Not so long ago, ASUS enriched its laptop segment with some innovations. While the Zenbook 14X OLED Space Edition was the talk of the town with its unique design, ASUS has a sibling in its Vivobook lineup in the form of the ASUS Vivobook S14† This new Vivobook comes with a 2.8K OLED display and is paired with twelfth generation Intel CPUs.
The variant we tested is the ASUS Vivobook S14 S4302 with the 12th generation Intel Core i7-12700H chipset. There is also an i5 variant available, namely Core i5-12500H. Both models have 16 GB of RAM and the same 14-inch OLED panel. We’ve been using the ASUS Vivobook S14 for over two weeks and here are our experiences with the device.
Build and design
The ASUS Vivobook S14 has an aluminum chassis that gives the device a solid feel. The laptop weighs 1.5 kg, which is neither too heavy nor too light, making it easy to carry in a backpack. The signature Vivobook decal on the back is a real eye-catcher and looks better than a solid finish.
The hinge of the Vivobook S14 is sturdy and gives good feedback when opening and closing the lid. Speaking of which, the lid can be opened quite easily with a single finger. The overall build of the laptop feels premium and sturdy and is comfortable too. But when it comes to design, the Zenbook 14X Space Edition steals the show from the Vivobook S14 that launches at the same time.
Display
The Vivobook S14 is equipped with a 14 inch 2.8K OLED display with a refresh rate of 90 Hz. The colors on this panel look very vibrant and lifelike. The display covers 100% of the DCI-P3 color gamut, ensuring color accuracy. So if you deal with colors in your work, for example color correction of photos, this panel will not let you down.
The 90Hz refresh rate is a good addition, but nothing that stands out. The colors on this panel speak for themselves and we were very impressed with the display. Text looks very sharp when read and the viewing angles are excellent on this device. Once you’ve worked with an OLED panel, it’s really hard to go back to an LCD.
Since this is an OLED panel, the screen has a glossy finish. If you use the laptop in a room with a window or a bright light source behind it, the glossy screen may bother you a bit. That said, the display on the ASUS Vivobook S14 is great, and you can definitely enjoy all types of media on this panel.
Performance
Our unit of Vivobook S14 is equipped with a 12th generation Intel Core i7-12700H and 16 GB of RAM. Intel Iris Xe Graphics handles graphics tasks and a 500 GB SSD supports the system. The chipset is cooled by a single fan, with the vent on the left side of the unit.
We tested the Vivobook S14 through regular use such as typing, checking email, streaming video and browsing alongside software like Adobe Photoshop. The Vivobook S14 doesn’t sweat and handles your tasks with ease during regular use. However, the device tends to get a little warm with extended use, which can be felt near the trackpad. As soon as the fan starts to do its job, the warm air escaping on the left side is clearly felt on the palms.
In our use, the Vivobook S14 has never been thermally stuck in any situation. Typing for hours with multiple Chrome tabs open can help the device maintain its performance. The presence of 16 GB of RAM ensured that we always had enough RAM to work with multiple tabs without bottlenecks.
Keyboard and trackpad
The Vivobook S14’s keyboard has a row of function keys on the top, with the positions of the power and delete keys reversed to prevent accidental shutdown. Typing on the Vivobook S14 is very comfortable and the keys give good tactile feedback when pressing keys. We had no issues with ghost keys while using it.
The trackpad is a decent size and offers plenty of room for scrolling. We had no issues using the trackpad and the click buttons worked perfectly. The trackpad may feel warm during extended use of the notebook.
Windows 11 on ASUS Vivobook S14
The ASUS Vivobook S14 runs out of the box with Windows 11 and also comes with the MS Office suite. Windows 11 runs quite smoothly here and our experience with it was flawless. Also included is MyASUS, which allows you to tailor your device’s performance to your needs. You can also lower the fan speed for a quieter experience or run the fan at full power if needed.
I/O ports and peripherals
ASUS Vivobook S14 is equipped with plenty of I/O ports, enough to connect all your accessories. Only an Ethernet port has been omitted in favor of the form factor.
Left hand side
right side
- HDMI 2.0 port
- 2 x Thunderbolt 4.0 ports
- USB-A port
- Combined 3.5mm headphone jack
- LED indicators
The Vivobook S14 is equipped with a 720p webcam with a privacy hatch. The speakers are located at the bottom and are sufficiently loud. For wireless connectivity, the Vivobook S14 has WiFi 6E and Bluetooth. A fingerprint scanner is also integrated into the on/off button that works accurately. We had no issues with the fingerprint lock while using it.
battery life
A 70-watt-hour battery powers the ASUS Vivobook S14. The notebook can easily last 6-7 hours on a 100% charge in normal use. With intensive use, where the fan was actively in use, the battery life can reach 5 hours. However, the VivoBook easily lasts about 6 hours with regular use.
The included 90W charger can charge the Vivobook S14 from 0-100% in about 95 minutes.
ASUS Vivobook S14 Review: Verdict
The ASUS Vivobook S14 has an excellent OLED display, which is one of the highlights of this product. The device is very powerful and can maintain its performance even during long working sessions. The compact design and good battery life make the ASUS Vivobook S14 a good choice if you’re looking for an OLED notebook that doesn’t compromise. The retail price for the ASUS Vivobook S14 i5 variant is Rs 75,000 and the i7 model is priced at Rs 95,000.
If we compare the Vivobook S14 with ASUS’ own Zenbook, you get the same display and chipset, with comparable performance for a much lower price. Thus, the Vivobook S14 is cheaper in direct comparison to the Zenbook series. The Vivobook S14 is certainly a worthwhile option with all it has to offer.
- Great display
- Good keyboard and trackpad
- Sustained Performance
- dated looks
- Screen is reflective
- Fan can be noisy at times
| Build & Design | |
| Display | |
| Performance | |
| battery life | |
| Price | |
| OVERVIEW The ASUS Vivobook S14 is an excellent option to consider with its OLED display, performance, and plenty of memory to work with. It can also be considered an affordable Zenbook as the gap between the Vivobook and Zenbook series has narrowed this time around. | |
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