The ASUS Vivobook 16 is a mid-range laptop designed for office users, students, and content creators who need a powerful yet affordable machine. One of its key highlights is the introduction of Intel’s new Arrow Lake processor, the Core Ultra 5 225H. While this promises improvements in processing power and efficiency, does it truly stand out in the crowded laptop market? Let’s dive into a detailed review covering performance, build quality, battery life, display, and overall value.

Performance: Arrow Lake vs. Lunar Lake

The Intel Core Ultra 5 225H in the Vivobook 16 offers improved single-core and multi-core performance compared to previous generations. In Cinebench R23, the 225H outperforms Lenovo’s Yoga Slim 7i with the Core Ultra 7 258V, which is an impressive feat. However, the integrated GPU (iGPU) performance tells a different story. In 3DMark’s Time Spy and Fire Strike tests, the 225H is beaten not only by the Lunar Lake Core Ultra 7 258V but also by the previous-gen Core Ultra 5 125H.

This means that while CPU performance is strong, the integrated graphics fall behind, making it a less ideal choice for gaming and graphics-intensive applications. For example, in Shadow of the Tomb Raider, the laptop only managed 31 FPS, which is quite low for a modern laptop.

On the flip side, the 225H excels in photo and video editing tasks, even slightly outperforming the Intel Core Ultra 7 258V in rendering speeds. This makes it a great option for professionals working with Photoshop, Premiere Pro, or DaVinci Resolve who don’t need a dedicated GPU.

Build Quality: Plastic Yet Durable

Unlike premium laptops featuring aluminum builds, the Vivobook 16 has a plastic chassis. While this reduces costs and makes it more scratch-resistant, it also comes with a few trade-offs:

• Flexibility: The plastic chassis has more flex compared to metal builds, which may feel less premium.
• Fingerprint Resistance: The surface attracts sweat and fingerprints, requiring frequent cleaning.
• Durability: Despite being plastic, it still feels sturdy, and the hinge is solid but could be tighter for better stability.

A major plus point is that the laptop is fully upgradeable. Users can swap out RAM and SSD easily, unlike many ultrabooks where everything is soldered onto the motherboard.

Display: Decent But Not Exceptional

The 16-inch display features a 1920×1200 resolution with a 16:10 aspect ratio, making it great for productivity. The screen has a matte coating, reducing reflections, and comes with built-in blue light protection for extended work sessions.

However, in terms of color accuracy and brightness:

• Brightness: 300 nits (adequate for indoor use but not ideal for bright outdoor settings).
• Color Accuracy: 75% sRGB and 45% DCI-P3, which is decent but not suitable for professional color grading.

If you are a creative professional, you might want a laptop with a higher DCI-P3 rating for better color reproduction.

Battery Life: Decent, But Behind Lunar Lake

The battery life is decent, but it does not match Intel’s new Lunar Lake chips. In real-world usage, you can expect around 6-7 hours of moderate work (web browsing, office applications, and light streaming). This is acceptable but not industry-leading. If battery life is a top priority, Lunar Lake-powered laptops like the Lenovo Yoga Slim 7i might be a better choice.

Ports and Connectivity: Lacks Thunderbolt 4

The port selection is decent, but there are a couple of downsides:

• No Thunderbolt 4 support, limiting ultra-fast data transfers.
• HDMI 1.4b instead of 2.0 or 2.1, which means 4K output is capped at 30Hz—a significant drawback for external monitors.

Other available ports include:

• 2 x USB Type-A
• 2 x USB Type-C
• 3.5mm headphone jack

While this selection is fine for most users, professionals using high-refresh-rate external displays will be disappointed by the lack of HDMI 2.0/2.1.

Keyboard and Trackpad: Comfortable but Soft

The membrane keyboard offers a soft typing experience. While comfortable, it lacks the tactile feedback found in premium keyboards. It’s quiet, making it ideal for office environments, but power users might prefer a more firm and clicky keyboard.

The trackpad is large and responsive, but there are better options in competing laptops when it comes to gesture recognition and smoothness.

Audio Quality: Just Average

The downward-firing dual speakers are loud but lack depth. Bass is weak, and mids and highs are clear but nothing exceptional. External speakers or headphones would be a better option for those who care about audio quality.

Better Alternatives: What Else Can You Get?

At ₹75,000, the Vivobook 16 faces tough competition. Here are some better alternatives:

1. Infinix Zero Book Ultra (₹65,000)

• Intel Core Ultra 7 (better than 225H)
• Superior iGPU performance
• HDMI 2.0 (4K at 60Hz)
• Metal chassis
• Better speakers

2. MSI Modern 15 (₹61,000)

• Intel Core Ultra 7
• 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD
• HDMI 2.1 (4K at 120Hz)
• Superior display

Both options offer better performance, build quality, and connectivity at a lower price.

Final Verdict: Should You Buy It?

The ASUS Vivobook 16 is not a bad laptop, but at ₹75,000, it doesn’t offer the best value. While the CPU performance is strong, its iGPU, display quality, and lack of HDMI 2.0/2.1 make it less competitive. Unless you specifically need upgradeability and a lightweight build, alternatives like the Infinix Zero Book Ultra and MSI Modern 15 offer better specs at a lower price.

Pros:

✅ Strong CPU performance (great for editing and office tasks) ✅ Upgradeability (easy RAM and SSD swaps) ✅ Lightweight and sturdy despite plastic build ✅ Matte screen with blue light protection

Cons:

❌ Weaker integrated GPU (not ideal for gaming or heavy graphics work) ❌ No Thunderbolt 4 ❌ HDMI 1.4b limits external monitor refresh rate ❌ Mediocre speakers

Final Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (3.5/5)

If ASUS reduces the price or upgrades the GPU in future versions, this could be a better value option. For now, better alternatives exist at lower prices.