Laptops

The ASUS Vivobook S16 is a great no-frills work laptop

A jack-of-all-trades with a beefy battery

Published

July 3, 2025

Luigi Leonardo

Shopping for anything with a chipset these days is a nightmare. With so many different hardware configurations, the wide variety of options can counterintuitively prevent users from making a definitive choice as to what they want. Sometimes, a new product’s selling point is so minute that it becomes a jack-of-all-trades without meaning to. But, as we’ll see with the new ASUS Vivobook S16, being a jack-of-all-trades isn’t really a bad thing.

There’s no need to stand out

The Vivobook S16 follows the same design philosophy of ASUS’s other Vivobooks. You’re getting a fairly minimalist device with no frills. Besides the elegant “ASUS VIVOBOOK” logo on the laptop’s main panel, there’s nothing that really makes it stand out, which, if you’re using this for work, is actually an advantage. It just works.

Inside, the notebook comes with a large screen that maximizes its real estate, relative to the fairly thin top and bottom bezels. It also comes with a satisfying chiclet keyboard and numpad.

As a highlight, it has a larger touchpad with ASUS’s gallery of gesture controls. I have small hands, so the bigger surface area wasn’t an issue. It might lead to accidental swipes and clicks for those with larger hands or arms, though.

Weighing only 1.70 kilograms, the Vivobook S16 is light enough to carry around inside a backpack for a whole day. Honestly, I thought it could be lighter, especially with a smaller chipset like the Snapdragon X, but it’s not a bad weight for an everyday laptop.

A large screen but lacks an OLED option

As the name on the tin says, the Vivobook S16 has a large 16-inch screen. The sizable screen offers a lot of space for work. However, it does come in the new 16:10 WUXGA ratio, typical of external monitors. If you’re used to the older 16:9 widescreen notebooks, the additional vertical space might be jarring. Prepare for a lot of letterboxing when you watch movies on this thing.

That said, the image quality is decent enough for a quick watch in between meetings. The IPS display works well even in brightly lit environments, so working outdoors shouldn’t be a problem. Color reproduction is good enough, but it lacks the polish you’ll get from an OLED screen. Of course, the IPS display is a good compromise between offering decent quality and a more affordable price. I’d take it.

AI bolsters performance enough for everyday life

The biggest selling point of the new Vivobook S16 is the Snapdragon X chipset underneath. It’s not the first time that a Snapdragon processor made its way to an ASUS notebook. However, the chipset is definitely worth noting for potential buyers.

For the unfamiliar, Snapdragon historically makes chipset for smartphones. They only started branching out to notebooks recently. The brand’s notebook chipsets are capable, though. Though lightweight, the power can carry you through a day.

Each day, I usually have dozens and dozens of tabs running simultaneously, while running a variety of other apps like Microsoft Word and Photoshop. I didn’t experience tangible slowdowns juggling all these tasks, thanks to the NPU included inside. At most, the laptop’s fan roared to noticeable levels when under full loads.

The Vivobook S16 is a handy little tool for day-to-day activities. It was especially useful while I was out and about. I can leave my beefier gaming notebook at home and give my aching back a break.

Now, that said, this isn’t a notebook you can readily use for gaming. If you force it, you can squeeze in lighter games like Balatro or medium-sized ones like League (but at lower settings). However, give this a pass if you’re looking for a machine that can handle modern games.

A beefy battery

The Vivobook S16 comes with a huge 70Whr battery. A single full charge can supposedly last 32 hours.

Honestly, this is an optimistic estimate. A single full-length movie already drains around 20 percent of the battery. Thirty-two hours is a stretch.

Even if this is an optimistic number, taking only 20 percent of battery with a movie is pretty impressive. Meanwhile, a full eight- to nine-hour workday — without a video on repeat — takes only around 60 percent of the battery. Like the movie test, draining the battery by only a little over half the capacity in a single workday is a good showing.

For what the notebook lacks in robust hardware, it more than makes up for the deficiency with its highly durable battery.

Is the Vivobook S16 your GadgetMatch?

The ASUS Vivobook S16 is a jack-of-all-trades. Though it’s not great at one single thing, all the things that it is good at make this a laudable laptop in its own right. Plus, it’s not without its frills. The ginormous battery makes this a worthy purchase.

