Asus VivoBook Flip 14 Review: A Fast, Low value AMD Laptop computer laptop

Asus VivoBook Flip 14 (2021) review: A fast, low-cost laptop

MSRP $629.00

“The Asus VivoBook Flip 14 is a powerhouse value vary laptop no matter a disappointing present and assemble prime quality.”

Professionals

• Glorious productiveness effectivity
• Principally partaking aesthetic
• Cheap
• Energetic pen is bundled
• Upgradable RAM and storage

Cons

• Mediocre assemble prime quality
• Lackluster present
• Underneath-average battery life

All people likes a superb value vary laptop. They will not seem as thrilling as the newest and largest, nonetheless budget-oriented laptops have their place. Not everyone has the sources or need for a laptop that costs correctly over $1,000, nonetheless everyone deserves one factor good. Discovering a diamond throughout the robust may be loads of gratifying.

Most producers have a particular value vary lineup, and throughout the case of Asus, that’s the VivoBook. Simply these days, the company launched the updated VivoBook Flip 14, an AMD-powered 360-degree convertible 2-in-1 that’s meant to produce steady effectivity and an thrilling experience at a value vary laptop worth.

I reviewed the $629 VivoBook Flip 14 configuration (when Asus provides it on their web page, it could possibly retail for $600) that options an AMD Ryzen 5 5500U CPU, 8GB of RAM, a 512GB PCIe SSD, and a 14-inch IPS Full HD (1,920 x 1,080) present throughout the increasingly old-school 16:9 aspect ratio. You may additionally get a mannequin with a 256GB SSD for merely $529. That’s a stunning set of components for the value, nonetheless does the VivoBook Flip 14 reside as a lot as its price promise?

Design

The VivoBook Flip 14 is normally plastic, with aluminum alloy lining the lid. You don’t should get plastic at this worth, nonetheless it’s common. Sadly, the assemble prime quality wasn’t as a lot as the identical previous Asus commonplace, with a lid that bends with too little drive and will set off LCD distortion, pretty a bit of little bit of flex throughout the keyboard deck, and a chassis bottom that gives in to emphasize. The equally priced Acer Swift 3 is additional solidly constructed, and for $300 additional or so, you can seize the HP Envy x360 13 that’s moreover significantly better constructed — unsurprisingly, every machines are on our file of best value vary laptops. You don’t uncover many 14-inch 2-in-1s at this worth diploma, and so I can’t take into account a direct comparability that we’ve reviewed.

Aesthetically, the VivoBook Flip 14 is a little more spectacular, if a bit odd on the same time. It’s accessible in a “Bespoke Black” coloration scheme that covers 99% of the chassis. There’s a superb silver model on the lid and some chrome trim throughout the touchpad, nonetheless that’s principally it. What’s odd is that the Enter secret’s lined and lettered in lime-green, standing out pretty boldly — nonetheless I’d say garishly on the same time. And it’s the one ingredient on the laptop to sport that coloration, so it’s not part of a theme.

Once you generally have problem discovering the Enter key, then the daring coloring will help, nonetheless I usually don’t run into that predicament, so the coloring detracts from the aesthetic for me. Even so, I uncover the VivoBook Flip 14 to be increased wanting than the Swift 3 and on par with the Envy x360 13. It’s while partaking as a additional expensing laptop identical to the MSI Standing 14 Evo and has a additional distinctive look than the Lenovo Yoga 7i 14 2-in-1, which could be about $300 dearer.

The bezels are a little bit of huge, with a screen-to-body ratio of 82%. Additional premium laptops tend in the direction of a 90% ratio or increased, nonetheless the VivoBook Flip 14 isn’t harmful for a value vary machine. That does make the chassis a bit of larger, and it’s not the thinnest or lightest 14-inch laptop at 0.72 inches and three.31 kilos. The Yoga 7i is offered in at 0.69 inches and three.09 kilos, whereas the MSI Standing 14 is 0.63 inches thick and weighs 2.85 kilos.

