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page title icon Asus Vivobook vs. Zenbook: Asus Ultrabooks Review

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| Updated on June 25, 2022

Do you need a new thin and light laptop? Can’t decide between the Asus Vivobook vs. Zenbook? Read this review to see what makes these laptops so amazing!

Are you having trouble looking for a new laptop? Asus has the answer!

Two of the best laptops they offer are the Vivobook and Zenbook. Both are excellent ultrabooks, but they differ in a few ways.

I’ll be comparing these two models here so that you can find the best laptop for your needs!

Asus Vivobook vs. Zenbook: Model Overview

Asus Vivobook vs Zenbook
Image feature: Asus

The main difference between the Asus Vivobook and Zenbook is the market they’re aimed towards. The Zenbook line consists of premium-feeling ultrabooks that are priced to match.

In comparison, Asus Vivobook series laptops are offered at more approachable prices, and their laptop chassis is also made from different materials.

I’ll give a brief overview of these two laptop lines before comparing them in more detail later.

Asus Vivobook

Asus Vivobook 15

Even though these are technically the “cheaper laptops,” that doesn’t mean they’re lower-quality! A standard Vivobook laptop will still have strong specs and good performance.

The Vivobook is Asus’ budget line of laptops. They’re a much more cost-effective option with slightly lower specs across the board!

Asus Vivobooks aren’t well known for their superior build quality, but they have bright screens and a good selection of USB ports.

Don’t expect to spend hours creating videos or doing heavy gaming on these laptops; They’re not built for those kinds of tasks.

Asus Zenbook

Asus Zenbook Pro Duo 15

If you want a device that can deliver extreme performance in a thin package, you’ll want a Zenbook laptop!

The Zenbook series is Asus’ answer to the Dell XPS line of business laptops, which are famed for their quality-of-life features and professional appearance.

A Zenbook is the best model that Asus offers, especially for professional users.

The Asus Zenbook offers incredible screens and enough power to run the latest software on your productivity device.

A few of these laptops are even equipped for gaming, thanks to their discrete graphics cards and high-speed RAM.

Asus Vivobook vs. Zenbook: Specs Comparison

I’ll be tackling a few important specs in this Asus Vivobook and Zenbook comparison!

Price

Price is at the top because you must strike a balance between your needs and your budget. Laptops that go for less will usually have fewer features, but not in this case!

A Zenbook will have more to offer than a Vivobook laptop, but these extra features come at a high cost.

If you’re shopping for a laptop on a tighter budget, I’d suggest going for a Vivobook instead.

Don’t let the Vivobook’s price make you wary because this device can easily beat out other laptops in the same price range, thanks to Asus’ commitment to quality.

WINNER: The Vivobook line! Picking up a laptop from this line will get you better value than a corresponding Zenbook model.

Internals

You’ll need a good amount of processing power from your laptop internals to get through the day, and both of these laptops come in different configurations.

They start with decent CPUs and GPUs, but you can also find laptops with top-of-the-line specs.

If you want to do lots of video editing on your laptop, you’ll need one with a strong, preferably dedicated graphics card. If that sounds like you, then I recommend a Zenbook.

Unfortunately, Vivobook laptops cannot match the raw power that most Zenbook models have. These laptops are better equipped to handle lighter productivity tasks and schoolwork.

You can say goodbye to sluggish performance with these laptops! Asus laptops come with the latest and speediest processors from Intel and AMD, and the Asus Vivobook and Zenbook are no different.

WINNER: The Zenbook series! These devices come outfitted with higher-spec internals compared to what the Vivobook range offers.

Display Quality

You won’t be very productive without a good screen, and you can even get eye strain from using a poor-quality display!

Even the humblest Vivobooks will have a full HD display and a 1080p resolution, so you won’t have to worry about grainy image quality. Higher-tier models have OLED screens, too!

OLED models are vibrant and bright, plus they use less power, making a Vivobook more energy-efficient than a Zenbook!

However, Zenbooks will generally have a better display than a Vivobook. They’re more color-accurate.

