Time to discuss the 2025 refresh of the Asus Vivobook S14 M5406KA series, this time in the more affordable variant running on AMD Krackan Ryzen AI 7 hardware.
We’ve covered this lineup in the past in the previous AMD variant , but in the meantime Asus offers this with more recent Krackan or Strix Point specs. Our review unit is the Krackan Ryzen AI 7 350 configuration, the same hardware tested in the Zenbook 14 UM3406KA 2025 series , but running here at higher power and with a more advanced cooling module.
In fact, I’d argue the Vivobook S14 is an overall better laptop if you’re interested in such a device for more than just casual use and plan to put the hardware to some use for heavier school or work tasks, or perhaps some light gaming. In theory, the Vivobook S14 is supposedly a lower-tier chassis than the standard Zenbook 14 models, but the differences between the two are minor even when having the two side by side as I do. On top of that, the Vivobook is generally more affordable as well, which could lean potential buyers towards its side.
Asus offers an M5406WA series as well, built on AMD Strix Point hardware, with extra CPU and GPU cores, and mostly paired with a 2.8K 120Hz OLED display. These configurations, however, are generally more expensive as not as widely available. We’ll touch on how this Ryzen AI 7 350 test unit fares against the Ryzen AI 9 365 and Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 variants in the performance section of this article.
Let’s get into it.
Specs sheet – Asus Vivobook M5406 (2025)
Asus Vivobook S 14 OLED review, M5406KA/WA series, 2025 model
Screen 14 inch, OLED, 16:10 aspect ratio, non-touch, glossy,3K 2880 x 1800 px 120Hz panel on some M5406WA variants
Processor AMD Krackan Point, Ryzen AI 7 350 , 8C/16T, up to 5.0 GHzStrix Point Ryzen AI 9 365 or AI 9 HX 370 configurations on the M5406WA variants
Video AMD Radeon 860m, 8 CU, up to 3.0 GHzup to Radeon 890M with 12 CUs on the M5406WA variants
Memory 24 GB LPDDR5x-7500 (soldered), up to 32 GB
Storage 1 TB M.2 NVMe SSD (Micron 2450) – single M.2 2280 slot
Connectivity Wireless 6E (Mediatek MT7922) 2×2, Bluetooth 5.3
Ports left: 2x USB-C connectors, one with USB 4.0, 1x HDMI 2.1 TMDS, micro SD card reader, mic/headphone
Battery 75 Wh, 65W USB-C charger90W charger on the M5406WA variants with Strix Point hardware
Size 311 mm or 12.28” (w) x 222 mm or 8.74” (d) x from 13.9 mm or 0.55” (h)
Weight 2.85bs (1.29 kg) +
Extras clamshell format with 180-degree hinge, Neutral Black color,
Design and functionality Nothing has changed between the 2024 and 2025 Vivobook S 14 chassis, so I’ll refer you to my previous review for all my in-depth thoughts and impressions on this notebook design .
In only a few words, this is well made and ergonomic 14-inch thin-and-light lineup, only a little larger and heavier than the Zenbook 14. Both models come in black colors for these AMD variants, but the Vivobook is actually a darker shade called Neutral Black. Both smudge easily.
Here are some side-by-side images of the Zenbook 14 and Vivobook S14, both the black AMD variants. Similar notebooks, with very subtle differences.
And here are a few more images of the Vivobook S14 discussed in this review.
For what is worth, the specs mention two more colors options for the Vivobook series, Cool Silver and Rose Gold. You might find those in some markets, but I’ve mostly seen these AMD Asus notebooks listed in their black variants.
The branding is somewhat more in-your-face on the Vivobook, with a chromed Vivobook markup on the lid that stands out in contrast to the black color, and a silver ASUS VIVOBOOK S 14 writing under the lid. The main body is finished a little differently on the two, with a somewhat sharper edge on the Vivobook.
That aside, there’s also a difference in how the hinges are made on the two, with two smaller side hinges on the Vivobook and an Ergolift single hinge on the Zenbook, but they work and feel mostly the same, allowing for smooth one-handed adjustments and a 180-degree opening angle.
