Asus VivoBook Flip 14: Raw CPU Performance

The Asus VivoBook Flip 14 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.

- MATTHEW BUZZI

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 Lenovo 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, and it’s lightweight at 3.31 pounds. The paint is a nice black color that looks a bit dark-blue in 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.

Considering how inexpensive the laptop is, this is 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.