Asus Vivobook S14 review: A dependable daily driver

VivoBook S14

Rating: 8.0/10

In a market that’s increasingly obsessed with bold statements—whether it’s dual screens, ultra-high refresh rates, or ultra-light magnesium builds—Asus seems to know there’s still value in getting the basics right. The Vivobook S14 (model S3407VA) doesn’t scream for attention, but that’s precisely what makes it appealing to buyers.

Well, some buyers are looking for a stable and sorted PC that gets the job done without putting a dent in their bank balance. The laptop costs Rs 67,900 (starting), and I have been using the VivoBook S14 for a while now and here’s what I think about the laptop.

Design and display
Let’s start with the physical experience. It is slim and sleek. The 1.4 kg weight is apt and does not feel heavy while using it on the lap. Moreover, the compact form factor makes it even more practical and easy to use on the go.

VivoBook S14

The Cool Silver finish is subtle and smudge-resistant. The lid has this muted gradient that doesn’t shout for attention. I’ve been tossing it between a co-working space, home desk, and café tables, and I appreciate the durability of the metal lid and how rigid the keyboard deck feels.

The 14-inch 16:10 display is where it starts feeling slightly premium for the price. It’s an FHD+ (1920x1200) IPS panel, anti-glare coated, and rated at 300 nits of brightness. In practice, the brightness is good enough indoors and usable in shaded outdoor spots. I was writing this review from a balcony in the late afternoon, and I didn’t feel the need to max out brightness. Colours lean neutral, and the taller aspect ratio is great for document work or scrolling through long webpages.

Performance and thermals
The unit I tested is powered by an Intel Core i5-1335U processor, part of Intel’s 13th-gen U-series lineup. It’s paired with 16GB of LPDDR5 RAM (soldered) and a 512GB PCIe 4.0 SSD. Now, on paper, this is mid-range hardware. But in daily usage, I never felt bottlenecked. My typical workday involves 10–15 Chrome tabs, Google Meet, Word, and occasional photo editing in Lightroom. The Vivobook never froze up or hesitated. Even when I had a full external monitor connected via USB-C, things stayed smooth.

VivoBook S14 back

There’s no discrete GPU, of course, so don’t expect this to run AAA games or do 4K timeline video editing. But the Iris Xe graphics are capable enough for basic Canva work, 1080p video rendering, and Photoshop tweaks with ease. More importantly, performance remains consistent — no thermal throttling or sudden lag even when installing large apps in the background.

Thermals are managed quietly. Under load, you’ll hear the fan, but it’s a low hum, not a jet engine. The base does get warm, but I’ve used this on my lap for 2–3 hour stints without discomfort. Asus’ internal fan profiles seem to be tuned well for balance.

Battery and connectivity
This is where the Vivobook S14 quietly flexes its muscles. The 70Wh battery is larger than what you usually find in this segment. The laptop delivered somewhere around 6.5 hours of usage in a single charge with Wi-Fi and 80% brightness. Which is good, if not th best.

VivoBook S14 ports

Asus has also ditched the proprietary charging port in favour of USB-C with the included 65W adapter. It goes from 0 to about 60% in under 50 minutes. I appreciate not having to carry a brick — if you have a good GaN charger, this laptop can work with that too.

As for ports, you get most of what you need. There’s one USB-A port on the left, and on the right are two USB-C Gen 1 ports (both support Power Delivery and DisplayPort), another USB-A, HDMI 1.4, and a 3.5mm jack. No SD card reader, which would’ve been useful for creators, but I didn’t miss it for office tasks.
Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3 kept everything stable. I paired it with my Galaxy Buds, used AirDrop alternatives, and streamed large files from my NAS with no issues.

Keyboard, webcam, and extras
Typing on the Vivobook is an easy adjustment. The key travel is good, and there’s enough feedback for a comfortable typing experience. I wrote a few long pieces on it without needing an external keyboard, including this review. T

The touchpad is smooth and doesn’t stutter. It’s not glass, but it’s close enough. Multi-finger gestures work as expected. Asus has also added some smart features here, where switching up and down adjusts the brightness and volume. You can swipe left and right to fast forward a track as well. Nice touch there and practical too.

VivoBook S14 webcam

Now, onto one of my favourite bits: the webcam setup. Asus includes an IR camera for Windows Hello, and it works every time, even in dim lighting. Just sit down, flip open the lid, and you’re in. There’s also a physical privacy shutter that you can slide — and it has a tactile click when it locks, which is oddly satisfying.

Speakers are Dolby Atmos-tuned and down-firing. They’re fine for meetings and casual video watching. Dialogue is clear, mids are okay, and volume is loud enough in a quiet room. Don’t expect punchy bass — physics just won’t allow it in a chassis this thin.

Verdict
The Asus Vivobook S14 (S3407VA) doesn’t pretend to be more than what it is. And that’s its biggest strength. It’s a well-judged, thoughtfully designed laptop for people who need reliability more than gimmicks. It doesn’t thermal throttle, delivers good battery life and it doesn’t compromise on essentials like a decent webcam, keyboard, or port selection.

There are areas where it plays safe — like the lack of an SD card slot, or the modest 300-nit screen brightness — but these don’t feel like deal-breakers. If your primary workload is browser-based, document-heavy, and occasionally creative, this Core i5 variant offers plenty of headroom.
What you’re paying for is a solid screen, 16GB RAM, good battery life, snappy performance, and a chassis that travels well. It’s the kind of laptop that may not make headlines, but quietly earns its place in your day-to-day routine — and sometimes, that’s exactly what you need.