ASUS X1404VA

The ASUS Vivobook X1404VA is a budget 14-inch laptop that covers the basics well for students and office workers. It has a capable Core i5-1334U, 12GB of RAM, and a lightweight design, but the dim display, small 256GB SSD, and mediocre battery life hold it back. It's a solid buy at the lower end of its price range, but avoid overpaying.

The Intel Core i5-1334U is a 10-core chip with a base clock of 2.3GHz and a boost up to 4.6GHz. In our database, this CPU lands in the 39th percentile for laptops, which means it's below average compared to the wider market. That sounds worse than it is in practice. For everyday tasks like web browsing, email, and Office apps, it's perfectly snappy. The 12GB of RAM helps keep things smooth when you have a dozen browser tabs open.

But the integrated Intel Iris Xe graphics sit right around the 49th percentile, which is middle of the pack for integrated GPUs. That's fine for streaming video and light photo work, but don't expect to run modern games at anything beyond low settings. The 256GB NVMe SSD is on the smaller side, landing in the 25th percentile for storage. You'll fill that up fast if you keep a lot of files or install big programs. The 42Wh battery is rated for up to 6 hours of average use, which is okay but not great for a full day away from an outlet.

Stacked against the Microsoft Surface Laptop 7th Edition, the Vivobook loses on build quality, display, and battery life. The Surface is more expensive, but you get a sharper screen and a more premium feel. The Lenovo Legion 5i and Acer Predator Helios Neo are gaming laptops with dedicated GPUs, so they crush the Vivobook in graphics performance, but they're also heavier and pricier. If you need a laptop for gaming, skip the Vivobook entirely and look at those instead.

The MSI Prestige is a closer competitor in the thin-and-light productivity space. It typically offers better screens and faster storage, though you'll pay more for it. The Apple MacBook Pro M5 is in a completely different league on performance and battery life, but it costs several times more. For someone who just needs a reliable Windows machine for school or office work, the Vivobook holds its own against pricier options, as long as you get it at the lower end of its price range.

The Vivobook X1404VA is priced to move, but the spread across vendors is wild. In Europe, we're seeing listings from EUR 755 all the way up to EUR 1,377 for what appears to be the same configuration. That's a EUR 622 gap, which is absurd. If you're shopping in the EU, do yourself a favor and hunt down the EUR 755 listing. At that price, this laptop is a solid deal. At EUR 1,377, you're getting ripped off and should look elsewhere. In the US, it's listed at USD 589, which feels about right for what you get. The 12GB of RAM and Core i5-1334U put it ahead of many budget competitors, but the small SSD and mediocre screen keep it from being a steal.

The ASUS Vivobook X1404VA is a 14-inch budget laptop aimed at students and office workers who need a dependable machine without spending a fortune. It sits in the entry-level to mid-range bracket, with the Intel Core i5-1334U, 12GB of DDR4 RAM, and a 256GB NVMe SSD doing the heavy lifting. The price varies a lot depending on where you shop, but it generally lands in the affordable territory for a Windows 11 laptop with these specs.

People searching for a lightweight laptop for school or everyday work will find a lot to like here. At 1.4kg, it's easy to toss in a backpack, and the 14-inch FHD IPS display is fine for documents, spreadsheets, and web browsing. But if you're wondering whether this Vivobook is good for gaming or photo editing, the answer is a pretty firm no. The integrated Intel Iris Xe graphics and a dim, color-limited screen hold it back in those areas.

ASUS has a solid reputation for budget laptops, and this model leans into that. It's not flashy, but it covers the basics well. The 12GB of RAM is a nice touch at this price, giving you a bit more breathing room than the typical 8GB you see on cheaper machines.

Skip the Vivobook X1404VA if you do any kind of gaming, photo or video editing, or work that requires accurate color. The integrated graphics and 45% NTSC display will frustrate you. It's also not ideal for anyone who needs all-day battery life away from outlets, since 6 hours is optimistic. If you need more storage, the 256GB SSD will feel cramped fast. In those cases, look at the MSI Prestige for a better screen, or the Lenovo Legion 5i for gaming performance. And if you're in Europe, don't even consider this laptop at the EUR 1,377 price point. That's MacBook territory for a budget machine.

Should you buy the ASUS Vivobook X1404VA? If you need a lightweight, affordable laptop for school, office work, or general everyday use, and you can find it at the lower end of its price range, then yes. The 12GB of RAM and Core i5-1334U give it enough muscle for multitasking, and the port selection is genuinely useful. It's not going to wow anyone, but it gets the job done.

But if you care about screen quality, battery life, or any kind of gaming, this isn't the laptop for you. The 250-nit display with 45% NTSC color is a real weak spot, and the 42Wh battery means you'll be hunting for outlets by mid-afternoon. At the right price, it's a sensible budget pick. At the wrong price, it's a pass.