This ASUS costs less than 13 thousand! Yet it has a powerful Snapdragon, good battery life, and a numeric keypad

Laptops with ARM processors and Windows are becoming increasingly mainstream, but better-equipped models still cost over 20 thousand Czech crowns. However, the ASUS Vivobook 16 (X1607QA-MB062W) changes that – thanks to a discount from the original 20 thousand Czech crowns to the current 12,836 CZK, it becomes the most affordable way into the world of ARM Windows. And that’s not the only reason it’s worth noting.

For less than thirteen thousand, you get a laptop with a 16″ display with a resolution of 1920 × 1200 pixels, 16 GB RAM, and a generous 1TB SSD.

Snapdragon X Plus – A Compromise That Makes Sense

At the heart of the laptop is the Qualcomm Snapdragon X Plus (X1P-42-100), an octa-core processor manufactured with 4nm technology. Its Oryon cores run at a base frequency of 3.2 GHz with a turbo boost up to 3.4 GHz. In the Geekbench 6 benchmark, it achieves 2419 points in the single-core and 11,296 points in the multi-core test.

Price: from 12,836 CZK

What does that mean in practice? Performance roughly on par with older 10th-generation Intel Core i5 or newer power-efficient processors. For office work, web browsing, video watching, and studying, it’s more than sufficient. However, don’t consider it for gaming or demanding video editing – the integrated Adreno X1-45 graphics with 1.7 TFLOPS of performance are mostly for basic graphical tasks.

An interesting feature is the integrated NPU with 45 TOPS of performance, capable of handling local AI tasks. Windows 11 utilizes it for features like enhanced backgrounds during video calls or automatic captions. It’s a nice bonus, though not yet crucial.

Battery Life as the Main Advantage

The biggest advantage of ARM architecture is energy efficiency. Thanks to the 4nm manufacturing process and optimization, the processor has a TDP of just 30 W. Combined with a 50Wh battery, this means battery life that (especially older) Intel and AMD laptops can only dream of. For typical office work, the laptop can operate all day without a charger.

Charging occurs via USB-C with 65 W power, which is standard. Conveniently, the laptop has two USB-C 4.0 ports with DisplayPort and Power Delivery support, so you can use universal chargers and docks.

Features Without Major Compromises

ASUS did not skimp on features. The laptop has a backlit keyboard with a numeric keypad, which will be appreciated by anyone who works with numbers. It also includes an FHD webcam for video calls and two classic USB-A ports for older accessories.

The display with 300 nits brightness is not a miracle, but it’s sufficient for indoor work. The 16:10 aspect ratio provides slightly more vertical space than standard 16:9, which is pleasant when working with documents or programming. It’s a shame about the poorer color gamut (45% NTSC), which makes the laptop unsuitable for photo editing.

Connectivity is modern – Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3 ensure fast and stable wireless connection. For connecting a monitor, HDMI 2.1 or the aforementioned USB-C ports are available.

Who is the Vivobook 16 with ARM suitable for?

For 12,836 CZK, you get an interesting machine that has its place in the market. It is particularly suitable for:

Students and casual users who will appreciate the long battery life, large display, and sufficient performance for everyday tasks. Traveling professionals for whom battery life is a priority. And also tech enthusiasts who want to try ARM Windows at a reasonable price.

Conversely, it is not suitable for gamers, graphic designers, or anyone who needs top-tier performance. Also, be aware of software compatibility – most programs already work on ARM Windows, but some specialized applications might cause issues or run slower via emulation.

The ASUS Vivobook 16 with Snapdragon is not a revolutionary laptop, but at its current price, it is a very reasonable choice for casual users.

Price: from 12,836 CZK

What do you think of the current Vivobook price?