When choosing between the ASUS Vivobook Go 12 and the Gateway 14.1", consider how you prioritize portability, performance, and budget. The ASUS model, being more compact, will be easier to carry around, making it suitable for frequent travelers or students with limited space. However, the Gateway's larger size typically means a bigger screen and keyboard, which can be more comfortable for extended use or tasks that benefit from a larger display. If you are price-sensitive and are looking for a balance between usability and cost, the Gateway may offer a satisfactory experience without the higher price tag. On the other hand, if you need a highly portable device and are willing to invest more for that convenience, the ASUS Vivobook Go 12 may be the better option, especially if performance demands are not your top concern. Keep in mind that higher cost does not always mean better overall performance; it could be reflective of the portability and build quality of the ASUS. Consider how you'll primarily use your laptop and whether the investment aligns with your most critical needs. 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 Go 12
Excellent portability
Very good battery life
Advantages of the Gateway 14.1"
The Gateway 14.1" has no clear advantages over the ASUS Vivobook Go 12.
Key differences
Screen Quality
5.1/10
6.0/10
11.6in
SIZE
14.1in
1366 x 768
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
TN
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
200.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
208.0 nits
The Gateway 14.1" has a better screen than the ASUS Vivobook Go 12 for general use, gaming and AI, and engineering and design.
The ASUS Vivobook Go 12's lower resolution and dimmer display may not provide the clarity and vibrancy needed for everyday tasks. For engineering and design professionals, the limited color gamut means less accurate color representation, which is crucial for detailed work. Regarding gaming and 3D tasks, the display's lower refresh rate leads to less fluid motion and a subpar visual experience compared to laptops with higher refresh rates and better resolution.
Battery
10.0 Hours
8.0 Hours
The ASUS Vivobook Go 12 has 10 hours of battery life. The Gateway 14.1" has 8 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
Excellent
Very Good
11.6in
SIZE
14.1in
2.3 lbs
WEIGHT
3.3 lbs
0.6in
THICKNESS
0.7in
The ASUS Vivobook Go 12 has excellent portability, while the Gateway 14.1" has very good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Cost
$192
$99
$50
$100
$150
$200
$250
$300
The ASUS Vivobook Go 12 has a price of $192 and the Gateway 14.1" costs $99.
The Gateway 14.1" and ASUS Vivobook Go 12 are both poor for general use.
The ASUS Vivobook Go 12 and the Gateway 14.1" both feature low-performing Intel Celeron processors and minimal RAM, which may result in sluggishness during multitasking and general use. The Vivobook's smaller screen with lower resolution and brightness, and non-backlit keyboard are less suitable for extended use although its portability is excellent, whereas the Gateway provides a better screen experience and fairly good portability, but both have less-than-ideal speaker quality and build, impacting overall user experience.
Gaming and AI
5.4/10
5.4/10
3.5/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.5/10
1366 x 768
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
7.0/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.0/10
The Gateway 14.1" and ASUS Vivobook Go 12 are both poor for gaming and AI.
The ASUS Vivobook Go 12 and Gateway 14.1" are poor choices for gaming and 3D applications because they both utilize the Intel UHD Graphics 600, which lacks the performance required for such demanding tasks. Additionally, the limited screen refresh rates and lower quality screens of these laptops do not support the high frame rates and visual fidelity desired for gaming and 3D rendering.
Engineering and Design
5.3/10
5.5/10
3.3/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
3.3/10
3.5/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.5/10
4.0 GB
RAM
4.0 GB
The Gateway 14.1" and ASUS Vivobook Go 12 are both poor for engineering and design.
PerfectRec’s Engineering and Design Score takes into account the many different features of the laptop that make it more or less suitable for graphic design and 3D rendering work.
Content Creation
5.7/10
5.8/10
3.3/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
3.3/10
1366 x 768
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
4.0 GB
RAM
4.0 GB
TN
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Gateway 14.1" and ASUS Vivobook Go 12 are both poor for content creation.
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
5.7/10
5.8/10
3.3/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
3.3/10
4.0 GB
RAM
4.0 GB
1366 x 768
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
5.3/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
5.3/10
The Gateway 14.1" and ASUS Vivobook Go 12 are both poor for software development.
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.
Build Quality
5.1/10
5.1/10
The ASUS Vivobook Go 12 and Gateway 14.1" both have poor build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Give feedback
We’re constantly working to improve.
How the ASUS Vivobook Go 12 and the Gateway 14.1" compare to other laptops
"The Gateway Ultra Slim 14" is surprisingly quiet with long battery life. The inexpensive Gateway excels at maximizing performance per dollar with lots of RAM and storage, super-quiet fan, and a long battery life. It can even house up to two M.2 SSDs which we weren't expecting from such a cheap system. However, the iffy reliability of the keyboard and USB-C port on our test unit means users should double-check for these potential issues immediately after purchasing."
Get a great deal on the ASUS Vivobook Go 12 or the Gateway 14.1"
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.
About Gateway
Gateway is a laptop and tablet brand owned by Acer which sells budget-friendly laptops exclusively through Walmart. It was previously an American computer company until its acquisition by Acer in 2007, who then revived the brand in 2020. Gateway laptops are manufactured by Chinese company Shenzhen Bmorn Technology, which also makes EVOO-branded models.
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
CEO and Laptops Editor
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
Chandradeep is a staff expert and software engineer and expert in televisions and monitors. He’s been making monitor recommendations for ten years.
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Laptops Expert
Craig is a UK-based laptops expert. Craig works in IT, where he recommends and supports laptops and PCs for clients and has been recommending laptops on Reddit for five years.