The Acer Swift 5, one different 14-inch clamshell, is a mere 0.59 inches thick and pretty delicate at 2.31 kilos — it’s moreover twice as expensive. our value vary opponents, the Acer Swift 3 is 0.63 inches thick and weighs 2.65 kilos, and the HP Envy x360 13 is 0.65 inches thick and weighs 2.92 kilos. Clearly, the VivoBook Flip 14 doesn’t win the thin-and-light battle.

Asus included its ErgoLift hinge into the VivoBook Flip 14, which is a pleasing contact given the ultimate complexity of the 360-degree hinge. It actually works correctly, lifting the keyboard deck to a additional cosy typing angle and theoretically giving additional room beneath for airflow — in addition to there aren’t any vents on the laptop’s bottom. Fairly, air is drawn in by means of the keyboard, and so there aren’t the identical previous thermal benefits. Anyway, the hinge is a bit stiff, and the lid requires two palms to open, nonetheless it does a good job of holding the present in place in clamshell, tent, media, and tablet modes.

Asus moreover inbuilt some upgradability. The SSD slot is immediately accessible for those who want to enhance storage in some unspecified time sooner or later, and of the review unit’s 8GB of RAM, 4GB is soldered on the motherboard, and the alternative 4GB plugs in. So, you can swap that out for an 8GB chip if needed and improve your RAM to 12GB. The utmost accessible is 16GB, which in spite of everything ought to be configured when ordering the laptop.

Connectivity is nice, with one USB-A 2.0 port, a USB-A 3.2 port, a USB-C Gen 2 port, a full-size HDMI 1.4 connection, a 3.5mm audio jack, and a microSD card reader. A proprietary connector provides power, and given the AMD chipset, there’s no Thunderbolt help. Wi-fi connectivity is a bit behind the cases, with Wi-Fi 5 and Bluetooth 4.2.

Effectivity

The VivoBook Flip 14 outfitted the first six-core Ryzen 5 5500U CPU that we’ve examined, and I was wanting forward to seeing the best way it compares to Intel’s diversified Tiger Lake variants and the Ryzen 7 line. I obtained right here away impressed.

It didn’t dominate in Geekbench 5, with the lower single-core ranking and further aggressive multi-core consequence typical of AMD chips. It obtained right here in third throughout the comparability group, behind the Asus ZenBook 13 UM325UA with an eight-core Ryzen 7 5800U that dominated and the MSI Standing 14 Evo with its quad-core Intel Core i7-1185G7. In PCMark 10, the VivoBook Flip 14 obtained right here in second behind the ZenBook 13, and it scored notably correctly throughout the Content material materials Creation portion of that check out. In step with these outcomes, the Ryzen 5 5500U is aggressive with Intel’s Core i7 and much faster than the Core i5.

In two notably CPU-intensive apps, Handbrake and Cinebench R23, the VivoBook Flip 14 was notably spectacular. Inside the Handbrake check out that encodes a 420MB video as H.265, the Asus was 31 seconds faster than the Standing 14 Evo and solely seven seconds behind the ZenBook 13. The outcomes have been associated throughout the demanding Cinebench R23 check out the place, a minimal of in multicore mode, the VivoBook Flip 14 obtained right here in an in depth second to the ZenBook 13 and was significantly faster than the Standing 14 Evo. And the Ryzen 5 5500U is an precise step up from the sooner period, making the VivoBook Flip 14 a robust value vary performer.

As with the entire newest Ryzen laptops we’ve reviewed, the VivoBook Flip 14 excels at CPU-intensive duties and might churn by means of the on a regular basis productiveness workflow. It might type out creative functions as correctly, although its Radeon Graphics gained’t provide loads in the easiest way of boosting functions that will benefit from the GPU. That’s moreover true of Intel’s Iris Xe built-in graphics, in spite of everything. On this comparability group, solely the HP Envy 14 with its Nvidia GeForce GTX-1650 Ti will carry precise price to those functions. Everywhere else, the VivoBook Flip 14 will perform exceptionally correctly, significantly given its $630 worth.

