A Windows Laptop That Can Keep Up with the M2 MacBook Air

As someone who recently switched from the Windows ecosystem to a MacBook. I was on the lookout for a Windows alternative that could give me the features and capabilities that I missed. That’s when I stumbled upon the Asus VivoBook Pro 14 OLED.

This laptop comes with the latest Ryzen 6000 series processor, an RTX 3050 graphics card, and a stunning OLED display, all packed into a compact chassis that weighs less than 1.5 kgs. The best part is that, despite these impressive specs, the price is not exorbitant, especially when compared to the M2 MacBook Air. In the US, it costs around $1200, while in Nepal, it costs around NPR 2 lakhs for the 16 GB RAM and 1 TB SSD configuration. It is also launching soon in India, likely at a price of around INR 1 lakh or less.

In terms of design, the VivoBook Pro has a subtle and elegant aesthetic, thanks to its metallic lid and unique branding. While the body is made of plastic, it has a matte finish that prevents it from feeling cheap. The laptop also has an antibacterial coating on its surface, which helps prevent bacterial growth by up to 99%. However, I do wish that it had an anti-fingerprint coating as well, as the blue color variant tends to attract fingerprints easily.

One of the standout features of the VivoBook Pro is its IO choices, which are supported by the Ryzen 6000 series processor’s support for USB4, including Thunderbolt 3 compatibility. This allows the laptop to connect to an external GPU, an 8K 60Hz display, and more, with up to 100 watt power delivery and 40 Gbps data transfer speeds. In addition to the USB4 port, the laptop also has an HDMI 2.1 port, a USB 3.2 Type A port, a micro SD card reader, and a 3.5 mm headphone jack on the right side, and two USB 2.0 Type A ports on the left.

The VivoBook Pro’s 14 inch OLED display is another highlight, with a sharp 2.8 resolution and a modern 16:10 aspect ratio. Everything looks super crisp, vibrant, and lively on this screen, with rich contrast. The display also has a peak brightness of 408 nits, making it suitable for use outdoors, and a 100% DCI-P3 color gamut that is Pantone validated for accuracy. This makes it an excellent work monitor for graphic designers, video editors, and anyone who needs a color accurate screen. While OLED burn-in is a concern with any OLED display, the VivoBook Pro comes with features like pixel shifting and pixel refresh to prevent this from happening.

The keyboard on the VivoBook Pro is another great feature, with well-laid out keys that have a nice rubbery feedback and a short 1.4 mm travel distance. It is also fairly quiet, making it one of the best Ultrabook keyboards I’ve used in 2022 so far. The keyboard is backlit, but the backlight bleed can be distracting when working in a dark room. The trackpad is also good, although it is not as good as the one on the M2 MacBook Air. It is a glass trackpad with Windows Precision drivers and it works smoothly and accurately.

In terms of performance, the VivoBook Pro delivers excellent results, thanks to its powerful Ryzen 6000 series processor and RTX 3050 graphics card. It is capable of handling heavy workloads and multitasking with ease, and it is also suitable for gaming, with the ability to run most modern games at high settings. The laptop also has good thermal management, with the fans only kicking in when needed and not being too loud. The battery life is also impressive.

In conclusion, the Asus VivoBook Pro 14 OLED is an excellent Windows alternative to the M2 MacBook Air, offering a powerful processor, dedicated graphics, a stunning OLED display, and a compact design at a budget-friendly price. Its IO choices, supported by USB4 with Thunderbolt 3 compatibility, make it suitable for a range of tasks, from heavy workloads and multitasking to gaming and connecting to external devices. The keyboard and trackpad are also top-notch, and the laptop has good thermal management and battery life. Overall, the VivoBook Pro 14 OLED is a great choice for anyone looking for a Windows laptop that can keep up with the M2 MacBook Air and offer a similar level of performance and features.