ASUS Vivobook S14 (S3407CA) vs. S16 (S3607VA) — Premium Designs, Long Battery Life

Choosing a new laptop involves careful consideration of various specifications, making sure that it can meet your needs, while fitting within your budget. The ASUS Vivobook S14 (S3407CA) and Vivobook S16 (S3607VA) may seem like very similar laptops at first glance, both coming in sleek metallic finishes and portable designs, differentiated only by their screen size.

Both the Vivobook S14 and Vivobook S16 pack large 70Wh batteries and feature a comprehensive array of ports that includes a full HDMI output, two USB-A ports and two USB-C ports. But that’s pretty much where the similarities end, as the ASUS Vivobook S14 (S3407CA) and Vivobook S16 (S3607VA) do have quite a few key differences.

ASUS Vivobook S14 (S3407CA): More battery life, AI-accelerated performance

The ASUS Vivobook S14 (S3407CA) is available with up to the latest  Intel Core Ultra 7 255H. This processor generation codenamed “Arrow Lake” represents a significant architectural advancement by Intel, highlighted by the inclusion of an NPU along with markedly improved performance thanks to the latest P-core and E-core architectures.

The practical benefit of the NPU is the Vivobook S14 (S3407CA)'s ability to execute AI-driven tasks efficiently. For example, Windows Studio Effects can operate more smoothly and consume less battery. Noise cancellation duties can also be offloaded to the dedicated NPU, leaving the CPU and GPU to handle other tasks.

Speaking of which, the integrated Intel Arc graphics allows for a better experience casual gaming and other graphical workloads. All of these performance improvements also come with improved efficiency, with the ASUS Vivobook S14 lasting over 13 hours in our usual usage, which involves using it as our daily laptop for writing, generating graphs and taking video calls.

ASUS Vivobook S16 (S3607VA): Larger, faster display with everyday performance

Over to the bigger sibling, we find the mature Intel Core i5-13420H powering the ASUS Vivobook S16 (S3607VA). But before you turn down this laptop because of its “old” processor, it’s essentially the same processor as the Core 5 210H, which was just launched earlier this year. It may not be as efficient as the ASUS Vivobook S14 (S3407CA)’s Core Ultra 7 255H, but it still delivers a respectable 10 hours of battery life in our usage.

Both the ASUS Vivobook S14 and Vivoboook S16 feature the same FHD+ (1920x1200) resolution and 16:10 aspect ratio displays, but the Vivobook S16 offers a larger and faster 144Hz 16-inch panel. The larger size of the Vivobook S16 also allows for the inclusion of a physical numpad, which is absent from the smaller laptop. For users who want a larger, smoother display and rely on the numpad a lot in their daily workflow, the ASUS Vivobook S16 is a clear winner.

Which ASUS Vivobook S is right for you?

When choosing between the ASUS Vivobook S14 (S3407CA) and Vivobook S16 (S3607VA), the decision depends on your priority. Aside from the obvious difference in screen size and form factor, the choice mainly rests on whether you need the Vivobook S14 (S3407CA)'s more advanced NPU and efficiency. And of course, there’s the matter of price. The ASUS Vivobook S14 (S3407CA) comes in at RM4,099, while the Vivobook S16 (S3607VA) is priced at RM3,199.

If you prefer the more portable 14-inch form factor which also weighs less at 1.4kg versus the 1.7kg heft of the 16-inch Vivobook S16, but you also want a more affordable option, ASUS Malaysia also offers the Vivobook S14 (S3407VA) which comes with the same 13th Gen Intel Core processor and affordable RM3,199 price tag as the Vivobook S16 (S3607VA).