One house that gained’t impress is gaming. The 3DMark Time Spy check out consequence isn’t one thing to place in writing dwelling about, and the VivoBook Flip 14 was a weak performer in Fortnite. It managed merely 25 frames per second (fps) at 1080p and medium graphics, in line with laptops outfitted with Intel Iris Xe graphics. It hit 15 fps in epic graphics, as soon as extra equal to Intel’s built-in GPU. Merely put, the VivoBook Flip 14 isn’t a gaming laptop at any worth.

Present

Spend $630 on a laptop, and likewise you’re going to supply one factor up. Usually, a big compromise displays up in present prime quality, and the VivoBook Flip 14 isn’t any exception.

First, it’s not very good, at merely 230 nits (we want to see 300 nits or additional). That’s almost an similar to the Acer Swift 3’s 233 nits, and so the VivoBook Flip 14 isn’t alone amongst value vary laptops in having a dim present. The excellence could be poor at 720:1, beneath the Swift 3’s 770:1 and correctly beneath our hottest 1000:1 threshold. The Lenovo Yoga 7i 14 was even worse at 690:1, demonstrating that it’s not merely true value vary laptops that endure from poor distinction.

Subsequent have been the VivoBook Flip 14’s colors, which have been extraordinarily slender. Safety of the Adobe RGB gamut obtained right here in at merely 50%, and of the sRGB gamut at merely 66%. That’s correctly beneath the 70% and 95%, respectively, that we generally see as a minimum with midrange and premium laptops — and the HP Envy x360 13 that’s on our biggest value vary file hit 71% and 96%, which is considerably higher. I’ll observe that, as soon as extra, the Swift 3 was within the similar class as a result of the Asus at 48% and 64%. The VivoBook Flip 14’s coloration accuracy was increased at a Delta E of two.62 (1.0 or a lot much less is taken into consideration wonderful) than the Swift 3’s 4.76, whereas the Envy x360 13 managed a lower 2.26.

Subjectively, the VivoBook Flip 14’s present wasn’t horrible, nonetheless it wasn’t good, each. It’ll do for web procuring and productiveness apps, nonetheless that’s about it. Watching media on the 2-in-1 wasn’t a horrible experience each, whatever the poor colors and distinction.

Two downward-firing audio system current audio with Harman Kardon tuning. The audio system get loud, nonetheless as well as they get distorted, with crackling at any amount above 80%. Highs have been blown out and mids have been subdued, giving a tinny sound. Actually, there was no bass to speak of. You’ll be okay with system sounds and the occasional YouTube video, nonetheless for something, you’ll want headphones or a pair of Bluetooth audio system.

Keyboard and touchpad

The VivoBook Flip 14’s keyboard is eerily paying homage to HP’s Spectre keyboard, which is an efficient choice if intentional. It enjoys good spacing, huge keys with partaking and legible lettering, and a row of Home, PgUp, PgDn, End, and Fn keys on the very right-hand side. Sadly, whereas it’d seem like a Spectre keyboard, it doesn’t pretty actually really feel like one. There’s a great deal of journey and a pleasing click on on to the switches, nonetheless the bottoming movement is just too abrupt. There’s no crisp bounce reminiscent of you get from HP, and the overall typing experience isn’t virtually as cosy. I’d value this keyboard numerous steps behind the Spectre and Dell XPS keyboards and technique behind Apple’s Magic Keyboard on the newest MacBooks. I’ll observe that the three-step backlighting is even and useful.

To put it bluntly, the touchpad is technique too small. There’s loads room left on the keyboard deck for a much bigger mannequin, and the small dimension is exacerbated by the fingerprint reader caught up throughout the right-hand nook. The touchpad is a Microsoft Precision mannequin, so it actually works correctly with good help for Residence home windows 10 multitouch gestures, nonetheless it’s merely tiny.