Furthermore, there’s a slightly larger armrest and touchpad on the Vivobook, and the IO is placed somewhat differently, as the cooling is entirely on the rear edge. But both devices get mostly the same ports, with USB-A, HDMI, audio jack, and two USB-C ports placed on the same side (on the left on the Vivobook, on the right on the Zenbook). There is room for one extra USB-A and a microSD card reader on the Vivobook.
For the most part, this is a well-made mid-range ultrabook chassis, with good ergonomics and no obvious design flaws. Don’t expect this to feel as nice as a MacBook or a higher-tier Windows ultrabook , though; that’s not realistic for this sort of device.
Keyboard, touchpad, biometrics The keyboard on this series is a standard Asus layout, with full-size island keys and smaller keys on the top function row and the arrows.
It’s actually a slightly different keyboard than the one implemented on Zenbooks, with deeper travel at 1.7 mm and slightly rougher finishing on the keycaps, but the two feel mostly the same in actual use, as some of the better typers available in the thin-and-light 14-inch segment.
This keyboard is backlit, with RGB single-zone LEDs. It comes in blue by default, but can be changed to other colors. The LEDs are uniform and fairly bright, but some light creeps out from underneath some keys. When it times out, the lighting can be reactivated with a swipe over the touchpad.
The touchpad is glass and fairly spacious. It’s more spacious than on the Zenbook 14 models, but at the same time, it has a shinier finish that shows smudges more easily. It also doesn’t double as a NumberPad, unlike on the Zenbooks.
It is still a fine implementation for general use, even if the physical clicks are a little stiff. I’d also note that the surface feels a little flimsier than on the Zenbooks, rattling with firmer taps, so overall the whole touchpad experience is more refined on Zenbooks.
For biometrics, there’s no finger sensor on this Vivobook S generation, but there’s an IR webcam with Windows Hello support.
14-inch OLED non-touch display 14-inch Zenbooks and Vivobooks all get 14-inch 16:10 glossy screens with OLED panels, with most configurations being non-touch implementations.
Asus also offers two panel options for these lineups, either 2K 60Hz or 2.8K 120Hz. We had the 2K panel on both the Vivobook and the Zenbook reviewed recently, but also tested the 2.8K panel on previous S14 configurations .
The latter option is sharper and offers a faster refresh rate, which is both beneficial for games and makes the everyday use experience appear a little smoother. But that aside, the two panels are similar, with about 400-nits of brightness, deep contrast and blacks, and punchy colors with 100% DCI-P3 color coverage. Furthermore, as these are non-touch OLEDs, whites and light content look clean and don’t showcase the grain that is noticeable on the touch variants.
You do have to account for flickering on OLED notebooks, but even that is less of an issue on Asus devices if you’re using the flicker-free OLED Screen dimming option available in the myAsus app instead of lowering the brightness with the regular controls available in Windows.
Hardware and performance Our test model is a mid-specced configuration of the 2025 Asus Vivobook S14, code name M5406KA, with an AMD Krackan Ryzen AI 7 350 processor and Radeon 860M graphics, 24 GB of LPDDR5-8000 memory, and a 512 GB gen4 SSD.
Disclaimer: This review unit was provided by Asus for this article. We tested it with the software available as of early August 2025 (BIOS 307, MyAsus 4.0.42.0, AMD Driver 32.0.13062.2002). This is mature software, thus very little can still change with future updates.
Spec-wise, this M5406KA series is based on the 2025 AMD Krackan Ryzen AI hardware platform , with Ryzen AI processors and Radeon 800M graphics. The M5406WA series is built on 2025 AMD Strix Point Ryzen AI 9 hardware .
Our review unit is a Ryzen AI 7 350 processor, a hybrid design with 8Cores (4x Zen5, 4xZen5c), 16Threads, up to 5.0 GHz speeds, and 24 MB cache.
On the GPU side, the Ryzen AI 7 350 bundles a Radeon 860M iGPU with 8 RDNA3.5 cores.
