I tested this RTX 4060 laptop designed for creators and gamers — Can ASUS appeal to both audiences in one?

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The ASUS VivoBook Pro 16 is one of ASUS’ laptop offerings for both creators and gamers.

It features a beefy CPU and GPU for studio-grade graphics and video work.

As a gaming enthusiast, I can’t help but be thrilled about this setup. The dedicated “MUX” switch is a game-changer, optimizing the GPU’s power output for an unparalleled gaming experience. Coupled with lightning-fast DDR5 RAM, and two expandable M.2 SSD slots, it offers the flexibility to store and load data at blazing speeds. Moreover, the option for upgradable storage ensures that my rig stays future-proof.

This laptop is built like a reliable workhorse, perfect for professional creative tasks or gaming. For the past few weeks, I’ve had the pleasure of using the ASUS VivoBook Pro 16, and here’s my complete review.

ASUS VivoBook Pro 16: Price and availability

The starting price for the ASUS VivoBook Pro 16 is approximately $1,499, with it being sold by merchants like Amazon and Best Buy.

This laptop features an Intel Core i9-13900H processor along with an NVIDIA RTX 4060 Laptop GPU, and it’s available with either 16GB or 32GB DDR5 memory. It also includes a 1TB solid-state drive for storage.

Based on the specific laptop model, there might be an option for a 3K OLED display; however, the model we’re offering features a 1080p 120Hz display instead.

VivoBook Pro 16: Design and display

To begin, let’s talk about the display, which is quite remarkable. This model boasts a 1080p panel, and while it may not offer the highest resolution available, it certainly suffices for various tasks or gaming you could perform on a device like this laptop.

The monitor boasts an IPS panel measuring 16 inches wide, offering a resolution of 1920×1200 and a 16:10 aspect ratio. I particularly appreciate the slightly taller aspect ratio compared to 16:9, as it provides a more spacious feel, even at 16 inches, eliminating any sense of confinement that can sometimes be experienced with the standard ratio.

In my perspective as an observer, I find it impressive that this display is equipped with a 120Hz capability, a crucial aspect for gaming enthusiasts like myself. Ideally, I envision all laptop screens by 2025 to boast this speed for smoother performance. The fact that it accommodates Windows’ dynamic refresh feature, seamlessly transitioning between 60Hz and 120Hz based on screen content, adds an extra layer of convenience, even for creative applications.

As an analyst, I can confidently affirm that this display offers exceptional creative versatility, boasting a 100% Adobe color gamut and achieving the same in our tests for the sRGB spectrum. ASUS assures us that this display has also undergone Pantone validation, making it a noteworthy choice for professionals who prioritize precise color representation in their work.

From my perspective, it appears that this screen doesn’t reach an exceptionally high level of brightness, registering about 299 nits during our testing. This is perfectly fine for indoor use, but you might find it hard to make out the display under direct sunlight or in very bright conditions, as most modern laptops nowadays exceed 400 nits.

The screen on this laptop occupies about 87% of its total body, implying that the borders surrounding the display are relatively narrow. From an aesthetic perspective, I find the overall design to be fitting for a gaming laptop.

The aesthetic of this laptop could be summed up as “subtly gaming-oriented.” At first glance, it appears to be a regular, professional device. However, upon opening it, its gaming nature becomes more apparent. When closed, the device maintains a sleek, minimalistic, and office-friendly appearance on a desk.

The main feature on the cover is simply the ASUS logo, positioned at a small elevation in its design. Admittedly, there’s a lot of text here, which I find somewhat bothersome. It seems unnecessary to include hashtags; it would have been clearer and more concise if they had just written “ASUS” or “ASUS VivoBook.

Upon powering up the laptop, a hint of gaming flair catches the eye. The enter key on the keyboard boasts a gaming-style accent, and the escape key stands out in vibrant orange. Additionally, there appears to be extra text and miniature symbols adorning the upper part of the keyboard pad. The text above reads, “Rule the cosmos.

