Asus - Asus Vivobook S412FA-EK447T

Asus

Asus Vivobook S412: A PC with numpad and thin edges

Aprox. 599€

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The Vivobooks have always been a sure bet at Asus. The manufacturer returns with a 14-inch S412 model that does not revolutionize the range, but offers excellent value for money.

Our review

Presentation

In the Asus PC fleet, the Zenbooks represent the flagship, featuring the latest innovations to date. The manufacturer also offers the Vivobook line, which has certain innovations, for a reduced price. The PC tested today, the Vivobook S412, falls into this category.

Thus, this model offers some flagship innovations of the brand, such as a trackpad which can be transformed into a numeric keypad or even a screen with thin edges at a price below 800 €.


Construction

Asus has slightly modified the chassis of its Vivobook S412, without however upsetting it. We have a good quality plastic chassis which is solid if not chic. Asus takes no design risk. The only fantasy lies in the punched pattern applied to the plastic around the keys.

As on previous models, the keyboard part is raised slightly to provide more comfort when typing. For this, it is the base of the screen that lifts the keyboard. A trick that has already proven itself and which is still appreciated, even if this version offers a lower elevation than that of the previous chassis.

The keyboard offers a very pleasant stroke, with keys with a short stroke despite a certain lack of resistance. The space between the keys and the absence of a series of commands to the right of the Enter key are significant, despite the long shape of the latter. It should be noted that the keyboard has a white backlight on three intensity levels.

14 inch format requires, there is no numeric keypad… apparently. In fact, the numpad integrates the numeric keypad into the trackpad by means of LEDs. Everything is done smoothly and without lag time when switching from one mode to another. The trackpad also responds well, despite a mechanical click present. To activate the numeric keypad, simply touch the small logo at the top right of the trackpad. But it should be noted that even with the pad activated, the "cursor" function of the trackpad still works, the dev.rankuzz.com keys only activating if the user taps on them.

In terms of connectivity, the Vivobook goes to the basics by offering a USB Type-C 3.1 port, two USB Type-A 3.0 ports, an HDMI port and a microSD card reader, always appreciable on this type of product, in addition to the traditional jack. Charging is done via a proprietary port.

Using a precision screwdriver, it is possible to open the Vivobook in order to access its entrails. Inside, an empty slot for a 2.5-inch SSD is present. It is also possible to replace the SSD in M.2 format, here 512 GB. Note that the PC only offers one location for RAM, occupied here by an 8 GB strip. A single channel memory configuration which shows no effect on a PC dedicated to office automation.

The Vivobook vents are located between the keyboard and the screen. When the PC is put to the test, hot air is sent to the screen as well as behind the chassis and not to the user. During our usual test protocol (Unigine Heaven benchmark for one hour), we measured a heating of 46 ° C at the level of the grid, which remains an acceptable temperature. The heater is also well contained and remains confined under the keyboard. In normal use, the PC stays cool and does not heat up at all. This does not affect the noise of the fans, which are relatively quiet since they are measured at 39 decibels by us. Under normal conditions, the PC will barely get along and will not disturb the user or his relatives.


Screen

The Vivobook S412 has a 14 inch IPS screen with a resolution of 1,920 x 1,080 px. The screen / front panel ratio is 86%, which is far above the average for laptops (between 75 and 80%). It is all the more pleasant as the high screen / facade ratios are usually the prerogative of high-end computers.

contrast 1,470: 1 Delta E 5.7 temperature 6,605 K

After passing under the lens of our probe, the Vivobook slab revealed good results. The contrast was measured at 1470: 1, which is good for a laptop; blacks are relatively deep. The color temperature is also very well controlled, since we measured it at 6,605 K, very close to 6,500 K of the video standard. The screen does not draw towards red or blue. Disappointment, however, in terms of colorimetry, since the average delta E is 5.7. Here, the greens, blues and mauves are the problem. The original colors are therefore denatured by the screen, which is not ideal for retouching or viewing photos, for example.

The maximum brightness is correct, but does not make sparks, since it goes up to 270 cd / m². It is saved by a matte slab which does not reflect light too much and which therefore allows you to work serenely outdoors. The remanence was measured at 17 ms, or 2 ms above the average (for a computer not dedicated to gaming). A measure that is enough to limit fuzzy streaks in moving images.


Performances

The Vivobook 14 S412 has an Intel Core i5-8265U processor (4 cores, 8 threads, 1.6 GHz base frequency, 3.9 GHz turbo frequency) supported by 8 GB of RAM in single channel - which has little impact on a PC dedicated to office automation , as we pointed out earlier in this article. It also has a 512 GB M.2 SSD.

During our usual test protocol (photo editing, 3D calculation, video editing or file compression), the PC reached an index of 82 on our test scale. This puts it on the same level as other PCs in its class. It is interesting to compare it to Huawei's Matebook D, which is in the same segment, but which has chosen a Ryzen 5 2500 U, slightly less swift. A computer that will allow you to run relatively compute-intensive software without flinching.


Mobility / Autonomy

The Vivobook is not a PC that uses ultra-mobility, but it remains relatively mobile for its category. It weighs 1.4 kg, which does not make it a featherweight, but it remains light to be carried in a bag. Its diet is discreet (a 152 g monoblock). We also appreciate its velcro to attach the cable. The chassis of the Vivobook is 18 mm thick, which is average.

In terms of autonomy, the Vivobook disappoints a little. During our usual test protocol (Netflix in Chrome, headphones plugged in, backlight off and brightness set to 200 cd / m²), the PC shut down after 4 h 43 min, while we can hope to turn around 6 hours on this type of PC . We can however hope to reach double in simple office use, which is a bit tight for a big day at work.


Audio

This PC is equipped, by default, with Audio Wizard software which we advise you to exceptionally leave activated when using the Vivobook speakers. Indeed, the so-called "Music" mode is the one that gives the most pleasant result to the ear. Thus, the answer is a bit more extended in the low-mid / high-mid range and the timbres (especially of the voice) are better respected. Without any mode, the voices are very nasal and there is also a relatively marked box effect. The power of the speakers is limited, but controlled. The signal remains a clean minimum, even at maximum volume. Although we appreciate the width of the stereo scene given the size of the PC, it should still be noted that the position of the speakers is far from ideal. The restitution of the sound scene lacks naturalness since it seems as if detached from the screen. In addition, this positioning poses major problems with sound performance when the PC is placed on a support such as a tablecloth or a comforter, for example. The sound is then muffled.

The headphone jack offers great performance, but the power is not incredible. If you plan to use energy-intensive headphones, consider going through a dedicated sound card with a powerful headphone amplifier.


Conclusion

The Asus Vivobook S412 is a solid mid-range computer. Its innovations introduced on the wid high-end models (the screen with fine edges, the Numpad) reinforce this impression. Asus however had to make some concessions to offer an affordable product, especially on the plastic chassis (however of quality, it must be recognized) and the battery. But nothing that can really put off the potential buyer. It finally presents a good quality / price ratio.


Specifications