The laptop market has seen a surge of new innovations and features in 2025, particularly with the introduction of Copilot+ PCs powered by Qualcomm’s new Snapdragon X platform. ASUS is among the earlier brands to adopt this change, and its Vivobook S16 (S3607QA) is one of the model featured in this review. Positioned as a stylish, portable, and AI-ready laptop, it promises long battery life, vibrant visuals, and productivity-focused features at a competitive price.
But with so many laptops competing in the mid-range segment, does the Vivobook S16 is trying to position itself as a laptop that focuses on productivity first, multimedia consumption and battery life, with everything else as secondary. Let’s go on into the details to see where this machine shines and where it makes compromises in this review.
Specifications at a glance
| Processor | Snapdragon® X X1 26 100 Processor (30MB Cache, up to 2.97GHz, 8 cores, 8 Threads); Qualcomm® Hexagon™ NPU up to 45TOPS |
| Graphics | Qualcomm® Adreno™ GPU |
| Display | 16.0-inch, 2.5K (2560 x 1600, WQXGA) 16:10 aspect ratio, IPS-level Panel, LED Backlit, 144Hz refresh rate, 400nits, 100% sRGB color gamut, Anti-glare display, TÜV Rheinland-certified, Non-touch screen, (Screen-to-body ratio)89% |
| Memory | 16GB LPDDR5X on board Max Total system memory up to:16GB |
| Storage | 1TB M.2 NVMe™ PCIe® 4.0 SSD |
Design and Portability
One of the first things you notice about the Vivobook S16 is its clean, minimalist design. ASUS has built this laptop with portability in mind, despite its 16-inch footprint. Weighing just around 1.74 kilograms and measuring less than 1.8 cm thick, it’s surprisingly easy to carry for its size. The chassis feels sturdy enough for daily use, with a subtle professional look that avoids being flashy.
ASUS has also made thoughtful design choices, such as adding a 1080p IR webcam with support for Windows Hello facial recognition and a physical privacy shutter. These small touches matter in today’s world where remote meetings and online classes are the norm. The laptop also maintains a relatively slim-bezel design, giving it an impressive 89% screen-to-body ratio that makes the large display feel even more immersive.
Overall, the Vivobook S16 balances size and portability very well. It’s not as feather-light as an ultraportable 13-inch machine, but for a 16-inch laptop, it is one of the more travel-friendly options available.
Display Quality
The 16-inch OLED panel is a highlight of the Vivobook S16. With a 16:10 aspect ratio and 1920 × 1200 resolution, it offers excellent colour reproduction, covering 95% of the DCI-P3 colour gamut. This makes it an excellent option for users who enjoy watching movies, editing photos, or working on colour-sensitive tasks. The contrast levels are superb thanks to OLED technology, delivering deep blacks and vibrant tones.
However, the panel is limited to a 60Hz refresh rate. While perfectly fine for general productivity and media consumption, some competing laptops in this price range now offer 120Hz or even 144Hz displays. For users who prefer smoother scrolling, gaming, or creative workflows that benefit from high refresh rates, this could feel like a missed opportunity.
Brightness is another area with room for improvement. Rated at around 300 nits, the display works well indoors but can struggle under bright outdoor lighting or direct sunlight. If you often work in cafés or outdoor spaces, this limitation could be noticeable.
ASUS also offers a 2.5K IPS panel option, but most users will find the OLED version more appealing for its superior colours and overall visual quality.
Performance and Everyday Use
Under the hood, the Vivobook S16 runs on Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X processor, paired with an integrated Adreno GPU and a dedicated Hexagon NPU. This hardware is tuned for efficiency rather than raw power. For everyday tasks like browsing, streaming, office work, and multitasking, the laptop feels responsive and smooth.
The system comes with 16GB of LPDDR5X memory and a fast 1TB PCIe 4.0 SSD, which ensures quick boot times and fast application loading. However, the memory is soldered onto the motherboard and cannot be upgraded. While 16GB is sufficient for most users today, power users who rely on heavy multitasking or virtual machines may feel constrained in the future.