I must admit, it’s not a design that I adore, but it certainly catches my attention. The excessive text on the laptop and the five (yes, five) stickers beneath the keyboard are aspects I could do without. The gaming aesthetic is quite prominent when viewing the sides and bottom of the laptop, with its angled fan vents and base.

As an analyst, I’d venture to say that this laptop’s design caters more to a selective palate, and might not be everyone’s top pick. The robust aluminum chassis imparts a premium feel but can be a bit chill to handle, and the device itself is on the heavier and thicker side, tipping the scales at 4.2 lbs and standing 0.79 inches tall. To put it into perspective, its dimensions amount to approximately 35.53 x 25.20 cm, making it less ideal for lightweight travel companionship.

VivoBook Pro 16: Ports and features

Transitioning to the significant aspects, let’s discuss the array of connectivity options available. Located on the left side, you’ll find a USB-A port, a 3.5mm audio jack, and a full-sized SD card reader, a delight for creators on this laptop model. On the right side, there are two USB-C ports, another USB-A port, an HDMI 2.1 port, an Ethernet connector, and a charge port with a barrel design.

This creator/gaming laptop boasts an abundance of ports that should suffice for most users. Being a creator and gaming-centric device, this is indeed essential. Among them, you’ll find two USB-C ports supporting Thunderbolt 4 at 40Gbps, as well as traditional USB-A ports rated for swift data transfer speeds of version 3.2.

Located at the top of the screen sits a 1080p webcam that works great for video chats. However, I wouldn’t trust it for streaming or content creation due to its tendency to produce grainy images in dim lighting conditions. In well-lit settings, though, it performs quite well. Furthermore, this camera comes equipped with a physical privacy cover, which is always a convenient feature.

This laptop’s design lets it fold back all the way, reaching 180 degrees when opened, which is useful for displaying the screen communally at a table. However, during my assessment of this laptop, I didn’t find a need to utilize this feature.

Additionally to the VivoBook Pro 16, you’ll find Harman Kardon-optimized speakers that offer acceptable sound quality. While these speakers aren’t the poorest I’ve encountered in 16-inch laptops, they don’t stand out as exceptional either. There is a hint of bass, but overall, the listening experience remains somewhat lightweight. For an immersive and top-notch audio experience, it’s recommended to use headphones instead.

I’ve noticed that ASUS promotes their laptop as featuring an integrated MUX Switch, which is designed to enhance GPU performance by disabling the CPU-embedded graphics chip during intensive GPU tasks. Typically, laptops with a dedicated GPU are set up to toggle between the built-in and dedicated GPUs when heavy GPU workloads occur. However, this can occasionally lead to minor performance degradation or an application not utilizing the dedicated GPU at all, which can be frustrating for gaming or graphics-intensive applications.

Switching to the MUX mode enables you to override the auto process and instruct your laptop to solely utilize the dedicated graphics card. This action may reduce battery life, but it ensures that every aspect of your system, including the Windows interface, will employ the dedicated graphics card for rendering visuals instead of the built-in one. I’ve noticed a significant improvement in the responsiveness of Windows when the MUX switch is activated to use the dedicated GPU.

On the ASUS VivoBook Pro 16, you can upgrade your storage. This laptop offers two M.2 SSD slots for expandable storage up to 2TB. However, the first M.2 slot is already occupied by the pre-installed drive. To modify the storage, you’ll need to remove the bottom cover by unscrewing a few screws, but it’s quite straightforward and simple.

VivoBook Pro 16: Keyboard and trackpad

Kick things off by discussing the positive aspects: This keyboard is terrific! It boasts a full-size deck, complete with a numerical keypad on the right side for all your number crunching or macro functions. It also offers three levels of backlighting and an upper function row, which includes the standard media and device controls you’re used to.

This keyboard’s typing feel is quite pleasant. I wasn’t expecting such a comfortable keyboard, but it provides satisfying tactile feedback due to its 1.5mm key travel. Typing on it is delightful, and the noise it makes is quiet yet responsive.

