Asus Vivobook S15 S5507 review: Watch out for Snapdragon!
Is it better than the Intel model?
Published By: Manik Berry | Published: Aug 27, 2024, 02:54 PM (IST)
Highlights
- The Snapdragon chip makes this laptop lighter compared to the Intel
- Has better battery backup compared to equivalent Intel laptops
- Comes with military-grade toughness
I received the Asus Vivobook S15 Snapdragon Elite X laptop right after using the same laptop with an Intel chip. In fact, the first couple of days were an overlap and I switched between both machines to see how they were similar and different.
TL;DR The Snapdragon Asus Vivobook S15 is lighter, faster, and has more battery life compared to the Intel variant. But while the Intel variants start from under 1 lakh rupees, there's only one Snapdragon model, and it will set you back Rs. 1.25 lakh. It is a good machine for that price, but should you consider it over Intel? Well, that's something I can't answer in a TL;DR, so read on.
Asus Vivobook S15 (S5507) specifications
| Specifications | Asus Vivobook S15 S5507 |
|---|---|
| Processor | Snapdragon X Elite X1E 78 100 Qualcomm Hexagon NPU up to 45TOPS |
| Graphics | Qualcomm Adreno GPU |
| Display | 15.6-inch 3K (2880 x 1620p) 120 Hz OLED
600nits peak brightness |
| Memory | 16GB LPDDR5x RAM |
| Storage | 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 7 + Bluetooth 5.4 |
| I/O | 2x USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A 2x USB 4.0 Gen 3 Type-C support display/power delivery 1x HDMI 2.1 TMDS 1x 3.5mm Combo Audio Jack Micro SD card reader |
| Audio | 2 built-in speakers Harman Kardon-certified, Dolby Atmos |
| Battery | 70WHrs, 3S1P, 3-cell Li-ion |
| Power Adapter | 90 W Type-C power adapter |
| Dimensions and weight | 35.26 x 22.69 x 1.47 ~ 1.59 cm Approx. 1.42 kg |
| Colours | Cool Silver |
Asus Vivobook S15 Snapdragon Review: Design
It shares the same military-grade tough chassis as the Intel Vivobook, only lighter. The laptop has a metal build, a 180-degree hinge, and good weight distribution so it feels lighter in your hands or a backpack. It also packs 2 USB-A ports, 2 USB-C ports, an HDMI port, a microSD card reader, and a headphone jack.
You get barely any chassis flex, the cool silver colour looks good, and the overall look and feel of the laptop is solid. This is the same chassis I tested on the Intel model, but the cool silver colour is better at dealing with smudges so it remains clean.
Asus Vivobook S15 S5507 Review: Display and hinge
With an 89% screen-to-body ratio, you hardly ever notice the bezels. The Asus Vivobook S15 S5507 gets a 3K OLED screen with a 120Hz refresh rate, making it a good display for office work, social media, and binge-watching. This is a student-focused laptop, and its screen checks most of the right boxes. On the downside, it has a ton of glare when working outdoors or with a light directly behind you.
Coming to the hinge, you have a 180-degree form factor, which is nice. However, at this price, I'd want a 360-degree hinge with a touchscreen. This isn't a big ask at 1.25 lakh rupees, and a 360-degree form factor would also allow for a better gaming experience on this machine.
Asus Vivobook S15 Review: Keyboard and trackpad
Starting with the keyboard, the Vivobook S15 gets a chicklet-style full-size keyboard with single-zone RGB lighting. The RGB lighting looks out of place, but it is just one more feature you have here. You get 1.7 mm travel and the keys are shaped in a certain way to allow fast typing speeds. Asus has done a fine job of limiting the chassis flex so the fast typing experience remains good.
In the trackpad section, some design changes have allowed Asus to give it a 40% larger trackpad. It is smooth, tactile, and responsive. And even if you like slower trackpad speed, you won't need multiple swipes, thanks to the large surface area.
Asus Vivobook S15 S5507 Review: Performance
This is where I'm most impressed by what this Asus and Qualcomm partnership has achieved. Everything from the benchmark scores to the boot time is faster than the equivalent Intel variant. Throughout my testing, I didn't feel once that this is a lightweight chip, or that it isn't meant to compete with Intel's big dogs.
| Benchmarks | Score |
|---|---|
| Cinebench R32 | Single core: 776 Multi-core: 13172 |
| 3D Mark | 30110 (Night Raid Overall) |
| PC Mark 10 | 7100 (Main score) |
Graphics is one area where the Snapdragon chip could do better. It is at par with the Intel Arc graphics with the i5, but Qualcomm could've made it a little more powerful to run heavier games. With its current CPU GPU combination, the Qualcomm Vivobook can handle multiple Chrome tabs, some light gaming, and even basic video editing. But if you try graphic designing or 3D renders, then you're stretching it with this machine.
Asus Vivobook S15 Review: Battery and charging
The Snapdragon X Elite-powered Vivobook is good at multitasking while being power-efficient. It has a physically smaller battery compared to the Intel model but manages to get a longer runtime with the same. I got roughly 12 hours of battery life every time, and at one point started thinking I didn't need to carry the charger if I powered it up in the morning.
While the charging speed and battery backup are good, I still don't like the stock 90-watt charging brick that comes with this laptop. It kills the portability factor and forces you to either get a bigger laptop sleeve or carry it in a backpack. However, it charges via USB-C so you can use your phone charger. It'll be slower, but you won't have to carry the big charger it comes with.
Asus Vivobook S15 OLED S5507 Review: Verdict
If you're a student who wants a good laptop under 1.25 lakh rupees, you're exactly the person who Asus wants to purchase this laptop. But if you are a student or a working professional with this budget, you would want something better at gaming. If not, then something with a 360-degree form factor and a touchscreen.
If you're willing to give up these things, then the Asus Vivobook S15 S5507 gives you a solid laptop. It is military-grade tough, gets a full-day battery life, an amazing screen, a great keyboard and a large and responsive trackpad. All of this adds up to make this a value-for-money laptop that should last you a long time.
Get latest Tech and Auto news from Techlusive on our WhatsApp Channel, Facebook, X (Twitter), Instagram and YouTube.