Sure enough, it won't boast an impressive - nor memorable - name, neither will it posses a stunning design but what it will manage is to set itself apart just enough on every single category that you'll be left wondering; how come this laptop isn't more popular?
Today, we're excited to tell you all about one such laptop; the ASUS VivoBook 15 F512JA-AS34. A stunning model that arrives with a killer price and high-end specs worthy of laptops twice its price.
Index- Let's talk design and keyboard
- What's the performance like?
- Battery life
- What are customers saying?
- Connectivity options
- Closing arguments
ASUS VivoBook 15 F512JA-AS34 An in-depth review
A modern yet functional design and stylish display
From the get-go, we can appreciate that the ASUS VivoBook 15 F512JA-AS34 is no ordinary laptop. Just looking at it we can see that it boasts a minimalist design with an 88% screen to body ratio giving way to what is known as a nano-edge display.
Surprisingly for its price point, we are looking at a Full HD display rather than the standard HD resolution we typically see on laptops below the 500 dollar price range.
Add to that the fact that it packs a backlit keyboard and a rather lightweight body of just 3.7 pounds and we're looking at a laptop that -for all intents and proposes - could totally pass off as a high-end ultrabook for the untrained eye.
When it comes to long typing sessions we can appreciate the fact that Asus has seen it fit to provide its latest mid-range flagship with its ergolift technology which provides a slight tilt of the keyboard of 2 degrees to deliver a more ergonomic writing experience all the while the laptop gains a bit more space to ventilate.
Last but not least it's worth pointing out the integrated fingerprint sensor, located on the top right side of the trackpad, a quick, secure, and seamless way to unlock our laptop thanks to Windows Hello.
Packing the heat where it counts
A stylish design is all well and good but it becomes pointless when we're talking about a laptop with sub-par key specs, essentially rendering the machine into an eye-catching paperweight.
That's why it's critical to take a long hard look and evaluate the key specs that make or break a laptop.
That's why it's critical to take a long hard look and evaluate the key specs that make or break a laptop.
In that regard, we're quite happy to report that the new ASUS VivoBook 15 F512JA-AS34 in review is packing the heat where it counts. Starting off with the CPU we've got a 10th generation Intel Core i3 1005G1 dual-core processor that clocks in at a base speed of 1.2 GHz and can reach a maximum speed of 3.4 GHz when overclocking is required.
Add to that processor a nice 8 GB of the latest generation RAM (DDR4), as well as a solid-state drive with 128 GB of capacity and you've got yourself a powerful multitasking laptop that lends itself as the perfect solution for anything from college students to people looking to get an affordable yet good laptop for the day to day "chores".
Can I upgrade the RAM or the storage?
Though 8 GB of RAM is quite alright for a Windows 10 laptop and will allow you to seamlessly work with multiple apps at a time, it's worth noting that you do have the option of a RAM upgrade all the way to 12 GB. Specifically, you've got a single 4 GB module soldered onto the motherboard and another 4 GB that you may replace with an 8 GB unit if you wish to.
Storage is also upgradeable which is quite convenient considering the fact that this model comes with 128 GB of storage which - once subtracted the space occupied by the system and essential apps - leaves you with roughly 80 GB of free storage.
What performance should I expect in the day to day?
Once we take into account all of the key specs that conform "the brains" of this laptop you should expect a swift performance on anything from browsing the web to streaming video and downloading content.
You could also use this laptop for some light video editing but you should not buy this model if you're planning on using it for graphically intensive tasks - such as hardcore gaming - since you'll be sorely disappointed due to the lack of a dedicated graphics card.
You could also use this laptop for some light video editing but you should not buy this model if you're planning on using it for graphically intensive tasks - such as hardcore gaming - since you'll be sorely disappointed due to the lack of a dedicated graphics card.
What's the battery life like?
Battery life is one of those areas where laptops, in general, have made great strides over the past few years with some laptops claiming to reach over 20 hours of battery life.
That said, this is the case with high-end models, not so much with mid-range models such as this one. On that spirit, you shouldn't expect the ASUS VivoBook 15 F512JA-AS34 to last over 4 hours with an average use as several customers have already pointed out.
On the bright side, it does charge quite quickly, being able to charge up to a 60% battery capacity with just 50 minutes connected to a power outlet.
By the way, it should also be pointed out that despite having a USB Type C port this port is not to be used to charge the laptop, you may only do so through the AC charger.
What are people saying?
When researching through the reviews to see what customers have been saying about the ASUS VivoBook 15 F512JA-AS34 we see mainly positive feedback. In that regard, most people seem to agree that you'll hardly find anything with this performance at this price point - which is quite true-.
On the negative side of things, some people have pointed out that the speakers aren't of great quality and some have also pointed towards the screen not being particularly bright nor properly calibrated. Others however have claimed that such reviews are wildly exaggerated and the screen is alright.
When all is said and done we would also be wise to remember that this laptop is priced very competitively so while it may come with one or two things we aren't avid fans off we're still getting a modern design, backlit keyboard, top-notch internals and ample connectivity that we'd be hard-pressed to find elsewhere unless we are willing to fork over an additional 200 dollars.
Anything else worth pointing out?
We can't wrap up this review without talking about the connectivity options. Specifically, on the port side of things we've got a couple of USB 2.0 ports, a standalone USB 3.0 port for quick data transfers, USB Type C 3.0 port, an HDMI port, microSD card reader and an audio jack.
Considering its slim figure it comes as no surprise that we don't have an ethernet port, though this is hardly a feature people seem to use on a regular basis.
Considering its slim figure it comes as no surprise that we don't have an ethernet port, though this is hardly a feature people seem to use on a regular basis.
Speaking of connecting to the internet, it's worth mentioning that Asus's latest flagship also comes with WiFi ac connectivity, this basically means that - through a compatible router - we can get download speeds up to 3 times faster than the standard b/g/n WiFi connectivity that comes on most laptops within this price range. And yes, there's also Bluetooth and an HD webcam.
In conclusion: What's the takeaway?
To be perfectly honest there are very few reviews where it's clear from the get-go that this product is a must-have and fortunately for us, this is one of said products. Sure enough, the ASUS VivoBook 15 F512JA-AS34 reviewed today is not perfect, it might not boast the best screen nor the highest quality speakers but overall it packs a mix of components that -when combined- deliver great performance.
Make no mistake; This is not a high-end laptop. However, it does borrow certain elements that would make you think so. Its Full HD display, 8 GB of DDR4 RAM, and SSD storage promise us a smooth performance on anything from browsing the web to working on demanding presentations. All in all Asus's latest mid-range bet places itself as the perfect option for those looking to get a great performer at a great price.