The ASUS Vivobook lineup offers plenty of machines in different price categories. One of the laptops is the ASUS Vivobook 15 F1504 (X1504). This fella doesn't cost much but it's loaded with an adequate amount of features and performance for the class. The notebook is available with Intel Raptor Lake-U chips but if you want to save some bucks, you can get the same laptop with Alder Lake-U chip. These 12th Gen processors are still powerful enough for daily tasks, office usage, and even for light gaming. There are three display options all with a 16:9 aspect ratio and 1080p resolution. One of them is a TN variant - avoid it like the plague. The other two are IPS panels and the top-tier model has a touchscreen function. This ASUS device has an antibacterial coating which can be important for some users. The notebook is also MIL-STD 810H certified so the durability should be at least decent. There are a lot of optional features like a fingerprint reader, a backlit keyboard, Wi-Fi 6E, and Bluetooth 5.3. If you need all or some of these extras, you have to pay more. You can check the prices and configurations in our Specs System: https://laptopmedia.com/series/asus-vivobook-15-x1504/ Specs, Drivers, What's in the box Drivers All drivers and utilities for this notebook can be found here: https://www.asus.com/laptops/for-home/vivobook/asus-vivobook-15-x1504/helpdesk_knowledge/ What's in the box? Inside the box, you can find the mandatory paperwork and a compact and light 45W charger. In some regions, the laptop is offered with a wired optical mouse and a backpack. Design and construction The notebook has an all-plastic build which is expected for this price tag. The design is modern and simplistic. The device weighs 1.70 kilos and has a profile of 17.90 mm. This sounds very good for a 15-incher. The durability of the chassis is average. You can twist the lid if you want (but it's not super spongy) and the base can be flexed in the area between the two hinges and in the zone below the Space key and the Arrow keys. The lid can't be opened with one hand. The bezels around the panel are thin except for the lower one. Above the display is placed a 720p Web camera with a privacy shutter. As you can see, this device features a 180-degree hinge. The keyboard has an optional backlight and it's comfortable for typing. The keycaps have a long travel and clicky feedback. There is a NumPad as well. The frequently touched surface zones of this machine are treated with the ASUS Antimicrobial Guard Plus treatment. This coating inhibits 99% of viruses and bacteria growth. Alright, let's check the touchpad. This one is medium-sized, it is smooth and precise. There are no physical buttons here and if you order the laptop with an optional fingerprint reader, it'll be part of the pad area. The bottom panel houses some rubber feet, two speaker cutouts, and a large ventilation grille. The hot air is guided through a vent on the back of the laptop that aims at the hinge mechanism. Some amount of the hot air reaches the lower part of the display during heavy loads. Ports On the left side, there is just a single USB Type-A 2.0 port. Most ports are placed on the right - a charging plug, an HDMI 1.4 connector, two USB Type-A 3.2 (Gen. 1) ports, a USB Type-C 3.2 (Gen. 1) port, and an Audio jack. Display quality, Health impact (PWM), Sound ASUS Vivobook 15 F1504 (X1504) is equipped with a Full HD IPS panel, model number AUO B156HAN02.1 (AUO21ED). It comes with a 60Hz refresh rate. Its diagonal is 15.6" (39.6 cm), and the resolution - 1920 x 1080p. Additionally, the screen ratio is 16:9, the pixel density – 142 ppi, and their pitch – 0.18 x 0.18 mm. The screen can be considered Retina when viewed from at least 60 cm (from this distance, the average human eye can’t see the individual pixels). Viewing angles are comfortable. We offer images at different angles to evaluate the quality. Also, a video with locked focus and exposure. The maximum measured brightness is 295 nits (cd/m2) in the middle of the screen and 277 nits (cd/m2) average across the surface with a maximum deviation of 10%. The Correlated Color Temperature on a white screen and at maximum brightness is 6470K (average). In the illustration below you can see how the display performs from a uniformity perspective. The illustration below shows how matters are for operational brightness levels (approximately 140 nits) – in this particular case at 67% Brightness (White level = 141 cd/m2, Black level = 0.11 cd/m2). Values of dE2000 over 4.0 should not occur, and this parameter is one of the first you should check if you intend to use the laptop for color-sensitive work (a maximum tolerance of 2.0 ). The contrast ratio is good – 1270:1. To make sure we are on the same page, we would like to give you a little introduction to the sRGB color gamut and the Adobe RGB. To start, there’s the CIE 1976 Uniform Chromaticity Diagram that represents the visible specter of colors by the human eye, giving you a better perception of the color gamut coverage and the color accuracy. Inside the black triangle, you will see the standard color gamut (sRGB) that is being used by millions of people on HDTV and on the web. As for the Adobe RGB, this is used in professional cameras, monitors, etc for printing. Basically, colors