When selecting between the Asus Vivobook S 15 and the Lenovo ThinkPad X13, consider that the Asus may be more budget-friendly and could offer a good balance for everyday tasks and media consumption. The ThinkPad X13 is known for its durability and keyboard comfort, making it a favorite for business professionals who type a lot and need a reliable machine. However, the ThinkPad often commands a higher price. If you're prioritizing performance for tasks like programming or data analysis, the extra investment in the ThinkPad could be worthwhile. For regular use and light tasks, the Asus might serve you well and save you some 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
The ASUS Vivobook S 15 has no clear advantages over the Lenovo ThinkPad X13.
Advantages of the Lenovo ThinkPad X13
Very good for general use
Very good for engineering and design
Very good for software development
Very good for content creation
Very good overall build quality
Very good portability
Good speakers
Excellent keyboard
Key differences
General Use
7.7/10
8.4/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
267.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
321.0 nits
9.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
8.5 Hours
6.7/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
9.0/10
7.7/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
8.9/10
The Lenovo ThinkPad X13 is very good for general use, while the ASUS Vivobook S 15 is good.
The ASUS Vivobook S 15 typically offers a solid CPU and sufficient RAM for everyday tasks, plus a decent screen, but might lag behind in portability and battery life compared to the lighter and longer-lasting Lenovo ThinkPad X13, which offers similar performance but shines with its durable build and superior keyboard for frequent travelers or mobile professionals. While the Vivobook might have an edge in storage and affordability, the ThinkPad's emphasis on a high-quality keyboard, quieter operation, and efficient heat management make it very good for on-the-go use without compromising on necessary performance for general use.
Engineering and Design
7.1/10
8.0/10
7.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.8/10
3.7/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.0/10
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
The Lenovo ThinkPad X13 is very good for engineering and design, while the ASUS Vivobook S 15 is good.
The ASUS Vivobook S 15, with its powerful CPU, ample RAM, and capable GPU, offers smooth performance for demanding engineering software, complemented by a high-quality screen for precise design work. On the other hand, the Lenovo ThinkPad X13 provides a balance of performance for engineering tasks with the added benefits of portability, a comfortable keyboard, and quieter operation for an overall effective mobile workstation.
Content Creation
7.6/10
8.2/10
7.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.8/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Lenovo ThinkPad X13 is very good for content creation, while the ASUS Vivobook S 15 is good.
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
8.1/10
7.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.8/10
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
6.7/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
9.0/10
The Lenovo ThinkPad X13 is very good for software development, while the ASUS Vivobook S 15 is good.
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
6.9/10
15.6in
SIZE
13.3in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
267.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
321.0 nits
The Lenovo ThinkPad X13 has a better screen than the ASUS Vivobook S 15 for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, content creation, and software development.
The ASUS Vivobook S 15 offers an adequate display for everyday tasks and engineering applications due to its resolution and panel type but falls short for gaming due to its limited refresh rate. The Lenovo ThinkPad X13, however, provides a superior viewing experience for both general use and engineering because of its higher resolution, brightness, and better color coverage, but like the ASUS, it is not ideal for gaming or 3D work because it lacks a high refresh rate. Both laptops are not optimized for gaming and 3D rendering, where high refresh rates are critical for smooth motion, but they provide adequate to good visuals for other professional or casual uses.
Portability
Good
Very Good
15.6in
SIZE
13.3in
3.9 lbs
WEIGHT
2.8 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.6in
The Lenovo ThinkPad X13 has very good portability, while the ASUS Vivobook S 15 has good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
7.0/10
8.5/10
The Lenovo ThinkPad X13 has very good build quality, while the ASUS Vivobook S 15 has good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$908
$1,241
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
The ASUS Vivobook S 15 has a price of $908 and the Lenovo ThinkPad X13 costs $1,241.
The Lenovo ThinkPad X13 and ASUS Vivobook S 15 are both only fair for gaming and AI.
The ASUS Vivobook S 15's GPU provides suitable performance for casual gaming and basic 3D tasks, while its screen refresh rate ensures smooth visuals, making it a fair choice for these activities. The Lenovo ThinkPad X13, while offering a capable CPU and decent screen quality, also delivers reasonable graphics capabilities, aligning it with the Vivobook as a fair option for gaming and 3D work.
Battery
9.0 Hours
8.5 Hours
The ASUS Vivobook S 15 has 9 hours of battery life. The Lenovo ThinkPad X13 has 8.5 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.
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How the ASUS Vivobook S 15 and the Lenovo ThinkPad X13 compare to other laptops
"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."
"The Lenovo ThinkPad X13 G4 has very good input devices, a wide array of security features and ports as well as 5G in the tested configuration. It is more compact and lightweight compared with its predecessor, and it has improved speakers and a slightly better webcam. On the other hand, the fan is more annoying and the performance is barely improved. The battery is worse as well, but this is primarily attributable to the OLED screen - if this aspect is important, buyers should choose the IPS Low Power LCD."
Get a great deal on the ASUS Vivobook S 15 or the Lenovo ThinkPad X13
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 Lenovo
Lenovo is a Chinese technology company, and one of the largest personal computer vendor. They are well known for a variety of technology products, including laptops. Their consumer series include their entry level IdeaPad and LOQ series and mid-to-high-end Yoga and Legion series. On the business-oriented side, their series include their entry-level ThinkBook series and mid-to-high-end ThinkPad series. Lenovo laptops offer strong performance for reasonable prices, and are often on sale.
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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