The trackpad presents a distinct experience. I didn’t find it particularly enjoyable during my usage, primarily due to some issues that appear to be related to drivers. However, it does have its merits. For instance, it’s spacious and well-designed, with the classic dive-board layout, meaning it lacks haptic feedback and requires you to press towards the bottom for a tactile “click” response.

The trackpad I was using occasionally lagged and missed click inputs. I made several attempts to adjust its settings, yet intermittently, while scrolling a webpage or moving the cursor, it would suddenly pause for a moment before resuming.

The device doesn’t seem to acknowledge clicks, which can be quite annoying as I frequently find myself having to click on items twice due to the initial click not being recognized. It’s unclear whether this issue is related to hardware or software; it might just be a rare occurrence with my specific device. Just something to keep in mind when making your purchase.

From my perspective, it’s quite impressive to see how swiftly and securely the fingerprint scanner operates, aligning with most Windows Hello-compatible fingerprint readers. Admittedly, I can’t help but wish for Face Unlock functionality at this price point as well, but having a reliable fingerprint reader is certainly preferable over not having any biometric security feature at all.

VivoBook Pro 16: Performance

It’s no surprise that the VivoBook Pro 16 is a formidable performer; equipped with an Intel Core i9-13900HX, 32GB of RAM, and an NVIDIA RTX 4060 GPU, it tackles gaming or creative tasks with ease. In performance tests, the laptop consistently delivers impressive results.

In this scenario, the VivoBook Pro 16 truly excels, making it an ideal laptop for both artists and avid gamers, thanks to its exceptional GPU performance. When combined with DLSS technology, this laptop delivers impressive results in various video games, maintaining a steady 1080p performance even with high graphics settings. For instance, when playing CyberPunk 2077 with DLSS activated, I managed approximately 55 frames per second on the highest settings.

In the Geekbench 6 assessment, the laptop managed approximately 12483 points in the multi-core category. The VivoBook Pro 16 achieved a remarkable score of 15644 in the Fire Strike test during the 3DMark evaluation. Moreover, the SSD’s read and write speeds were commendable, recording 3,485 MBps for writing and 4,340 MBps for reading, as demonstrated by CrystalDiskMark.

For a high-end laptop like this one, the battery life is quite satisfactory. In our battery test, it managed an admirable 6.5 hours, which is noteworthy for a gaming laptop equipped with a powerful graphics card. I personally found myself needing to recharge after approximately 4 hours of regular use.

Beyond comparing it to benchmarks, the laptop generally runs smoothly without significant performance issues. However, I’ve encountered occasional random hiccups or stutters, where the laptop would momentarily pause in its operations before resuming normally.

It appears that my trackpad problem related to stuttering, discussed earlier, persists despite various attempts to resolve it. I tinkered with power settings and even reinstalled Windows, but nothing seemed to work. Fingers crossed, it’s merely a software glitch that could be rectified in an upcoming driver update.

VivoBook Pro 16: Should you buy it?

✅ You should buy this if …

  • You’re looking for a laptop that’s capable of creative workflows and video gaming.
  • You need a workhorse with a powerful GPU.
  • You want a laptop that blurs the line between professional and gamer aesthetic.

❌You should not buy this if …

  • You don’t like the gamer aesthetic.
  • You want a small and light laptop for travel.
  • You want good battery life.

In summary, the VivoBook Pro 16 stands out as a compelling option among its competitors. On one side, its performance is remarkable, handling tasks effortlessly. However, on the opposite end, its design may be divisive, leaving some questioning whether ASUS intended it for gaming enthusiasts or professionals. This middle-ground positioning makes me worry that it might not captivate either group.

This design might appeal to certain individuals, yet it seems excessively cluttered with text and decals straight from the factory, many of which appear non-removable. The noise level could be a plus for gamers, but it may not suit the needs of creative professionals as effectively.

I find the keyboard very enjoyable to use for typing, although there were a few problems with the touchpad. The audio system works fine, but for optimal gaming immersion, it might be better to utilize headphones.

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2025-04-09 14:41