Asus Vivobook 15: Intel I5-1335U Review
Let's dive into the Asus Vivobook 15, powered by the Intel Core i5-1335U processor. This laptop is designed for everyday tasks, offering a balance between performance, portability, and affordability. In this review, we'll break down everything you need to know, from its specifications and performance to its design and features.
Design and Build Quality
When it comes to design and build quality, the Asus Vivobook 15 aims for a sleek and modern look. The laptop typically features a slim profile and lightweight construction, making it easy to carry around whether you're heading to class, the office, or just working from a coffee shop. The chassis is usually made from a combination of plastic and aluminum, providing a decent balance between durability and weight. While it might not feel as premium as some high-end ultrabooks, the Vivobook 15 still manages to offer a sturdy feel that can withstand daily use. The hinge is generally robust, allowing for smooth opening and closing of the laptop without excessive wobble.
Asus usually offers the Vivobook 15 in a variety of colors, giving you the option to choose one that suits your personal style. The finish on the laptop is typically matte, which helps to resist fingerprints and smudges, keeping it looking clean and presentable. The keyboard deck is usually well laid out, with comfortable key spacing and decent key travel, making typing a pleasant experience. The touchpad is also generally responsive and accurate, supporting multi-finger gestures for easy navigation. Overall, the design and build quality of the Asus Vivobook 15 strike a good balance between aesthetics, durability, and practicality, making it a solid choice for everyday use.
Ergonomics are also a key consideration in the design of the Vivobook 15. The keyboard is often designed with a slight angle to provide a more comfortable typing position, reducing strain on your wrists during long typing sessions. The touchpad is usually large enough to allow for easy navigation and gesture control, and it is often positioned slightly off-center to align with the keyboard. The display also plays a role in ergonomics, with many models featuring an anti-glare coating to reduce eye strain in bright lighting conditions. The weight distribution of the laptop is generally well-balanced, making it comfortable to use on your lap for extended periods. While it may not have all the fancy features of a high-end ergonomic laptop, the Vivobook 15 is designed to be comfortable and practical for everyday use, whether you're working on documents, browsing the web, or streaming videos.
Performance: Intel Core i5-1335U
The heart of the Asus Vivobook 15 is the Intel Core i5-1335U processor. This CPU is part of Intel's 13th generation of processors, designed for efficiency and performance in portable devices. The i5-1335U typically features a configuration of 10 cores (2 P-cores and 8 E-cores) and 12 threads, allowing it to handle a variety of tasks with ease. The P-cores (Performance cores) are designed for demanding workloads, while the E-cores (Efficient cores) handle background tasks and improve overall power efficiency. The base clock speed is around 1.3 GHz, with a boost clock speed that can reach up to 4.6 GHz, providing plenty of power for most everyday tasks.
In terms of performance, the Intel Core i5-1335U is well-suited for tasks such as web browsing, document editing, and streaming video. It can also handle more demanding tasks like photo editing and light video editing, although it may struggle with more intensive workloads like gaming or 3D rendering. The integrated Intel Iris Xe Graphics provides decent graphical performance for casual gaming and video playback, but it is not a dedicated gaming GPU. The processor also supports modern features like DDR5 memory and PCIe 4.0, which can improve overall system performance and responsiveness. Overall, the Intel Core i5-1335U offers a good balance of performance and efficiency, making it a solid choice for a thin and light laptop like the Asus Vivobook 15.
To give you a better idea of its capabilities, the i5-1335U generally performs well in benchmarks like Geekbench and Cinebench. In Geekbench, it typically scores around 1700-1800 in single-core performance and 7000-8000 in multi-core performance, which is competitive with other CPUs in its class. In Cinebench, it can score around 1300-1400 in the single-core test and 6000-7000 in the multi-core test, indicating good performance in rendering and content creation tasks. These scores are indicative of a processor that can handle everyday tasks with ease and can even tackle some more demanding workloads with reasonable performance. However, it's important to keep in mind that real-world performance can vary depending on the specific laptop configuration, cooling system, and power settings.
Display Quality
The Asus Vivobook 15 usually comes with a 15.6-inch Full HD (1920x1080) display. The display quality is generally decent, with good color accuracy and sharpness for everyday use. However, it's not the brightest display on the market, typically offering around 250 nits of brightness, which may be insufficient for comfortable viewing in bright outdoor environments. The color gamut coverage is usually around 60-70% sRGB, which is adequate for most users but may not be ideal for professional photo or video editing. The display often features an anti-glare coating, which helps to reduce reflections and improve visibility in bright lighting conditions.
The viewing angles on the Vivobook 15's display are generally good, allowing for comfortable viewing from various positions. However, there may be some color shifting at extreme angles. The contrast ratio is typically around 800:1, which provides decent blacks and good overall image quality. Some models may also come with an optional touchscreen, which adds another layer of interactivity and convenience. The bezels around the display are usually slim, providing a more immersive viewing experience. Overall, the display quality of the Asus Vivobook 15 is adequate for everyday use, offering a good balance of sharpness, color accuracy, and viewing angles.
