ASUS Malaysia has released another budget-friendly big-screen laptop under its Vivobook series and what we do have here today is the new ASUS Vivobook 16 M1605, powered by AMD Ryzen 7000U series processor.

It has a lot of similarities with the ASUS Vivobook 15X K3504 which I have just recently reviewed including the design, port selection, and even its internals.

ASUS Vivobook 16 M1605 Specs

Build and Design

Staying true to its predecessors, the ASUS Vivobook 16 maintains a standard build, with the lid sporting an elegant metal-like finish and a 180-degree ErgoLift hinge that enhances collaborative work environments.

Despite its plastic body, the laptop manages to achieve a balanced weight of 1.88kg and a slim profile measuring 1.99cm. While the build quality aligns with its price range, the screen does flex a bit when you apply force and the keyboard deck might not satisfy those seeking robustness. However, its US Military-grade MIL-STD 810H certification, involving 26 rigorous tests, speaks to its durability.

Additionally, the 720p HD webcam with a physical privacy shutter caters to the growing demand for secure video conferencing.

Keyboard & Trackpad

The chiclet-style keyboard, featuring three levels of adjustable backlighting, offers a comfortable typing experience, complemented by the Numpad for added convenience.

The spacious trackpad, smooth to the touch, effectively substitutes the need for an external mouse. The inclusion of a fingerprint reader for secure biometric access adds a layer of modern functionality.

Port & Connectivity

Connectivity options are abundant, including two USB A 3.2 Gen 1, an HDMI 1.4, a 3.5mm audio combo port, and a USB C 3.2 Gen 1 that supports Power Delivery but not display. The integration of Bluetooth 5.3 and Wi-Fi 6E ensures seamless wireless connectivity.

Display & Audio

Equipped with a 16-inch WUXGA IPS display, the Vivobook 16 maintains a balance between screen real estate and portability. Although the screen’s brightness falls short for outdoor use, its color reproduction remains satisfactory, albeit lacking deep contrasts. The 16:10 aspect ratio adds to the viewing comfort, with impressive brightness levels that allow for easy use during low-light conditions.

While the laptop’s speaker system offers sufficient volume without distortion, the audio lacks depth and can sound slightly artificial when tuned to max.

Performance

Under the hood, the laptop is given two configuration options; AMD Ryzen 5 7530U paired with 8GB of RAM and Ryzen 7 7730U with 16GB of RAM. It gets a 512GB M.2 NVMe PCIe 3.0 SSD across both configurations.

The 8GB of memory was soldered leaving an empty SO-DIMM slot to add RAM for the Ryzen 5 7530U. While the Ryzen 7 7730U has the SO-DIMM occupied with an 8GB memory stick.

The laptop effortlessly handles daily tasks and light multitasking, even accommodating casual gaming at reduced settings.

Here are some synthetic benchmark test results:

Battery Life

Battery and charging speed are probably the weakest points of this laptop. The ASUS Vivobook 16 is packed with only a 42Wh battery and doesn’t compensate for a faster charging speed which is capped at only 45W. Hence it takes close to 2 hours to fully charge from 0%.

Because of the small battery capacity, I’m getting around 4 – 5 hours of battery life when I’m using it cautiously.

Worth noting, this laptop comes with pre-loaded Microsoft Office Home & Student, so you don’t need to spend extra for it.

ASUS 4A Guarantee

ASUS elevates your peace of mind with Assured Quality via rigorous testing to meet US military-grade standards, 24/7 Always-on Support, All-around Coverage with easily accessible services all around the world, and Added-value Experience with comprehensive warranties that even cover accidental damage. For more info, visit ASUS 4A Guarantee at https://www.asus.com/my/microsite/4aguarantee/.

Where to buy: ASUS E-Store

More info on the ASUS Vivobook 16 M1605