ASUS Vivobook S 15 OLED Review: Balance of Beauty and Brawn at a Competitive Price

The Asus Vivobook S 15 OLED stands as a compelling option in the premium laptop segment, offering a brilliant OLED display and Snapdragon X Elite processing power in a sleek package. While it excels in productivity and entertainment with its stunning screen and long battery life, gaming enthusiasts might find the integrated graphics limiting. The device successfully balances performance, portability, and price, making it an attractive choice for professionals and students alike.

Design and Build Quality

The aluminum chassis strikes a fine balance between durability and portability at 1.42kg, with a slim 15.9mm profile. While the 180-degree hinge adds versatility, the slight flex in the lid and keyboard deck raises minor durability concerns. Compared to competitors like the Dell XPS 15, the build quality is good but not exceptional.

Display

The 15.6-inch OLED panel impresses with 2880 x 1620 pixels resolution and 120Hz refresh rate. Peak brightness of 600 nits outshines many competitors, though the glossy finish causes reflections. Color accuracy and vibrancy rival the MacBook Pro’s Liquid Retina display.

Software

Windows 11 Home comes with useful Asus utilities, including MyASUS for system optimization. The Copilot key integration, while innovative, may feel superfluous to some users. The software suite is more comprehensive than what Lenovo and HP offer in similar models.

Performance

The Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite processor, paired with up to 16GB LPDDR5X RAM and 1TB SSD, delivers impressive performance across tasks. In benchmarks, it trades blows with Intel Core Ultra-powered laptops like the HP Spectre x360 and even matches some Core i7 models in productivity workloads. Video editing and graphic design run smoothly, though rendering times lag behind dedicated GPUs. The integrated Adreno GPU handles basic creative tasks well but struggles with demanding games compared to laptops with discrete NVIDIA GPUs. Daily tasks like web browsing, document editing, and multiple Chrome tabs show no lag. While it can’t match gaming laptops or workstations with dedicated graphics, it outperforms most ultrabooks in its price range for CPU-intensive tasks.

Battery Life

The advertised 18-hour battery life translates to 12-14 hours of real-world use, surpassing most Windows laptops in its class and approaching MacBook Air territory. Fast charging capability is a welcome addition.

Keyboard and Trackpad

The full-size keyboard offers 1.4mm key travel and satisfying feedback, though not quite matching ThinkPad’s legendary keyboards. The glass trackpad and fingerprint reader perform reliably, while RGB backlighting adds flair.

Ports and Connectivity

Two USB 4 Type-C ports, USB-A ports, HDMI, and a microSD slot provide better connectivity than many ultrabooks. Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.2 ensure future-proof wireless connections.

Audio and Webcam

Harman/Kardon speakers deliver clear but not exceptional audio. The FHD webcam with AI noise cancellation performs adequately in good lighting but struggles in dim conditions, similar to most laptop cameras in this range.

Thermal Performance

The cooling system maintains comfortable temperatures under load, with fan noise becoming noticeable only during intensive tasks. Thermal management is superior to previous Vivobook models.

Pros and Cons

Pros

  • Outstanding OLED display quality
  • Excellent battery life
  • Competitive performance
  • Comprehensive port selection
  • Lightweight design

Cons

  • Limited gaming capabilities
  • Subpar webcam in low light
  • Some build quality concerns

Market Buzz

Online reviews praise the display quality and battery life, with most criticism centered on gaming performance limitations. Customer satisfaction rates higher than previous Vivobook models.

Pricing

  • Snapdragon X Elite (16GB/1TB): ₹1,24,990
  • Intel Core Ultra i5 (16GB/512GB): ₹1,09,990
  • Intel Core Ultra i9 (16GB/1TB): ₹1,37,500

Value for Money

Given the premium OLED display, strong performance, and competitive pricing, the Vivobook S 15 OLED offers better value than similarly priced competitors from Dell and HP in the Indian market.

Final Verdict

The Asus Vivobook S 15 OLED hits a sweet spot in the premium laptop segment, offering an excellent display, strong performance, and good battery life. Despite gaming limitations, it’s a compelling choice for professionals and content creators seeking a versatile daily driver.

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