Asus VivoBook X556UQ-XO076T Notebook Review
For the original German review, see here.
Laptops in the F555/X555 lineup are the basic devices by Asus. The models belong to the low-cost multimedia all-rounders. We have tested many members of the lineup over the past years. They always made a very decent impression. Buyers who do not want to invest a lot of money will not go wrong with these devices.
A successor in the form of the VivoBook X556UQ now faces us. Asus has not made any profound modifications. A GeForce 920M and 940M graphics units are installed in the new "X" models. Asus also incorporates a Type-C USB port. The casing has undergone a minor facelift. The VivoBook has plenty of opponents. We would, for example, name Acer's Aspire E5-552G, Acer's Aspire E5-573G, HP's Pavilion 15 and Lenovo's IdeaPad 500-15ISK.
Case
The VivoBook is completely made of plastic. Apart from the base unit's upper side (silver), all casing parts are black. The lid's back features a pattern: Waves spread out from the center. Asus simulates brushed metal on the base unit's upper side. The VivoBook does not look much different than its predecessor (Asus F555/X555). Only the base unit's upper side has been shaped a bit differently. Like the models of the F555/X555 lineup, the VivoBook only sports a tiny maintenance hatch that hides the working memory bank. The casing would have to be opened to access the other hardware components. More about that later.
The casing has obviously been made for the low-cost sector. For example, some places have not been deburred accurately: A slight material overhang is felt on the base unit's front edge. The lid does not close flush with the base unit, either. In terms of stiffness, the laptop does not exhibit any noteworthy irregularities. The casing can be dented slightly on both sides of the keyboard and below the touchpad. However, that is the case in many laptops. Furthermore, the base unit can be warped to a small degree, but this is also still within limits. In return, the lid could be stiffer; pressure on the lid's back leads to image distortions. Opening the lid with one hand is possible with a bit of jerking.
Connectivity
The connectivity of the VivoBook corresponds to former models - with one exception: One of the USB 3.0 ports (Type-A) has been replaced with a Type-C USB 3.1 port (Gen 1). Beyond that, the laptop still offers two video-outs. The interface distribution is satisfactory. The area beside the wrist rest will mostly remain free of cables.
Communication
The installed Wi-Fi module carries a chip by Qualcomm Atheros (QCA9377). In addition to the 802.11 a/b/g/n Wi-Fi standards, it also supports the fast ac standard. We did not experience any connection issues. The connection was always stable in a 15 meter radius around our Wi-Fi router. A Gigabit Ethernet chip from Realtek's RTL8168/8111 family is responsible for cabled network connections. We find this model in many laptops. The chip does an impeccable job as always.
Webcam
The photos made with the webcam are not awe-inspiring. The camera produces blurry photos in a resolution of 640x480 pixels.
Memory-Card Reader
The memory-card reader operates sluggishly. A maximum transfer rate of 27.7 MB/s is achieved when copying large data blocks. Transferring 250 JPG image files (approx. 5 MB each) is performed at a speed of 22.2 MB/s. We tested the memory-card reader with our Toshiba Exceria Pro SDXC 64 GB UHS-II reference card.
Accessories
The laptop is shipped with the usual accessories: A quick-start poster and warranty conditions.
Maintenance
The VivoBook only has a small maintenance hatch that hides the working memory bank. The laptop's base tray has to be removed for accessing the other hardware components. All screws on the underside have to be released. Warning: More screws are hidden behind the small maintenance hatch and left rubber stopper (see screenshot). The base tray can then be pried off via a thin spattle or putty knife. This should also be done carefully since the base tray is fixed by small plastic clasps that could easily break. The VivoBook is furnished with a 2.5-inch SSD that can be replaced. The fan can also be cleaned. It would also be possible to replace the battery that is only secured by a few screws.
Warranty
The VivoBook is furnished with a two-year warranty including pick-up service. The warranty period can be extended to three years for around 79 Euros (~$88) extra.
Input Devices
Keyboard
The keyboard in the VivoBook does not look different than the one in the former model. Asus still delivers an unlit chiclet keyboard including a numpad. The flat, lightly roughened keys have a medium drop and clear pressure point. The key resistance is acceptable, although it could be a bit crisper in our opinion. That is, however, a matter of taste. The keyboard does not yield when typing on it. That makes it different from the predecessor's keyboard. The keyboard provides an overall decent typing feel and absolutely fulfills the needs for home use. Nevertheless, this keyboard has not been made for prolific writers, either.
