Asus Vivobook Go 14 First Impressions: A Solid Choice for Budget-Conscious Consumers

Typically, searching for a laptop that doesn't burn a hole in your pocket means settling for lackluster build quality and snail-paced performance. However, Asus has taken a step in a different direction with its latest release, the Vivobook Go 14.

With an impressively sturdy construction and satisfactory performance, this laptop challenges the stereotype that budget options are subpar. Granted, it's not flawless and has a few hiccups, but if you're on a tight budget, the Asus Vivobook Go 14 is a compelling choice and stands out as one of the better budget laptops available in the market.

Asus Vivobook Go 14: Tech Specs

Our review unit features a 14-inch FHD (1920 x 1080) display with a 16:9 aspect ratio. It has an anti-glare layer and the manufacturer claims a 45% NTSC color gamut. The device is equipped with an AMD Ryzen 5 7520U processor and AMD Radeon Graphics, paired with 8GB of RAM and 512GB of SSD storage.

The laptop also offers an option to upgrade to 16GB of RAM. The device is powered by a 42Wh battery that can be charged from 0-60 in less than 50 minutes. The laptop comes with Windows 11 Home operating system pre-installed.

Asus Vivobook Go 14: Design & Build Quality

Upon receiving the Asus Vivobook Go 14, I was immediately impressed by its solid construction, as the plastic-clad device meets US military standards certification. Despite its rather thick appearance, the laptop's weight of 1.38kg was manageable and evenly distributed, with no noticeable flex.

Our review unit came in a Mixed Black colorway, but other color options are available including Cool Silver and Grey Green. The rectangular Vivobook badging on the lid adds appeal to an otherwise unremarkable colorway, and the laptop does a decent job of hiding fingerprints.

In terms of ports, the laptop includes a USB 2.0, USB 3.2 Gen 1 (Type-A), USB 3.2 Gen 1 (Type-C), HDMI 1.4, and a headphone jack. Unfortunately, the laptop can only be charged via a barrel plug and not through the Type-C port.

The Asus Vivobook Go 14 boasts a decent bezel size for a device in this price range, thanks to Asus' NanoEdge slim-bezel display. The laptop also features a physical slider to cover the webcam and a 180-degree lay-flat hinge.

The ErgoSense keyboard provided by Asus is touted as providing a great typing experience, and I can confirm that the Chiclet keyboard is indeed clicky and tactile.

Despite the lack of a dedicated numpad, Asus has integrated it into the trackpad, which is usable and can be disabled when not in use. In my few days of use, I found the keyboard layout to be easy to navigate and comfortable to type on.

Asus Vivobook Go 14: Display

I must say that I was quite disappointed with the display quality of the Asus Vivobook Go laptop. The dull colors and poor viewing angles made it hard for me to work on the laptop for extended periods. Even adjusting the tilt didn't help much, as the contrast ratio and visibility were subpar, resulting in muddled onscreen text.

The brightness of the panel was also below par, which added to the overall disappointment. Although the laptop has an FHD resolution, pixel peeping revealed noticeable pixelation.

While I understand that it is aimed at the affordable segment, I was left wanting for a better display. It's worth mentioning that the OLED version of the Vivobook is available for those who want a brighter and better-quality display.

Asus Vivobook Go 14: Performance

In the budget laptop category, finding a device that can handle demanding workloads is usually a challenge, but the Asus Vivobook Go stands out as an exception. Despite having just 8GB of RAM, I was pleasantly surprised by how well the laptop performed when I put it to the test.

While there were occasional stutters, such as when I switched between Spotify and YouTube or juggled multiple Chrome tabs, overall the device handled everything I threw at it admirably.

Even though the laptop struggled with my heavy workload, I believe that the 16GB RAM variant would provide a smoother experience. While I can't provide benchmark numbers just yet, I'm happy to report that the Vivobook Go handled lightweight internet surfing and multitasking without any issues.

Overall, I'm impressed with the laptop's performance and believe that it offers good value for its price range.

What Do We Think of the Asus Vivobook Go 14?

While there are some aspects of the Asus Vivobook Go 14 that I still need to test, such as its battery life, I find the device to be a capable choice for everyday use. Despite some issues, such as the display's poor viewing angles and dull colors, Asus has done a commendable job of packing impressive tech inside a small chassis.

At the time of writing, the Asus Vivobook Go 14 is available for purchase at a reasonable price of ₹39,990 from Asus' estore. Additionally, the Vivobook Pro 14, which features an OLED display, can be purchased for ₹54,990.

Overall, the Asus Vivobook Go 14 offers good value for money and appears to be a viable option for those looking for an affordable and capable everyday laptop.