Laptop for 11.5 thousand with 16 GB DDR5 RAM, 512GB SSD, and a decent chip? This ASUS got a nice discount

The current situation in the memory market makes buying a laptop a bit of a lottery – 16 GB RAM, until recently standard equipment for the low-end, is appearing less and less in affordable models. The ASUS Vivobook 15 M1502 has now dropped to 11,490 CZK with code ALZADNY15 and combines 16 GB DDR5 memory with a hexa-core Ryzen, which is not a given for this price today.

Quick summary:
✅ Makes sense if you’re looking for a reasonable student or office laptop with enough memory for several years to come.
⚠️ Consider that it comes without an operating system – you’ll have to purchase Windows separately (or install Linux).
💡 For 11,490 CZK, in the current memory crisis, it’s one of the few laptops with 16 GB DDR5 in this price category.

Hexa-core Ryzen and 16 GB DDR5 – a combination that is not common today

AMD Ryzen 5 150 is essentially a rebranding of the earlier Ryzen 5 7535HS – it is still a hexa-core chip with 12 threads on the Zen 3+ architecture and a maximum boost of 4.55 GHz. For typical office work, studying, web browsing, and lighter creative tasks, it has sufficient performance. The architecture isn’t entirely new (from 2023), but its performance remains comparable to the latest mid-range Ryzen 5 processors.

The main argument, however, is memory. 16 GB DDR5 RAM in a laptop for 11 thousand is more of an exception than the rule in today’s memory crisis. Most competitors in this price range offer either 8 GB (which is no longer sufficient for Windows 11 and multiple open browser tabs today) or slower DDR4. Additionally, there’s a 512GB NVMe SSD PCIe 4.0 for fast application launching. Be aware, however – the RAM is in only one slot, so you’ll forgo dual-channel mode (which limits the integrated graphics). On the other hand, to upgrade to 32 GB, you just need to add a second module, perhaps when the crisis subsides and it doesn’t cost 4 thousand.

Practical aspects for everyday use

The display is a 15.6″ Full HD IPS panel with an anti-glare finish. Viewing angles are 178°, but the brightness is only 250 nits and color coverage is 45% NTSC – meaning it’s a typical office screen; don’t expect miracles for creative work with colors (photo, video). However, for Excel, Word, Teams, and YouTube, it’s perfectly sufficient.

Connectivity is worth mentioning – 2× USB-C with charging support (Power Delivery), 2× USB 3.2 Gen 1, 1× USB 2.0, HDMI, and a card reader. Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.4 are standard. The keyboard is backlit with a numeric keypad, which is convenient for spreadsheets on 15″ laptops. The battery has a capacity of 42 Wh, and the laptop charges either via a classic adapter or USB-C – for travel, it’s useful that a phone charger (with sufficient power) is enough.

What about “without an operating system”

Important information you should know beforehand – the Vivobook M1502 comes without an operating system. This is why it costs 11 thousand, instead of a few thousand more with Windows 11. For the average user, this means one of three paths: buy Windows 11 separately (officially around 3,500 CZK, grey market keys available significantly cheaper), use an existing license from another computer, or install Linux.

How much memory do you consider a reasonable minimum for a new laptop today – 8, 16, or already 32 GB?