An ideal laptop would likely vary depending on the individual's needs and preferences. In general, an ideal laptop may be one that should have a long-lasting battery, a clear and high-resolution display, and a comfortable keyboard and touchpad. It should also have a good selection of ports for connecting to external devices and offer fast and reliable performance.
It is difficult to say which laptop is the "best" as this can vary depending on individual needs and preferences. Some laptops may be better for certain tasks, such as gaming or graphic design.
In contrast, others may be more suitable for general use or traveling. It's important to consider your needs and budget when looking for a laptop and to read reviews and compare the features and specs of different models to find the one that's right for you. I recommend the ASUS Vivobook S 14 OLED for all-around usage.
OLED (organic light-emitting diode) laptops use OLED technology for their displays. OLED displays are known for their deep blacks and high contrast ratios. However, OLED laptops are generally more expensive than laptops with LCD (liquid crystal display) screens, and OLED technology is still relatively new, but ASUS has already released OLED laptops for quite some time now. It seems that this will be the new normal for laptops.
In this post, I will review the Vivobook S 14 OLED, one of the ASUS laptops in the latest Vivobook series that uses the OLED display. It is lightweight and portable, weighing only 1.5 kg, yet a powerful OLED laptop enough to handle various tasks such as browsing the internet, running office productivity software, and playing games, even if it does not have a dedicated graphics card.
Hardware
The cover lid of ASUS Vivobook S 14 OLED is made of aluminum alloy that is finished with a Neutral Gray color and a modern logo design that looks sleek and aesthetically pleasing. It has a modern, slim design (with a side profile of less than 19 mm) that is attractive and functional, with a thin bezel around the screen and a thin, compact body. It also features stripe accents on the Enter key and an orange color-blocked ESC key that stands out at first glance. Its versatile ErgoLift Hinge allows users to open the laptop up to 180 degrees. It also has a physical camera shutter and a Fingerprint scanner on the power button, ensuring a more secure laptop experience. These features make them popular for people who need a portable and versatile computer for work, school, or personal use.
In addition to the Vivobook S 14 OLED design, it also has powerful hardware and features, such as the fast 12th Gen Intel® Core™ i7 12700H processor. It can run demanding programs and perform complex tasks quickly and efficiently without slowing down or crashing. It also has 16 GB DDR4 3200 MHz memory and 512 GB PCIe 4.0 NVMe M.2 SSD, where you can run multiple applications and programs without problems. I opened multiple chrome tabs, and it ran smoothly, thanks to the ASUS IceCool thermal technology that features powerful Ø6 and Ø8 heat pipes and a 12V fan, allowing the Vivobook S 14 OLED to maintain up to 45-watt TDP (Thermal design power) continuously in performance mode, and ASUS-exclusive algorithm accurately calculates the current power-consumption output needs of the CPU, allowing the laptop to achieve optimal power efficiency.
The 512 GB PCIe 4.0 NVMe M.2 SSD can boot up, load programs, and transfer files much faster than a laptop with an HDD. In addition, an SSD is less likely to fail due to physical shock or wear and tear. It uses less power, which can extend the battery life of the Vivobook S 14 OLED.
Co-engineered with Intel, the Vivobook S 14 OLED series is Intel Evo™-verified, which guarantees a certain set of hardware specifications and key experience targets for an exceptional mobile experience ― including instant wake and long battery life.
Display
The Vivobook S 14 OLED has a high-resolution display and supports up to 2880 x 1800 resolution but can also reach to 90 Hz refresh rate, which is perfect for productivity tasks like photo editing, video recording, and content creation.
The resolution of a laptop refers to the number of pixels on the screen. A higher resolution means that there are more pixels, which can make images and text appear sharper and more detailed. The most common laptop screen resolutions are 1920x1080 (also known as Full HD or 1080p) and 1366x768. Some newer laptops have higher resolutions, such as 3840x2160 (also known as 4K or Ultra HD), which can provide an even sharper and more detailed image.
The Vivobook S 14 OLED can maintain color detail at any brightness, so you can adapt the brightness according to your usage environment. Because OLED displays deliver accurate color with less brightness, eyes have less exposure to blue light. Each pixel comprises organic materials emitting light when an electric current is applied. This means the display can be very thin and lightweight and produce deep blacks and vibrant colors. I tried playing movies on Netflix, and it supports the full HD display, which is great for entertainment while not getting your eye strain.
Connectivity
For me, a laptop device should be user-friendly and have a variety of ports for connecting to other devices. In addition, it should be durable and able to withstand regular use. The Vivobook S 14 OLED features two Thunderbolt™ 4 USB-C ports. Each can support up to 40 Gbps data bandwidth, 4K or 8K display output, and up to 100W power delivery. In addition, ASUS Vivobook S 14 OLED offers a standard HDMI 2.0 port, a USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A port, and an audio combo jack. This makes it possible for the Vivobook S 14 OLED to easily output to a 60 Hz 4K display, connect to storage devices, or expand connections.
With its multiple ports, you will have no problems connecting to external devices such as a mouse, keyboard, printer, or hard drive. I used USB-C ports, which are faster and more versatile than a USB-A port. You should include these specifications in purchasing a laptop. Good thing the Vivobook S 14 OLED already has it.
The ASUS Vivobook S 14 OLED supports Wi-Fi SmartConnect, which automatically connects devices to the best available Wi-Fi network based on the signal strength and network congestion. For example, suppose a device is in the range of a dual-band router's 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands. Wi-Fi Smart Connect will automatically connect the device to the 5 GHz band, which typically has less congestion and faster speeds. I tried this while transferring the laptop to another location in the house, and it instantly connects to the router with the strongest connection without any problems.
Usage
To test the Vivobook S 14 OLED, I performed various tasks to see how well it handles different workloads. This includes browsing the internet, running office productivity software, playing games, or editing photos or videos. It passed my standards in terms of standard usage, and the processor is powerful enough to run programs like Photoshop or any Adobe products. For gaming, it can run basic ones like Roblox, Minecraft, and other games that do not require a high graphics card.
I also checked the laptop's performance by running benchmarks or stress tests to see how it performs under heavy workloads like opening multiple browsers and tabs while watching Youtube videos or rendering some pictures and images. So far, it has performed very well. Additionally, I checked the quality of the laptop's display, keyboard, touchpad, and other features to see if they met my expectations. I have no issues with it as it is responsive.
I also checked the Vivobook S 14 OLED's battery life to see how long it lasts on a single charge. It lasts at least 4 to 5 hours of continuous usage which is ideal for traveling and remote work.
Conclusion
Ultimately, the decision of your next laptop purchase may not be the same for others, so it is essential to consider your own needs and preferences when looking for a laptop. It may also be helpful to visit an ASUS Concept Store and try out the Vivobook S 14 OLED to get a feel for their size, weight, and keyboard comfort before deciding. It is important to carefully compare the features and specs of different laptops before ensuring that you are getting the right one for your needs. If you are looking for a laptop for general use, like school and content creation, without breaking your budget, then the Vivobook S 14 OLED is for you.