Specifications and Gaming Performance

The ASUS Vivobook Pro 15 is equipped with a discrete GPU, which enables decent gaming capabilities, although gaming is not its primary purpose. During testing, popular games like Cyberpunk 2077 and Marvel Rivals were evaluated. With the utilization of a 40-series GPU, the laptop supports features such as frame generation, allowing for frame rates exceeding 90 frames per second at Ultra settings, provided that ray tracing is disabled and the resolution is set to 1080p. Lighter games like Marvel Rivals performed well, highlighting the laptop’s strengths in less demanding scenarios.

Battery Life and Usability

Despite its performance, the Vivobook Pro 15’s battery life is underwhelming. The combination of high-performance components and a high-resolution OLED display drains the battery quickly. A continuous loop of a local video file demonstrated this, with the laptop lasting only 6 hours and 21 minutes at 100 lux brightness while the keyboard backlighting was disabled. Under heavier usage or gaming loads, users can expect even shorter battery life, making this laptop less suitable for on-the-go productivity.

Price and Competitive Offerings

Priced at $1,500, the Vivobook Pro 15 may seem slightly overpriced, considering that similar performance can be found in less costly alternatives. Notably, the Vivobook Pro 16, featuring an RTX 4050 and currently available for around $1,000, offers a compelling option. While it lacks an OLED screen and has a lower resolution, it features a modern 16:10 display and costs significantly less.

Additionally, the Lenovo Yoga Pro 9i, often found around $1,350, also offers the RTX 4050, albeit without OLED technology. This model includes a higher resolution IPS touchscreen with a 165-Hz refresh rate, making it a worthy competitor.

Conclusion

The primary challenge with the Vivobook Pro 15 lies in its value proposition, especially considering the absence of a new GPU in this generation. While the recent CPU upgrades provide modest improvements, they are unlikely to justify the higher price tag. With the expected release of the RTX 5050 just months away, potential buyers may want to consider waiting or opting for one of the cheaper alternatives that provide excellent performance.