For comparison, Strix Point Ryzen 9 platforms are built on similar technology, but offer more CPU and GPU cores. Those options are available on the Vivobook S14 M5406WA lineups, with either a Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 (12Cores/24Threads, Radeon 890M GPU with 12 CUs) or a Ryzen AI 9 365 (10Cores/20Threads, Radeon 880M GPU with 10 CUs).
The specs also mention configurations built around a Ryzen AI 5 340, which is a 6C/12T CPU with a Radeon 840M iGPU (4 CUS), so another step down in overall performance, but a decent and more affordable choice for casual use.
Our configuration also comes with 24GB of LPDDR5-7500 memory. 16 and 32 GB configurations are also available.
For storage, Asus opted for a 512 GB PCIe gen4 Micron 2500 drive here, a pretty fast SSD, perfectly fine for general use in this sort of laptop. For comparison, the AMD Zenbook 14 came with a Micron 2450 drive.
The SSD and the WiFi chip are upgradeable, although the WiFi is not an M.2 format. Getting inside is fairly simple; you need to take care of a few Torx screws and take out the back panel. The screws are of different sizes, so make sure to put them back in the right place.
As far as the software goes, this Vivoboom S14 gets the standard MyAsus app, which allows control over the power profiles, battery, and screen settings, updates, etc.
There are four performance/thermal profiles to choose from:
Full-Speed – allows the hardware to run at ~35W sustained and up to 50W, with the fans up to ~40 dB;
Performance – allows the hardware to run at ~35W sustained and up to 40W, with the fans up to ~38 dB;
Balanced/Standard – allows the hardware to run at 30W in sustained loads, with the fans up to ~35 dB;
Whisper – limits the CPU to 17W to favor fan noise of sub 30 dB.
This series allows higher power settings than the Zenbook UM3406KA series, with 2-4 dBA lower fan noise on Performance/Full Speed. The M5406WA Strix Point configurations are set to run at 5-10W higher sustained power, though, with higher fan noise and temperatures. But that was not required for this Krackan hardware that already runs at full capacity at 35W sustained.
I’d still recommend keeping the laptop on Standard in most cases. The Performance profile offers faster processing capabilities in sustained loads, but with a noise increase. On the Standard and especially Whisper modes, this laptop stays quiet and even silent with light use.
We’ll get to that in a bit, but first, here’s what to expect in terms of speeds and temperatures with daily chores such as streaming video, editing text, or browsing the web.
Productivity Performance and Benchmarks – Intel Arrow Lake Core Ultra 9 H On to more demanding loads, we start by testing the CPU’s performance in the Cinebench R15 loop test. I keep the laptop on a stand for these tests; having it flat on the desk doesn’t impact performance in any way, but can lead to higher temperatures.
On Performance mode, the AMD Ryzen AI 7 350 processor runs at 40W for a few loops, and then stabilizes at 35W. That translates to scores of around 2000 points, CPU temperatures in the very low-80s °C, and fan-noise levels of ~38 dBA.
There’s also a Full-Speed mode, which starts at 50W and then gradually drops towards the same 35W limit, with fan noise around 40 dBA.
The Standard mode keeps the fans quieter, at 35 dBA, and the CPU runs at 30 W of sustained power, with temperatures in the mid-70s°C and scores of around 1800 points.
Whisper mode keeps the fans even quieter at sub 30 dBA, with the power gradually dropping from 30W to around 18W sustained, with temperatures in the very low-60s °C. That leads to scores of 1135 points, about 65% of what this laptop can do in Performance mode.
And then there’s Performance mode unplugged from the wall, where this notebook somehow runs at 45W sustained for the entire tests and scores higher than on Performance mode plugged in. At 45W, internal temperatures are in the low 90s °C, though.
All these are illustrated in the graph below.
To put these in perspective, here’s how this Ryzen AI 7 350 implementation fares against other hardware platforms available in current and past-generation thin and light laptops .