For users who require a more color-accurate display, it may be worth considering upgrading to a model with a higher sRGB or Adobe RGB coverage. However, for most everyday tasks like web browsing, document editing, and video playback, the standard display on the Asus Vivobook 15 should be more than sufficient. It's also worth noting that some models may come with different display options, such as a higher resolution or a brighter panel, so it's always a good idea to check the specifications before making a purchase.
RAM and Storage
Memory and storage are crucial for the Asus Vivobook 15's overall performance. Typically, it comes with 8GB or 16GB of DDR4 RAM. For most users, 8GB is sufficient for everyday tasks like web browsing, document editing, and light multitasking. However, if you plan on running more demanding applications or doing a lot of multitasking, 16GB of RAM may be a better option. The RAM is usually soldered to the motherboard, so it's not upgradeable after purchase, making it important to choose the right amount from the start.
In terms of storage, the Asus Vivobook 15 usually comes with a 256GB, 512GB, or 1TB NVMe SSD. An SSD (Solid State Drive) provides much faster storage speeds compared to a traditional hard drive, resulting in quicker boot times, faster application loading, and improved overall system responsiveness. 256GB may be sufficient for users who primarily use the laptop for basic tasks and don't store a lot of large files. However, for users who plan on storing a lot of photos, videos, or games, 512GB or 1TB may be a better option. The SSD is usually replaceable, so you can upgrade it to a larger capacity if needed.
It's also worth noting that some models of the Asus Vivobook 15 may come with a dual storage configuration, which includes both an SSD and a hard drive. This can provide a good balance of speed and storage capacity, with the SSD being used for the operating system and frequently used applications, and the hard drive being used for storing larger files. However, a dual storage configuration may add to the overall weight and thickness of the laptop. Overall, the RAM and storage options on the Asus Vivobook 15 provide a good balance of performance and capacity, making it suitable for a wide range of users.
Battery Life
Battery life is an important consideration for any laptop, and the Asus Vivobook 15 aims to provide decent longevity for everyday use. The battery capacity typically ranges from 42Wh to 50Wh, depending on the specific model. With the Intel Core i5-1335U processor's efficiency, you can generally expect to get around 6 to 8 hours of battery life on a single charge with typical usage, such as web browsing, document editing, and video playback. However, battery life can vary depending on factors such as screen brightness, usage patterns, and power settings.
For more demanding tasks like gaming or video editing, battery life will likely be shorter, possibly lasting around 3 to 4 hours. To maximize battery life, it's recommended to adjust the screen brightness, close unnecessary applications, and use the laptop's power-saving mode. The Asus Vivobook 15 also supports fast charging, allowing you to quickly recharge the battery when needed. The laptop usually comes with a compact and lightweight power adapter, making it easy to carry around.
While the Asus Vivobook 15's battery life may not be as impressive as some ultrabooks, it's still adequate for most users who need a laptop for on-the-go productivity. It's worth noting that battery life can degrade over time, so it's important to take care of the battery by avoiding extreme temperatures and charging it properly. Overall, the battery life of the Asus Vivobook 15 is decent for its class, providing enough power to get you through a typical workday or school day.
Connectivity
Connectivity is another essential aspect of the Asus Vivobook 15. It typically comes with a variety of ports, including USB-A, USB-C, HDMI, and a headphone jack. The USB-C port may also support DisplayPort and Power Delivery, allowing you to connect to external displays and charge the laptop using a USB-C charger. The HDMI port allows you to connect to an external monitor or TV for presentations or entertainment. The headphone jack allows you to connect headphones or speakers for audio output.
In terms of wireless connectivity, the Asus Vivobook 15 usually supports Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax), which provides faster and more reliable wireless speeds compared to older Wi-Fi standards. It also supports Bluetooth 5.0 or 5.1, allowing you to connect to wireless peripherals like mice, keyboards, and headphones. The laptop may also come with a webcam, which is useful for video conferencing and online meetings. The webcam is typically located above the display and may have a resolution of 720p or 1080p.
Overall, the connectivity options on the Asus Vivobook 15 are adequate for most users, providing a good balance of wired and wireless connectivity. It's worth noting that some models may have slightly different port configurations, so it's always a good idea to check the specifications before making a purchase. The inclusion of Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.0/5.1 ensures that you can stay connected to the internet and your peripherals with fast and reliable speeds.
Conclusion
The Asus Vivobook 15 with the Intel Core i5-1335U is a solid all-around laptop for everyday use. It offers a good balance of performance, portability, and affordability, making it a great choice for students, professionals, and casual users. While it may not be the most powerful or feature-rich laptop on the market, it provides a reliable and comfortable experience for most common tasks. The design is sleek and modern, the keyboard and touchpad are comfortable to use, and the battery life is decent. If you're looking for a budget-friendly laptop that can handle your daily tasks with ease, the Asus Vivobook 15 is definitely worth considering.
