Tech

Asus Vivobook S 16 Review: Power and Efficiency with AMD Ryzen AI

The Asus Vivobook S 16 has arrived, and it’s the first laptop from Asus featuring AMD’s new “Strix Point” processors. These chips have been eagerly awaited for their promise of power efficiency on par with Apple’s M-series, combined with broad compatibility for apps and gaming. Tech site live Newztalkies.com dives into the details, examining how the Vivobook S 16 performs and what it offers to users.

Table of Contents

Design and Build Quality

The Vivobook S 16 is part of Asus’s Copilot+ lineup and brings strong build quality with its aluminum chassis. Weighing in at 1.5 kg, it’s solid yet portable, striking a balance between sturdiness and mobility. While it’s not as thin as Asus’ Zenbook line, it remains functional and stylish, sharing design elements with its Snapdragon-based sibling, the S 15.

16-Inch OLED Display and Productivity-Focused Ratio

The Vivobook S 16 sports a 16-inch 3.2K OLED display with a 16:10 aspect ratio, perfect for tasks that benefit from extra vertical space, like coding or working with spreadsheets. With a 3200×2000 resolution, up to 600 nits brightness, and a 120Hz refresh rate, this display is bright, colorful, and offers an immersive viewing experience. According to live Newztalkies.com, this screen enhances productivity while providing an excellent display for media consumption.

User Experience: Keyboard, Trackpad, and Sound Quality

The Vivobook S 16’s keyboard offers decent depth and travel, with numeric keys on the side for those handling numbers. One drawback is the RGB backlighting on a silver keyboard, which can make visibility challenging under certain lighting conditions. Thankfully, users can switch the backlighting to white for better clarity.

As for sound, Asus includes Dolby Atmos and Harman Kardon-certified speakers. While audio quality is clear, turning the volume up to maximum may compromise sound integrity.

Connectivity and Ports

With an array of ports, this laptop supports numerous peripherals, including:

1 x USB4 (4K UHD display support and up to 40 Gbps data transfer)
1 x USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-C
2 x USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A
1 x HDMI 2.1
1 x MicroSD card reader
1 x Audio jack

This versatility in connectivity enhances user experience, allowing for seamless integration with external devices—a feature highlighted by live Newztalkies.com.

Asus Vivobook S 16 AI-Powered Features

As part of Asus’s Copilot PC lineup, the Asus Vivobook S 16 incorporates several AI-driven features:

Live Captions: Real-time subtitles for improved accessibility
Cocreator: Generates AI drawings from text prompts
Windows Studio Effects: Enhances lighting and blurs distractions for video calls
Automatic Super Resolution: Upscales games in real-time, improving visuals and performance

These features bring added functionality to the Vivobook S 16, transforming it into a smart, user-friendly laptop.

Performance and Battery Life: Powered by AMD’s Strix Point Ryzen AI

The Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 chipset powering this model is AMD’s answer to Apple’s efficiency-focused M-series. Asus claims up to 14 hours on a 75Wh battery, though real-world tests show around 8-9 hours of typical use. This is sufficient for a full workday, even with demanding tasks like browsing, media consumption, and multitasking.

For users working with graphics, the AMD Radeon 890M graphics offer additional power for moderate gaming and graphic-intensive applications, even though the review unit was returned before extensive gaming tests could be performed.

Comparing with Competitors: Snapdragon, Ryzen, or Intel?

In 2024, Windows laptops have seen a surge in power-efficient models, sparking competition among chipmakers. Snapdragon laptops excel in battery life, making them ideal for users who prioritize portability. However, for those looking for broader app compatibility and gaming performance, the AMD Ryzen AI lineup, as seen in the Vivobook S 16, is the better choice.

Conclusion

The Asus Vivobook S 16 is a powerful, efficient, and versatile laptop with plenty to offer. Its impressive OLED display, thoughtful design, robust AI features, and efficient Ryzen AI processor make it an appealing choice for professionals and casual users alike. With the backing of tech experts at live Newztalkies.com, this laptop stands out as a capable device that bridges power efficiency with performance.

For those navigating the latest in tech, live Newztalkies.com will continue to provide updates and insights on devices like the Vivobook S 16 as they reshape the laptop landscape.