Not long ago, ASUS enriched its laptop segment with some innovations. While the Zenbook 14X OLED Space Edition was the talk of the hour with its unique design, ASUS has a sibling in its Vivobook line in the form of the ASUS Vivobook S14. This new Vivobook comes with a 2.8K OLED display and is paired with a twelfth generation Intel CPU.
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, i.e. Core i5-12500H. Both models have 16GB of RAM and have the same 14-inch OLED panel. We’ve been using the ASUS Vivobook S14 for over two weeks and here’s 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 not too heavy but not too light, so it is easy to carry in your backpack. The characteristic Vivobook emblem on the back is a real attraction and looks better than a simple finish.
The hinge of the Vivobook S14 is durable and offers a good response 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 robust while being comfortable. But in terms of design, the Zenbook 14X Space Edition steals the spotlight from the Vivobook S14 as it launches at the same time.
Show
The Vivobook S14 is equipped with a 2.8K 14-inch OLED display with a refresh rate of 90 Hz. The colors in this panel look very vibrant and realistic. The screen covers 100% of the DCI-P3 color gamut, which ensures color accuracy. Therefore, if you are dealing with colors in your work, for example, color correction of photos, this panel will not disappoint you.
The 90 Hz refresh rate is a nice addition, but nothing stands out. The colors of this panel speak for themselves and we were very impressed with the screen. The 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 very difficult to return to an LCD screen.
Because it is an OLED panel, the screen has a glossy finish. If you use your laptop in an area with a window or a bright light source behind it, the bright screen may disturb you to some extent. That said, the screen of the ASUS Vivobook S14 is amazing and you can definitely enjoy all kinds of media in this panel.
Performance
Our Vivobook S14 drive is equipped with a 12th generation Intel Core i7-12700H and 16GB 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 device.
We tested the Vivobook S14 during normal use, such as typing, checking email, streaming video, and browsing along with software such as Adobe Photoshop. The Vivobook S14 does not sweat and handles your tasks with ease during normal use. However, the device tends to warm up a bit during prolonged use, which can be felt near the trackpad. As soon as the fan starts running, the warm air escaping from the left side can definitely be felt in your palms.
In our use, the Vivobook S14 did not stop thermally in any situation. When you type for hours with multiple Chrome tabs open, your device can maintain its performance. The presence of 16GB of RAM ensured that we always had enough memory to work with multiple tabs without bottlenecks.
Keyboard and trackpad
The keyboard of the Vivobook S14 has a row of function keys at 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 provide good tactile feedback on keystrokes. We had no issues with ghost keys during use.
The trackpad is a decent size and offers enough space to move around. We had no issues with the trackpad and the click buttons worked perfectly. The trackpad may feel warm when using the laptop for extended periods of time.
Windows 11 and ASUS Vivobook S14
The ASUS Vivobook S14 runs Windows 11 out of the box and also includes the MS Office suite. Windows 11 works great here and our experience with it was impeccable. Also included is MyASUS, which allows you to adjust the performance of your device to suit your needs. You can also slow down the fan for a quieter experience or run the fan at full power when needed.
I / O ports and peripherals
The ASUS Vivobook S14 is equipped with many I / O ports, enough to connect all your accessories. Only one Ethernet port in favor of form factor has been omitted.
Left side
Right side
- HDMI 2.0 port
- 2 x Thunderbolt 4.0 ports
- USB-A port
- 3.5 mm combined headphone jack
- LED indicators
The Vivobook S14 is equipped with a 720p webcam that has a privacy shutter. The speakers are at the bottom and are loud enough. For wireless connectivity, the Vivobook S14 has WiFi 6E and Bluetooth. A fingerprint scanner is also integrated into the precisely operated power button. We had no issues with the fingerprint lock during use.
Battery life
A 70 WHr battery powers the ASUS Vivobook S14. The laptop could easily last between 6 and 7 hours with a 100% charge during normal use. During heavy use, where the fan was in active use, battery life can have an impact around 5 hours. However, the VivoBook can easily last about 6 hours with constant use.
The included 90 W charger can charge the Vivobook S14 from 0 to 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 work sessions. The compact design and good battery life make the ASUS Vivobook S14 a good choice if you’re looking for a non-compromising OLED laptop. The sale price of the ASUS Vivobook S14 i5 variant is 75,000 rupees and the i7 model costs 95,000 rupees.
If you compare the Vivobook S14 with ASUS’s own Zenbook, you’ll get the same screen and chipset, with similar performance for a much lower price. Therefore, the Vivobook S14 is cheaper in direct comparison with the Zenbook series. The Vivobook S14 is definitely a worthwhile option with all it has to offer.
Pros
- Amazing screen
- Good keyboard and trackpad
- Sustained performance
Cons
- Old looks
- The screen is reflective
- The fan can make noise at times
General review
Construction and design Display performance Battery life Price SUMMARY
The ASUS Vivobook S14 is a great choice to keep in mind with its OLED display, performance and plenty of working memory. It can also be considered an affordable Zenbook, as this time the distance between the Vivobook series and Zenbook has been reduced.