Asus Vivobook S15 costs Rs 1,24,990- The laptop has a great aesthetic appeal, but the performance suffers in heavy games
- The battery will easily last for a whole workday without needing a charge
Minimalist. Lightweight. Elegant. If these are the words that come to your mind while looking for a new productivity laptop, the
The review unit that arrived at the Business Insider India office is a gorgeous silver-coloured device that looks like it was designed for a conference room.
I have been using the laptop for nearly a month and can confidently say that this is a welcome addition to anybody looking for a decent business laptop with hours of battery life. So, what makes the Asus Vivobook S15 powered by
Design
As mentioned already, the Vivobook S15 looks custom-built for those looking for a new laptop to carry to work every day. The moment you lay your eyes on it, you will know it is a productivity laptop built to get things done. It is quite lightweight as well and I could carry it around in one hand across the newsroom without any problem. The laptop also didn’t take up much space in my backpack, and I could easily carry a lot of other stuff in the same bag.
The aluminium body, with a metallic finish silver colour, feels premium and durable. On the left of the lid is the subtle but noticeable Asus Vivobook branding.
As gorgeous as the laptop looks, it collects dust pretty easily. There is also some slight flex when you put some pressure on the lid. The laptop also comes with a 180-degree hinge.
It has two USB-A ports on the right and an HDMI port along with two USB Type C ports on the left. There is also a Micro SD card reader as well as a 3mm headphone jack on the left edge.
There are no ports at the back which honestly is great since I don’t like struggling while finding the charging port at the back when I am seated at my workstation. However, since all the ports are on the sides of the laptop, your work desk could seem cluttered if you connect a lot of wired accessories. In addition to this, there is no ethernet port which could be a downside for some users whose offices don’t have WiFi and rely on LAN cables.
Talking about the keyboard, it is quite easy to adapt to and results in a tactile feel. I use a mechanical keyboard as my daily driver and the keyboard of the Asus Vivobook S15 made me feel at home. With that being said, the keys aren’t really loud so you won’t get side-eyes from your colleagues while you go about your day.
The evenly spaced out keys as well as a single RGB lit zone further enhances the look and feel of the keyboard.
The trackpad is pretty responsive too and does its job well. However, I felt it was slightly larger than I would normally want it to be. At times, even while typing, my palms kept touching the trackpad which posed a slight challenge. This is not a deal-breaker as one will get used to it after a few days of using it.
The trackpad is also equipped with some cool functions. Swiping up and down on the right edge would lower and increase brightness whereas the left edge can be used for volume control. Both these come pretty handy while working in an office.
Display
The laptop comes with a 15.6-inch, 3K (2880 x 1620) OLED display with a 120 Hz refresh rate and 100% DCI-P3 colour gamut. The display captures attention when your laptop is kept open. A few of my colleagues also heaped praises on the display saying it looks attractive. While the glossy display results in crystal clear and crisp graphics, it can also be reflective which can pose a challenge. Even with full brightness, I was sometimes struggling to see what was being displayed on my screen. However, a quick adjustment of the screen angle seemed to solve the issue.
The display, even though not very bright, is bright enough that you can work comfortably in sunlight. I travel in cabs a lot and could easily get my work done even when the sun shined with all its might through the cab windows.
The thin bezels and vibrant colours further enhance the overall experience. I also used the laptop to watch some episodes of shows like The Big Bang Theory and Modern Family and had nothing to complain about as far as the entertainment experience was concerned.
Performance
One thing that the Asus Vivobook S15 made headlines for was the Snapdragon X Elite processor with Qualcomm AI engine. Usually, you would find Intel or AMD-powered laptops in the market but Asus is trying something new here. And it pays off. The ARM-based processor posed no challenges during my daily work and the laptop didn’t hang or lag during my usage.I have about 10-15 tabs open at once while working and also tend to play some songs on YouTube from time to time. I could also attend my work video meetings with ease and the laptop has a decent in-built camera. The laptop also includes a physical privacy shutter for the webcam, which is a thoughtful addition.
Watching shows and movies on this laptop was also positive overall. However, I recommend using headphones as the laptop speakers, located at the bottom, are sort of underwhelming. They are barely loud enough to fill a room but seem to be lacking in bass. When I played a track on this laptop as well as the MacBook Pro, the MacBook’s voice overpowered quickly.
