Computers bring us connections, information, experiences, and possibility. With just a few strokes of a keyboard, you’re instantly transported into the everlasting expanse of the internet. The portal you choose to lead you on this journey is an important decision. That’s why we decided to take a meticulous look at the ASUS Vivobook.
ASUS launched in 1989 from the dream of forming “a small and beautiful company”. They’ve succeeded in this by manufacturing excellent tech products while also committing to improving access to digital devices for people in remote and disadvantaged areas.
The ASUS Vivobook F510UA enters the scene as an affordable laptop that doesn’t compromise on performance. It’s a compact and modern design that can replace the need for a desktop. Let’s dive a bit further into the digital details of this product in a complete look through this ASUS Vivobook F510UA review.
Who’s It For?
This capable computer was made for the person on a moderate budget, who doesn’t want to miss out on the performance of modern machines. Compared to many options on the market, the ASUS Vivobook F510UA offers a truly affordable laptop with competitive specs.
The type of person who might pair best with this device could be:
- A college student on a budget, needing a machine that can keep up with digital schooling
- A writer needing a lightweight, portable laptop with a good keyboard, to regularly tote between the office and home
- A small business owner looking for a device to manage their inventory and web interface
- The general user shopping for a budget computer with a high-rated performance for standard use and streaming
Many people will find themselves in the ideal customer class for the ASUS Vivobook. Who this machine is not built for are probably the digital professionals that need a powerhouse computer with top-of-the-line specs and capabilities.
Let’s also consider the person that would not be ideal for this computer:
- Someone working in the field, needing an extremely durable device
- A person working remote job sites that needs extensive battery life
- A hardcore gamer looking for incredible graphics and crystal clear motion display (sorry Fortnite players!)
- A professional digital artist needing a huge display, touch screen capabilities, and a super sensitive and ultra-responsive touchpad
The ASUS Vivobook comes outfitted with Windows 10 operating system, so those familiar with the use of a standard computer will get along just fine. Almost everything you’d expect to find in a modern computer is included here, from display to USB connectivity and Bluetooth.
What We Like About ASUS Vivobook F510UA
This laptop is affordable. It includes the latest Intel Core processor, giving it some impressive abilities for its price point.
The feel:
A smooth and creamy matte grey exterior makes this laptop a beauty. It won’t look like it’s a budget buy, and that’s a good thing. The touchpad is responsive and smooth and you won’t get any hiccups in movement and tracking.
You won’t see a fingerprint scanner on laptops priced this low. At the lock screen, it’ll open right up with a quick scan of your finger.
The look:
You’ll get a large screen display of 15.6”, yet still be able to slide this laptop into a 14” sleeve. How do you fit 15.6” of screen space on a laptop that measures 14.2” wide? A genius nano bezel edge that gives you a screen-to-body ratio of 80%. That’s an impressive use of space.
On that spacious screen comes a bright display with sharp contrasting colors. Four display modes allow you to find the right balance for your working conditions with a single click, including an Eye-Care mode for when you’re working long hours.
The comprehensive aesthetic is modern and sleek so that you won’t be compromising on design. Concerning the overall look, here’s what we appreciated:
- Clean and modern feel
- Sleek and low profile
- Massive display for its size
- Wide and roomy keyboard
The specs:
Though the ASUS Vivobook F510UA comes decked with great beginner specs, there is room for improvement. If you fall among the tech-minded and aren’t queasy about doing your upgrades, you can level up this laptop yourself, so that’s a plus.
This laptop will come with all the connectivity you want through multiple USB ports, Ethernet port, and Bluetooth ability. The SD card slot gives you the ability to upload camera photos or utilize removable storage.
What We Don’t Like About ASUS Vivobook F510UA
At a price point like this, you can’t have it all. There are some sacrifices to make in this budget range. We’ll discuss the things we didn’t like about the ASUS Vivobook below and leave the decision up to you if these are enough to have you swipe left on this device.
See Related Article: ASUS F555LA- AB31 15.6” Laptop Review
The Juice:
First up: Battery life! We’ve already mentioned how light and compact this laptop is, but there is another major aspect to consider portability. If you’re going to be using this computer in place of a desktop and keep it mainly stationary, you won’t have to worry much about this.
However, when toting it around to coffee shops, friend’s houses, and school or work, don’t forget to pack the power cable. Depending on the programs you’re running, you’re looking at an average battery life of 5 hours, which won’t get you through your entire term-paper mash out at Starbucks.
The Build:
Another point of compromise will come with its construction. The exterior is made of plastic. Though the gunmetal color is visually pleasing and looks modern, it’s still plastic. The keyboard pad also has some flex near the middle. If you’re heavy-handed or sensitive to motion while you type, this might give you second thoughts.
More on that keyboard – it isn’t backlit! This could be a breaking point for the person who optimizes during moonlight hours. You’ll need to have an overhead light on unless you’re a master at the glance-less type. This is also something to think about if your work area is typically dark or you sit in dim lecture halls frequently.
The Show:
Though the ASUS Vivobook F510UA performs well with its core processor, the 1TB hard drive can be slow. You’ll do fine with the general use of browsing and streaming but might run into frustration if you’re trying to handle hardcore games and programs.
A full terabyte is a lot of storage space, but in slow motion, that doesn’t do a lot for modern system use. You will get a bit of make-up for speed from that core processor, but compared to a device like a MacBook, it’ll feel like a turtle. But good luck finding a MacBook priced like this laptop.
Let’s talk about the graphics. Going hand in hand with performance capabilities, there’s a lackluster graphics show. You will run some games smoothly, but if you’re looking for 3D gaming power, look elsewhere. The frame rate won’t be able to deliver on these visual-heavy applications.
