The Epic ASUS VivoBook Flip 14 Thin and Light 2-in-1 Laptop Is So Amazing !
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The Asus VivoBook Flip 14 (starts at $599; $699 for our TM420IA-DB71T test model) is an all-around capable convertible laptop powered by AMD. The Ryzen 7 processor in our test model is the laptop’s best feature, delivering better performance than its competitors. The VivoBook Flip 14’s build is adequate (though not a standout like some alternatives), it includes useful ports, and the battery life is in the ballpark of 10 hours. There are no major flaws here, but the Flip doesn’t quite reach the heights of the simply better Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5 14. While the Asus does come out on top in performance, there’s a good bit of flex in the keyboard deck, its battery doesn’t last as long, and it costs $100 more. The latter retains its Editors’ Choice, but if you’re a performance-first budget shopper, consider the VivoBook Flip 14 too.
A Slick, Compact Convertible
The construction and design of this laptop’s exterior are pleasing enough. The chassis is made of plastic, but it does not feel cheap, while remaining lightweight at 3.31 pounds. The paint is a nice black color with a hue that looks a bit dark-blue in a certain light; officially, it’s “Bespoke Black.” Black is, as always, slimming. The lightweight design is underpinned by a compact footprint, measuring 0.72 by 12.8 by 8.7 inches (HWD). This combination makes the Flip plenty portable, easy to slip in a bag or carry under your arm to a meeting or between classes. Fitting a 14-inch screen into this size makes it a useful productivity machine once you get where you’re going. When you remember how inexpensive the laptop is, it’s a nice package overall. The IdeaPad Flex 5 14 is the same weight and a touch thicker, while the HP Envy x360 13 is a tad lighter at 2.9 pounds.
The physical shape is supported by some important design features, as well. One of these is the hinges, which allow you to fold this laptop’s screen all the way back into tablet mode, or stop at any point in between. It folds easily, and the hinges are secure. They may be a bit too tight, in fact, as this laptop does not pass the one-finger screen-lift test. You’ll have to hold the body down as you pull open the screen from the closed clamshell position, lest you lift the system off the desk.
A Solid All-Rounder for Convertible Fans
The Asus VivoBook Flip is a good budget convertible with no major weak points. The build is compact and lightweight, it has a healthy selection of ports and a nice screen, and battery life is decent. The performance, in particular, is a strong suit, thanks to the Ryzen 7 chip, which tops the Ryzen 5 and Intel alternatives in machines around the same price.
That said, those things don’t make it a great budget convertible. The build is solid enough on the exterior, but a little too flexible around the keyboard deck, and the keyboard is so-so. The battery life is merely okay, as well. These are the aspects that remind you this is an inexpensive laptop, but the same doesn’t apply to all machines in this tier. Compared to the designs of the Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5 14 and the HP Envy x360 13 (2020), the Asus is not as impressive. It does get extra points for performance, but at the end of the day, the IdeaPad Flex 5 14 is a superior laptop overall for $100 less and retains its Editors’ Choice. Still, if you’re concerned with raw CPU performance above all, the VivoBook Flip 14 has plenty of charm inside its shell.