inside the black triangle are used by everyone and this is the essential part of the color quality and color accuracy of a mainstream notebook. Still, we’ve included other color spaces like the famous DCI-P3 standard used by movie studios, as well as the digital UHD Rec.2020 standard. Rec.2020, however, is still a thing of the future and it’s difficult for today’s displays to cover that well. We’ve also included the so-called Michael Pointer gamut, or Pointer’s gamut, which represents the colors that naturally occur around us every day. The yellow dotted line shows ASUS Vivobook 15 F1504 (X1504)'s color gamut coverage. Its display covers 55% of the sRGB/ITU-R BT.709 (web/HDTV standard) in CIE1976 and 41% of DCI-P3. Our “Design and Gaming” profile delivers optimal color temperature (6500K) at 140 cd/m2 luminance and sRGB gamma mode. We tested the accuracy of the display with 24 commonly used colors like light and dark human skin, blue sky, green grass, orange, etc. You can check out the results at factory condition and also, with the “Design and Gaming” profile. Below you can compare the scores of the ASUS Vivobook 15 F1504 (X1504) with the default settings (left), and with the “Gaming and Web design” profile (right). The next figure shows how well the display is able to reproduce really dark parts of an image, which is essential when watching movies or playing games in low ambient light. The left side of the image represents the display with stock settings, while the right one is with the “Gaming and Web Design” profile activated. On the horizontal axis, you will find the grayscale, and on the vertical axis – the luminance of the display. On the two graphs below you can easily check for yourself how your display handles the darkest nuances but keep in mind that this also depends on the settings of your current display, the calibration, the viewing angle, and the surrounding light conditions. Response time (Gaming capabilities) We test the reaction time of the pixels with the usual “black-to-white” and “white-to-black” method from 10% to 90% and vice versa. We recorded Fall Time + Rise Time = 25 ms. After that, we test the reaction time of the pixels with the usual “Gray-to-Gray” method from 50% White to 80% White and vice versa between 10% and 90% of the amplitude. Health Impact: PWM (Screen flickering) Pulse-width modulation (PWM) is an easy way to control monitor brightness. When you lower the brightness, the light intensity of the backlight is not lowered, but instead turned off and on by the electronics with a frequency indistinguishable to the human eye. In these light impulses, the light/no-light time ratio varies, while brightness remains unchanged, which is harmful to your eyes. You can read more about that in our dedicated article on PWM. ASUS Vivobook 15 F1504 (X1504)'s display doesn't flicker at any brightness level. This makes the screen pretty comfortable for long periods of use. Health Impact: Blue light emissions Installing our Health-Guard profile not only eliminates PWM but also reduces the harmful Blue Light emissions while keeping the colors of the screen perceptually accurate. If you’re not familiar with the Blue light, the TL;DR version is – emissions that negatively affect your eyes, skin, and your whole body. You can find more information about that in our dedicated article on Blue Light. Health Impact: Gloss-level measurement Glossy-coated displays are sometimes inconvenient in high ambient light conditions. We show the level of reflection on the screen for the respective laptop when the display is turned off and the measurement angle is 60° (in this case, the result is 56.5 GU). Sound ASUS Vivobook 15 F1504 (X1504)'s speakers produce a sound of very good quality. Its low, mid, and high tones are clear of deviations. Buy our profiles Since our profiles are tailored for each individual display model, this article and its respective profile package are meant for ASUS Vivobook 15 F1504 (X1504) configurations with 15.6" AUO B156HAN02.1 (AUO21ED) (1920 x 1080) IPS. *Should you have problems with downloading the purchased file, try using a different browser to open the link you’ll receive via e-mail. If the download target is a .php file instead of an archive, change the file extension to .zip or contact us at bg.laptopmedia@gmail.com. Read more about the profiles HERE. Performance: CPU, GPU, Gaming Tests CPU options You can choose between six CPU options - Intel Core i3-1215U, i5-1235U, Core i7-1255U, Core i3-1315U, Core i5-1335U, and Core i7-1355U. GPU options No dGPU choice here - you get an iGPU that is inside the processor. Gaming tests CS:GO HD 1080p, Low (Check settings) HD 1080p, Medium (Check settings) HD 1080p, MAX (Check settings) Average FPS 109 fps 95 fps 53 fps DOTA 2 HD 1080p, Low (Check settings) HD 1080p, Normal (Check settings) HD 1080p, High (Check settings) Average FPS 116 fps 69 fps 40 fps [eBook Guide + Tools] How to MAX OUT your Laptop Temperatures and comfort, Battery Life Max CPU load In this test we use 100% on the CPU cores, monitoring their frequencies and chip temperature. The first column shows a computer’s reaction to a short load (2-10 seconds), the second column simulates a serious task (between 15 and 30 seconds), and the third column is a good indicator