If a big and lush display is your top priority for a laptop, consider the Asus Vivobook 15X OLED (K3504). This 15.6-inch notebook sports a vivid OLED screen that offers perfect blacks and a fast 120Hz refresh rate. Coupled with several useful features, solid performance, and a competitive price tag, this Vivobook is a good pick — as long as you're not that far away from a power outlet.
Quick specs
- 15.6-inch (2,880 x 1,620 pixels) OLED
- Intel Core i7-1360P with 16GB RAM and 512GB SSD
- 3x USB Type-A, 1x USB Type-C, HDMI, audio jack
- 50 watt-hour battery
According to its specifications, the Vivobook 15X OLED weighs 1.6kg. But it sure didn't feel like it. For starters, it looks sleek at under 18mm thick. And while there are lighter large-screen laptops such as the LG gram Style 16, most notebooks of this size are closer to 2kg. The design gives me a business laptop vibe, such as a 180-degree hinge that lets the screen lay flat. Asus also claims that the Vivobook has passed multiple military-grade tests for reliability and durability. In addition, there's a physical privacy shutter for the webcam, which is a 720p version that produces a fair amount of noise. The fingerprint reader is at the top right corner of the touchpad instead of being integrated with the power button. But that's a minor grouse, really.
The Vivobook's 16:9 aspect ratio is not the most conducive for productivity apps. But it's not a deal breaker when the display is a lovely OLED screen with a crisp 2.8K resolution and a 120Hz refresh rate. Its glossy finish can be quite reflective. Peak brightness is good at 400 nits, while the blacks are deep and inky. In short, it's excellent for watching videos. The speakers, though, aren't at the same level. They aren't that powerful, and are sorely lacking in bass. I typically have to set the volume at close to the maximum for movies. The keyboard is shallow, but it's tactile, and the keys are well-spaced. The number of ports are adequate, but I would have liked one more USB-C. The Vivobook can be charged via its single USB-C port, but the included power adapter uses a barrel-type connector.
Powering the Vivobook is Intel's latest 13th-gen Intel Core i7 chip and 16GB of memory. The Asus produced a score of 5,561 in PCMark 10, which makes it slightly ahead of the LG gram Style 16 (5,321), which has similar specs. You shouldn't face any lag or slowdowns for normal computing tasks. It's not a gaming machine, though casual games isn't an issue. Note that the bottom of the laptop will warm up your thighs, but it doesn't get too uncomfortable. However, battery life is middling, probably because of the bright 120Hz display. The Vivobook lasted around five hours in our usual video playback test at maximum screen brightness. For a 15-inch laptop, the Asus' 50 watt-hour battery is on the small size. The LG gram Style 16, for example, has a 80 watt-hour battery that lasted over seven hours.
At S$1,699, the Asus Vivobook 15X OLED offers good value if you're looking for a versatile and portable big-screen laptop. The OLED display is great for entertainment, while the privacy shutter and 180-degree hinge are features you'd want on a work laptop. It's available now from the Asus Store, and Lazada.
Note: Review unit provided by Asus.
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