ASUS Vivobook 15.6" Go 15.6” Review

The ASUS Vivobook Go 15 is a $300 laptop, and that price tag tells you most of what you need to know. It's built around AMD's Ryzen 3 7320U, a 4-core chip that lands in the 15th percentile for CPU performance. You get 8GB of DDR5 RAM and a 128GB SSD, which are both in the bottom 20% of our database. This isn't a machine for heavy lifting.

Its best scores are for reliability and compactness, hitting the 52nd and 41st percentiles respectively. That means it's a decently built, fairly portable device. But with a gaming score of 6.6 out of 100, you won't be playing anything more demanding than solitaire on this thing.

Let's be clear about performance. The Ryzen 3 7320U is a basic CPU. At the 15th percentile, it's fine for web browsing, documents, and video calls, but it will start to sweat with more than a few browser tabs open. The integrated GPU is even weaker, sitting at the 18th percentile. Pair that with only 8GB of RAM, and you have a system that's strictly for light duty.

The 128GB SSD is a major bottleneck, ranking in the 9th percentile for storage. You'll be managing space from day one, as Windows 11 and a few apps will eat a huge chunk of that. The 15.6-inch 1080p screen is also on the lower end, scoring in the 16th percentile, so don't expect vibrant colors or deep blacks.

At $300, the value proposition is simple. You're paying for a functional, new Windows laptop and not much else. The price-to-performance ratio is low because the performance is so low. You're getting what you pay for, which is a machine for the absolute essentials. There's no fat to trim here, and in some areas like storage, you're getting less than the bare minimum.

Compared to its direct budget peers, the Vivobook Go's specs are typical. But look at the competitors our system suggests, like the MacBook Pro or Legion Pro 7i, and it's a different universe. Those are performance powerhouses. A fairer comparison might be a used business laptop from a few years ago, which could offer a better CPU and more storage for the same money. The Vivobook Go's main advantage is being brand new with a warranty.

I can only recommend the ASUS Vivobook Go 15 if your budget is locked at $300 and you need a new laptop for the most basic tasks. Think web browsing, email, and word processing. The tiny storage and limited RAM make it a frustrating experience for anything else. If you can stretch your budget even a little, or consider a refurbished model, you'll get a significantly better machine. This is a laptop of last resort.