ASUS Vivobook S16 2025, Core Ultra 9 285H, 32GB, 4TB SSD, Mist Blue

The ASUS Vivobook S16 pairs a stunning 16-inch OLED display with a 16-core Intel CPU, 32GB of RAM, and a ridiculous 4TB SSD. It's a productivity monster for developers and media lovers. But the integrated graphics kill any gaming ambitions, so skip it if you need GPU power.

The Core Ultra 9 285H is a beast for productivity. In our database, this CPU lands in the 88th percentile, which puts it well above average and right up there with some serious workstation chips. The 32GB of DDR5 RAM (80th percentile) means you can run Docker containers, a dozen browser tabs, and an IDE without breaking a sweat. Storage is the real flex here: 4TB of SSD space puts this in the 98th percentile, which is basically 'never delete anything again' territory. The weak link is the integrated Intel Arc 140T GPU. It's fine for driving that 120Hz display and handling light photo work, but it sits at a mediocre 66th percentile. Don't expect to render 3D scenes or play modern games at anything above potato settings.

Stacked against the Apple MacBook Pro M4 Max, the Vivobook gets absolutely demolished in GPU performance and build quality, but it fights back with a bigger, brighter OLED display and way more storage for the money. The Lenovo Legion Pro 7i and MSI Raider are gaming laptops first, so they'll crush this thing in any 3D workload, but they're heavier and their screens can't match the OLED here. The HP OMEN Transcend 14 is the closest competitor in spirit: thin, light, and OLED-equipped, but it offers a dedicated GPU option that the Vivobook lacks. The Microsoft Surface Laptop 7th Edition is the real threat. It's lighter, has better battery life, and a cleaner design, though you'll pay more for equivalent storage and RAM.

At $1,931 USD, the Vivobook S16 is priced like a premium ultrabook, and for the most part it delivers. The screen alone is worth the price of admission if you stare at text or media all day. The 4TB SSD and 32GB of RAM push the value proposition even further. But you're paying for storage and display, not graphics horsepower. If you need a GPU for rendering or gaming, that same money gets you a Legion Pro or an OMEN with a dedicated card. For the right buyer, this is a fair deal. For everyone else, it's a lot of money for a very pretty office machine.

The ASUS Vivobook S16 is a productivity machine wearing a thin-and-light costume. You get a 16-core Intel Core Ultra 9 285H, 32GB of DDR5, and a massive 4TB SSD, all wrapped around a gorgeous 16-inch 2.8K OLED panel. This is the kind of laptop that makes spreadsheets, code, and Netflix look equally fantastic.

But it's not a do-everything machine. The integrated Intel Arc graphics are fine for daily work and light creative tasks, but gaming is a non-starter. If you want to edit 4K video or play anything more demanding than Minesweeper, this isn't your rig. For developers and entertainment-focused buyers, though, it's a compelling package.

Skip this if you need any real GPU horsepower. Video editors working with 4K timelines, 3D artists, and anyone who wants to game after hours should look at a Legion Pro or OMEN with a dedicated card. Also, if you care about long-term reliability, the 60th percentile reliability score and tiny review count should give you pause. This is a machine for people who prioritize screen quality and storage over everything else.

Buy this if you're a developer, writer, or media consumer who wants a big, beautiful screen and enough storage to never think about external drives again. The Core Ultra 9 285H and 32GB of RAM make it a legitimate workhorse for code compilation, data analysis, and heavy multitasking. Just don't expect it to game or render. It's a productivity specialist, not a jack-of-all-trades.