ASUS Vivobook S 15 Review | Geek Lifestyle

In a time where the cutting-edge features of AI are making waves, tech giant ASUS has thrown its hat into the ring with the Vivobook S 15. As the brand’s first Copilot+ PC, this sleek machine is looking create some noise in the market, powered by a surprising choice in the Snapdragon X Elite processor. Alongside some very interesting specs, it comes packed with Copilot+, Microsoft’s newest version of their patented generative artificial intelligence chatbot that’s geared towards students and the adults masquerading as younger individuals–like ourselves.

The ASUS Vivobook S 15 was unveiled at this year’s COMPUTEX alongside a cavalcade of other premium devices. Given the bold move to slap on a processor that doesn’t start with Intel or AMD, it was one of the intriguing selections showcased on stage. This series has long been the workhorse of the bunch, providing ample reliability to anyone who wields it. While lacking the flash and pizzazz that its ilk possesses, there’s beauty in its subtle, chic aesthetics that bank on simplicity. It’s no-nonsense, but it’s not a stick in the mud.

All things considered, we’ve spent a bit of time with the new Vivobook, installed a couple of apps, ran a couple of tests, and brought it out into the wild world of the working class. We were very curious about this change in technology–as are you, we suppose. Let’s dive into it.

Geek-sthetic

The ASUS Vivobook S 15 (S5507) won’t exactly blow your mind with its looks, but it will draw your attention with its Cool Silver all-metal body that not only looks premium from every angle, but feels hefty and well put together. Measuring 35.26 x 22.69 x 1.47 cm and weighing in at 1.42 kg, this laptop strikes an impressive balance between screen real estate and portability.

It’s not quite the featherweight, but it won’t break your back either – perfect for students scamprering between classes or professionals rushing to meetings that most definitely could’ve been an e-mail. We feel you.

The design is clean and minimalist, letting the quality of the materials speak for itself. Neither the chassis itself nor the keyboard have any egregious flexing, and it feels safe enough to toss into a bag while throwing a bit of caution to the wind. It also doesn’t feel fragile when you grip it, in spite of the apparent thinness. ASUS has clearly put some thought into making this laptop look good and feel sturdy enough, whether it’s a propped up in a coffee shop or front and center in a boardroom meeting.

Binge Watching Factor

Now, let’s talk about that sweet display. This bad boy packs a 3K OLED panel with a 2880 x 1620 resolution. As far as 15-inch laptops go, it’s quite the looker. The 16:9 aspect ratio might be a bit old school for those who are gunning to that extra 16:10, but it’s just right for those movie marathons or video streaming sessions.

It has an 89% screen-to-body ratio, which may sound small on paper, but it definitely doesn’t look like it. We had quite a bit of fun checking out the newest K-pop video releases. It was both strange, yet refreshing to see both Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman in a Stray Kids music video. Surreal.

Colors are sharp, blacks are dark, and the overall visual experience was satisfying. It’s definitely a step above last year’s model–at least in our opinion. As it’s noted to have 70% less harmful blue light and comes with TÜV Rheinland certification and SGS Eye Care, you’re guaranteed less eye strain even under long periods of viewing. In our case, we had no problems draining the battery at a nearby coffee shop just scrolling through Youtube’s recommended. 

If you’re simply using it for work, consider it overkill. If you’re doing color grading for photos, it canget the job done–if you’re not too stingy about it. As for your binge pleasures, you’re all good to go.

Sound Trip

Audio might not be within the realms of your expectations, but it’s definitely something you need to take note of with the Vivobook S 15. The laptop comes equipped with Harman Kardon down-firing stereo speakers tucked neatly under the laptop. These speakers pack quite a punch, delivering crisp, clear sound that doesn’t falter even when you crank the volume up to 11. Having Dolby Access encourages even further customization of your sound, courtesy of its included presets. We chose to leave it on “Dynamic.”

That being said, the placement is a bit–strange, in our opinion. Sure, the sound comes out unadulterated if you’re holding up the laptop, or have it perched on one of those aluminum stands. The problem arises once it’s on a flat surface. The rubber “feet” on the bottom aren’t high enough, so it’s like you’re essentially holding your hand over the speakers. It gets even worse if you’re on something cushioned, like a bed or sofa. There’s not doubt about the audio quality, but it would have been nice to have the speakers angled on the side’s edges instead.

All things considered, you can always link up your wireless cans or slap in some wired ones into the included 3.5mm headphone jack. The Vivobook S 15 produces great sound, albeit hampered just a tad by the positioning of its speakers. We’re probably just too keen about it, as most won’t really mind. But we just thought it was worth mentioning.

Typing Experience

First off, it’s nice to see a full-sized keyboard placed strategically in the space provided. While it’s not exactly something we’d be too meticulous about, we’re glad it’s available for those who like to crunch those numbers. You only get one color of backlight with adjustable brightness. For those who were hoping for some good ol’ RGB, this ain’t it. Still, it’s a nice shade of light blue.

Now, ASUS typically delivers solid keyboards–and the same can be said here. As mentioned earlier, there’s no flex on any keys, even if we pressed down hard. We have 1.7 mm of key travel which should be good enough for any intense typists out there. It sure worked for us. As such, the spacious 15-inch form factor should provide ample room for a comfortable typing experience.

The precision touchpad is smooth enough, with an adequately large surface. If you do choose to go mouse-less (unlike us), then you’ll feel right at home using its built-in gestures.

