In today's digital age, laptops have become a necessity for many people, enabling productivity, creativity, and communication. However, selecting the ideal laptop can be a daunting task, particularly when it comes to finding a model that combines affordability with solid performance and functional features. For those who are navigating this complex market, there's a compelling contender to consider: The ASUS VivoBook Go 14 Flip J1400KA-DS02T.
Boasting a sleek design, portability, and a decent lineup of specs including an Intel Celeron N4500 processor and 64 GB of eMMC storage, the VivoBook Go 14 Flip presents itself as a very affordable entry-level 2-in-1 laptop, perfect for everyday tasks and on-the-go computing. This review will explore all the facets of this laptop, providing insights into its design, display, keyboard, performance, graphics, connectivity, and unique features.
Who's The Laptop For?
The ASUS VivoBook Go 14 Flip J1400KA-DS02T is specifically tailored for individuals seeking an affordable, lightweight, and convertible laptop that's up to the task of everyday computing. It's an excellent fit for students and business professionals who need a device for web browsing, working on documents, video conferencing, and streaming media.
Its 2-in-1 versatility makes it a suitable choice for those who appreciate the flexibility of switching between laptop and tablet modes, potentially useful for presentations, note-taking, or relaxed media consumption. The compact size and light weight also make it an ideal choice for those who are constantly on the move, making it easy to work from a café, a library, or during commute.
However, it's important to note that the VivoBook Go 14 Flip isn't intended for heavy-duty tasks like high-resolution video editing, 3D modeling, or running resource-intensive games. If your work or play requires a powerhouse laptop, you might need to look into higher-end options, such as the Acer Aspire 3 A314-23P-R3QA.
Design, Display, and Keyboard
The J1400KA-DS02T is a visual delight. Its sophisticated 'Quiet Blue' color complements the modern, minimalist design perfectly. Weighing a mere 3.31 pounds and only 1.69 cm thick, this laptop is perfect for on-the-go computing. The 360-degree hinge is robust, adding versatility to its functionality. You can convert it into a tablet or set it up in tent mode, stand mode, or traditional laptop mode, catering to your specific use scenario.
Its 14-inch HD touch display provides a sharp and clear viewing experience, optimized for entertainment. The screen boasts a resolution of 1366 x 768 pixels, which might not be as high as full HD, but still delivers decent quality for basic computing tasks. The laptop offers an impressive 83% screen-to-body ratio and provides up to 178-degree viewing angles, ensuring comfortable viewing in various modes.
Having said that, if you're not willing to compromise on resolution we would suggest you take a look at the Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5 82HU015AUS instead, a powerhouse convertible that takes things to a whole new level, with a slightly higher price tag attached as well.
Back to the Asus notebook at hand, the laptop’s touchpad is embedded with a NumberPad, which is a huge plus point for number-crunchers. Moreover, the device is equipped with a handy fingerprint sensor, offering a quick and secure login.
Performance
The ASUS VivoBook Go 14 Flip J1400KA-DS02T is built around the Intel Celeron N4500, a dual-core processor based on the Jasper Lake architecture. The base frequency of this CPU is 1.1GHz, but it can turbo boost up to 2.8GHz when the workload demands it.
This type of processor is common in budget-friendly, entry-level laptops and is designed to handle day-to-day computing tasks effectively. It's not meant for heavy multitasking or running CPU-intensive applications, but for word processing, web browsing, email, and video streaming, it's more than capable.
The laptop comes with 4GB of DDR4 RAM. While this might not seem a lot compared to higher-end laptops, it's adequate for an entry-level system as we've seen first hand on the Asus VivoBook 14 F415EA-AS31.
For basic multitasking - like having multiple browser tabs open, working on a Word document, and running other light applications simultaneously - the 4GB RAM can manage well enough. However, it might struggle if you try to run more resource-heavy applications or try to do a lot of multitasking at once.
