ASUS VivoBook 14 X412F Hands-on

ASUS released the VivoBook recently released in the Philippines the VivoBook 14 X412F notebook. It sports a 14-inch NanoEdge screen with slim bezels, 8th-gen Intel Core i3 chipset, NVIDIA GeForce MX230, and a price tag of PHP 32,995. If you’re looking for a notebook within that budget, then check out our initial impressions on the device below.

The ASUS VivoBook 14 X412F is that kind of laptop that looks great for its price. Although the whole body is made of plastic, the design and finish look nice, even for this Slate Grey model, with a finish similar to graphite metal.

Lift the lid and you will notice that it also features the ErgoLift hinge which tilts the keyboard for a more comfortable typing experience and airflow.

Also noticeable is the NanoEdge screen with a thin 5.7mm bezel with a dimpled finish. It boasts a screen-to-body ratio of 87%. Found on the top bezel are the HD webcam and microphones.

The 14-inch screen with HD resolution is bright and looks decent but the colors appear washed out. Viewing angles are also not so great as the color shifts when you change the angle. If you want the best viewing experience, you’ll have to angle it directly to your point-of-view.

As for the keyboard, the keys have a matte finish, decently spaced, and relatively quiet. However, the model that we have doesn’t have backlighting, so typing in the dark can be a challenge.

The trackpad is smooth and has a decent width but doesn’t offer much in height. The fingerprint scanner is also found here and takes some space, so it can feel a bit cramped at first. The left and right clicks, on the other hand, feels soft but clicky.

For the ports, on the left, we have the power, HDMI, USB 3.1 Type-A, USB 3.1 Type-C, and 3.5mm audio combo jack.

On the right, we have the microSD card slot, USB 2.0 Type-A, and Kensington lock.

At the bottom, there are plastic nubs for the feet, air vents, and speaker grills on the left and right side.

As for the size, it’s more compact than your usual 14-inches thanks to the slimmer bezels. It’s a bit hefty though at 1.5kg but still easy to lug around.

Powering the VivoBook 14 X412F is an Intel Core i3-8145U CPU, NVIDIA GeForce MX 230 GPU, Intel UHD 620 integrated graphics, 4GB RAM, 256GB SSD, and Windows 10 Home. We’ll discuss more on its performance in our full review.

The ASUS VivoBook 14 X412F is priced at PHP 32,995.

ASUS VivoBook 14 X412F specs:
14-inch HD (1366 x 768) NanoEdge display
Intel Core i3-8145U CPU
NVIDIA GeForce MX 230 GPU
Intel UHD Graphics 620
4GB DDR4 RAM
256GB SSD
WiFi 802.11 ac
Bluetooth 4.2
HD Webcam
USB 3.1 Type-C
USB 3.1 Type-A
USB 2.0 Type-A
HDMI 1.4
microSD card reader
3.5mm audio combo jack
2x stereo speakers
Fingerprint scanner
Windows 10 Home
37Whr 2-cell lithium-polymer battery
322.4 x 212.7 x 19.5 mm
1.5 kg