Gaming Prowess

Now, could this be a point of contention? Well, we definitely hope not. The Vivobook S 15 isn’t marketed as a gaming laptop, but it can run a few popular games right off the bat. It’s powered by the Snapdragon X Elite X1E 78 100 Processor coupled with a Qualcomm Adreno GPU. As such, this laptop can handle less-demanding games with a bit of tweaking in the game’s graphical settings. Yes, we’re talking about the HoYoverse catalogue. Say less.

Titles like Zenless Zone Zero and Honkai: Star Rail run surprisingly smoothly under default settings. Dial it down even lower, and you’ll have the smoothest experience. Just make sure not to wander into the “Very High + 60fps” territory and you’ll be fine. Motion blur is a mortal sin at this point. Don’t even try.

So, please. For the love of all that is holy, don’t go willy-nilly and run any 2024 triple A titles on this machine. You may be able to get a bit of gameplay out of your system, but who knows what could happen if you kick the Vivobook S 15 into overdrive? We can tell that there’s sufficient thermal handling, given the placement of backside vents coupled with an exhaust at the bottom. But we can’t be too sure if the device can handle your massive Steam backlog–let alone something akin to the upcoming GTA 6. I guess we’ll have to see.

Perhaps we’ll tempt fate, in the future.

Under the Hood

We’ve dipped our toes into the specs a bit, but let’s go through a fuller rundown of this bad boy.

The Snapdragon X Elite X1E 78 100 Processor is a beast, for what it’s worth. It can definitely handle your basic work tasks in a trivial manner, and more demanding undertakings rather capably. This, paired with 16GB of LPDDR5X RAM and a speedy 1TB NVMe PCIe 4.0 SSD, made for easier multitasking and massive storage potential. 

This combo ensured that everything from boot times (less than 10 seconds) to app launches were snappy and responsive. The Qualcomm Hexagon NPU, boasting 45 trillion operations per second, is there to handle AI tasks–which we’ll touch base on later.

Connectivity has variety, with a mix of USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A and USB 4.0 Gen 3 Type-C ports, HDMI 2.1, and even an ancient relic–a Micro SD card reader. We jest, of course. It’s just nice to see something that’s rather elusive in more gamer-centric laptops. 

As far as data transfer is concerned, we had no problem plugging in other devices and transferring files–like the photos needed to create this review. While they may not satisfy the average power-user, it’s more than enough for anyone who needs to accomplish their daily tasks.

Everyday Reliability

Now, this is usually the part where we wind things down–and we will, once we get a few things out of the way.

This is ASUS’ very first Copilot+ PC, and it’s been marketed to provide the best AI-efficient experience possible, courtesy of their patented chatbot. Along with this comes a few features such as CoCreate and Recall–both of which could be rather useful in day-to-day use. We did give the new Copilot a test drive, and it fared rather well when it comes to more basic tasks such as research. However, it did suffer from a few hiccups once we gave more–convoluted prompts.

For as long as you’re not trying to make the chatbot say anything too complicated–or perhaps trying to be a bit too conversational, it should work just fine.

Cocreate’s AI-powered image creation was rather interesting, though. Once you fire up Paint and log in your Microsoft account, you’ll be ready to go. That being said, it’s for the more–adept artists out there, as we’re not too well-equipped to create masterpieces. It’s also worth noting that the Vivobook S 15 is not a touchscreen device, so you’re pretty much limited to trackpad and mouse.

Now, for something a bit concerning. CapCut doesn’t work.

At least, this is the case with our unit. Technically, it’s supposed to. Unlike powerhouses like Da Vinci Resolve which require a dedicated GPU, CapCut runs on mobile phones. You can definitely install the app, and it opens as expected. But almost on cue, it automatically shuts down after a few seconds. Strangely enough, all the other similar video-editing apps work just fine. We were able to install and run Wondershare Filmora and VSDC without a hitch. We’re hoping this is just a separate case, or even better, a problem requiring a necessary update.

Now, with all that out of the way, the good stuff.

If you were to ask just how “everyday reliable” the ASUS Vivobook S 15 is, we’d give it a two-thumbs up. Having to run complicated prompts via AI isn’t likely a usual endeavor. Also, you can run other video editing apps in the meantime. As far as your work-based tasks go, you get Microsoft Office Student and Home Edition pre-packed for your perusal. Given the specs, it handles multitasking with ease, letting you juggle multiple apps without breaking a sweat.

As for power, The 70WHr battery can last a good 18 hours, or a full work or study without needing a charge – a boon for those long days away from a power outlet. As for charging, it took us just over an hour to get to 100%, which is fair enough.

ASUS has jumped on the AI hype train with CoPilot+. and it’s interesting to see where they’ll go from here. As for our own issues, we’re hoping they’ll get a fix in the future.

Final Geek Lifestyle Verdict

The ASUS Vivobook S 15 (S5507) is a solid contender in the laptop market. With its vivid OLED display, capable Snapdragon processor, and all-day battery life, it’s well-suited for students, professionals, and casual users alike. The ability to handle light gaming is a nice bonus, making this a versatile machine for work and play. Of course, you shouldn’t expect it to run triple-A games. Plus, the fact that it’s running on an ARM chip means there may be some issues with less popular apps, though you should be fine if you’re using one of the many officially supported ones. 

Copilot+ could require a bit of getting used to, especially if you’ve been on other similar chatbots. As for Cocreate and Recall, they’re not exactly necessary, but nice to have. The inability to run CapCut is a bit disappointing, but it’s a problem not everyone will be affected by. 

At PHP 84,995.00, it’s not for those strapped for cash, but you’re getting a quality laptop for your money. If you’re in the market for an all-arounder that looks good and performs just as well, you should definitely keep an eye out for the ASUS Vivobook S 15.

For more information, check out the official website and official ASUS social media pages.