The VivoBook Go 14 Flip utilizes 64GB eMMC (embedded MultiMediaCard) storage. While this isn't as large or as fast as an SSD (Solid State Drive), it's faster than traditional HDDs (Hard Disk Drives) because it doesn't have any moving parts and is directly integrated into the laptop's motherboard.
This type of storage is common in budget laptops, Chromebooks, and tablets. For everyday computing tasks, this storage capacity should be sufficient. But if you intend to store a large number of files, photos, or videos, you may need to utilize external storage or cloud-based solutions.
All these performance specs make the ASUS VivoBook Go 14 Flip well-suited for casual users who require a laptop for basic tasks like document editing, web browsing, and media streaming. It's important to understand the device's limitations, though.
This laptop is not suitable for power users who run demanding software or engage in activities like high-definition video editing, complex data computations, or high-end gaming. Such users would fair much better with a laptop like the HP Victus 15-fb0028nr.
Ultimately, the ASUS VivoBook Go 14 Flip J1400KA-DS02T delivers competent performance for its intended audience. It efficiently accomplishes everyday tasks, making it an excellent choice for users on a budget who don't require a high-performance machine.
Graphics
The VivoBook Go 14 Flip features Intel UHD Graphics integrated into its Celeron N4500 Processor. This graphics setup won't let you play the latest AAA games or perform intensive video editing, but for an entry-level laptop, it's more than sufficient.
Connectivity, Webcam, and Battery Life
In terms of connectivity, the VivoBook Go 14 Flip J1400KA-DS02T is fairly comprehensive. It boasts a USB 3.2 Type-C (Gen1), a USB 3.2 Type-A (Gen1), a USB 2.0 port, a Micro SD card reader, and an HDMI 1.4 port. This array of ports is quite generous for a budget laptop. Wireless connectivity includes Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac) and Bluetooth 4.2, ensuring smooth internet and peripheral device connections.
The laptop also comes with a webcam, crucial for remote work or virtual learning setups. Coupled with ASUS AI Noise-Canceling Technology, which ensures a better communication experience by isolating unwanted noise from human speech. It's not excellent but it's better than nothing at all, that's all I will say on that.
Battery life is a key aspect for any portable device. As you can see on the customer reviews we can expect a battery life of around 6-7 hours of moderate mixed usage at 50% brightness. It's not the best but it hardly ever is when looking at budget notebooks.
Special Features
One of the key highlights of the ASUS VivoBook Go 14 Flip is its 2-in-1 design. The robust 360-degree hinge lets you use the laptop in various modes, catering to your specific needs. Another noteworthy feature is the ASUS Antibacterial Guard, a surface treatment that keeps harmful bacteria at bay, proven to inhibit bacterial growth by over 99% in 24 hours - a remanent of the COVID days I suppose -.
The laptop comes preloaded with Windows 11 Home in S mode, which emphasizes security and performance while delivering a familiar Windows experience. It also includes a 1-year subscription to Microsoft 365 Personal, an added bonus for productivity.
However, if you would like to switch off S Mode we've written a step by step tutorial to help you do that. This will allow you to install apps that aren't exclusively on the Microsoft App Store, such as Chrome, for example.
Conclusion
The ASUS VivoBook Go 14 Flip J1400KA-DS02T is a capable entry-level laptop. It delivers what it promises: a sleek 2-in-1 design, decent performance for everyday tasks, a touch of class with the 'Quiet Blue' color, and thoughtful features like the ASUS Antibacterial Guard. However, as one user review pointed out, it might not be the best choice for intensive gaming or high-performance tasks.
If you're seeking an affordable laptop for everyday use, light productivity tasks, streaming media content, and prefer the versatility of a convertible laptop, the VivoBook Go 14 Flip could well be the ideal choice.
However, if you need a device that can really multitask and go the extra mile we would suggest checking out the ASUS VivoBook 15 F1500EA-AS31, a stunning budget notebook that's only slightly more expensive but delivers a whole lot more of everything.