of how good the laptop is for long loads such as video rendering. Average P-core frequency; Average E-core frequency; CPU temp.; Package Power Intel Core i5-1335U (15W TDP) 0:02 - 0:10 sec 0:15 - 0:30 sec 10:00 - 15:00 min ASUS Vivobook 15 F1504 (X1504) 2.99 GHz @ 2.07 GHz @ 66°C @ 28W 2.94 GHz @ 2.07 GHz @ 81°C @ 28W 2.02 GHz @ 1.68 GHz @ 75°C @ 18W Acer Aspire 5 (A515-58M) 2.05 GHz @ 2.74 GHz @ 61°C @ 47W 1.81 GHz @ 2.54 GHz @ 64°C @ 40W 1.22 GHz @ 2.23 GHz @ 61°C @ 28W HP ProBook 440 G10 2.39 GHz @ 2.93 GHz @ 93°C @ 50W 1.51 GHz @ 2.29 GHz @ 92°C @ 30W 0.94 GHz @ 1.87 GHz @ 72°C @ 19W HP ProBook 450 G10 3.41 GHz @ 2.79 GHz @ 94°C @ 48W 2.80 GHz @ 2.17 GHz @ 94°C @ 31W 1.87 GHz @ 2.04 GHz @ 81°C @ 23W Acer Swift Go 16 (SFG16-71) 3.29 GHz @ 2.46 GHz @ 65°C @ 45W 3.06 GHz @ 2.37 GHz @ 71°C @ 42W 1.80 GHz @ 1.98 GHz @ 61°C @ 28W Lenovo ThinkBook 14s Yoga Gen 3 1.91 GHz @ 1.20 GHz @ 63°C @ 19W 1.86 GHz @ 0.90 GHz @ 74°C @ 14W 1.83 GHz @ 0.90 GHz @ 60°C @ 13W The Core i5-1335U can maintain almost 3.00GHz for the P cores and 2.07 GHz for the E cores which is a good result given the basic cooling solution of this laptop. In medium loads, the frequencies are (almost) the same but the CPU temperature reaches 81°C. In longer periods of 100% stress, the i5 chip can sustain 2.02GHz and 1.68GHz P and E core clock - a respectable result. The thermals and the power limit are normal. Comfort during full load Interestingly, the single fan is almost quiet (in "Performance mode") unless the CPU isn't pounded with a 100% load. Even then, the noise isn't intrusive. In idle or during light load, the fan isn't spinning. In normal daily tasks, the fan RPM is ~2700 - 3000 RPM. If the CPU is working hard, the fan will reach its maximum rotating speed of ~5644 RPM. You can check this info in the My ASUS app. The WASD area and the two palm rest zones are always cool enough for normal usage. The rest of the base feels warm, but not too hot to the touch. Battery Now, we conduct the battery tests with the Windows Better performance setting turned on, screen brightness adjusted to 120 nits and all other programs turned off except for the one we are testing the notebook with. The 42Wh battery lasts for 8 hours and 20 minutes of Web browsing, or 6 hours and 40 minutes of video playback. Disassembly, Upgrade options, and Maintenance For removing the bottom plate, you need to unscrew 10 Phillips-head screws. Then, you can pry the bottom panel with a plastic tool. One of the top two corners is the best starting point. The battery here is a 42Wh model. If you want to take it out, pull out the connector from the mainboard, and you also have to undo the 4 Phillips-head screws that are fixing the unit to the base. The capacity is enough for 8 hours and 20 minutes of Web browsing, or 6 hours and 40 minutes of video playback. You can find this laptop with 4 or 8GB of soldered DDR4 memory, but there is a SODIMM slot for future upgrades. The maximum possible amount of RAM is 16GB of DDR4 memory. Note that the stick is rated at 3200MHz but it works at 2666MHz frequency. For storage, you get one M.2 slot compatible with Gen 4 SSDs. The cooling is basic. It has a single fan, one long heat pipe, one heat sink, and a heat spreader. Storage performance Our laptop is equipped with a 512GB Micron 2400 MTFDKBA512QFM. This is a Gen 4 QLC-based NVMe. Its temperatures under load are low. Verdict It looks like the ASUS Vivobook 15 F1504 (X1504) is a good choice in its class. The machine doesn't cost a lot but it offers good performance and comfort during heavy loads which isn't a common thing for an inexpensive laptop. Curiously, the cooling looks so basic but it's doing a good job under any kind of stress. The P cores boost to almost 3.00 GHz in short periods of load and that's why the laptop feels very responsive for daily and office tasks. The overall performance of the device is very good and you can use it even for light gaming. The single fan isn't noisy and it can turn off completely when the notebook is in an idle state or when the CPU isn't working hard. We like the input devices - the keyboard has a long key travel and clicky feedback which makes it very comfortable for long typing sessions. There is a NumPad section for the accountants out there and an optional backlight. The touchpad is also nice because of its smooth surface and good accuracy. The display (AUO B156HAN02.1 (AUO21ED)) is a mixed bag. It's important that the panel has comfortable viewing angles and it's PWM-free so you can use it for long hours of work safely without feeling the negative effects of PWM usage. On the other hand, the sRGB coverage is low and the color accuracy isn't great either. The battery life seems normal for a 42Wh capacity - 8 hours and 20 minutes of Web browsing, or 6 hours and 40 minutes of video playback. The antibacterial coating can be a dealbreaker for some of you and it's a rare feature in the budget class. Of course, the laptop isn't perfect. The I/O is limited and the plastic build isn't very rigid. However, the machine is light and thin so the portability is another pro of this machine. The NVMe has QLC memory which means a low TBW rating. You can check the prices and configurations in our Specs System: https://laptopmedia.com/series/asus-vivobook-15-x1504/