Neither model has the advantage regarding screen size since you can get a notebook with either a 14 or 15.6-inch screen.

You’ll be glad that the Asus Zenbook supports higher screen resolutions, often going up to 4K. They’re better if you add their thinner bezels and brighter displays.

WINNER: The Asus Zenbook series! These laptops have brighter screens at higher resolutions and can produce sharper colors than a Vivobook.

Build Quality

Before picking up a laptop, you’ll need to know how much accidental damage it can take. You won’t be able to enjoy your device if it breaks on you!

Asus Zenbook series laptops are often made with better quality materials than a standard Asus Vivobook.

This toughness is plain to see with the Zenbook’s signature all-metal body. Despite having a mostly aluminum chassis, the Zenbook is a light laptop!

You don’t have to trade weight for durability with a Zenbook. In contrast, Vivobooks are usually made from plastic, which is fine for desk use, but won’t stand up to long days on the move.

This material also contributes to the shorter lifespan of most Vivobooks.

WINNER: Zenbooks! These laptops are built tougher than their competition.

Battery Life

If you plan on staying on the go, you’ll need a notebook with excellent battery life. A battery life of 7 to 9 hours is ideal since that’s a full day of work.

Both models offer promising test results, with the Vivobook lasting for about 6.5 hours and the Zenbook staying on for almost 8 hours.

I expected the Zenbook to have a poorer battery life because of the stronger internals, but it outperformed the Vivobook by a fair amount.

WINNER: The Zenbook! Despite its beefier parts, it lasted longer than the Vivobook.

Asus Laptops Quick Reviews

I’ll be discussing 1 model from each line here and the latest features they come with.

Asus Vivobook 15

Asus Vivobook 15

Check Price on Amazon

This is an outlier in the Vivobook range because it’s got higher specs than its cousins. With an 11th-gen Intel Core i7 inside and 16GB of RAM, this is more like a Zenbook-lite.

Speed and power aren’t the only things this Vivobook has. It also sports a backlit keyboard if you need to use your laptop in darker conditions.

This model comes with a Micro SD card reader and an HDMI port so you can move more data and stay ready for any surprise presentations.

It also has a USB-type C port for greater connectivity, which is a nice bonus. The only thing I feel is missing is a touchscreen, but that’s not the Vivobook’s ballpark anyway.

If you want a Zenbook-like device at a more approachable price, this Vivobook model is ideal! You can pick it up here.

Asus Zenbook Pro Duo 15

Asus Zenbook Pro Duo 15

Check Price on Amazon

Asus laptops are well-known for their innovative features, and this laptop from the Zenbook series is one of their most unique devices!

The Asus Zenbook Pro Duo has a secondary display underneath the first and a stylus pen that’s usable with the smaller display.

The keyboard deck and touchpad have been rearranged to compensate for this addition.

Don’t worry about the unusual layout because it also comes with a palm rest for comfortable typing.

This laptop also has a dedicated GPU that’s extremely powerful! You won’t have to choose between work and gaming here, thanks to the RTX 3080 inside. You can pick it up here.

Asus Vivobook vs. Zenbook: Conclusion

I recommend the Zenbook over the Vivobook because they’re made from tougher materials, come with higher specs, and will last you for longer.

But if you don’t have a very flexible budget, it would be better to pick up an Asus Vivobook or look for one of the more approachable Zenbook models.

You’ll be able to pick up an Asus Vivobook for a cheap price. You don’t have to break the bank to get a great laptop!

However, if you can find one at lower prices, then a model from the Asus Zenbook line will get you the best of both worlds: Power and an attractive price.

You understand your needs the best, so follow this quick guide before choosing your new Asus laptop!

Get an Asus Vivobook If:

  • You need a laptop purely for productivity
  • You’re working with a tighter budget
  • You’re very careful with your laptops

Get an Asus Zenbook If:

  • You need a powerful laptop for both business and gaming
  • Budget is not a problem for you
  • You want a tough and accident-proof laptop.

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