It scores about on par with the same platform implemented in the Zenbook 14, despite running at lower power in the Zenbook. It’s also within 10% of the Intel Core Ultra 9 285H platform implemented in premium-tier ultrabooks these days, and 20-30% slower than the Strix Point AMD processors with their extra cores. Those also tend to run at higher power, though.
At the same time, this is also slower than previous-gen AMD Ryzen 8000HS hardware, but faster than Intel Meteor Lake hardware. So only a middle-ground performer in sustained CPU loads.
We then went ahead and further verified our findings with the more taxing Cinebench R23 loop test and in Blender. We measured similar behavior, power limits, fan noise, and temperatures as described above.
We then ran the 3DMark CPU profile test on Performance mode.
Finally, we ran our combined CPU+GPU stress tests on this notebook, on the Performance profile. 3DMark stress runs the same test for 20 times in a loop and looks for performance variation and degradation over time. This unit passed the test while flat on the desk, which means the performance is not impacted by the heat in longer-duration sustained loads.
Benchmark results and performance summary With that out of the way, let’s get to some benchmarks. We ran our standard set of tests with the laptop on Performance mode (~35W sustained TDP) and the screen set at its default 2.8K resolution.
Here’s what we got.
3DMark 13 –CPU profile: max – 7235, 16 – 7074, 8 – 5908, 4 – 4067, 2 – 2228, 2123 – 1138;3DMark 13 – Fire Strike: 6880 (Graphics – 7568, Physics – 25652, Combined – 2476);3DMark 13 – Steel Nomad Light: 2458;3DMark 13 – Solar Bay: 11509;3DMark 13 – Time Spy: 3220 (Graphics – 2873, CPU – 10254);3DMark 13 – FSR: FSR 2 Off – 6.92 fps, FSR 2 On – 14.72 fps, 106.4% performance difference.
Uniengine Superposition – 1080p Extreme: 1368;Uniengine Superposition – 1080p Medium: 4829;
PCMark 10: 7287 (Essentials – 11004, Productivity – 10399, Digital Content Creation – 9177);GeekBench 6.2.2 64-bit: Multi-core: 13491, Single-Core: 2886;CineBench R15 (best run): CPU 2516 cb, CPU Single Core 302 cb;CineBench R20 (best run): CPU 6231 cb, CPU Single Core 673 cb;CineBench R23: CPU 15876 pts (best run), CPU 15308 pts (10 min loop test), CPU Single Core 1982 pts (best run);CineBench 2024: CPU 853 (10 min run), CPU Single Core 114 pts.
And here are some work-related benchmarks, on the same Performance profile:
Blender 4.3.2 – BMW Car scene- CPU Compute: 2m 37s ;Blender 4.3.2 – Classroom scene – CPU Compute: 6m 39s;Blender 4.3.2 – Classroom scene – GPU Compute, HIP: 5m 33s;
SPECviewperf 2020 – 3DSMax: 35.16;SPECviewperf 2020 – Catia: 30.09;SPECviewperf 2020 – Creo: 41.34;SPECviewperf 2020 – Energy: 14.19;SPECviewperf 2020 – Maya: 99.55;SPECviewperf 2020 – Medical: 18.67;SPECviewperf 2020 – SNX: 69.02;SPECviewperf 2020 – SW: 34.89;V-Ray Benchmark: CPU – 10824, CUDA – 252.
These are solid results for a daily-driver portable laptop.
This 35W implementation of the Ryzen AI 7 350 performs within 5% better than the 28W variant in the Zenbook 14, so the gains are within the margin of error. But the Vivobook runs internally and externally cooler with sustained loads, as well as quieter.
More importantly, 2024 configurations built on AMD Hawk Point hardware outmatch this by a fair amount, both in sustained CPU tasks and in graphics loads. They are designed to run at higher power and noise, plus get a higher-tier platform of that generation.
This Krackan Ryzen AI 7 configuration is only a mid-level platform in 2025, and if you’re interested in gains in sustained performances, you should look into the Strix Point variants instead. For general use, though, this implementation is a balanced middle-grounder, with an extra emphasis on thermals and low noise, which might matter more to the regular buyer than extra points in some benchmark.
