Asus Vivobook Go 14 Review: Budget Laptop Done Right

Asus is a highly respected computer brand that offers products at every price point, catering to a wide range of audiences. Whether you're looking for a machine in the Vivobook series or the ROG line, Asus has something for everyone.

Today, we'll take a closer look at the Asus Vivobook Go 14 laptop, which shows that having a tight budget doesn't have to mean sacrificing build quality and performance. Following extensive use of this laptop, here's what I think of the Asus Vivobook Go 14.

PROS

• Sturdy construction
• Portable, 14-inch form factor
• Decent battery life
• Good quality webcam
• Clicky and tactile keyboard
• Decent performance

CONS

• Subpar display
• No backlight on the keyboard

Asus Vivobook Go 14: Tech Specs

Our review unit boasts a 14-inch FHD (1920 x 1080) display with a 16:9 aspect ratio. It runs on an AMD Ryzen 5 7520U processor and AMD Radeon Graphics, with 8GB of RAM and 512GB of SSD storage.

The laptop can be upgraded to 16GB of RAM. It is powered by a 42Wh battery and comes with a 45W adapter from Asus. It comes pre-installed with Windows 11 Home operating system.

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. However, it can only be charged via a barrel plug and not through the Type-C port.

Asus Vivobook Go 14: Design, Display, Keyboard

Our review unit of the Asus Vivobook Go 14 came in a sleek Mixed Black colorway, with additional color options including Cool Silver and Grey Green.

The laptop's solid construction is impressive, even though it's made of plastic. The absence of any flex in the chassis is notable, and the laptop meets US military standards certification (MIL-STD-810H) for durability.

Portability is also a plus, with the device weighing in at 1.38kg and measuring only 17.9mm in thickness. The 14-inch screen size contributes to the laptop's compact design, making it easy to fit into a backpack.

The Vivobook Go 14's NanoEdge slim-bezel display offers a decent bezel size for a device in this price range. The webcam is also noteworthy, with a physical slider to cover it and a 720p HD resolution. The webcam quality is surprisingly good for the price range, with clever software enhancements to increase clarity.

Unfortunately, the laptop's display is its weakest aspect. The dull colors and poor viewing angles make it difficult to work on the laptop for extended periods. Even adjusting the tilt does little to improve the subpar contrast ratio and visibility, resulting in muddled on-screen text. While the laptop is sufficient for normal video consumption on platforms like YouTube, it's not recommended for visually-rich content.

The brightness of the panel is also below par, with noticeable pixelation despite the FHD resolution. While the Vivobook Go is aimed at the affordable segment, a better display would have been appreciated. Those seeking a brighter and higher-quality display can opt for the OLED version of the laptop.

Asus Vivobook Go 14: Performance

The Asus Vivobook Go performed well in our benchmark tests, as shown in the attached screenshots. Its Geekbench 6 and Cinebench scores were commendable for a laptop in this price range. The fast SSD storage is also a notable feature, evident from the good read and write speeds in the CrystalDiskMark numbers.

In terms of real-world usage, the 8GB RAM on our review unit struggled to keep up with my workload of having multiple Chrome tabs, Slack, and Discord running in the background. Although there were minor hiccups and tab reloading, the laptop didn't completely fail me, and managed to complete the tasks, albeit a few seconds slower. However, during casual use, the performance was smooth and met my requirements.

To sum up, the Asus Vivobook Go 14 is a great laptop for everyday use, such as browsing the web, writing content, and consuming media. However, if you engage in heavy creative workflows such as video editing, or are a power user with multiple apps and tabs running simultaneously, this laptop may not be the best fit for you.

Asus Vivobook Go 14: Battery

The Asus Vivobook Go's AMD Ryzen 5 7520U processor is not power-hungry, so you can expect good battery life from the device. In my experience, the laptop provided over 6 hours of screen-on time, which I consider adequate for the laptop's price range. Recharging the 42Wh battery takes around two hours with Asus' 45W adapter.

Asus Vivobook Go 14: Keyboard

According to Asus, the ErgoSense keyboard offers a superior typing experience, and I can confirm that the Chiclet keyboard is indeed tactile and clicky. Although the keyboard doesn't have a dedicated numpad, Asus has incorporated it into the trackpad, which is functional and can be turned off when not in use. I found the keyboard layout easy to navigate and comfortable to type on during my days with the laptop.

However, the absence of backlighting was a notable downside, making it difficult to use the keyboard in low-light conditions. If you often work in dimly lit environments, it may be better to choose a model with a backlight.

Asus Vivobook Go 14: Audio

The speakers on the Asus Vivobook Go 14 may not be positioned for ultimate sound quality, but they get the job done. I don't expect them to outperform a MacBook, but for the price, they're satisfactory. They can pump out a decent amount of sound, but they're not crystal clear.

However, what sets the laptop apart is its AI-Noise Canceling Audio technology, which was effective in filtering out background noise during my test in a noisy environment.

Asus claims that this feature improves group conference-call quality, but I wouldn't go that far, so I would still recommend using headphones or earbuds in those scenarios.

Should You Buy the Asus Vivobook Go 14?

The Asus Vivobook Go 14 impresses with its solid construction, portable design, and reliable performance. However, I do have a couple of complaints, including the underwhelming display and the keyboard lacking backlighting. Nonetheless, considering its price point of ₹49,990 (at the time of writing), this laptop packs a punch and offers great value for those who don't want to break the bank.