Swipe right if you want a capable workplace laptop without the bells and whistles of owning a “gaming beast” or an “ultra-thin marvel”. If you’re looking for a notebook for work or for school, this is something you’ll want to check out.

The Vivobook S16 costs PhP65,995. It’s a hefty purchase, for sure, but it’s an investment worth making.

CES 2026

Spotlight: ASUS Zenbook at CES 2026

Did They Perfect the Dual-Screen Laptop?

Published

January 15, 2026

GadgetMatch

THE Michael Josh just got back from the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas — the annual tech event that attracts all the biggest tech brands.

One of which is none other than ASUS, Taiwan’s biggest computing giant. They have launched the first wave of Windows laptops for 2026. There’s a full lineup — models for everyday folks, creators, and gamers.

However, we are focusing on these Zenbooks favorites the show: the updated 2026 Zenbook DUO and Zenbook A14, as well as a bigger Zenbook A16 model.

Eager to know more about them? Here’s our Spotlight on the three power-packed ASUS Zenbooks at CES 2026.

CES 2026

Lenovo Legion Pro Rollable Concept was possible thanks to TCL

Also responsible behind the foldable display of the new motorola razr fold

Published

January 8, 2026

Vincenz

Graphics by Vincenz Lee | GadgetMatch

At this year’s CES 2026 in Las Vegas, TCL CSOT (China Star Optoelectronics Technology) and Lenovo have further proved their long-term partnership. The newest Lenovo Legion Pro Rollable Concept and the motorola razr fold are equipped with displays by TCL CSOT.

Lenovo Legion Pro Rollable Concept

The continuous collaboration of the two mighty Chinese companies bring out something that has been envisioned in laptops for quite a while now.

Ever imagined of a conventional laptop with standard 16:9 display that can instantly stretch into a 21:9 widescreen monitor? Well, the Lenovo Legion Pro Rollable Concept proves it’s more than possible.

Graphics by Vincenz Lee | GadgetMatch

Pioneering this partnership starts with TCL CSOT’s rollable display. Dubbed as the Lenovo PureSight OLED Gaming display. From a regular 16-inch 16:9 display, it completely transforms into an ultra-wide screen — stretching between 21.5 all the way to 24 inches.

For gamers and even e-sports athletes who seek visual flexibility (literally and figuratively), the display adapts to three (3) different training phases.

Focus Mode (16 inches) for honing reflexes
Tactical Mode (21.5 inches) for enhanced situational awareness
Arena Mode (24 inches) for full-scale competitive simulation

Behind that rollable display tech by TCL CSOT lies a dual-motor, tension-based system. This not only means that the rollable display can unroll smoothly, the expansion is not just controlled, its contraction also delivers minimal vibration and noise.

There’s also a dedicated tensioning mechanism that ensures consistent tautness across the OLED panel. Low-friction materials then secures durability throughout the rolling cycle.

motorola razr fold

Finally, after a long wait, motorola finally unveils their first ever book-style foldable.

The motorola razr fold headlines TCL CSOT’s 8.1-inch 2K LTPO flexible inner display. And unlike most foldable offerings in the market today, it supports a stylus!

When closed, its 6.6-inch external display delivers the familiarity of a candy-bar smartphone. Furthermore, its sleek, striking, and slim silhouette will feel comfortable in one’s hands.

Not much has been shared but more details will soon be unfolded by motorola.

The Co-Innovation Legacy

The steady legacy of TCL CSOT and Lenovo has already delivered consumer-ready products past the convention center show floor showcase.

Those include the Lenovo Yoga Slim 9i with a flexible 4K OLED display unveiled at CES 2025. Even the motorola razr 60 series flip-style foldables launched last July 2025 was not missed.

And, with the introduction of the Legion Pro Rollable Concept and the motorola razr fold, both companies continue to turn advanced display research into practical, user-focused products — setting new standards for performance, comfort, and sustainability.

With past display innovations, these newer advancements offer a more immersive viewing experience, better eye comfort, and flexiblility across various user applications.

This continuous collaboration highlights the companies shared commitment to advancing display technology and elevating the visual experience for users worldwide.

TCL CSOT’s constant strive for innovation is mainly driven by their APEX values:

A-mazing Display Experience
P-rotective of Eye Health
E-co-Friendly to build and use; and
X-Unlimited Imaginative Potential

Jun Zhao, the Senior Vice President of TCL Technology and CEO of TCL CSOT, states that the company is dedicated in providing Lenovo high-quality displays and custom diplay solutions that turn advanced technology into something “We are dedicated to providing Lenovo with high-quality, custom display solutions that turn advanced technology into everyday excellence, and

He also says “they look forward to exploring new frontiers together.”

