For high-end tasks like gaming, 3D modeling, or machine learning, the ASUS ROG Flow X16, while more expensive, provides robust performance and superior graphics capabilities suitable for these demands. However, it is heavier and might have shorter battery life, affecting portability. The ASUS Vivobook Go 12, on the other hand, is budget-friendly and highly portable with longer battery life, but it's designed for basic tasks such as web browsing, document editing, and media consumption. The choice depends on whether your priority is performance for demanding applications or affordability and portability for everyday use. Give Feedback
this description is based on the product variant with some specs and product variant with some specs. At the time of writing, the variant with some specs cost some dollars and the variant with some specs cost some dollars.
Advantages of the ASUS ROG Flow X16
Very good for general use
Very good for engineering and design
Good for gaming and AI
Good for software development
Very good for content creation
Very good overall display quality
Very good overall build quality
Best in class speakers
Very good keyboard
Advantages of the ASUS Vivobook Go 12
Excellent portability
Very good battery life
Key differences
General Use
8.0/10
5.6/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1366 x 768
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
TN
502.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
200.0 nits
5.5 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
10.0 Hours
8.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
5.3/10
7.4/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
9.3/10
The ASUS ROG Flow X16 is very good for general use, while the ASUS Vivobook Go 12 is poor.
PerfectRec’s General Use Score takes into account the many different features of the laptop that make it more or less suitable for general productivity, web browsing, streaming, video calls, and running a wide variety of apps and programs.
Gaming and AI
7.6/10
5.4/10
7.2/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.5/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1366 x 768
165Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
Yes
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
7.0/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.0/10
The ASUS ROG Flow X16 is good for gaming and AI, while the ASUS Vivobook Go 12 is poor.
PerfectRec’s Gaming and AI Score strongly emphasizes graphics processing capability, while also taking into account other factors that impact suitability for gaming and AI work.
Engineering and Design
8.3/10
5.3/10
8.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
3.3/10
7.2/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.5/10
16.0 GB
RAM
4.0 GB
The ASUS ROG Flow X16 is very good for engineering and design, while the ASUS Vivobook Go 12 is poor.
The ASUS ROG Flow X16 outshines the ASUS Vivobook Go 12 for engineering and design work due to its superior CPU, RAM, and GPU, which are critical for demanding tasks and complex software; it also offers a far better screen quality, ideal for detailed design work. While the Vivobook Go 12 is more portable and quieter, it lacks the raw power and high-quality display necessary for intensive engineering and graphics tasks.
Content Creation
8.0/10
5.7/10
8.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
3.3/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1366 x 768
16.0 GB
RAM
4.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
TN
The ASUS ROG Flow X16 is very good for content creation, while the ASUS Vivobook Go 12 is poor.
PerfectRec’s Content Creation Score takes into account the many different features of the laptop that make it more or less suitable for photo editing, video editing and other content creation tasks.
Software Development
7.7/10
5.7/10
8.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
3.3/10
16.0 GB
RAM
4.0 GB
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1366 x 768
8.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
5.3/10
The ASUS ROG Flow X16 is good for software development, while the ASUS Vivobook Go 12 is poor.
PerfectRec’s Software Development Score takes into account the many different features of the laptop that make it more or less suitable for software developers.
Screen Quality
8.5/10
5.1/10
16.0in
SIZE
11.6in
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1366 x 768
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
TN
165Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
502.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
200.0 nits
The ASUS ROG Flow X16 has a better screen than the ASUS Vivobook Go 12 for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
The ASUS ROG Flow X16 stands out for general use with its sharp resolution and bright display, ensuring text and images are clear and vibrant; however, its refresh rate, key for smooth 3D rendering and gaming experiences, might not meet the requirements of enthusiasts. For engineering and design professionals, the high-quality color reproduction of the ROG Flow X16 offers accurate color work with its wide color gamuts. In contrast, the ASUS Vivobook Go 12, with its lower resolution, brightness, and limited color range, falls short across all use cases, offering basic functionality but not excelling in any particular area.
Battery
5.5 Hours
10.0 Hours
The ASUS ROG Flow X16 has 5.5 hours of battery life. The ASUS Vivobook Go 12 has 10 hours of battery life.
Battery life estimate is based on a mix of common use patterns. More portable and higher performing laptops tend to have less battery life.
Portability
Good
Excellent
16.0in
SIZE
11.6in
4.6 lbs
WEIGHT
2.3 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.6in
The ASUS Vivobook Go 12 has excellent portability, while the ASUS ROG Flow X16 has good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
8.5/10
5.1/10
The ASUS ROG Flow X16 has very good build quality, while the ASUS Vivobook Go 12 has poor build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$1,300
$267
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
The ASUS ROG Flow X16 has a price of $1,300 and the ASUS Vivobook Go 12 costs $267.
"Above all else, the Asus ROG Flow X16 is one thing - versatile! It is a thin, mobile work device, it's a 2-in-1, tablet, a powerful workstation and even a gaming PC. But something even more surprising: It does all of these things really well without making any big blunders. It's anything but a lazy compromise. Because, despite its compact dimensions and 2-in-1 functionality, the hardware isn't throttled and boasts, at least in turbo mode, above-average performance."
Get a great deal on the ASUS ROG Flow X16 or the ASUS Vivobook Go 12
About ASUS
ASUS, a Taiwanese electronics brand, is one of the largest personal computer vendor by market share. The majority of their laptops are targeted towards personal use or gaming. Their most popular product lines include the budget-friendly VivoBook, more premium ZenBook, and their TUF and ROG gaming laptops, the latter of which has a reputation for excellent gaming performance.
This information was produced and vetted by the PerfectRec laptops team. We are a product research and recommendation organization that meticulously reviews and evaluates the latest laptop information and makes it digestible for you.
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Joe Golden, Ph.D
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Joe is an entrepreneur and lifelong electronics enthusiast with a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Michigan.
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Staff Expert & Software Engineer
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