Affordable laptops are plenty out there, but finding the best can be tricky. Many cheap laptops look tempting (at least on paper), but they may not deliver on promised features and performance. With the Asus VivoBook L410MA-AH02, you’re getting a cheap laptop designed for home-based learning and office use. Asus is one of the brands I associate with affordable laptops, especially its VivoBook Series which offers tremendous value for money and pack tons of features for the price.
I have reviewed the Asus L510MA-DH21 and liked it for its sturdy build quality and good battery life. Asus is once again offering a cheap device for students and office users on a tight budget. You’re paying for less performance and less battery life and opting for a less vibrant display. In return, you get lots of ports, a thin chassis, and a nearly edge-to-edge widescreen display.
Specs of Asus VivoBook Go 14 (as reviewed)
- CPU: Intel Celeron N4020
- GPU: Intel UHD Graphics 600
- RAM: 4GB
- Storage: 64 GB
- Display: 14-inch, 1920 x 1080
- Size: 12.8 x 8.5 x 0.7 inches
- Weight: 2.9 pounds
Design & Features
All the bodywork on the Asus L410MA is plastic, but the lid has a thick layer that looks and feels like an improvement over the Asus VivoBook L203MA, which had thin plastic that wouldn’t withstand classroom shoves and pushes. Even with the thicker layer, it remains pretty portable at only 2.9 pounds and 0.7 inches thick. The fanless CPU and eMMC storage are also weight savers and contribute to the portability of the package.
The 14-inch display, however, is bright enough for our liking. It boasts an FHD (1920 x 1080), and the matte finish is a good choice for working outdoors. This is a vibrant choice if you’re buying for word processing or web browsing, and is great for photos and videos.
Port selection is well rounded, including USB 2.0, USB 3.2, USB Type-C, HDMI, audio jack combo and micro-SD card. Wireless connectivity comes in the way of Wi-Fi 5(802.11ac), and an included webcam on the upper bezel. All of these ports will prove useful for docking all your peripherals.
Performance
With Intel Pentium processors, expectations are always low, but we can’t ask for more with today’s Pentiums matching yesteryear’s i3 CPUs in performance. The Pentium N4020 is a slight upgrade over the previous model with more cache, but while it’s adequate to run office applications, multimedia editing and gaming will be a bit of a stretch.
This fanless CPU is ranked amongst the mid-range mobile processors and is paired with 4GB RAM, 64GB eMMC storage and Intel UHD Graphics 600 chip. This is adequate enough for web browsing, office applications, and the very simplest games.
It runs Windows 11 Home (in S mode), but with a little more money you can get the HP 15-dy2024nr that packs better performance thanks to an 11th Gen Intel Core i5 processor, 8GB RAM and 256GB SSD. Also, if you don’t mind a Chromebook, the ASUS Chromebook Flip C433 is a great alternative, with an Intel Core m3-8100Y, 8GB RAM and 64GB eMMC storage.
Again, the Asus VivoBook Go 14 L410 will do the basics of running two or three apps simultaneously provided you’ll not be opening dozens of windows at the same time. The 128GB storage is a bit lean, but it is double the 64GB storage you find on most Chromebooks and competing Windows 10 notebooks.
The low-power fanless CPU and low-res screen all contribute to remarkable power savings. On our review unit, you have a mid-size battery, and if you keep things light, you’re getting 11 hours of battery life. That’s excellent.
Asus L410MA-AH02 Review: Verdict
For college students and home users, the Asus VivoBook Go 14 packs more features and performance than most similarly priced laptops. It boasts class-leading battery life, is very portable, timeless design and has good connectivity for all your peripherals.
However, the screen’s low resolution and average keyboard hold it from earning our Editors’ Choice award for budget college laptops. A few dollars more with get you an Acer Aspire 5 or a Lenovo IdeaPad 3, both offer better performance, full Windows 11 and better processors.
If you’re on a tight budget and strictly need a 15-inch laptop, the Asus VivoBook Go 14 (L410MA-AH02) offers all the value you need for most college tasks.
Recommended Configuration
ASUS Vivobook Go 14 L410 Ultra Thin Laptop, 14” FHD Display, Intel Celeron N4020 Processor, 4GB RAM, 64GB eMMC, NumberPad, Windows 11 Home in S Mode, 1 Year Microsoft 365, Star Black, L410MA-AH02
$146.42 in stock
18 used from $119.77
The Review
Asus VivoBook L410MA-AH02
The Asus VivoBook L410MA-AH02 is a budget laptop that’s designed for college and office users on a tight budget looking for a capable Windows machine with good battery life and useful ports.
PROS
- Solid build quality for the price
- Good battery life
- Useful port selection
- Value for money
CONS
- Middling display
- Basic performance
Review Breakdown
-
EDITORS RATING
