ASUS VivoBook Pro 15 N580GD-XB76T UHD Laptop Review

The VivoBook series by Asus has developed quite a reputation for its all-rounder computers—machines that are good for both work and entertainment. The latest ASUS VivoBook Pro 15 N580GD-XB76T hails from this high-performing family and is the lightest model (about 4.39 lbs) in the VivoBook Pro series. In fact, this $1,399.99 laptop is also the thinnest and among the best in class for performance and gaming-level display. Time to put it under the spotlight and see how far it holds its own!

The Look and Feel

Consider this: A sleek but durable aluminum design, a surprising thickness of only 19.2mm, and a weight of just over 4 lbs. We daresay, that’s elegance and portability rolled into one.

The VivoBook Pro 15 is stylish to look at, what with its matte finish and compact dimensions of 15.0 x 0.8 x 10.1″. The aluminum used in the construction is high-strength and intensively tested for resilience.

Processing Prowess

The ASUS VivoBook Pro 15 N580GD-XB76T is a powerful machine, fueled by a eighth-generation Intel Core i7-8750H processor (6-core) running at 2.2GHz. You can boost this up to 4.1GHz for even speedier performance. In internal tests conducted by ASUS, this processor delivered 40 percent better performance than the older-generation VivoBook Pro.

The RAM you get is 16GB (DDR4 at 2400MHz), and there’s 512GB of SSD storage. While this is an above-par configuration, you can easily expand the memory with the inbuilt SD card reader.

Note that this laptop runs Windows 10 Pro which means the Start Menu is back—yeay! The menu which has been conspicuous by its absence for a while has now been optimized: it displays your notifications as well as regular applications. But more importantly, this operating system is a useful ally for business or professional endeavors.

It provides features such as remote access, Hyper-V virtualization, access to the Azure Active Directory, and disk encryption (BitLocker), in addition to the productivity and multitasking tools of Windows 10. These features come in incredibly handy if secure data-sharing is a top priority for you. As a bonus, the purchase of this laptop also allows you access to an exclusive section of the Windows Store—a feature that lets you avail of highly customized applications for various businesses.

The battery backup of the ASUS VivoBook Pro 15 N580GD-XB76T is competent. The 47Wh Lithium-Ion battery (three-cell) manages to sustain your efforts for most of the day. But even if you run out of juice owing to long hours of video playback or wireless connectivity, there is delightful fast-charge support. You can charge to as much as 60 percent in only 49 minutes.

The Game Is On: Graphics, Sound & Cooling

This Asus VivoBook Pro may not be your conventional gaming laptop, but it sure loves its game! Since it runs Windows 10, you get Xbox integration, gameplay recording through Game DVR, DirectX12 for a major performance boost, and support for Oculus Rift and other virtual reality headsets. But it’s the gaming-grade display, sound and cooling mechanism that take your breath away. The 15.6” LCD laptop is fitted with an NVIDIA GeForce GTX 10-Series graphics card (with dedicated 4GB GDDR5 memory). Performance-wise, this graphics card overpowers the older generation by reportedly 40 percent!

The laptop supports 4K UHD display, 100 percent sRGB color gamut and 72 percent NTSC. Coupled with a screen resolution of 3840 x 2160 and an aspect ratio of 16:9, this creates a wonderful viewing experience. Whether you’re gaming, watching movies or editing a video, you will be able to witness a palpable vividness and accuracy in the coloring and detailing. They call it the ASUS Splendid technology, and it sure is pretty neat.

Keeping in mind how sound is an integral part of gaming adventures, the Asus VivoBook Pro 15 invests in Harman Kardon stereo speakers (with 8cc chambers). These speakers are stellar, delivering distortion-free, well-tuned sound. Since the speakers support high dynamic range, you can truly delve into the virtual reality experience.

Also worth a mention is the native ASUS Smart Amp technology: it succeeds in improving the volume, bass and peak power. According to the specifications, the laptop offers a whopping 250 percent increase in bass, as much as 320 percent higher volume, and 300 percent better peak power. Whoa!

What about the final aspect that a gaming-grade laptop must master—cooling? Considering the all-around utility of this VivoBook, it is natural to expect a fair amount of heating. However, the cooling system is smart! The laptop is equipped with dual-copper heat dissipation modules. Two stainless steel fans, running at eight different speeds, can judge the drill and cool things down intelligently.

Moreover, the fans work together (instead of separately, like in many contemporaries), which means the noise is minimal. The result is a fairly cool, level-headed laptop even when you’ve been using it for grueling jobs like high-resolution image editing.

Accessibility & Connectivity

Using this VivoBook is convenient and glitch-free. The glossy touchscreen supports multi-touch while the ergonomic keyboard is completely backlit to let you work in low-lighting conditions. The keyboard also has a soft spot for your fingers and shoulders as you work on the go, keeping the key distance at 1.4mm for more fluid, easier typing.

Cortana, the personal assistant, also elevates the accessibility of this laptop by multiple notches. This personal digital assistant by Microsoft is smart enough to understand and answer your questions (through a microphone or by typing).

The device-support of this laptop is extensive: one USB 3.1 port (Type-C), a USB 3.0 port, two USB 2.0 ports, an HDMI port and an SD card reader. The Type-C port has astonishing speeds of data transfer—as much as 5Gbps—and its reversible design enhances your flexibility of plugging-in. There’s also an inbuilt fingerprint reader that you can use with Windows Hello to access your device without the need to type in your password.

The HDMI port is useful for connecting to larger displays, say when you need to deliver a presentation at work. It also has an HD webcam (720p) to let you stay connected with your world through video calls.

Not overlooking the need for wireless connectivity, this VivoBook supports 802.11ac Wi-Fi standards, MU-MIMO 2 x 2 and Bluetooth 4.2. While browsing the internet, you’re likely to find Microsoft Edge—the optimized browser that lets you take notes directly on web pages—quite useful.

The browser supports Cortana too, so tasks like making hotel reservations are straightforward and more fun to accomplish. If you prefer browsing on a wired connection, you can always use the Gigabit Ethernet jack. The laptop, however, lacks GPS or mobile broadband.

Final Word – ASUS VivoBook Pro 15 N580GD-XB76T

The ASUS VivoBook Pro 15 N580GD-XB76T is a worthy addition to the ASUS product line, doubling up as a functional office/home companion as well as an entertainment/gaming device. It doesn’t provide any scope for complaint in operational efficiency or response. The display and sound system of the laptop are gaming-grade.