Being an avid gamer, I wanted to try out Ghost of Tsushima on this laptop but couldn’t get it to run. I did play Mortuary Assistant on this and the game did run, but with a few lags. Hence, the laptop isn’t for heavy gamers (nor does it want to be). However, light gaming is possible.
We also ran the Cinebench R23 benchmark test on the laptop and here are the results:
AI features
The laptop had also made headlines for its AI features when it was announced. And there are a couple of features that you can use. For instance, the laptop offers live webcam effects, like background blurring and artistic filters. This comes in handy while attending meetings or just video-calling friends and family.
While the background blur is practical, the filters are more for fun. Windows 11 is supposed to automatically crop and pan the webcam to keep your face in the frame, but this feature didn’t work consistently. Meanwhile, image and audio quality enhancements occur automatically in the background.
Yet another feature is Microsoft Paint’s new Cocreator tool, which not only responds to text prompts but also turns simple sketches into detailed drawings. Now I am no artist but I did try out a basic prompt that was in the suggestion box. And I think the image of a turtle swimming is quite impressive.
The Copilot app, which is also available online for free, is built into this laptop. The chatbot can help you search the web, generate images and more. However, the app doesn’t work without the internet.
Asus has also contributed its own AI-driven tool, StoryCube, for managing photos and videos. This tool offers various display options and allows for quick grouping, tagging, and organization. Additionally, the NPU also supports features like presence detection, which can dim or lock the screen when you step away, all while conserving battery life.
Hence, even though the current AI features on the laptop are decent, they don't yet seem life-changing. With that being said, a much-anticipated Copilot+ feature, Recall, which was supposed to index all activity on your PC to allow for easy information retrieval, has been delayed due to security concerns.
Battery
One area where the Asus Vivobook S15 shines is the battery. I used the laptop at 50 per cent brightness at work and didn’t need to charge it for over a day and a half. However, I had turned the RGB-lit keyboard off and only used Google Chrome and MS Word during this time.
My usual workday lasts for about 9 hours. With an even lower brightness and battery-saver mode enabled, the battery might last even longer. Hence, Asus’ promise of up to 18 hours of battery life seems to hold true.
When I did turn the RGB light on and put the laptop in maximum brightness, the battery lasted for barely 8 hours.
Meanwhile, with RGB light turned on and maximum brightness, I saw the battery drop to 81 per cent from 99 per cent in 1 hour and 40 minutes. While gaming, the laptop’s battery dropped to 88 per cent from a full 100 per cent in half an hour.
Verdict
The Asus Vivobook S15 is a solid option for those who want a gorgeous design, portability, and battery life in a laptop. Its premium build and high-quality display make it ideal for professionals who need a reliable device for work and occasional entertainment.
Given its price point, it’s best suited for users who value its aesthetics and longevity over more budget-friendly or performance-heavy options. If you're looking for a stylish and durable laptop that can easily handle business tasks and look good doing it, the Vivobook S15 is worth considering.
About the ASUS Marshmallow Mouse
Along with the Vivobook S15, I also received the Asus Marshmallow Mouse and have been using it as my daily driver. At a glance, the mouse appears to be yet another minimalist addition to your work setup. It comes with a slim form factor and aesthetically pleasing design. In the box, you also get an additional top cover which can be swapped. I have been using the gorgeous Brave Green colour variant of the cover. There is also a Lilac colour option.
For ease of being carried around, the mouse comes with a carrying strap that you can easily slide your fingers into. While I was easily able to do this, somebody with thicker fingers might struggle at this part.
Coming to the most important part, the clicks! The Asus Marshmallow mouse features silent clicks that are perfect for quiet working environments. In the middle, there is also a scroll wheel that works well. The mouse can be used in Bluetooth mode or wirelessly with a receiver that can be attached to your laptop. Even though I majorly used it with my mousepad, it can also be used without it.
Disclaimer: The content on this website is for informational purposes only and should not be construed as a purchasing guide or recommendation. We advise readers to do additional research, including hands-on usage of the device at a retail outlet, before making a decision.