We live in a time where productivity laptops have integrated AI and can be accessible at your leisure, while at the same time providing multiple different configurations that can fit your unique needs and budgets. In the case of the newest ASUS Vivobook S16, it comes wrapped in a premium package perfect for minimalists who need workhorses that can keep up.
The latest Vivobook S Series laptops came in a slew of CPU options and two sizes: the 16-inch and the 14-inch. We ran those down in our other article. For this review, we were lent the S3607CA-RP049WSM. Before we dive into it, here are the goodies it’s packing:
ASUS Vivobook S16 S3607CA-RP049WSM Specs
Intel Core Ultra 7 Processor 255H 2.0 GHz (24MB Cache, up to 5.1 GHz, 16 cores, 16 Threads)
Intel AI Boost NPU up to 13TOPS
Intel Arc Graphics
16GB DDR5 RAM
1TB M.2 NVMe PCIe 4.0 SSD Memory
1x DDR5 SO-DIMM slot
1x M.2 2280 PCIe 4.0×4
2x USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-C with support for display / power delivery (data speed up to 5Gbps)
2x USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A (data speed up to 5Gbps)
1x HDMI 1.4
1x 3.5mm Combo Audio Jack
70WHrs, 4S1P, 4-cell Li-ion
TYPE-C, 65W AC Adapter, Output: 20V DC, 3.25A, 65W, Input: 100-240V AC 50/60GHz universal
Microsoft Office Home 2024 + Microsoft 365 Basic
Aesthetics
The Vivobook S16 is a looker, plain and simple. It’s understated elegance combines tasteful color choices, materials, and design. Comparing it to fashion terms, it gives a look of quiet luxury: timeless, elegant, and an emphasis of versatility – adjectives that could very well be used to describe the device perfectly.
The Vivobook S16 opens up to a generous 16-inch 1920x1200p 16:10 144Hz IPS display. That’s all fancy jargon to say that this laptop allows you to watch 4k resolution videos, no sweat. While it’s not an OLED display, we feel like certain compromises have to be made to make the pricepoints, and the display department is one of them. This particular display, however, combined with its AI capabilities, still make the Vivobook S16 a great tool for creatives and people who work on more visual projects (like presentation slides and short-form video content in bulk).
One cool thing we liked about the laptop is the built-in lens cover for the built-in webcam. No need to buy the paste-on covers!
The trackpad is very large, with multi-touch capabilities. More experienced users of productivity laptops will find the trackpad intuitive to use. No need to incorporate the number pad onto the trackpad for this version of the Vivobook, since the keyboard area itself can accommodate it.
As for the keyboard, we’re not a fan of chiclet keys ourselves, but typing on the laptop has been a decent experience. It’s actually decent enough for us not to recommend an external keyboard when you use the laptop, especially when out and about.
Since we’re on the topic of connectivity, the Vivobook S16 features a standard port selection on the left side, with an additional Type-A port on the right side. While it doesn’t have a built-in card reader, most laptop users already have a multi-port dongle in their arsenal. If you’re a first-time laptop owner or planning to be one, then you will need that particular peripheral if you want the Vivobook S16 to be an all-in-one machine.
A great thing we discovered while exploring the laptop is that it has two Type-C ports. One of them is the power port, and the other can be used for any peripheral you need at the moment, like your phone charger cable, for example.
It also has an HDMI port for connecting to an external display, and a 3.5mm audio jack in case you like your music wired instead of wireless.
The best thing about the whole external package of the device is that it folds down to a thin 1.59cm, and at a bit over 1kg in weight, you wouldn’t feel it in your backpack at all.
Under the Hood
The Vivobook S16 features two big things as major selling points: AI functions and lots of battery life.
It’s no secret that the device boasts a ton of computing power out of the box – no further tinkering required. With the Intel Core Ultra 7 255H CPU at its core, this laptop is built to open all the apps and programs you need from the moment you sit down at your desk until you’re done for the day.
The MyASUS software helper comes free with any Vivobook purchase, and it helps you further tweak your device to your preferences. It’s a nice little thing to explore when you’re working on something (like this article) and at the same time don’t want to work on it but your brain wants to do something anyway.
When it comes to AI, the Vivobook S16 has a few standout features coming from CoPilot. Recall is something that’s both potentially helpful and horrible if you’re an overthinker. In a nutshell, Recall helps you search for a website, a document you’ve downloaded, or an email you opened or replied to by going through your laptop and your browsing history, depending on how far back you want to recall. On the one hand, it’s a great tool when you’re juggling multiple clients and need to remember where you are in the conversation.
On the other hand, the ability for an AI to go through your browsing history can have very cringe-inducing ramifications, so we advise using this with caution and please browse the internet responsibly (you degenerate). Of course, security measures are in place for both the actual laptop and the AI so that sensitive information will not (knock on wood) leak out into the open.
One other AI function we enjoyed while we had the Vivobook S16 was its ability to boost the resolution of photos with just a few instructions. It’s great for updating old Facebook photos taken during the era of Nokia camera phones, but also for updating old scanned photos to share with family and friends!
The other main selling point of the latest Vivobooks is the battery life. With all this processing power, AI capabilities, and 16-inch display, you can actually leave the power brick behind when you use the Vivobook S16 while you’re out and about. With a little over 20 hours’ worth of battery life on a full charge, and from zero to 60% charging in under an hour, this device can get you through all your work tasks in a day with a decent amount of power left for an episode or two as you’re winding down.
The ASUS Vivobook S16: The Verdict
For its P65,995 price, the Vivobook S16 is a device that is almost within striking distance of Ultrabook territory. While the display being IPS instead of OLED may be considered a step back for most purists and minmaxers, it still functions well enough to carry you through the day with images that are still pleasing to the eyes.
For digital nomads who love the untethered life, this device is perfect thanks to its durable shell, huge battery capacity, and optimized battery life, and the specs won’t let you down whether you’re grinding the midnight hour to finish your big presentation or actually presenting to clients. It’s quiet luxury at it’s best: you don’t need to verbally say it can do all that and more; just one look is enough for everyone to know anyway.
JD Pablo Editor-in-Chief
JD Pablo is the current Editor-in-Chief of twenty8two. Enjoys video games, pizza, banana bread, and tea. Takes coffee black.
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