I haven’t tested the other profiles here, but Whisper mode is especially interesting at sub 30 dbA fan noise and still smooth capabilities for everyday multitasking. I did test Whisper mode on the Zenbook 14 chassis, here , if interested in more details.
Gaming Performance We also ran a couple of games on the Performance and Battery profiles of this AMD Ryzen AI 7 350 + Radeon 860M configuration, at FHD+ resolution, with Low/Lowest graphics settings. I included a few other competing platforms for comparison.
Low settings Vivobook S14 2025, Zenbook 14 2025, Zenbook 14 2025 ,Yoga Pro 14 2024 ,Zenbook S 14 2024 ,Zenbook S 16 2024 ,Vivobook S14 2024,
Dota 2 76 fps (48 fps – 1% low)
76 fps (52 fps – 1% low)
80 fps (50 fps – 1% low)
74 fps (48 fps – 1% low)
82 fps (46 fps – 1% low)
80 fps (46 fps – 1% low)
84 fps (55 fps – 1% low)
Far Cry 6 51 fps (38 fps – 1% low)
50 fps (42 fps – 1% low)
52 fps (36 fps – 1% low)
48 fps (34 fps – 1% low)
52 fps (38 fps – 1% low)
54 fps (46 fps – 1% low)
51 fps (38 fps – 1% low)
Horizon Forbidden West 40 fps (34 fps – 1% low)
40 fps (30 fps – 1% low)
44 fps (30 fps – 1% low)
40 fps (32 fps – 1% low)
40 fps (30 fps – 1% low)
–
45 fps (35 fps – 1% low)
Shadow of Tomb Raider 65 fps (45 fps – 1% low)
64 fps (46 fps – 1% low)
72 fps (48 fps – 1% low)
72 fps (56 fps – 1% low)
66 fps (44 fps – 1% low)
72 fps (56 fps – 1% low)
68 fps (54 fps – 1% low)
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt 58 fps (42 fps – 1% low)
56 fps (40 fps – 1% low)
66 fps (54 fps – 1% low)
46 fps (34 fps – 1% low)
53 fps (42 fps – 1% low)
60 fps (38 fps – 1% low)
58 fps (42 fps – 1% low)
Horizon, Dota 2, Witcher 3 – recorded with MSI Afterburner in game mode;
Tomb Raider, Far Cry – recorded with the included Benchmark utilities.
Even if the Radeon 860M is not as capable as the 880m and 890M implemented on Strix Point hardware, these results are still alright, especially in older titles. Framerates are close to the other options available out there, within up to 20% of the Intel Arc iGPUs, the fastest iGPUs implemented in this segment at this moment.
With that out of the way, let’s go through some CPU/GPU logs.
On Performance mode, the CPU runs at 35W total power, and that allows the GPU to run at 95+% of its full potential here.
With the laptop flat on the desk, internal temperatures average around 75 °C. With the laptop on a stand to favor better airflow into the fans, they drop to 70-72 °C, both excellent levels. For comparison, the same hardware runs about 5 degrees warmer in the Zenbook 14 chassis, with lower sustained power, lower GPU frequencies, and higher noise. Over here, the fans don’t go over 38 dBA on Performance mode, while on the Zenbook we measured levels of 42 dBA.
There’s also a Full Speed mode, which spins the fans a little louder at 40 dBA with minimally lower temperatures. This mode settles at 35W sustained as well, though, so delivers the same general performance.
On Standard mode, the CPU runs at 30W, which is still enough for the GPU to deliver about 90% of its capacity. That means the framerates are minimally lower than on Performance. The fans spin at 35 dBA, and internal temperatures are in the higher-60s °C with the laptop on a stand, so a little lower than on Performance mode.
Whisper mode is limited at 17W of power, and the GPU works at about 60-70% of its capacity at that level. Fan noise is sub 30 dBA, with temperatures in the mid to high 50s °C.
The following logs are for Standard and Whisper modes with the laptop raised on a stand.
Finally, Performance mode on battery power delivers 35W of total power with excellent GPU speeds. Don’t expect to run games on battery for longer than 2 hours, though.
