ASUS Vivobook S16 OLED: A Spacious, Eye-Friendly Laptop
Daily laptops are a common sight nowadays. If you're searching for a laptop to handle your everyday tasks, whether it's work or personal use, there are numerous options available. But not all of them are worth your money. Enter the latest Asus Vivobook S16 OLED, a 16-inch notebook designed to be your go-to device, whether you're a student, a professional, or just someone looking for a reliable all-purpose machine for browsing the internet and managing daily projects.
Asus Vivobook S16 OLEDAlthough not the exact model reviewed here, there are also versions of the Vivobook S16 with Intel processors.$999.99 at Amazon$1,099.99 Save $100.00$999.99 at Amazon$1,099.99 Save $100.00
I've been using the Asus Vivobook S16 OLED as my daily driver for the past two weeks, and it's impressed me like many of Asus' more recent laptops. It's stylish and compact, weighing about 3.3 pounds—approximately the same weight as my usual daily driver, a MacBook Air 15-inch. This laptop also shines in terms of performance, featuring a lovely 3.2K, 120Hz OLED display that enhances everything you look at.
Specs and Performance
There are several versions of the Asus Vivobook S16 OLED, including models with Intel CPUs, but the one provided to me had an AMD Ryzen 9 8945HS chip (which includes Radeon 780M Graphics), 16GB of LPDDR5X RAM, and a 1TB SSD. A solid configuration that met all my needs without any issues. The Ryzen 9 8945HS is an excellent choice for everyday tasks, and the built-in graphics were more than enough for basic work and some light gaming on the side.
This laptop's overall performance was consistently smooth, and I didn't experience any noticeable lag even with several Chrome tabs open at once, as well as various Office applications I needed for work. I even tried running a couple of lightweight indie games on the system and found that they functioned well, given the lack of a dedicated graphics card. However, for more serious gaming, I'd suggest purchasing a gaming laptop, such as the Asus Zephyrus G16, which I previously tested. Although I managed to get Red Dead Redemption 2 to run, the frame rate frequently dipped below 30 fps.
I didn't perform the typical battery of benchmarks used for high-end gaming laptops, but did attempt to overload the Vivobook S16 OLED with severalapps like Photoshop, Premiere, and After Effects running simultaneously. The computer handled everything with ease and minimal slowdowns, and it even managed to export a 3-minute test video at 4K in just over an hour and twenty minutes.
List of available ports on the Vivobook S16 OLED:
- 1x USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-C for display/power delivery
- 2x USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A
- 1x USB 4.0 Gen 3 Type-C for display/power delivery
- 1x HDMI 2.1 TMDS
- 1x 3.5mm Combo Audio Jack
- Micro SD card reader
$999.99at Amazon$1,099.99Save $100.00
The Vivobook S16 OLED is now one of the few Asus laptops to incorporate the Copilot button, which you can mostly disregard if you're uninterested in Microsoft's entry-level AI features. While there aren't any of the intriguing AI enhancements displayed on Microsoft's Copilot+ PCs for the Vivobook S16 OLED, it doesn't need AI to make it stand out in a crowd. It's just a well-made laptop.
Design and feel
A crucial aspect of the Vivobook S16 OLED that I appreciate is the fact that Asus hasn't tried to make it stand out. It has a sleek all-metal body and a restrained logo on the cover. The design is quite minimalistic compared to the other Asus devices I've seen this year, and that resonated with my preference for simplicity. The all-metal casing also contributes to a lightweight and thin shape, making it easy to carry around despite its large 16-inch display.
If you're in the market for an everyday laptop, the Asus Vivobook S16 OLED is a great choice. Its understated design, excellent performance, and stylish OLED display make it a strong competitor in the market.
Credit: Joshua Hawkins
The trackpad and keyboard on this laptop are top-notch, with the trackpad taking up a good portion of the laptop's body for a spacious working area. Both the keyboard and trackpad are designed with Ergosense, providing excellent ergonomics without compromising on the quality of the typing and tracking experience.
The backlit chiclet keyboard is enjoyable to type on, comparable even to my MacBook Air's, and the inclusion of a numpad is practical, even if it feels a bit cramped. The laptop's light weight (3.31 pounds) makes it convenient to use in various settings, whether on your lap, a countertop, or anywhere you need to take your work.
Despite fitting a variety of keys onto the laptop without crowding it too much, Asus has managed to include all the essential keys you might need.
Display and battery life
It's so light you can easily hold it in one hand.Credit: Joshua Hawkins
The large, 16-inch, 3.2K (3,200 x 2,000) Lumina OLED display on the Asus Vivobook S16 OLED is an impressive sight. With a colorful and balanced display, this laptop offers an ample workspace for multitasking. The peak brightness of 600 nits also makes it suitable for various working environments, reducing concerns about glare.
The side-mounted HDMI connector and USB-C display ports allow you to expand the display if necessary, further increasing your productivity. The display's high quality is one of the best seen in laptops this year, making work and movie-watching a delight. Its vibrant colors, from the bright sandy deserts in Dune: Part Two to the darker cave scenes, were engaging, and the laptop's surprisingly good performance with lower-end games was a pleasant surprise.
Despite boasting a powerful AMD Ryzen 9 8945HS and integrated graphics, one might expect only a brief battery life from the Asus Vivobook S16 OLED. My testing revealed that I could get through an entire workday and into the evening without needing to charge the device, amounting to about eight to nine hours of battery life. The laptop also features Asus software for managing the battery and ensuring optimum performance, so overcharging the device shouldn't be a concern if you follow the instructions provided.
Conclusion
The OLED display shines in both bright and dark environments.Credit: Joshua Hawkins
The Asus Vivobook S16 OLED is an excellent all-purpose laptop for those who need a versatile system for work, personal projects, or school. Its lightweight design makes it an attractive option for frequent travelers or those who need to carry their laptop daily.
The powerful AMD Ryzen 9 8945HS and integrated graphics in the model I tested offer ample performance for most tasks but aren't suited for high-end gaming. The Asus Vivobook S16 OLED model I tested is currently available on Asus' website for $999.
Read also:
The Asus Vivobook S16 OLED review is a great resource for anyone interested in tech and looking for a new laptop. If you're considering purchasing the Vivobook S16 OLED, this review provides valuable insights into its performance, design, and overall experience.
This laptop has been gaining positive reviews in the tech community, with many praising its spacious OLED display and powerful AMD Ryzen 9 8945HS chip. Whether you're a student, a professional, or just someone looking for a reliable all-purpose machine, the Vivobook S16 OLED might be worth considering.
