Everything has changed A year for Windows laptops. first, Qualcomm’s ARM-based Snapdragon processor brings all the efficiency Mac users like to go to Windows, resulting in some of the fastest The longest laptop We’ve seen it before, like Surface laptop 7.
But if all this kind of kindness is only used on expensive high-end laptops, it will never really change the PC landscape. That’s what makes laptops like the Asus Vivobook so important. It uses Qualcomm’s entry-level Snapdragon X chip, and despite some shortcomings, battery life alone makes people smart choices for people despite their own shortcomings Tight budget.
Photo: Luke-Larsen
Cheaper than it sounds
Although $700 may not be heard clearly That Cheap laptopdetails are important because this Vivobook 14 is more than just an entry-level machine. The base configuration comes with 16 GB of RAM and 512 GB of storage, so it’s eligible Co-pilot + PC And have access to some Microsoft’s artificial intelligence features.
If the laptop has a cheap boot configuration, it will be close to $500. This is important when considering the value of the Vivobook 14, because in fact, the Vivobook 14 is a higher-configured $500 laptop, rather than a real mid-level device. This has both a huge advantage and a significant compromise.
Pricing for the Snapdragon X Plus and X Elite laptops is also important. These laptops with more powerful processors initially started at $999 (many of them had just 256 GB in storage), but many of them were down. For example, you can now get HP Omnibook X costs $680this gives you one Faster processor and better monitor.
Photo: Luke-Larsen
Dull but reliable
From the outside, the Vivobook 14 is nothing special. This is a basic silver laptop that feels thicker and heavier than it should. Over 3 pounds and 0.7 inches thick, it’s not creepy. The borders are large and plastic, the lid and keyboard deck are more flexible than I like. I like the look of the black model, not the “cool silver” but it seems like I can’t buy it online right now.
It matches the definition of a real budget laptop in 2025, at least a stereotype. But I appreciate that Asus didn’t skip on the keyboard and touchpad. If the keyboard and touchpad are bad, you will regret it if you spend very little money on your laptop. Thankfully, the Vivobookâs keyboard does not have hasty drivers or excursions, but rather provides a comfortable and precise typing experience. It may even take some time to get used to the 1.7mm trip, which is longer than the keyboard on most laptops.
