Asus Vivobook S16 OLED is a compelling new addition to the Windows laptop market, particularly for professionals seeking a blend of performance and portability.
Vivobook S16 was available in from market from 21 may 2024 has a 16-inch OLED screen that delivers stunning visuals, a sleek and lightweight design, and an array of features, including an RGB backlit keyboard, a generously sized trackpad, loud stereo speakers, and impressive battery life.
Vivobook S16 OLED positions itself as a strong contender against its Apple counterparts, offering an enticing combination of style, functionality, and value.
Vivobook S16 vs Others
Apple laptops have set a high standard in the laptop market with their superior build quality, powerful M series silicon, intuitive MacOS interface, exceptional trackpads, and long battery life. Windows laptops often need to catch up in these areas.
Asus Vivobook S16 OLED aims to bridge this gap and compete head-on with Apple’s offerings.
Apple’s MacBook lineup is renowned for its premium build quality, featuring sleek aluminum bodies and meticulous attention to detail.
The Vivobook S16 OLED counters have a stylish and slim design. They are available in an eye-catching ‘Misty Blue finish’ or a more understated ‘Neutral Black.’
Despite its more prominent 16-inch form factor, it maintains a lightweight profile at just 1.5 kg and 13.9 mm thickness, making it highly portable for professionals.
While Apple’s Retina displays are known for their clarity and colour accuracy, the Vivobook S16 OLED features a 16-inch 3.2K Lumina OLED display with a 3200 x 2000-pixel resolution and 120Hz refresh rate.
It boasts a 100% DCI-P3 color gamut and Pantone validation, ensuring professional-grade color accuracy.
The vibrant colors and high contrast ratio make it ideal for tasks requiring precise color representation, such as video editing and graphic design.
Apple’s MacOS offers a seamless and intuitive user experience, with a highly responsive trackpad and a well-designed keyboard.
The Vivobook S16 OLED responds with a full-size RGB backlit keyboard and a large, fluid trackpad that supports all Windows gestures smoothly.
The addition of AI functionalities, such as auto framing and AI noise-cancelling microphones, further enhances the user experience during video calls and online meetings.
Apple’s M series chips have set a high bar for performance and efficiency. The Vivobook S16 OLED, powered by Intel’s latest Core Ultra 7 chipsets, 16GB of LPDDR5x RAM, and 1TB of PCIe 4.0 SSD storage, delivers robust performance.
Benchmark scores, such as a 4755-productivity score on PCMark 10 and a 9446 multi-core score on Geekbench 6, indicate that it can handle demanding professional tasks with ease.
Battery life is another area where Apple excels, with the latest MacBooks offering impressive longevity. The Vivobook S16 OLED claims a battery life of up to 16 hours.
Real-world usage suggests around 9-10 hours, which is still respectable for most professionals. The 75Wh battery and 90W charger ensure that it charges quickly, making it convenient for users on the go.
While Apple’s laptops are often priced at a premium, the Vivobook S16 OLED offers a compelling value proposition at ₹1,02,990 for the base model.
Design and Build Quality
The model reviewed here comes in a striking ‘Misty Blue’ finish, offering a vibrant yet professional look. For those who prefer a more understated aesthetic, there is also a ‘Neutral Black’ option.
One of the standout features of the Vivobook S16 OLED is its slim profile. Measuring just 13.9 mm in thickness, it is fragile for a laptop of its size. Weighing approximately 1.5 kg, it is lightweight and easy to carry around. I
ideal for professionals who need a portable device for their daily commute or frequent travels. the 16-inch form factor might make it a tight fit for smaller backpacks, which is something to consider if portability is a top priority.
Despite its slim design, the Vivobook S16 OLED does not compromise on connectivity. It comes equipped with a comprehensive array of ports:
- 2 Thunderbolt 4 ports
- 2 USB 3.2 ports
- 1 HDMI port
- 1 microSD card reader
- 1 headphone jack
These connectivity options ensure that users can easily connect their peripherals and accessories, making the laptop versatile for various professional uses.
The Vivobook S16 OLED features a full-size keyboard with single-zone RGB backlighting, adding a touch of personalization and style.
The keyboard also includes a number pad, which is a valuable addition for those who frequently work with numbers.
Asus has integrated a dedicated copilot key into the keyboard. However, some users might need to catch the right Ctrl key, as preferences can vary.
The trackpad on the Vivobook S16 OLED is large and responsive, offering a smooth and precise navigation experience. It supports all standard Windows gestures, enhancing productivity and ease of use.
One notable omission in the Vivobook S16 OLED is the absence of a dedicated fingerprint sensor. Instead, the laptop relies on Windows Face Unlock for biometric authentication.
While this feature works adequately in well-lit conditions, it may be less reliable in low-light environments, which could be a drawback for some users.
The overall build quality of the Vivobook S16 OLED is impressive. The laptop feels solid and well-constructed, with a sturdy hinge mechanism that supports the 180-degree screen.
The lid opens smoothly, even with one finger, indicating a well-engineered hinge design. The metallic finish not only enhances the aesthetic appeal but also adds to the durability of the device.
User Experience and Functionality
The Asus Vivobook S16 OLED is designed with the user in mind, offering a range of features and functionalities that enhance the overall experience.
From its responsive keyboard and trackpad to its advanced AI features, this laptop aims to provide a seamless and enjoyable user experience.
The Vivobook S16 OLED comes with a full-size keyboard that includes single-zone RGB backlighting. This feature not only adds a touch of style but also improves usability in low-light conditions.
The keys are well-spaced and provide a comfortable typing experience with good tactile feedback. Although it takes some time to get used to the larger keyboard, if you’re coming from a smaller laptop, it eventually proves to be very smooth and quiet.
