Rating: 8/10
It’s not always easy to predict where the PC industry will go next, but Asus seems to have its compass aligned with Microsoft’s north star. The Asus Vivobook 14 Flip is a new-age 14-inch convertible laptop, launched as part of the company’s push toward AI-first computing, led by the Intel Core Ultra processor family. While it looks like a fairly straightforward thin-and-light 2-in-1, the Vivobook 14 Flip brings together an OLED display, Intel Arc graphics, and Copilot+ PC-ready specs, making it a quiet but strategic entry in Asus’s mainstream consumer portfolio.
Positioned to appeal to students, creators, and hybrid workers, this device doesn’t scream premium, but it certainly makes a case for being future-ready. While Asus hasn’t officially called this a “Zenbook Flip” or part of its Vivobook S series, the design language and pricing suggest it’s meant to balance style and practicality, especially for those who want the versatility of a touchscreen convertible with the promise of AI enhancements in Windows later this year.
Design and display
From the outside, the Vivobook 14 Flip’s design won’t turn heads—but that’s not necessarily a criticism. The Matte grey finish, solid hinge, and soft edges give the device a no-nonsense look, aligning with the current wave of productivity-first laptops. The lid feels sturdy enough, with minimal flex, and the 360-degree hinge is smooth without being loose. When flipped around in tablet mode, it remains balanced in hand, though at 1.57kg, it’s better suited to desk-bound use in tent or stand modes rather than prolonged tablet handling.
What does stand out is the 14-inch OLED display. It’s a WUXGA panel with a 16:10 aspect ratio and a resolution of 1920 x 1200. The extra vertical space is useful for reading, editing, or coding, and the display’s quality doesn’t disappoint. With a 0.2ms response time and 500 nits peak HDR brightness, it’s VESA DisplayHDR True Black 500 certified. Blacks are deep, colours are punchy, and the contrast is excellent for multimedia consumption. Stylus support is present and it works without any issues. Touch response was smooth and accurate, and the glossy coating didn’t attract as many fingerprints as expected.
The bezels around the screen are reasonably slim, offering an 85% screen-to-body ratio. Up top, there’s a 1080p IR camera with a privacy shutter. It supports Windows Hello face unlock and works reliably in both daylight and dim conditions.
Performance
Under the hood, the Vivobook 14 Flip is powered by Intel’s Core Ultra processors—specifically, the Ultra 7 256V in the variant I am testing. This chip features 8 cores (including performance and efficiency cores), supports up to 4.8GHz turbo frequency, and comes with Intel’s new AI Boost NPU rated for up to 47 TOPS. Paired with Intel Arc integrated graphics and 16GB LPDDR5X RAM, this configuration positions the laptop as a capable mid-tier performer.
For everyday tasks like web browsing, writing, Zoom calls, and streaming, the machine remained responsive and cool. Multitasking with 10–12 browser tabs, multiple documents, and light photo editing in Photoshop didn’t cause any noticeable slowdowns. The LPDDR5X memory is soldered, and while it’s not upgradeable, it was sufficient for all routine workflows.
When it comes to GPU performance, Intel Arc graphics delivered mixed results. Lighter creative tasks like Figma, Canva, and Premiere Rush ran smoothly. However, pushing the system with more graphics-intensive applications like Blender or DaVinci Resolve introduced some stutters. Casual gaming at 1080p on older titles like CS:GO or Valorant was possible with medium settings, but this isn’t a gaming-first machine.
AI-focused features are limited at the time of writing, but the laptop is Copilot+ PC ready. Microsoft has promised a wave of NPU-driven experiences—like Recall, Cocreator in Paint, and Live Captions translation—coming in a Windows update later this year. The 47 TOPS NPU ensures that when those features arrive, this laptop will be able to handle them without draining the battery or overworking the CPU.
Thermal management was good overall. The fan stayed quiet during moderate use, and even during performance bursts, the chassis remained comfortably warm rather than hot.
Battery life and connectivity
The Vivobook 14 Flip is fitted with a 70WHr battery, which is generous for a 14-inch laptop. In real-world use, we averaged around 8–9 hours of productivity tasks with the screen at 60% brightness and Battery Saver on. Streaming video with OLED brightness turned up drained the battery faster, down to about 6.5 hours. Charging is handled via a 65W USB-C adapter, and a full top-up took roughly 1 hour and 40 minutes.
Port selection is well-balanced. You get a USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A, a USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C, and a Thunderbolt 4 port—both Type-C ports support display output and charging. There’s also HDMI 2.1 (TMDS), a microSD card reader, a 3.5mm combo jack, and Wi-Fi 7 support, making it a highly connected laptop for its class.
Typing on the Vivobook 14 Flip is a pleasant experience. The backlit keyboard has 1.7mm key travel and springy feedback that feels closer to Asus’s premium offerings than its budget ones. The precision touchpad is large, responsive, and supports Windows gestures without a hitch.
Audio quality is average here. The bottom-firing speakers deliver clear vocals and decent loudness for video calls and YouTube viewing. but there’s little depth or bass. Smart Amp technology helps avoid distortion, but for better sound, external headphones are recommended.
The laptop runs Windows 11 Home and comes preloaded with Asus apps like MyAsus, GlideX, and ScreenXpert, which are useful for screen sharing, diagnostics, and performance tuning. Microsoft Office Home 2024 and Microsoft 365 Basic are also included. On the security front, there’s a TPM, Microsoft Pluton processor, BIOS protection, and Windows Hello support.
Verdict
The Asus Vivobook 14 Flip might not have a flashy name, but it’s a quietly competent convertible that gets a lot of things right. Its strengths lie in the OLED touchscreen, solid battery life, Copilot+ PC readiness, and practical design. While Intel Arc graphics aren’t a replacement for dedicated GPUs, and while AI features are still mostly on paper for now, the Vivobook 14 Flip feels like a future-proof choice for users who want flexibility without overspending.
The price starts at Rs 96,990 for the Core Ultra 5 variant and climbs to Rs 1,04,990 for the Core Ultra 7 model, which is in line with similarly specced 2-in-1 laptops from other OEMs.
If you’re in the market for a dependable Windows convertible with a great screen, AI-ready specs, and solid build quality, this one is worth a look—especially if you’re planning to make the most of the upcoming Copilot+ update wave.
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