Asus Vivobook S15 S5506 and SmartO mouse review: Power couple?
I got my hands on the Intel Ultra-powered Asus Vivobook S15 S5506 along with their latest SmartO mouse. So here's a detailed review if you're buying it.
Published By: Manik Berry | Published: Jul 29, 2024, 06:33 PM (IST) | Edited: Aug 25, 2024, 04:16 PM (IST)
Highlights
- The laptop comes with an Intel Evo series chip for power efficiency.
- It has a 3K OLED display with Dolby Atmos speakers.
- The SmartO Mouse has a cool way to carry it.
I got my hands on the Intel Ultra-powered Asus Vivobook S15 S5506 along with their latest SmartO mouse. While I have reviewed Vivobooks in the past, this was my first Asus mouse
If were to give you a TL;DR, I'd say the Asus Vivobook S15 is a no-nonsense laptop that means work. But there are some quirks and details you should know before buying it, so do read the full thing. But before that, here's a quick spec sheet.
Asus Vivobook S15 (S5506): Specifications
| Specifications | Asus Vivobook S15 S5506 |
|---|---|
| Processor | Intel Ultra 9 processor with NPU, dedicated AI Engine Intel Ultra 7 processor with NPU, dedicated AI Engine
Intel Ultra 5 processor with NPU, dedicated AI Engine |
| Graphics | Intel ARC Graphics |
| Display | 15.6-inch 3K (2880 x 1620p) 120 Hz OLED 500nits peak brightness |
| Memory | Up to 16GB LPDDR5x RAM |
| Storage | Up to 1 TB PCIe 4.0 NVMe M.2 SSD |
| Keyboard | ASUS ErgoSense keyboard, single-zone RGB |
| Webcam | FHD 3DNR camera with ambient light and colour sensor |
| Connectivity | Dual-band Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax) + Bluetooth 5.3 |
| I/O | 2 x Thunderbolt 4 Type-C (supports 4K UHD external displays and up to 40 Gbps data transfers) 2 x USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A 1 x HDMI 2.1 (TMDS) 1 x MicroSD card reader 1 x Audio jack |
| Audio | 2 built-in speakers Harman Kardon-certified, Dolby Atmos |
| Battery | 75 Wh (supports 49 mins fast-charge to 60%) |
| Power Adapter | 90 W Type-C power adapter |
| Dimensions and weight | 353.7 x 247 x 15.9 mm Approx. 1.5kg |
| Colours | Neutral Black, Mist Blue |
Asus Vivobook S15 Review: Design
This Bluetooth mouse runs on a single AAA battery, and you can pair it with up to three devices using the quick pair button at the bottom. It also has a USB receiver to reduce the lag further. I also paired it with a gaming laptop and there was no noticeable lag, but it is more of a productivity mouse than a gaming mouse. Plus I used it from a sofa, a wooden table, and a plastic table too,
Also, the best feature it has is a little loop at the front. You can easily carry it around with just one finger, and this shows Asus put some thought into its design. However, your lefty friends can't use this mouse as it is meant for right-handed use.
Asus Vivobook S15 S5506 Review: Performance
| Benchmarks | Score |
|---|---|
| Cinebench R32 | Single core: 774 Multi-core: 13180 |
| 3D Mark | 29600 (Night Raid Overall) |
| PC Mark 10 | 7064 (Main score) |
Multiple Chrome tabs, server folders, and streaming Netflix. This was a part of the workload I tried on the Vivobook S15. This laptop breaks no sweat in multitasking or running heavy workloads. I even had a graphic designer friend run Photoshop on this laptop and there were no lags.
While video editing could be a whole different story, the capable specifications and the large OLED screen make it a good option if you want to run tools like Photoshop. That said, there is some heating I experienced while running Cinebench, but it never got uncomfortable hot in my usage.
Asus Vivobook S15 Review: Battery and charging
Performance is good until it starts draining your laptop and then you're left stranded with unfinished projects. Fortunately, the Vivobook S15 has a handle on this situation. It is running on an Intel Evo chip, and you can also use the MyAsus app to control power consumption.
In one day, I used this laptop to post articles, and videos, watch some Netflix, and do some Canva work. This laptop can go 7 to 8 hours on this usage. Heavier tasks like Photoshop drain the battery faster, but you still get 3-4 hours of usage before it completely discharges.
Coming to the charger, Asus seems to be saving the sweet stuff for its exotic lineup. If you read my Zenbook Duo review, I was impressed with the Gan charger that comes with that laptop. It made all the difference between a laptop being truly portable. In this case, though, we have a traditional 95-watt brick that does the job well but is just another chunky charger.
Asus Vivobook S15 OLED S5506 Review: Verdict
Intel means business by pushing the Ultra Evo chips to work that hard and still be power-efficient. And Asus has done a fine job at giving the Vivobook S15 all the essentials it needs to be a good productivity machine. The screen and speakers are good enough for binge sessions, and the keyboard and trackpad help you work well.
The 8-hour battery means you can travel with this laptop, and the military-grade toughness gives it the ability to handle light shocks and bumps. All in all, this is a solid option for college students, and people looking for a business laptop that can handle moderately heavy workloads. But the 96,000 rupee price tag is too steep for the Ultra 5 variant. So if you can get it for a discount, it is a sweet deal.
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