The present is contact enabled, in spite of everything, this being a 2-in-1, and an Asus vigorous pen is included throughout the subject. It helps Residence home windows 10 inking correctly, with clear strokes and actual response.

The aforementioned fingerprint reader provides Residence home windows 10 Whats up passwordless login help. It was fast and proper all through my testing, and it was welcome on such an reasonably priced laptop.

Battery life

Asus solely packed 42 watt-hours value of battery into the VivoBook Flip 14, which isn’t a lot for a 14-inch present, even at Full HD determination, and a powerful CPU. I wasn’t anticipating good battery life.

Starting with our web procuring check out that loops by means of a sequence of well-liked internet sites, the VivoBook Flip 14 lasted for 9 hours. That’s moderately lower than widespread for this class of machine nonetheless not a horrible consequence. The Acer Swift 3 managed merely eight hours, whereas the HP Envy x360 13 made it to a little bit of over 9 hours. In our video check out that performs a Full HD Avengers trailer until the battery dies, the VivoBook Flip 14 went for 12 hours, as soon as extra a bit decrease than widespread nonetheless not too disappointing compared with the Swift 3’s 10 hours. The Envy x360 13 beat out every at 13 hours.

Inside the PCMark 10 Gaming check out that pushes the CPU and GPU, the VivoBook Flip 14 lasted for merely over two hours, which is widespread for the check out. The Lenovo Yoga 7i made it to easily over 2.5 hours, and we didn’t check out each the Swift 3 or the Envy x360 13 with this benchmark. Inside the PCMark 10 Capabilities check out, which is the perfect indicator of productiveness battery life, the VivoBook Flip was — as soon as extra — beneath widespread at merely over 9 hours. That additionally beat out the Yoga 7i’s 8.5 hours.

Normal, the VivoBook Flip 14 was solely a hair behind the pack by means of battery life. It will likely ultimate you a full day of labor within the occasion you don’t push the CPU too arduous, nonetheless it positively suffers from the small battery. As soon as extra, though, it’s a value vary laptop, and so the outcomes are pretty good when the value is saved in ideas.

Our take

The VivoBook Flip 14 is definitely, truly fast for a $630 laptop. Its assemble isn’t the perfect, its battery life lags, and its keyboard isn’t amongst my favorites. Nonetheless a laptop that performs like this for thus little money shouldn’t be disregarded.

If in case you might have a demanding productiveness workflow or use the occasional creative software program, then the VivoBook Flip 14 will give you the effectivity you’re looking out for. And nothing else is so harmful regarding the laptop that attempt to be dissuaded from giving it important consideration.

Are there any alternate choices?

I’ll start with the Asus ZenBook 13 OLED UM325UA. It’s not a 2-in-1, nonetheless it’s merely $170 additional for a color-accurate OLED present, a faster AMD Ryzen 7 5800U CPU, 16GB of RAM, and a 1TB PCIe solid-state drive. In case your value vary isn’t so tight and likewise you don’t really want a 2-in-1, then the ZenBook 13 is an effective alternative.

Once you need a 2-in-1 and your value vary is restricted, then the HP Envy x360 13 is a steady completely different. It’s moreover a bit dearer, nonetheless you get increased effectivity, increased battery life, and a higher present. What’s to not like?

How prolonged will it ultimate?

The VivoBook Flip 14 isn’t primarily essentially the most solidly constructed laptop we’ve examined, nonetheless it’s not harmful for a value vary machine. It gained’t stand as a lot as extreme abuse, nonetheless it should ultimate for numerous years given the traditional placed on and tear of dwelling and office use. You gained’t be shocked by the restricted one-year assure.

Should you buy it?

Certain, within the occasion you don’t need a color-accurate present and likewise you’re strapped for cash. The VivoBook Flip 14’s glorious effectivity makes up for many its flaws.

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