The Asus VivoBook Flip 14 (TP470EA-AS34T our review model) is a slick all-around convertible laptop powered by Intel. The 11th Gen Core i3 processor in our review model is the laptop’s best feature, delivering better performance than its Celeron-powered competitors. The VivoBook 14’s build is fine (but not a standout like some alternatives), it includes useful ports and the battery life is in the ballpark of 7 hours.
Well, Asus didn’t cut lots of corners here, but the Flip 14 doesn’t quite reach the heights of the simply gorgeous Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5 14. While the Asus does pack some good performance and the best price around, there’s a good bit of flex in the keyboard deck, and its battery doesn’t last as long – rival convertibles eke out ~10-hours.
The IdeaPad Flex 5 remains our Editors’ Choice but it costs a few hundred dollars more than the Flip 14 TP470EA-AS34T, but if you’re a performance-first budget shopper, consider the VivoBook Flip 14 too.
Asus VivoBook Flip 14 Specs
- Laptop Class: Convertible 2-in-1, Budget
- Processor: Intel Core i3-1115G4
- RAM (as Tested): 4 GB
- Boot Drive Capacity (as Tested): 128 GB
- Screen Size: 14 inches
- Native Display Resolution: 1920 by 1080
- Touch Screen: Yes
Design – A slick, portable hybrid
Asus did a good job in designing a pleasing enough exterior for the Flip 14. While the chassis is made of plastic, it doesn’t feel cheap and it remains lightweight at 3.31 pounds. The entire chassis is set in a nice black color with a hue that looks a little dark-blue in some sparkle; officially it’s called “Bespoke Black.” Black, as ever looks awesome.
For a convertible laptop, portability is key, and the VivoBook Flip 14 scores well; underpinning the light design with a svelte footprint, measuring 0.72 by 12.8 by 8.7 inches (HWD). This combination results in a super-portable Flip, easy to slip in a bag or carry under your arm to a meeting or juggle between classes.
Fitting a 14-inch size into this size makes the VivoBook a great productivity machine once you get to your destination. Then remember how inexpensive this 2-in-1 is, it’s a great package overall. The IdeaPad Flex 5 14 is a bit heavier (5.1 pounds) and a smidge thicker, while the HP Envy x360 13 is the same weight at 3.55 pounds.
The hybrid design is supported by versatile hinges that let you use the Flip 14 in different modes: tent, tablet, or portrait. Another feature is the Asus ErgoLift hinge that lifts the keyboard deck off the desk as you open the screen. This creates a slight incline for the keyboard, giving you a more comfortable typing angle and better airflow.
Keyboard, Display, and the Rest
The standard laptop chiclet-style keyboard is responsive with good key travel, but individual keys feel slightly cramped for our liking. It’s not an egregious keyboard though, considering the size of the laptop overall. As for the trackpad, it’s responsive but offers nothing exceptional, and the switches for the mouse click give exceptional tactile feedback during use, though the clicks get a little stiffer as you move away from the bottom corners.
I mentioned display size, but let’s focus on its specs and features. The Flip 14 TP470EA-AS34T has a 14-inch screen with a Full HD resolution and, being a convertible, it can be rotated and used as a tablet, so it has touch capability. The bezels surrounding it are pretty thin, especially on the sides, something that works towards reducing the laptop’s footprint.
The screen looks pretty sleek, blending into the design, and is, without a doubt, one of the Flip 14’s best features. It looks big, sharp, and gets pretty bright. For the premise of a hybrid laptop, it does its job well.
Rounding up the physical build, we look at the ports. While the VivoBook Flip 14 is a thin and compact laptop, it offers most of the ports you’ll need.
The left side holds a single USB 2.0 port, while the right side offers a USB 3.0 Type-A port, a USB Type-C port, a full-size HDMI output, and a microSD card slot. The Type-C port has Thunderbolt 4 support, which is a great addition at the price.
Also included is a 720p webcam at the center of the top bezel (delivers decent video quality), as well as support for Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth wireless connections.
Performance: A “Tiger Lake” Edge
- Latest 11th generation Intel Core i3-1115G4 Processor (6M Cache, up to 4.1 GHz, 2 cores)
- Windows 10 Home in S mode, 128GB SSD and 4GB LPDDR4X RAM
- 14” Full HD Wideview touch display with up to 178° viewing angle optimized for...
Now, onto components and performance. There are two models of the Asus VivoBook Flip 14, the cheaper model (TP401MA-AH21T) with an Intel Pentium processor; and the newer model newer (TP470EA-AS34T) with an Intel Core i3 processor. Our review unit is the latter model, and it includes a “Tiger Lake” 11th Gen Intel Core i3-1115G4 processor with Intel UHD graphics, 4GB of memory, and a 128GB solid-state drive.
While it edges the Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5 14 on GeekBench 5’s single-core CPU benchmark, 1163 to 940, its multi-core performance just lags behind the Flex 5’s 4384 to 2447. Intel’s 11th Gen processor have impressed us so far, and this one is no different.
Despite being an inexpensive system, the VivoBook Flip 14 is still capable (even a touch better than others) of multitasking and efficiently running. Your everyday programs. The storage is also speedy, though most of these SSDs will boot and run programs about equally quickly.
The Intel UHD graphics will get you playing basic games, but if you need to play modern AAA titles at good frame rates, consider the Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3.
Battery life
Where the Flip 14 does end up lagging a good bit behind its direct competitors is in its battery life, which isn’t surprising, given the Flip’s 43WHr battery to, let’s say, the Acer Spin 5’s much larger 56WHr. In practice, it means the Flip lasts an average of 7 hours 49 minutes, while the Spin lasts over 11 hours and 5 minutes.
Asus claims that the Flip charges form one percent to 60 percent in under 49 minutes (when powered off), which is a good thing. Whether that makes up for the lower battery life will solely depend on your particular need, however.
Verdict – An affordable all-round convertible
The Asus VivoBook Flip 14 is a good budget 2-in-1 laptop with no major flaws. The build is slick, compact, and lightweight, it has a robust selection of ports and a nice screen with decent battery life. Its performance, in particular, is a strong offering considering the price, thanks to the Core i3 chip, which tops the Ryzen 3, and some intel alternatives in machines around the same price.
That said, those things don’t necessarily make it a great budget convertible. The build is sturdy enough on the exterior, but a little too flexible around the keyboard deck, and the keyboard itself is so-so. The battery life is merely good, as well – but competing convertibles are better.
These are aspects that remind you this is an inexpensive laptop, but the same doesn’t apply to all machines in this tier. Compared to the designs of the Lenovo Ideapad Flex 5 14 and the HP Envy x360 13, the Asus isn’t impressive as such. It does get extra points for being super-portable and very affordable, but at the end of the day, the Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5 14 is a superior 2-in-1 laptop and retains its Editors’ Choice award.
Still, if all you need is raw CPU performance at a rock-bottom price in a hybrid laptop, the Asus VivoBook Flip 14 TP470EA-AS34T has plenty of charm inside its fantastic shell.
Last update on 2022-08-07 at 15:31 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
ASUS VivoBook Flip 14 Thin and Light 2-in-1 Laptop
$348.99 in stock
19 used from $301.83