When it comes to heavier workloads such as video editing, 3D rendering, or modern gaming—the Vivobook S16 falls short. The Snapdragon X platform isn’t designed to replace performance-oriented Intel H-series or AMD Ryzen processors paired with discrete GPUs. You can expect light creative tasks and casual gaming to run fine, but professionals who rely on workstation-level power will need something more robust.
AI and Copilot+ Features
What makes the Vivobook S16 stand out is its position as a Copilot+ PC. Thanks to the built-in Hexagon NPU delivering up to 45 TOPS of performance, the laptop is capable of handling AI tasks locally. This means features like intelligent noise reduction, background blur in video calls, real-time translation, and camera enhancements can run smoothly without overloading the CPU.
Microsoft’s Copilot assistant is also deeply integrated, helping streamline workflows with context-aware suggestions and AI-driven productivity tools. While these features may still feel like “extras” today, they position the Vivobook S16 as a future-ready machine. As more apps and workflows adopt on-device AI acceleration, this hardware will prove more valuable.
Security is also a priority, with support for Pluton hardware security and other Windows 11 protections, making it a solid choice for students and professionals alike.
Battery Life
If there’s one area where the Vivobook S16 excels, it’s battery life. Equipped with a 70Wh battery, the laptop can last well over a full day on a single charge. ASUS claims up to 32 hours of video playback, and while real-world usage varies, most users can comfortably get through an entire workday with juice to spare.
Charging is handled through a 65W USB-C adapter, and since both USB-C ports support charging, you can power it up from either side which is an underrated convenience when working on the go.
For students, travelers, and mobile workers, this endurance is one of the Vivobook S16’s strongest selling points.
Connectivity and Ports
Despite its slim profile, the Vivobook S16 doesn’t skimp on connectivity. It includes:
- 2 × USB4 Type-C (40Gbps, DisplayPort, and Power Delivery support)
- 2 × USB-A 3.2 Gen 1
- HDMI 2.1 TMDS
- 3.5mm audio combo jack
Wireless connectivity is equally modern with Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3, ensuring smooth streaming, cloud access, and peripheral support. This selection of ports makes the laptop versatile without forcing users to rely heavily on dongles, which is a common issue with slimmer ultrabooks.
Pros and Cons
What We Liked
- Slim, portable design despite the 16-inch size
- Vibrant OLED display with rich colour reproduction
- Outstanding battery life for all-day use
- Comprehensive port selection including USB4
- AI-enhanced features and future-ready Copilot+ support
- Strong privacy and security features
Where It Falls Short
- Limited to 60Hz refresh rate
- OLED brightness is modest for outdoor use
- RAM is soldered and not upgradeable
- Not suitable for heavy creative workloads or gaming
Price and Value in Malaysia
The ASUS Vivobook S16 (S3607QA) is priced at RM3,699 in Malaysia. At this level, it competes with mid-range laptops powered by Intel Core Ultra and AMD Ryzen processors. While some competitors may offer more raw power or higher refresh-rate screens, the Vivobook S16 stands out for its long battery life, Copilot+ AI capabilities, and strong display quality.
Verdict
The ASUS Vivobook S16 (S3607QA) is a well-rounded laptop that ticks many boxes for today’s users. It offers a big, vibrant display in a slim and portable package, excellent battery life, and future-proof AI hardware all at a reasonable price point.
It is best suited for students, professionals, and general users who value efficiency, portability, and modern features over raw performance. If your daily routine involves office apps, video calls, streaming, and light creative work, this laptop delivers a satisfying balance.
However, those who need high-end graphics performance, workstation-grade power, or outdoor-friendly brightness may want to look elsewhere.
In short, the Vivobook S16 (S3607QA) is a smart choice for anyone looking for a future-ready 16-inch laptop under RM4,000, offering excellent portability and productivity with just a few compromises.