Budget laptops have come a long way, and the Asus Vivobook 15 aims to deliver solid performance without breaking the bank. Known for offering a blend of everyday functionality and affordability, the Vivobook series has been a favorite for students, professionals, and casual users alike.
With the F1504 model, Asus promises to bring a more balanced experience that combines reliable performance for daily tasks with an attractive price tag. But with so many budget-friendly laptops available, can the Vivobook 15 stand out? Let’s examine its features, design, and overall performance to see how well it performs in the competitive world of affordable laptops.
Pros
- Solid performance
- Ample storage and fast boot times
- Fast charging
Cons
- Old generation CPU
- Battery life falls short compared to others
Specifications
- Processor: Intel Core i7-1255U (12th Generation – released in 2022)
- Memory: 16GB DDR4 RAM
- Storage: 1TB PCIe SSD
- Display: 15.6-inch Full HD (1920 x 1080) Anti-Glare
- Graphics: Intel Iris Xe Graphics
- Battery: Up to 8 hours of usage
- Weight: 1.7 kg
- Ports: 1x USB-C, 2x USB-A, HDMI, microSD reader, headphone/mic combo
- Operating System: Windows 11 Home
- Price: Sold for $1399 at JB HiFi
Design and Build Quality
The Asus Vivobook 15 sticks to a practical design approach, focusing on portability and affordability. Weighing in at 1.7 kg, it is not the easiest to carry around for work or school. The chassis is made from plastic, which helps keep the weight down somewhat but doesn’t offer the premium feel of more expensive metal builds. That said, it’s sturdy enough for daily wear and tear.
The laptop has a clean, minimalist aesthetic with slim bezels surrounding the 15.6-inch Full HD display, giving it a more modern look despite its budget-friendly nature. The hinge is firm and allows the screen to tilt back far enough for comfortable use at different angles. It’s a design meant to be functional rather than flashy, and it performs well in that regard.
Display
The 15.6-inch Full HD display on the Asus Vivobook 15 offers a sharp and clear viewing experience for everyday tasks. The 1920 x 1080 resolution ensures that text and images are crisp, making it suitable for productivity tasks and media consumption. The anti-glare coating is a welcome addition, reducing reflections in well-lit environments and making it easier to work for longer periods without eye strain.
However, the display’s colour accuracy and brightness levels are where the limitations become apparent. With a maximum brightness of around 250 nits, the screen is fine for indoor use, but it might struggle in brighter settings or outdoor environments. The colour reproduction is also fairly average, so it’s not the best option for users who need precise colour accuracy, such as photographers or designers. For regular users, though, the display is more than adequate for day-to-day use.
Performance
The Vivobook 15 offers a solid balance of power and efficiency, thanks to its 12th Gen Intel Core i7-1255U processor. This 10-core CPU (two performance cores and eight efficiency cores) is well-suited for multitasking, making it a capable workhorse for everyday productivity tasks like browsing, document editing, and media consumption.
For users who regularly switch between various applications, the 16GB of RAM brings a smooth experience without slowdowns. The system performs well under moderate workloads, easily handling tasks such as streaming videos, managing multiple browser tabs, and running office applications. However, while the Intel Iris Xe Graphics can handle light photo editing and casual gaming, this isn’t a machine built for high-end gaming or intensive graphic work.
More demanding software like video editing tools or AAA gaming titles will likely show the limits of this setup. Nonetheless, for general use and even some light creative work, the Vivobook 15 holds its own. The 1TB SSD also provides plenty of fast storage and offers quick boot times and fast file transfers, which adds to the overall smooth performance.
Battery Life
The laptop is equipped with a 42Wh battery, which delivers a respectable performance, given its size and power. In real-world usage, you can expect around 6 to 8 hours of battery life, depending on how intensively you use it. For tasks like web browsing, light document editing, and video streaming, the laptop can hold up through a standard work or school day. However, if you’re pushing it with more power-hungry tasks, expect the battery to drain faster.
The battery life is decent but falls slightly short compared to some of its competitors in this price range, which offers longer-lasting performance. That said, the Vivobook 15 does support fast charging, which allows you to quickly top up the battery when needed, so you’re not stuck waiting around for a full charge.
Keyboard and Trackpad
The Vivobook comes with a full-sized chiclet keyboard, offering a comfortable typing experience for users who spend long hours on their laptops. The keys are well-spaced with decent travel, making typing smooth and responsive. Although the keyboard lacks backlighting, which could be a drawback for users who work in low-light environments, it remains functional for regular use.
The trackpad is large and responsive, supporting Windows Precision drivers for smooth multi-touch gestures like scrolling and zooming. While it might not rival the premium feel of higher-end laptops, it gets the job done effectively. The trackpad’s responsiveness and overall smooth operation make it a reliable input option.
Pros
- Solid performance makes it ideal for multitasking.
- 1TB SSD provides ample storage and fast boot times.
- 15.6-inch Full HD display offers sharp visuals.
- Fast charging helps top up the battery quickly.
Cons
- Older generation CPU sold at a premium price
- No keyboard backlighting, which may be inconvenient for users.
- The display’s brightness and color accuracy are average.
- Battery life is decent but falls short compared to others.
Conclusion
The Asus Vivobook 15 (F1504) strikes a good balance between performance and affordability. It’s a solid choice for users who need a laptop for everyday productivity tasks, whether it’s for work, school, or casual use. The Intel Core i7 gets you snappy performance, and the plenty of RAM makes multitasking smooth. While it’s not designed for heavy-duty creative work or gaming, it handles most day-to-day tasks with ease.
The 15.6-inch Full HD display is adequate for regular use, but users who need a laptop for professional creative tasks might find the screen’s color accuracy and brightness underwhelming. Additionally, the lack of keyboard backlighting could be a downside for those who work late into the night.
Overall, the Vivobook 15 is a reliable option for those who want a functional, budget-friendly laptop with decent performance and storage. It may not be a game-changer, but it delivers what it promises at a competitive price point.