Touchpad
The multitouch ClickPad has a surface area of approximately 10.5 x 7.3 cm. That is a lot of room for using gesture controls. The diverse gestures can be turned on and off individually in the pad's configuration menu. The pad's sleek surface allows the fingers to glide easily. The pad does not respond to inputs in the corners. It has a short drop and a clearly audible and palpable pressure point.
Display
Asus furnishes the VivoBook with a matte, 15.6-inch screen that has a native resolution of 1366x758 pixels. Neither the brightness (240.2 cd/m²) nor the contrast (482:1) is convincing. A look at our comparison chart proves that the screens in the opponents are not much better. Thus, the installed panel corresponds to what can be expected from this price range today. A higher-priced laptop would have to be selected for a better screen. Positive: The screen never exhibits PWM flickering.
|
Brightness Distribution: 92 %
Center on Battery: 241 cd/m²
Contrast: 482:1 (Black: 0.5 cd/m²)
ΔE Color 4.46 | 0.5-29.43 Ø5
ΔE Greyscale 4.83 | 0.57-98 Ø5.3
62% sRGB (Argyll 1.6.3 3D)
39% AdobeRGB 1998 (Argyll 1.6.3 3D)
42.46% AdobeRGB 1998 (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
61.8% sRGB (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
41.1% Display P3 (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
Gamma: 2.49
Screen Flickering / PWM (Pulse-Width Modulation)
Screen flickering / PWM not detected | ||
In comparison: 53 % of all tested devices do not use PWM to dim the display. If PWM was detected, an average of 18110 (minimum: 5 - maximum: 3846000) Hz was measured. |
The VivoBook is shipped with preloaded color profiles. Thus, its color reproduction is better than those of many comparable rivals in delivery state. The screen presents a DeltaE 2000 color shift of 4.46 - not at all a bad rate. A rate less than 3 would be desirable. Beyond that, the screen does not exhibit a bluish tint. Neither the AdobeRGB nor the sRGB color space is covered. The coverage rates here are 39% (AdobeRGB) and 62% (sRGB).
Display Response Times
↔ Response Time Black to White | ||
---|---|---|
27 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined | ↗ 8 ms rise | |
↘ 19 ms fall | ||
The screen shows relatively slow response rates in our tests and may be too slow for gamers. In comparison, all tested devices range from 0.1 (minimum) to 240 (maximum) ms. » 63 % of all devices are better. This means that the measured response time is worse than the average of all tested devices (21.6 ms). | ||
↔ Response Time 50% Grey to 80% Grey | ||
36 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined | ↗ 12 ms rise | |
↘ 24 ms fall | ||
The screen shows slow response rates in our tests and will be unsatisfactory for gamers. In comparison, all tested devices range from 0.2 (minimum) to 636 (maximum) ms. » 44 % of all devices are better. This means that the measured response time is similar to the average of all tested devices (33.9 ms). |
Asus equips the VivoBook with a viewing-angle dependent TN panel. Consequently, the screen is not legible from every position. Changing the vertical viewing angle quickly leads to image distortions. It looks better horizontally: Even several viewers can look at the screen at the same time. The VivoBook is quite outdoor suitable, but not in too bright sunlight. The screen's low brightness and low contrast prevent using the laptop then.
