Asus Vivobook 16 review: Big screen meets reliable performance

Asus Vivobook 16

The 2025 Asus Vivobook 16 makes a big impression the moment you take it out of the box, quite literally. With its massive 16-inch display and sleek design, it clearly wants to be more than just another everyday laptop. Having used it for over a couple of weeks, there's definitely a lot to like and a few things that made me pause. This isn’t a laptop for everyone, and its size alone might be a deal-breaker for some. But it also brings a few interesting tricks to the table, especially if you're curious about the whole AI-powered PC future. Let’s dive in.

Design and build quality

For a 16-inch laptop, the Vivobook is pretty slim and weighs just under 1.9kg. That’s impressive. But if you’re someone who’s commuting daily on the metro or carrying your laptop around the city, this might not be the most practical choice. I found it a bit too large to comfortably fit into my daily backpack, and it’s definitely not the kind of machine you just whip out on a cramped train.

Asus Vivobook 16

That said, if you’re mostly working from home or prefer a large screen for multitasking, movies, or spreadsheets, the display size is a major win. The bezels are slim, the aspect ratio (16:10) gives you more vertical space, and it’s certified for low blue light, so eye fatigue was minimal even after long sessions.

Here’s where things felt a bit off. With a laptop this big, I expected the keyboard to be roomy and satisfying. But oddly, the keys feel slightly smaller than I’d like, and the key travel doesn’t match the premium expectations — it’s a bit shallow for my taste.

Asus Vivobook 16

The touchpad, while large, isn’t the smoothest either. It supports smart gestures and does a few AI-powered tricks, but I noticed the texture wasn’t as fluid as what you'd get on some competing ultrabooks. Not a deal-breaker, but something to keep in mind if you rely heavily on your touchpad.

Display

You get a 1920x1200 IPS panel here and not 4K or even super colorful but good enough for day-to-day tasks, content writing, or coding. I wouldn’t recommend this for photo or video editors who need accurate color, but for general productivity, it does the job just fine.

Performance

The laptop is powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X processor, and it’s one of those new “Copilot+” PCs designed with AI in mind. For most everyday tasks — browsing, emails, light editing, and even some multitasking — performance was smooth and fan noise was minimal actually, almost silent most of the time.

Asus Vivobook 16

I didn't do any heavy-duty video editing or gaming on this, and honestly, that’s not what this laptop is meant for. Think of this more as a sleek productivity companion than a performance beast. If you’re looking to explore AI tools like Copilot, image generation, or enhanced video calls, the built-in Hexagon NPU does bring those features into play.

Battery life

One area where this Vivobook really shines is battery life. Asus claims up to 27 hours, and while I didn’t push it that far, I easily got around 10-12 hours on a mix of writing, video, and web browsing — no charger anxiety here. It charges via USB-C too, which is always appreciated.

Connectivity options

Ports are solid — USB-C (with charging and display), HDMI 2.1, USB-A, and a headphone jack. You also get Windows Hello via the IR webcam, a physical privacy shutter, and Pluton security built-in. These little things do add up for people who value privacy and convenience.

Should you buy it?

The Asus Vivobook 16 is a niche laptop. It’s great for users who want a big, comfortable screen and long battery life, especially if you’re leaning into AI workflows or want a Copilot+ PC that’s future-ready. It’s built well, secure, and handles most office/home tasks without a hitch.

But for me — and possibly others who prefer compact, portable setups — the large footprint, slightly underwhelming keyboard and touchpad experience don’t make it the most exciting package.

Buy it if you want a spacious, eye-friendly display for long hours, you work mostly from a desk, you value battery life, want to experience AI features and most importantly, if you don’t mind a large device.

You should skip it if:you need something super portable for daily commuting, you prefer premium keyboard and touchpad experiences, colour accuracy or screen vibrance is a priority