We can appreciate many things about a notebook, at first glance: the aesthetics, the display, the materials. And then we can dwell at length on its technical characteristics: the type of processor, the Ram, the ports available. But in the end, in electronics stores or online stores, what really matters is the price. Because if we have a budget, we have to stick to that, looking for the device that is closest to our needs. In the 2-in-1 ‘detachable’ segment, i.e. those that transform from tablet to notebook, and vice versa, by attaching or detaching a keyboard, the new Asus Vivobook 13 Slate is among the machines that offer an optimal ratio between quality and price.
It is a mid-range product, as far as performance is concerned, but it is worth much more than its cost (650 euros on the Asus store) when considering the “complete package“: an out of the ordinary OLED screen and standard equipment that includes keyboard, tripod and smart pen included in the price. Enough to allow it to compete with a very popular product like the Microsoft Surface Go 2 (which with keyboard included reaches 673 euros ).
The packaging
From an aesthetic point of view, the packaging is fascinating, it communicates a leap into the future, it gives the idea of a container that could be found on board a spaceship or a space station. The downside is its environmental impact: in an era in which large companies are trying to reduce the casings of their products to the bone, Asus for its Vivobook has thought of a large box made of plastic material.
The design
The aluminum body is pleasant to the touch and conveys a distinct feeling of robustness. The shape of the buttons for adjusting the volume and for the ignition, and the engravings in correspondence of the four speakers (with Dolby Atmos support) give a particularly aggressive style to the machine. The body / screen ratio is very interesting because the edges are really small.
Supplied, at no additional cost, there are a keyboard and a tripod that supports the tablet in different positions: you can hook and unhook them as you like: they are both used in notebook mode, you can only use the tripod if you use the tablet. like tv. They are two separate accessories and this must be taken into account if you intend to use the Vivobook 13 Slate mainly as a notebook on the go: a 2-in-1 with hinge, which can rotate 360 degrees around its axis, from this point of view. it’s more comfortable.
The thickness of about 8 millimeters of the tablet is acceptable, the weight instead is a sore point. Compared to that of direct competitors it is superior and can be clearly perceived when held in your hands: the tablet, alone, touches 800 grams, if you add keyboard and tripod you get to 1.4 kg (compared to 790 grams of the Microsoft Surface Go 2 for example). Like all tablets with a removable keyboard, the Vivobook 13 Slate also suffers from precarious use: difficult, if not impossible, to use it while resting on your legs, for example. A point in favor is certainly the keyboard, with spaced keys and decent travel (1.4 mm): the feeling is more than enough and the typing turns out to be precise. There is no backlight, however, so in the dark you may find yourself in trouble. The touchpad is surprising, also very large, quite responsive and with an extremely pleasant surface to the touch.
In the Vivobook 13 Slate package there is also a digital pen, the Asus Pen 2.0, with magnetic support to connect it to the tablet body. The pen has four interchangeable tips for a different degree of precision, it recharges thanks to the USB Type-c port and has two buttons, at the point on it rests the index: one of these erases the stroke we have just left on the screen, if wrong, the other acts as a right button if we use the Pen 2.0 as a mouse.
The display
The 13.3-inch FHD screen is touch-sensitive and responds discreetly to touch. In addition, it boasts OLED technology, which is rarely encountered in 2-in-1s of this type. The brightness is excellent, Asus claims it can reach 550 nits. The display is certainly the greatest strength of this device, especially if it is used for video streaming: the rendering of YouTube 4K videos is truly noteworthy, those used to an LCD TV, for example, and will watch the series Netflix or Amazon Prime on the Vivobook 13 Slate, you may never want to go back: the colors are extremely vivid and authentic, the contrast is excellent, the images are fluid, the response times of the screen are remarkable.
The problem, if anything, is for those who want to use this machine mainly to be productive, because the writings – and even some icons – do not always appear very clear and in general it is a bit difficult to read and write texts. But, if you come from an old mid-range notebook, even from this point of view you will have only advantages.
Performance
The processor on board, an Intel Pentium Silver N600, does not shine with power and reliability. The most basic tasks – word processing, browsing, audio and video streaming – are done (almost) perfectly.
The loading times of the software for study and work are quite fast. But heavier applications – both from an installation and a heavy-duty perspective – suffer: basic video editing is possible but true creators should look elsewhere. The same goes for gamers: the Vivobook 13 Slate offers a really excellent visual rendering but it is not born to guarantee a smooth gaming experience. All these features, of course, must always be compared to the price: at around 650 euros the Asus device can be the ideal compromise for many.
A 4GB Ram, 256GB storage space and connectivity ensured by Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.2 complete the data sheet. The ports are sufficient for an average user: two USB Type-C and a MicroSD reader, plus the 3.5 mm jack output for headphones resists. There are two cameras: a 5 MP front camera and a 13 MP rear one. The quality of the videos and shots is more than sufficient, but the weight of the device hinders its use as a camera. For example, it is inconvenient to hold the tablet with one hand while the other selects the subject or object to focus on. For videocalls, however, the Vivobook 13 Slate is fine, even considering an integrated microphone that is not exactly the best in terms of quality.
Battery
A non-intensive use of the Vivobook 13 Slate, which does not involve massive multitasking, consumes the battery (from 50 Whrs) in about 5 hours. Streaming video alone can last up to 8 hours, before needing to recharge the device. The recharge, in fact: takes place through one of the two USB-c ports and to reach 100%, with the supplied power supply, it takes at least an hour.
What we like
- The OLED screen for streaming
- The strength and quality of the materials
- The free equipment: keyboard, tripod and smart pen
What we don’t like
- The performance of the CPU
- The OLED screen for working
- Excessive weight compared to competitors