Asus Vivobook S15: Ever since I first laid eyes on a Copilot+ PC at Computex, I’ve been itching to use one as my primary device. The Asus Vivobook S15 finally gave me the perfect opportunity to do just that. What makes this laptop special? It’s India’s first Copilot+ PC, powered by the cutting-edge Snapdragon X Elite processor, which is quite different from the conventional Intel or AMD processors we’re used to seeing in laptops.
I have been using the Asus Vivobook S15 Copilot+ PC, featuring the Snapdragon X Elite X1E78100, 16 GB of RAM, and 1 TB of storage, as my main device for a few weeks now. Let me take you through what it’s like to use an ARM-based Windows laptop in 2024.
A Familiar and Practical Copilot+ PC
The Asus Vivobook S15 feels like a classic Windows laptop. It’s designed to be practical, with a wide range of ports and connectivity options that make life easier. Whether it’s the full-sized HDMI port, a couple of USB-A ports (perfect for connecting a mouse and keyboard), or the microSD reader, you won’t need any extra dongles or accessories to get work done.
While this may not be the most glamorous or stylish laptop on the market, its solid build and thoughtful design make it incredibly practical. Despite the large 15.6-inch screen and hefty 70 WHr battery, the laptop is surprisingly light, weighing just 1.42 kg. If you’re upgrading from an older Windows laptop, the Asus Vivobook S15 won’t leave you missing anything major.
A Stunning Display
Asus has done an impressive job with the screen on this laptop. The 15.6-inch OLED display is sharp and vibrant, boasting a 3K resolution and a 120Hz refresh rate. Whether you’re watching movies, editing photos, or playing games, the screen provides a bright and vivid experience, even in direct sunlight, thanks to its 600 nits of peak HDR brightness.
If there’s one thing I’d change, it would be adding touch input functionality, but that’s a minor drawback in what is otherwise an outstanding display.
Handling Everyday Tasks and Gaming
One of the most important questions when considering an ARM-based PC is whether it can run all your apps. The answer is mostly yes. Most popular apps, like Google Chrome and VLC, have been adapted for ARM-based Windows devices. I did run into some trouble with my employer’s VPN app, but for the most part, I didn’t have any significant compatibility issues.
As for performance, the Asus Vivobook S15 handled everything I threw at it with ease. It’s quiet, too. Even while gaming, the laptop’s two fans stayed nearly silent, which is a rare treat for a Windows laptop. The only time I noticed some heat was when I had multiple ports in use on the left side, including HDMI and USB-C charging.
The AI Advantage: What is Copilot+?
The Copilot+ branding on this laptop signifies that it has a dedicated Neural Processing Unit (NPU), which is capable of handling AI tasks efficiently. With the Snapdragon X Elite chip’s 45 TOPs (trillion operations per second) of AI performance, this laptop is equipped to handle on-device AI features like transforming sketches into images through Cocreator on the Paint app.
At the moment, there aren’t too many practical uses for these AI capabilities, but the future looks bright. As more AI-driven applications become available, laptops like this one are poised to handle them with ease.
Can It Play Games?
I was pleasantly surprised to find that the Asus Vivobook S15 can handle modern games like GTA 5 with no issues. I got around 65 frames per second at 1080p resolution with medium settings, making for smooth gameplay with only occasional frame drops. However, not all games work flawlessly on this ARM-based laptop. For example, DOOM 64 wouldn’t even open. So while modern titles generally run well, older or less optimized games may struggle.
Benchmark Performance
For those interested in numbers, I ran a few ARM-specific benchmark tests. The multi-core performance of the Snapdragon X Elite was slightly higher than Apple’s M3 Pro, though the M3 Pro had a slight edge in single-core tests. These results show that this laptop is more than capable of handling demanding tasks, making it a solid performer in its category.
Battery Life That Lasts All Day
One of the best features of the Asus Vivobook S15 is its long battery life. Asus claims up to 18+ hours, and while I didn’t quite reach that number, I consistently got between 10 to 12 hours of usage with tasks like web browsing and video streaming. Plus, the laptop supports USB-PD fast charging, meaning you can quickly top up the battery when needed.
Conclusion: An Excellent Everyday AI-Enhanced PC
In summary, the Asus Vivobook S15 Copilot+ is a powerful, efficient, and versatile laptop that’s perfect for everyday use. It handles tasks like web browsing, video streaming, and even gaming with ease, all while staying cool and quiet. While there are a few quirks, like occasional app compatibility issues and the lack of touch support, the pros far outweigh the cons.
If you’re ready to embrace the future of AI-enhanced computing, this laptop is a solid choice. Whether you’re upgrading from an older device or just looking for a reliable, powerful PC, the Asus Vivobook S15 Copilot+ is more than capable of meeting your needs.
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