For better performance in intensive tasks like engineering or gaming, the ASUS Vivobook S 15, with stronger processing power and higher memory, is a solid choice but comes at a higher price and less portability due to its size and weight. The Gateway 11.6", on the other hand, is more budget-friendly and extremely portable but is not suited for demanding software due to its lower-end processor and limited memory. The Vivobook's larger, higher-resolution screen provides a better viewing experience, which, combined with a longer battery life, makes it better suited for multitasking and entertainment. Consider the Gateway if your priority is casual use, portability, and saving money. 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 S 15
Good for general use
Good for engineering and design
Good for software development
Good for content creation
Good overall build quality
Advantages of the Gateway 11.6"
Excellent portability
Key differences
General Use
7.7/10
5.6/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1366 x 768
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
267.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
200.0 nits
9.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
8.0 Hours
6.7/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
5.3/10
7.7/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
9.1/10
The ASUS Vivobook S 15 is good for general use, while the Gateway 11.6" is poor.
The ASUS Vivobook S 15 offers robust performance with a capable CPU and ample RAM, making it suitable for a broad range of tasks, while its larger screen with higher resolution and brightness provides a better viewing experience. In contrast, the Gateway 11.6" has a weaker CPU and less RAM, which could slow down more intensive tasks, and its smaller screen with lower resolution doesn't match the image quality of the Vivobook, although it does offer excellent portability due to its light weight and compact size.
Gaming and AI
6.3/10
5.4/10
3.7/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.5/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1366 x 768
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
7.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.0/10
The ASUS Vivobook S 15 is only fair for gaming and AI, while the Gateway 11.6" is poor.
The ASUS Vivobook S 15 offers fair gaming and 3D capabilities primarily due to its better GPU - the AMD Ryzen 7 5800H Vega 8 - and more adequate screen resolution for modern games, though it has the same refresh rate as the Gateway 11.6". The Gateway 11.6", on the other hand, suffers in performance due to a significantly weaker Intel UHD Graphics 600 GPU and a lower screen quality, making it less suitable for gaming and 3D applications despite its excellent portability.
Engineering and Design
7.1/10
5.4/10
7.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
3.3/10
3.7/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.5/10
16.0 GB
RAM
4.0 GB
The ASUS Vivobook S 15 is good for engineering and design, while the Gateway 11.6" is poor.
The ASUS Vivobook S 15 is equipped with a robust AMD Ryzen 7 processor, 16GB of RAM, and a higher-resolution screen, which are very important for handling engineering and design tasks that require substantial processing power and clear visual details.
Content Creation
7.6/10
5.7/10
7.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
3.3/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1366 x 768
16.0 GB
RAM
4.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The ASUS Vivobook S 15 is good for content creation, while the Gateway 11.6" 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
7.4/10
5.7/10
7.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
3.3/10
16.0 GB
RAM
4.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1366 x 768
6.7/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
5.3/10
The ASUS Vivobook S 15 is good for software development, while the Gateway 11.6" 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
6.3/10
5.7/10
15.6in
SIZE
11.6in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1366 x 768
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
267.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
200.0 nits
The ASUS Vivobook S 15 has a better screen than the Gateway 11.6" for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
The ASUS Vivobook S 15 has a decent balance of resolution, brightness, and panel type that supports everyday tasks, but may lack the wider color coverage desired for engineering and the high refresh rates sought by gamers. In contrast, the Gateway 11.6" may fall short in providing a satisfying viewing experience due to lower resolution and brightness levels, detracting from both casual and professional uses. For those in engineering and design, its limited color gamut may not accurately represent colors, and for 3D applications and gaming, the lacking refresh rate would not be conducive to smooth motion rendering.
Portability
Good
Excellent
15.6in
SIZE
11.6in
3.9 lbs
WEIGHT
2.6 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.7in
The Gateway 11.6" has excellent portability, while the ASUS Vivobook S 15 has good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
7.0/10
5.1/10
The ASUS Vivobook S 15 has good build quality, while the Gateway 11.6" has poor build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$908
$89
$0
$200
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
$1,400
The ASUS Vivobook S 15 has a price of $908 and the Gateway 11.6" costs $89.
"Internals make Asus VivoBook S15 laptop a compelling option. The Asus multimedia laptop may look rather below-average with its modest black chassis, lack of a dedicated GPU, limited RAM and meagre port selection without Thunderbolt support. But your impression of the device will start changing once you set your eyes on its high-contrast OLED capable of producing deep blacks and highly accurate colours. And your opinion will change completely when the VivoBook is switched on. The AMD CPU can effortlessly keep up with powerful rivals from Intel. The integrated Radeon graphics blows away Intel's iGPU when it comes to graphics workloads such as rendering and simpler games."
Get a great deal on the ASUS Vivobook S 15 or the Gateway 11.6"
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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