Editors' Choice

Favorite Laptops of 2025

This year had some hidden gems.

Published

December 23, 2025

GadgetMatch and Luigi Leonardo

Graphics by Vincenz Lee | GadgetMatch

The mystique of laptops has not abated since the pandemic. Portable PCs are still finding niches in today’s market. Whether you need an on-the-go office machine or a plug-and-play gaming rig, there is a laptop out there for you. This year is no different. As the year closes, it’s time to show some love to our Favorite Laptops of 2025.

ROG Zephyrus G14

As a gaming laptop, the ROG Zephyrus G14 brandishes a lot of the industry’s most powerful hardware. Shining with only a little more accoutrements as a MacBook, this notebook is sleek but a force to be reckoned with under its aluminum chassis.

We described the Zephyrus G14 as a laptop’s equivalent of “quiet luxury”; it doesn’t stand out, but anyone who knows the brand will give you a silent nod of approval. As part of the premium luxury segment, it does have a pretty high price tag, but that’s about the only thing that stops this laptop from being an immediate buy. Everything else is perfect.

Apple M5 MacBook Pro

Before the year ended, Apple dropped a surprising bombshell for its fans. The M5 MacBook Pro brings out a more powerful processor for Apple’s notebook segment. A premium alternative to the M4 MacBook Air, the notebook is “Pro but without the overkill.”

Obviously, it’s not for everyone. But, to those who need an additional jolt of power, the M5 MacBook Pro delivers everything you need and more.

Lenovo Yoga 7i Aura Edition

If you’ve dabbled in notebooks over the past decade, you should recognize Lenovo’s Yoga lineup. The 2-in-1 notebook popularized foldables before foldables were even a thing. With a 360-degree hinge, users can fold the notebook back into a tablet and vice versa.

The Lenovo Yoga 7i Aura Edition is the perfection of this technology, infused with today’s hardware. It’s not a perfect laptop or a perfect tablet, but if you need both, this notebook saves you the hassle of shopping for two separate devices. It’s a great deal.

ASUS Gaming V16

A robust gaming rig might be one of the most expensive things you can spend on today, especially because of rising RAM prices. Thankfully, being a gamer doesn’t have to be just as pricey. The new ASUS Gaming series brings decent gaming performance for a fraction of the price.

The ASUS Gaming V16 is your gateway drug to portable gaming. Starting at only PhP 59,995, the notebook offers users a taste of what the gaming world can do. It has a decent Intel Core 5 chipset and an RTX 40 series GPU. Plus, with a 63Whr battery, it’s built for grinding.

Apple M4 MacBook Air

If the MacBook Pro is too much power for you, this year’s M4 MacBook Air might fit your needs more. Though it doesn’t have Apple’s latest chipset, it’s still a decent all-around notebook for everyday use.

Because it doesn’t have the most robust hardware, the new MacBook Air is a master of portability. Even if it came out in the first quarter of this year, we were quick to call it one of the best laptops of 2025. As the year winds down, we’re still not taking away that distinction.

Lenovo Legion Go S

In the strictest sense of the word, the Legion Go S technically is not a laptop. Hear us out, though: Being a Windows-powered device, the handheld gaming device can act like a notebook in a pinch. Most importantly, it deserves some love as a computer, too.

For those who were expecting more traditional laptop fare, here’s a refresher: The Legion Go S is a portable gaming device that’s shaped like a Nintendo Switch. One version comes with Windows and can do much of what a laptop can do. Though it doesn’t have a standard keyboard, the power lurking underneath earns it a spot on this list.

ASUS Zenbook A14

There’s only so many ways you can differentiate a laptop from another, while keeping its essence as a notebook intact. In the case of the Zenbook A14, beauty takes center stage. Yes, it looks like any run-of-the-mill notebook, but it will still feel like one of the most premium devices you’ve ever touched.

The notebook sports ASUS’s iconic Ceraluminum which gives the Zenbook A14 a smooth, tactile finish that feels great to lug around. Plus, it weighs only 899 grams, making it handy for portability. If that’s not enough, the PhP 65,996 price tag is so affordable for its quality.