Noise, Heat, Connectivity, speakers, and others Asus went with a dual-fan dual-radiator dual-heatpipe thermal module here.
For comparison, the cooling on the Zenbooks is far more minimalist.
This cooling module is actually a little overkill for the Krackan hardware, allowing for full performance with good temperatures and sub 40 dBA fans. That’s because it is designed to handle Strix Point hardware as well, which is set at higher power with slightly louder fans.
While this laptop can perfectly handle sustained loads flat on the desk, I would still raise it off with longer work/gaming sessions, just to minimize thermals.
As far as the noise levels go, expect 40 dBA on Full Speed, 38 dBA on Performance, 35 dBA on Standard, and sub-30 dBA on Whisper mode for the Krackan variants. However, Strix Point models can go as high as 45 dBA on Performance mode..
With daily use, the fans keep quiet, even idle sometimes on the Whisper/Standard modes, but kick in with heavier multitasking, especially on Performance with the laptop plugged in. I haven’t noticed coil winning or electronic noises on this unit. Overall, the fans are not quite as passively set as on the AMD Zenbook.
As for external temperatures, the chassis strays cool with light use, generally under 30 °C at keyboard level. The warmest spot is somehow in the middle of the display, in the higher 30s °C.
*Daily Use – streaming Netflix in EDGE for 30 minutes, Whisper Mode, fans at <30 dB
With demanding loads, the chassis heats more, and a warmer zone develops around the middle of the chassis, around the 8, 9 keys. That reaches temperatures in the mid-40s °C, significantly cooler than the 50 °C hotspot on the Zenbook 14 chassis. At the same time, the areas that you’re regularly getting in touch with average temperatures around 35-40 °C, making this one of the coolest running 14-inch portable notebooks we’ve tested recently.
*Gaming – Performance mode – playing Witcher for 30 minutes, fans at ~38 dB
For connectivity, there’s only Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3 through a Mediatek module on this laptop, so no WiFi 7. The laptop performed fine on wireless during all my time with it, but it still bothers me that they didn’t include WiFi 7 at this point.
Audio is handled by a set of stereo speakers that fire through grills positioned on the side and bottom of the chassis. They get loud and sound decent for this class, but they are tinnier, poorer in the lows, than the speakers on the Zenbooks.
Finally, there’s a 2MPx camera placed at the top of the screen, flanked by microphones. The image quality is not quite on par with the Zenbooks either, rather washed up even in good lighting. The camera gets a physical cover and supports IR.
Battery life There’s a 75 Wh battery inside this 2025 Asus Vivobook S 14, just like on the Zenbooks, plenty sized for its segment. It’s nice that they didn’t cut on battery size, like other OEMs do on their lower-tier lineups.
Here’s what we got in our battery life tests, with the screen’s brightness set at around 120 nits (~50 brightness) and at its default 60Hz refresh rate. I’ve also set the Windows 11 power modes to Best Power Efficiency.
4.5 W (15+ h of use) – idle, Whisper Mode, screen at 50%, Wi-Fi ON;7-9 W (~9-10 h of use) – text editing in Google Drive, Whisper Mode, screen at 50%, Wi-Fi ON;7 W (~10-11 h of use) – 1080p fullscreen video on Youtube in Edge, Whisper Mode, screen at 50%, Wi-Fi ON;7.5 W (~10 h of use) – Netflix fullscreen in Edge, Whisper Mode, screen at 50%, Wi-Fi ON;8-10W (~7-9 h of use) – browsing in Edge, Standard Mode, screen at 50%, Wi-Fi ON;38 W (~2 h of use) – Gaming – Witcher 3, Standard Mode, screen at 50%, Wi-Fi ON.
Solid results, even if not quite on par with what we measured on the same platform implemented in the Zenbook 14. The software settings are a little different between the two, with an advantage in light use for the Zenbook. Nonetheless, 7-10 hours of actual use and 10+ hours of light use and video streaming are fine runtimes.
