderately responsive, no less than within the gentle utilization situations for which it’s meant. Apps and internet pages boot up snappily, whereas leaping between a number of tabs on internet browsers, phrase processing purposes, and menus by no means phases the laptop computer an excessive amount of.

With no discrete GPU choices just like the Vivobook 16X, you’ll should make do with an built-in Intel Iris Xe graphics resolution. Suffice to say, this isn’t a machine to get if you wish to get pleasure from some 3D gaming. I used to be in a position to get 3D FPS Atomic Coronary heart operating on low settings, however it was hardly clean or fairly.

Benchmark scores are broadly consistent with different equally specced laptops that we’ve examined, although it did come up considerably brief on the GPU-focused 3DMark Evening Raid check for no matter motive. 

The Vivobook 16’s thick physique appears to have yielded respectable air circulate, as I didn’t observe it getting too heat throughout extra intensive moments, even because the followers kicked in.

Battery & charging

• 42Wh battery
• Disappointing battery life
• Strong 45W charging

Asus has packed the Vivobook 16 with a compact 42Wh battery, which is considerably regarding in a 16in laptop computer. Neither the show nor the processor is the form of high-performance part that might drink numerous juice, besides.

Anyron Copeman / Foundry

Positive sufficient, I discovered the Vivobook 16 to be considerably missing within the stamina division. I unplugged the laptop computer at full energy at round 9am on a typical work day, which concerned working throughout a number of Chrome tabs, some gentle YouTube streaming (largely as background audio), a single transient picture edit, and a few phrase processing in iA Author. Simply 4 hours 25 minutes into my day, the Vivobook 16 ran out of cost – and that included a ten minute espresso break throughout which I closed the lid. 

I didn’t have an influence saving mode set to kick in, besides. This isn’t a really robust consequence. Ideally, you’d need a workhorse laptop computer to have the ability to get near a full working day of utilization unplugged.

This impression was confirmed when operating the usual TA loop 720p video check, with the display screen set to a regular 120 nits brightness. The Vivobook 16 ran out of cost after simply 9 hours 17 minutes. Many bigger laptops will get you effectively into double figures on this check.

On the plus facet, such a small battery prices up fairly rapidly, even with a mere 45W charger bundled in. I used to be in a position to get nearly half of a full cost again in half-hour, which is fairly good going.

Software program

• Runs Home windows 11 Residence
• A couple of further pre-installed apps

The Vivobook 16 runs Home windows 11 Residence out of the field, with little in the way in which of extras. There’s the standard annoying McAfee trial pop-up to take care of, whereas elsewhere you’ll discover Amazon’s Alexa app preinstalled.

When it comes to Asus provisions, GlideX is a cross-device, cross-platform screen-sharing resolution that permits you to use your pill as a secondary show, whereas ScreenXpert goals to offer a smartphone-like “secondary touchscreen” UI for fast navigation.

Value & Availability

On the time of writing, Currys is providing an entry-level Intel Core i3-1115G4 mannequin with an RRP of £549. Amazon can go one higher, with the i5-1235U mannequin promoting for £429.

The highest-of-the vary i7-1255U mannequin examined right here carries a comparatively steep RRP of £899, however I’ve seen it on the Amazon Asus Retailer for somewhat over £650.

The laptop computer isn’t presently obtainable within the US.

Must you purchase the Asus Vivobook 16?

The Asus Vivobook 16 presents an expansive 16in laptop computer expertise for effectively south of 4 figures, which is a welcome proposition. Nevertheless, that show isn’t particularly vibrant or correct, which robs the laptop computer of a few of its multimedia potential.

What’s extra, a puny battery, simply the one USB-C port, and a fairly cheap-feeling end saps a good quantity of that preliminary full-sized laptop computer pizazz. 

Heavy discounting signifies that anybody particularly out there for the most important laptop computer display screen potential on the lowest worth potential will certainly wish to embody the Vivobook 16 of their calculations. For the overwhelming majority of individuals, nevertheless, you may get a better-balanced laptop computer bundle elsewhere.

Specs

• 358.7 x 249.5 x 19.9 mm
• 1.88kg 
• 16-inch Full HD IPS-like LCD show (16:10 facet ratio, 1920×1200) 
• Full-size keyboard with backlighting 
• 720p HD Digicam
• Twin audio system
• Intel Core i7-1255U
• Intel Iris Xe graphics 
• 16GB DDR4-SDRAM
• 512GB SSD
• 1x HDMI
• 1x USB 3.2 Kind-C
• 1x USB 2.0 ​​Kind-A
• 2x USB 3.2 Kind-A
• 1x 3.5mm jack
• 42Wh battery
• 45W charger
• Wi-Fi 6 
• Bluetooth 5.3
• Home windows 11 Residence