If budget is a concern and your computing needs are modest, the ASUS Vivobook 15 provides essential functions for general use without breaking the bank, but with limited storage and RAM, basic integrated graphics, and an average battery life, it may struggle with more demanding applications. The ASUS Zenbook Pro 16X, on the other hand, is considerably more expensive, but it comes with increased storage and RAM, a powerful processor paired with a dedicated graphics card suitable for 3D rendering, machine learning, and even gaming, all while offering a high-quality OLED touchscreen display with longer battery life. Keep in mind, the Zenbook Pro 16X is heavier and less portable compared to the Vivobook 15. 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 Vivobook 15
The ASUS Vivobook 15 has no clear advantages over the ASUS Zenbook Pro 16X.
Advantages of the ASUS Zenbook Pro 16X
Very good for general use
Very good for engineering and design
Good for gaming and AI
Very good for software development
Very good for content creation
Very good overall display quality
Best in class speakers
Very good keyboard
Key differences
General Use
6.5/10
8.3/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2400
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
OLED
250.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
354.0 nits
6.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
7.0 Hours
6.7/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
7.8/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.3/10
The ASUS Zenbook Pro 16X is very good for general use, while the ASUS Vivobook 15 is only fair.
The ASUS Zenbook Pro 16X outshines the Vivobook 15 for general use due to its more powerful CPU, double the RAM, and superior OLED screen, which enhance performance and offer better visual experience, albeit at the cost of being heavier and with a modest increase in battery life. While the Vivobook 15 ensures decent capabilities for everyday tasks with its ample RAM and full HD screen, it sacrifices performance and some screen quality for improved portability and affordability, but has shorter battery life compared to the Zenbook.
Gaming and AI
5.9/10
7.5/10
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
6.6/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2400
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
7.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.5/10
The ASUS Zenbook Pro 16X is good for gaming and AI, while the ASUS Vivobook 15 is poor.
The ASUS Vivobook 15 is only fair for gaming and 3D because it uses integrated Intel graphics and has a standard 60Hz screen refresh rate, which provides basic performance. In contrast, the ASUS Zenbook Pro 16X is good for these tasks as it comes with a powerful Nvidia RTX 3060 graphics card and although its screen also refreshes at 60Hz, it has a higher quality OLED display, providing richer visuals and better performance in demanding tasks.
Engineering and Design
6.1/10
8.6/10
5.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.1/10
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
6.6/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The ASUS Zenbook Pro 16X is very good for engineering and design, while the ASUS Vivobook 15 is only fair.
The ASUS Vivobook 15 is fair for engineering and design largely due to its modest CPU and integrated GPU, which may struggle with complex design software, and an average-quality screen; whereas the superior CPU, high-end dedicated GPU, and superior OLED screen with a higher resolution and better color accuracy on the ASUS Zenbook Pro 16X offer much better performance and visual clarity for engineering tasks. Although both have good portability, Zenbook's larger screen and heavier weight may impact its ease of carrying, yet it compensates with a higher-quality keyboard and quieter operation, factors that might affect extended work sessions.
Content Creation
6.4/10
8.5/10
5.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.1/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2400
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
OLED
The ASUS Zenbook Pro 16X is very good for content creation, while the ASUS Vivobook 15 is only fair.
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
6.5/10
8.2/10
5.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.1/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2400
6.7/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
The ASUS Zenbook Pro 16X is very good for software development, while the ASUS Vivobook 15 is only fair.
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
6.3/10
8.3/10
15.6in
SIZE
16.0in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2400
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
OLED
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
250.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
354.0 nits
The ASUS Zenbook Pro 16X has a better screen than the ASUS Vivobook 15 for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, content creation, and software development.
For general use, the ASUS Vivobook 15 provides adequate brightness and resolution, but the panel type isn't as sharp or vibrant as the ASUS Zenbook Pro 16X, with its higher resolution, making it clearer and more pleasing to the eye. When addressing engineering and design needs, the Zenbook Pro 16X stands out with superior color accuracy, covering a wider range of the color gamut, which ensures that designs and project work are displayed with precision and true-to-life colors. However, for gaming and 3D applications, despite their superior resolution and panel quality, both laptops may fall short due to lower refresh rates, which means they won't be as smooth in displaying fast-moving visuals compared to laptops designed specifically for gaming with higher refresh rate displays.
Build Quality
7.0/10
7.6/10
The ASUS Zenbook Pro 16X and ASUS Vivobook 15 both have good build quality, though the ASUS Zenbook Pro 16X has somewhat better build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$530
$1,300
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
The ASUS Vivobook 15 has a price of $530 and the ASUS Zenbook Pro 16X costs $1,300.
"The Asus VivoBook 15 is a quiet office notebook with a strong screen. However, the VivoBook 15 still has room for improvement. Office and internet applications as well as simple games do not pose any major challenges for the VivoBook - this is ensured by the built-in combination of Ryzen 7 5700U APU and 16 GB of RAM. Heat and noise emissions are acceptable. But, the laptop has weaknesses that should not be present at this level: lack of keyboard lighting, a slow memory card reader, no fast USB-C port (USB 3.2 Gen 2 or Thunderbolt 4) with Power Delivery and DisplayPort. Battery runtimes can only be described as average."
"The new Zenbook Pro 16X is more powerful, quieter and doesn't need to shy away from dedicated workstations and gamers. It is also comparatively compact, and our test device is the best Zenbook that we've reviewed so far. It seems equally suitable for content creators and gamers or anyone looking for a very powerful laptop that is still slim."
Get a great deal on the ASUS Vivobook 15 or the ASUS Zenbook Pro 16X
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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