PROS
- The price point to performance ratio is excellent
- Fingerprint sensor for modern security and quick access
- Design and aesthetic is sleek and modern
- Big screen for a small package
- Great general performance for the average user
CONS
- Biggest con: battery life
- Slower HDD compared to a faster SSD
- No backlighting on the keyboard, so you night owls might have a hard time with this one
- Stiff movements in the keys, opening the case, and fitting USB plugs
What’s Included?
This laptop is ready to go out of the box. When you purchase the ASUS Vivobook F510UA you’ll receive the following items:
- ASUS Vivobook F510UA with Windows 10 Home operating system
- Power cable
That’s all you need to start computing away. What does it not come with?
Extra fluff:
As with any laptop, you might be interested in collecting some extra items to enhance your experience. When hashing out your computer budget, decide if you’ll be adding on the following products:
- Computer mouse (if trackpad use isn’t your jam). Add a mousepad too if you’re extra fancy.
- USB/SD card for extra storage
- Storage solution: hard computer case, soft sleeve, etc. You’ll want to purchase one to fit a 14” laptop.
- For heavy desk work, think about getting a laptop stand for improved workspace ergonomics.
- Bluetooth headphones: go for noise-canceling if you’ll be working in public spaces.
- If you need access to CD/DVD use (are you still burning CDs to make mixes for your crush?), you’ll have to get an external drive
- You might want to purchase an independent webcam if you’ll be doing a lot of streaming meetings or chats and need higher quality.
- Speakers: for the budding DJs and audio junkies, consider some external speakers to improve the sound output.
Go deep:
A lot of the users of this laptop opted to upgrade their device from the included Hard Disk Drive (HDD) to a new Solid-State Drive (SSD). The main difference between the two is speed. HDDs are an old form of storage yet cost less to manufacture, which allows this laptop to be priced lower. SSDs are non-mechanical, and thus don’t require as much battery life, are more durable, and significantly faster.
To perform this upgrade yourself, you’ll have to access the body of the computer through the tricky-to-remove back panel. You could easily outsource this to a tech business for a small fee, but it’d be worth running the numbers to make sure the base purchase is still worth this extra expense.
You have two options when it comes to adding SSD to your device (both accomplished through opening up the back computer panel):
- Utilize the empty M.2 SATA 3 SSD slot and simply plug in a compatible drive
- Remove the included HDD and replace it with SSD
Another popular point of upgradability for users is the Random Access Memory (RAM). Again, this will require access to the interior of the computer. This laptop comes equipped with 8GB of RAM and an empty slot to accommodate more. If you need a ton of memory space, you can also remove the included 8GB RAM and replace it with 16GB.
Overview Of Features
When looking at a computer purchase, exploring the features is key. The laptop might look nice, but what’s inside is what matters. Time to do a bit of dissecting.
From the outside:
- Weight: 3.7 pounds. Easily portable.
- Super slim 0.8” profile
- Display size: 15.6 inches with an anti-glare finish and a 0.3” nano-edge bezel
- Screen resolution: 1920 x 1080 pixels
- Two USB 2.0 ports, one USB 3.0 port, one USB 3.1 port, one HDMI port, one SD card port
Under the hood:
- Operating system: Windows 10 Home
- 8GB computer memory DDR4 SDRAM
- 3.4 GHz memory speed
- 8th generation Intel Core i5-825OU processor
- 1000 GB Hard drive size
- VGA Camera
So, what is this laptop capable of? You’ll be able to perform standard uses like browsing, streaming, moderate photo and video editing, and light gaming. This laptop really can’t hang with anything in the realm of 3D gaming and doesn’t expect to be able to run multiple power-sucking programs simultaneously.
Review Summary
The ASUS Vivobook F510UA is the best you’ll get for its affordability. If you’re looking for a standard laptop in front of its class, this is one to consider. It will function excellently for general use but might struggle with increased expectations.
For those that don’t mind making some compromises on durability and don’t need hardcore performance, you’re in the right place. The main thing to keep in mind for the standard user is battery life. With an average of 5 hours of use unplugged, be sure that this will work for your needs before you purchase. If this is manageable then consider yourself a score on this budget deal.
FAQs:
Q: What graphics card comes with this laptop?A: There is not a standalone graphics card. Instead, graphics are built into the Intel Core processor.
Q: Is the keyboard backlit?A: No. You’ll need to keep a light on while working in dim conditions.
Q: Is there a touchscreen?A: No. The only way to interact with the screen is your standard trackpad.
Q: Can I game on this laptop?A: It’s possible to perform mild gaming on this computer, but it won’t offer the best visuals or performance in this department. If gaming is your bread and butter, search for a laptop that contains a Graphics Processing Unit (or GPU).
Q: Is the screen shiny?A: No, the anti-glare screen has a matte finish. This will reduce any shine or reflection that could interfere with your display.
Q: What is the warranty on the ASUS Vivobook F510UA?A: There is a 12-month warranty included with your purchase of a new computer.
Q: Can this computer work with Bluetooth devices?A: Yes, the ASUS Vivobook F510UA comes equipped with Bluetooth 4.1.
Q: Can I edit photos on this computer?A: Yes, this computer will run Lightroom and Photoshop, but if you’re pro-level editing material, you won’t be pleased with the performance.
Q: What operating system does this laptop come with?A: The ASUS Vivobook will come with Windows 10 Home pre-installed.
Q: How’s the battery life?A: The battery on this laptop isn’t that impressive. You’re looking at an average run time of 5 hours and a recharge time of 1.5 hours.