The trackpad is another highlight, offering a large, responsive surface that supports all standard Windows gestures.
The trackpad is fluid and precise, making navigation easy and intuitive. This is especially beneficial for users who frequently use multi-touch gestures for productivity tasks.
Asus has integrated several AI features into the Vivobook S16 OLED to enhance functionality, particularly for remote work and online communication:
This feature ensures that you remain in the center of the frame during video calls. Initially perceived as gimmicky, it turns out to be quite helpful in practice, adjusting smoothly as you move.
This AI feature helps simulate eye contact, even if you’re looking elsewhere on the screen, making video calls feel more natural.
It helps maintain privacy and reduces distractions by blurring the background during video calls.
The laptop is equipped with a 1080p full HD webcam, which provides clear and detailed video quality for meetings and calls. Combined with the AI features, it enhances the overall video conferencing experience.
The Vivobook S16 OLED also features an AI noise-cancelling microphone. This can be customized through the MyASUS application, allowing users to filter out background noise for clearer audio during calls and recordings.
The combination of the Intel Core Ultra 7 chipset, 16GB of LPDDR5x RAM, and 1TB of PCIe 4.0 SSD storage ensures smooth performance, whether you’re multitasking with several browser tabs open, running office applications, or streaming media.
Despite its slim design, the Vivobook S16 OLED manages heat effectively.
During regular use, the laptop remains cool to the touch, with only minor warmth detected under heavy loads such as running benchmarks.
This efficient heat management is crucial for maintaining performance and user comfort.The stereo speakers on the Vivobook S16 OLED deliver loud and clear sound, making them suitable for media consumption and video calls. T
he Volume Booster option in the MyASUS app can further enhance the audio output, which is particularly useful in noisy environments, though it may impact clarity.
Performance and Battery Life
The Asus Vivobook S16 OLED is designed to deliver robust performance and impressive battery life, making it a reliable choice for professionals and power users alike.
Vivobook S16 OLED variant reviewed comes equipped with Intel’s latest Core Ultra 7 chipset, 16GB of LPDDR5x RAM, and 1TB of PCIe 4.0 SSD storage.
This powerful configuration ensures smooth and efficient performance across a range of tasks, from everyday productivity to more demanding applications.
Vivobook S16 OLED achieved an overall productivity score of 4755, indicating strong performance in office applications, web browsing, and video conferencing.
The laptop scored 1377 in the single-core test and 9446 in the multi-core test, reflecting its capability to handle both single-threaded and multi-threaded tasks efficiently.
With a graphics score of 3,637 and a CPU score of 8,647, the laptop demonstrated exemplary performance in handling graphics-intensive tasks, albeit being more suited for general productivity rather than high-end gaming.
Vivobook S16 OLED handles multitasking with ease. Opening dozens of browser tabs, running office applications, and streaming media simultaneously posed no problems. The laptop remained responsive and quick, with no noticeable lag or slowdowns.
Despite its slim form factor, the Vivobook S16 OLED manages heat effectively. During regular tasks, the laptop stays cool, with only a slight increase in temperature under heavy loads.
While running intensive benchmarks like PCMark 10, the computer did get warm. Still, the heat was well-contained and did not impact overall performance.
The Vivobook S16 OLED is powered by a 75Wh battery, which provides ample capacity for extended use.
It comes with a 90W charger that can recharge the battery from 0 to 100% in approximately 1.5 to 2 hours, ensuring that you can quickly get back to work with minimal downtime.
Asus claims a battery life of up to 16 hours for the Vivobook S16 OLED. In real-world usage, the laptop delivered around 9-10 hours of battery life on a single charge under typical conditions, such as web browsing, office applications, and light media consumption.
This performance is decent and should be sufficient for most users to get through an entire workday without needing to recharge.
Price and Value Proposition
The Asus Vivobook S16 OLED is positioned as a high-quality, professional-grade laptop, offering a range of features at various price points to cater to different needs and budgets.
- AMD Ryzen™ Variant 9 Priced at $999.99
- Intel Core Ultra 9 Variant Available at $1,099.99
These price points place the Vivobook S16 OLED in the premium segment of the Windows laptop market, targeting professionals and power users who require a reliable and high-performance machine.
One of the most significant value propositions of the Vivobook S16 OLED is its stunning 16-inch OLED display. The high resolution, 120Hz refresh rate, and professional-grade color accuracy make it ideal for tasks that require precise visual details, such as graphic design, video editing, and media consumption.
The sleek and lightweight design, measuring just 13.9 mm in thickness and weighing around 1.5 kg, makes the Vivobook S16 OLED highly portable.
This is a crucial factor for professionals who need to carry their laptops frequently. The attractive ‘Misty Blue’ and ‘Neutral Black’ color options add to its aesthetic appeal.
With configurations ranging from the Intel Core Ultra 5 to the Core Ultra 9, the Vivobook S16 OLED delivers robust performance across all variants.
The combination of high-end processors, 16GB of LPDDR5x RAM, and 1TB of PCIe 4.0 SSD storage ensures that the laptop can handle intensive tasks with ease, providing a seamless user experience.
The inclusion of AI features, such as auto framing, eye contact, and background blur for video calls, adds significant value for professionals who often engage in remote work. The AI noise-cancelling microphone enhances audio clarity during calls and recordings.
The 75Wh battery offers substantial battery life, with real-world usage ranging from 9-10 hours on a single charge.
The rapid charging capability with the 90W charger ensures minimal downtime, which is a significant advantage for users on the go.
The My ASUS app allows for extensive customization of display settings, keyboard backlighting, and performance tweaks, giving users the flexibility to tailor the laptop to their specific needs and preferences.