The Strix Point implementations are likely not as efficient with light use, based on our past tests of various implementations. You should also be aware that this review unit is the 2K 60Hz display option, and opting for the 2.8K 120Hz panel variant can lead to slightly shorter runtimes with light use and streaming.
The laptop ships with a 65W single-piece charger on the M5406KA models, and a slightly larger and heavier 90W USB-C charger with a dual-piece design on the M5406WA versions.
Price and availability The Asus Vivobook S14 M5406KA and M5406WA lineups are available across the world at the time of the article, but configurations differ between regions.
The Vivobook S14 M5406KA variant reviewed here, specced with Ryzen AI 7 350, 24 GB RAM, 512 GB SSD, 2K OLED is listed at $999 in the US and around 900-1000 EUR over here in Europe. There’s also a Ryzen AI 5 340 variant avialable here, with 16 GB of RAM, starting at 850 EUR. These KA configurations are available throughout Europe, but not that widespread on the US market yet, where you can mostly get the MA versions.
The mid Vivobook S14 M5406WA variant specced with Ryzen AI 9 365, 24 GB RAM, 512 GB SSD, 2.8K OLED is available for $1099-$1199 in the US, and around 1300 EUR here in Europe.
The top Vivobook S14 M5406WA variant specced with Ryzen AI 9 HX 370, 32 GB RAM, 1 TB SSD, 2K OLED is available for $1199$1299 in the US, and around 1500 EUR here in Europe.
These are all competitively priced for want they are. And I’d expect discounts later in the year. Follow this link for updated prices and configurations in your area .
Final thoughts- Asus Vivobook S14 M5406 series review The Vivobook S14 series offers a handful of well-balanced mid-priced portable notebooks, all built on capable and efficient latest-gen AMD hardware. And these Vivobooks are not just available as a 14-inchers, there are also some 15 and 16 inch variants to consider if you’re after an option with a larger display.
Nonetheless, the 14-inch models are the topic of this review. For these, the Krackan configurations are more affordable and run coolly and quietly with general use and multitasking, while the Strix Point models offer more serious sustained processing power. They’re not as efficient on battery use, though, and they are more expensive, but there’s a market out there for both sub-lineups. What’s more interesting is the choice between these Vivobooks and the 14-inch available Zenbooks.
The Zenbooks are higher-tier products in Asus’s lineup, and having the two side by side, there are pros and cons for each camp. The Zenbook 14 is a slightly lighter and cleaner-looking chassis, while the branding on the Vivobook is more aggressive. But the Vivobook offers more ports. The typing experience is mostly similar between the two, even if the keyboard on the Vivobooks offers RGB lighting and a deeper stroke; at the same time, the touchpad is more refined on Zenbooks. Audio quality and the camera are a little better on Zenbooks as well. And when it comes to the screens, Asus puts the same OLED panels on both.
And then there’s the hardware and overall performance. The Vivobooks are a higher-power design with more advanced cooling, which is why Asus offers them in both Krackan Point and Strix Point configurations. The AMD Zenbooks are only available with Krackan point hardware, and while they are a lower-power design with a more basic cooling module, they still perform fine with sustained chores. They do run warmer and noisier than the Vivobooks, though. At the same time, they run more efficiently with light use, plugged in or on battery power. So they keep quieter and last longer on a charge.
So all in all, I would lean towards a Zenbook all things consider. But the Vivobooks are the way to go if you either need a more affordable option for general use (in which case, the M5406KA options are the go tos), or if you need the extra power offered by the Strix Point configurations in work/school applications and games (on the M5406WA options).
So that’s it, there you have it, my thoughts on these AMD Vivobooks and Zenbooks. Hopefully this will help you decide between them. Looking for your thoughts, feedback or potential questions in the comments section.
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Review by: Andrei Girbea
Andrei Girbea is a Writer and Editor-in-Chief here at Ultrabookreview.com . I write about mobile technology, laptops and computers in general. I've been doing it for more than 15 years now. I'm a techie with a Bachelor's in Computer Engineering. I mostly write reviews and thorough guides here on the site, with some occasional columns and first-impression articles.
