ASUS 14" Star Black Review

The ASUS Vivobook Go 14 is an ultra-budget 14-inch Windows laptop. It's lightweight and cheap, but the 4GB of RAM and slow Celeron processor make it suitable only for the most basic tasks like web browsing. Consider it only if your budget is extremely tight.

Looking for a basic laptop under $200? The ASUS Vivobook Go 14 is a lightweight, 14-inch Windows machine that's built for simple tasks. It's got an Intel Celeron N4500 processor, 4GB of RAM, and a 128GB eMMC drive, which is a very entry-level setup. This isn't a laptop for heavy lifting, but if you need something for web browsing, document editing, and video calls, it's one of the most affordable new options out there.

Let's be real: this is a slow computer. The dual-core Celeron N4500 lands in the 38th percentile for CPU performance in our database, which means it's near the bottom of the pack. It's fine for opening a few browser tabs and a Word doc, but you'll feel it chug if you try to do more. The 4GB of RAM is also a major bottleneck, as modern Windows 11 and a few Chrome tabs can easily use that up, leading to slowdowns. The integrated Intel UHD Graphics are fine for displaying your desktop and streaming video, but that's it. It scores a 10.2/100 for gaming, so don't even think about it.

At around $160, the Vivobook Go 14 is one of the cheapest new Windows laptops you can buy. The value proposition is simple: you're paying for a functional, portable screen and keyboard to run basic software. You're making big trade-offs on speed and storage to hit that price. For a similar budget, a used or refurbished business laptop from a few years ago would likely give you a faster processor and more RAM, but you'd sacrifice the new-in-box warranty and ultra-portable form factor.

The competitors listed in our data, like the MacBook Pro or high-end gaming laptops, are in a completely different universe. They're not real alternatives at this price. A more relevant comparison would be against other budget Chromebooks or used Windows machines. Compared to a $200 Chromebook, the Vivobook Go runs full Windows, which is a plus for some specific software, but the Chromebook will likely feel faster and smoother for web-based tasks with its limited hardware. Against a used business laptop like an older Lenovo ThinkPad, you'd get more power and upgradeability, but in a heavier, used chassis.

Skip this laptop if you need to do any real multitasking, use more demanding software, store a lot of files, or want a good screen. Students who run multiple apps, anyone who edits photos or videos, and people who keep dozens of browser tabs open should look elsewhere. If your budget allows, aim for a laptop with at least 8GB of RAM and a 256GB SSD, even if it means buying used.

Should you buy this? Only if your needs are incredibly basic and your budget is absolutely fixed under $200. This laptop is for someone who needs a portable device strictly for light web browsing, document viewing, and video calls. If you plan on having more than five browser tabs open, using Zoom while checking email, or storing more than a handful of files locally, you will quickly run into its limits. For most people, saving up another $100-$150 for a laptop with at least 8GB of RAM and a proper SSD would be a dramatically better experience.