For those looking for a well-rounded laptop at a competitive price, the Asus VivoBook S presents an appealing option. Currently selling for $799 at Walmart (compensated affiliate link), this machine features a Core Ultra 7 258V processor, 32GB of DDR5 RAM, a 1TB SSD, and Wi-Fi 7 support. It also comes with an OLED display, a rarity in this price range.
There’s also a more affordable version available at Best Buy with a Core Ultra 5 chip, 16GB of RAM, and 512GB of storage for $649 at Best Buy (compensated affiliate link).
You can see it in action in my latest laptop review.
The 14-inch OLED screen runs at a 1920×1200 resolution with a 16:10 aspect ratio. It delivers 600 nits of brightness and supports 100% of the sRGB color space, making it suitable for light creative work. However, it is not a touchscreen, and the glossy finish means reflections can be noticeable. Despite that, the display quality is higher than what is typically found in this segment, with vibrant colors and deep contrast.
The keyboard and trackpad are well-designed, featuring a backlit layout with comfortable key travel. The trackpad is responsive, though slightly springier than ideal. Weighing just under 3 lbs (1.3 kg), the aluminum chassis is lightweight and well-balanced, allowing the display to be opened with one finger. The 1080p webcam includes a privacy shutter and supports Windows Hello for facial recognition login.
In terms of ports, the VivoBook S provides a solid selection. On the left side, there is a full-size HDMI output, two Thunderbolt 4 ports, a microSD card slot, and a headphone/microphone jack. While Thunderbolt 5 would have been preferable, Thunderbolt 4 remains capable for most users and provides the option of using an external GPU to boost graphics capabilities. The right side houses two full sized USB-A ports, each running at 5 Gbps.
For everyday tasks, the laptop performs smoothly. Web browsing, streaming, and basic productivity tasks run without issue. The OLED display enhances video playback, though some minor frame drops were noted with 4K 60fps content.
Battery life is respectable, with 10 to 12 hours achievable under moderate use when keeping brightness at around 80%.
The integrated graphics on the new Intel processor provide enough power for light video editing and quick exports. The laptop handled 4K 60fps clips in DaVinci Resolve with smooth playback and efficient rendering.
Casual gaming is another strong point of this Intel hardware. Running Red Dead Redemption 2 at 1920×1200 on the lowest settings yielded 45-55 FPS, showing that it can handle even some AAA titles at reasonable framerates. However, more graphics-intensive titles like Starfield may struggle. Despite its slim profile, fan noise remains relatively subdued, avoiding the loud operation typical of gaming laptops.
Linux users may find the VivoBook S a viable option, though some minor quirks were observed when testing Ubuntu 24.10. Wi-Fi initially showed as disabled despite functioning correctly, likely due to driver support still catching up with the latest Intel chipset. Over time, future updates should improve Linux compatibility.
Overall, the Asus VivoBook S offers a strong value proposition, particularly with its combination of an OLED display, a powerful Intel processor, and ample RAM. The Best Buy variant with a Core Ultra 5 processor and 16GB of RAM remains a cost-effective alternative for users with lighter workloads. While not perfect, this laptop stands out as a compelling choice for those seeking a balance of performance, portability, and price.
Disclosure: Asus provided the laptop free of charge to the channel for a future giveaway. The company did not review or approve this content before it was uploaded and no other compensation was received. All opinions are my own.