Asus VivoBook X556UQ-XO076T TN LED, 1366x768 | Asus F555UB-XO043T TN LED, 1366x768 | Acer Aspire E5-552G-F62G TN LED, 1920x1080 | Acer Aspire E5-573G-5785 TN LED, 1366x768 | Lenovo Ideapad 500-15ISK 80NT005WGE TN LED, 1920x1080 | HP Pavilion 15-ab052ng TN-Panel, 1920x1080 | HP Pavilion 15-ab022ng TN LED, 1920x1080 | Acer Aspire F15 F5-573G-53V1 TN WLED, 1920x1080 | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Display | -7% | -10% | -3% | -4% | 9% | 7% | 87% | |
Display P3 Coverage | 41.1 | 38.22 -7% | 37.13 -10% | 39.89 -3% | 39.26 -4% | 44.72 9% | 44.11 7% | 84.2 105% |
sRGB Coverage | 61.8 | 57.5 -7% | 55.9 -10% | 60 -3% | 58.8 -5% | 67.3 9% | 66.4 7% | 99.7 61% |
AdobeRGB 1998 Coverage | 42.46 | 39.49 -7% | 38.36 -10% | 41.21 -3% | 40.57 -4% | 46.21 9% | 45.57 7% | 82.7 95% |
Response Times | -14% | -3% | -7% | -4% | ||||
Response Time Grey 50% / Grey 80% * | 36 ? | 46 ? -28% | 45 ? -25% | 38 ? -6% | 44 ? -22% | |||
Response Time Black / White * | 27 ? | 27 ? -0% | 22 ? 19% | 29 ? -7% | 23 ? 15% | |||
PWM Frequency | 50 ? | 50 ? | 1000 ? | |||||
Screen | -17% | -53% | -38% | -53% | -31% | -32% | -41% | |
Brightness middle | 241 | 214 -11% | 200 -17% | 240 0% | 230 -5% | 202 -16% | 223 -7% | 234 -3% |
Brightness | 240 | 205 -15% | 196 -18% | 231 -4% | 213 -11% | 200 -17% | 215 -10% | 219 -9% |
Brightness Distribution | 92 | 82 -11% | 76 -17% | 86 -7% | 82 -11% | 86 -7% | 83 -10% | 80 -13% |
Black Level * | 0.5 | 0.46 8% | 0.34 32% | 0.63 -26% | 0.45 10% | 0.66 -32% | 0.76 -52% | 0.48 4% |
Contrast | 482 | 465 -4% | 588 22% | 381 -21% | 511 6% | 306 -37% | 293 -39% | 488 1% |
Colorchecker dE 2000 * | 4.46 | 6.52 -46% | 11.54 -159% | 10.51 -136% | 11.44 -157% | 8.72 -96% | 8.5 -91% | 11.8 -165% |
Colorchecker dE 2000 max. * | 6.84 | 9.1 -33% | 19.36 -183% | 20.42 -199% | 20.69 -202% | |||
Greyscale dE 2000 * | 4.83 | 7.05 -46% | 12.98 -169% | 11.51 -138% | 11.77 -144% | 9.22 -91% | 9.35 -94% | 13.3 -175% |
Gamma | 2.49 88% | 2.41 91% | 2.58 85% | 2.27 97% | 2.42 91% | 2.17 101% | 2.46 89% | 2.47 89% |
CCT | 7773 84% | 8623 75% | 14060 46% | 12512 52% | 13585 48% | 10298 63% | 10402 62% | 17098 38% |
Color Space (Percent of AdobeRGB 1998) | 39 | 36.6 -6% | 36 -8% | 38 -3% | 35 -10% | 42.4 9% | 42 8% | 74 90% |
Color Space (Percent of sRGB) | 62 | 57.8 -7% | 56 -10% | 60 -3% | 59 -5% | 66.8 8% | 66 6% | 100 61% |
Total Average (Program / Settings) | -13% /
-15% | -22% /
-38% | -21% /
-29% | -21% /
-37% | -11% /
-21% | -13% /
-22% | 14% /
-10% |
* ... smaller is better
Performance
With the X556, Asus delivers a 15.6-inch all-rounder that offers enough computing power for routine use and can even render games. Our review sample is sold at around 770 Euros (~$859). We discovered two other configurations at test time. The range should increase considerably in the course of time. Other models can be found within the identical F556 lineup.
Processor
A Core i5-6200U (Skylake) dual-core processor powers the VivoBook. This CPU should completely satisfy the needs of most users. The laptop is also available with the somewhat stronger Core i7-6500U. A surcharge of 100 to 150 Euros (~$111 to ~$167) is demanded for this 10 to 15% of performance plus - with otherwise identical configuration. That will not be worthwhile for most users. The installed Core i5 is a member of the frugal ULV processors (TDP: 15 watts). The CPU clocks at a base speed of 2.3 GHz that can be boosted to 2.7 GHz (both cores) or 2.8 GHz (one core only) via Turbo. Turbo is utilized in both AC and battery modes.
The processor scores approximately 10 to 15% better than its Broadwell predecessor (Core i5-5200U) in the CPU tests that we performed. This is due to the improved Skylake architecture and slightly higher clock speeds.
Sunspider - 1.0 Total Score | |
HP Pavilion 15-ab052ng | |
Acer Aspire E5-573G-5785 | |
Asus F555UB-XO043T | |
Asus VivoBook X556UQ-XO076T | |
HP Pavilion 15-ab022ng | |
Lenovo Ideapad 500-15ISK 80NT005WGE |
JetStream 1.1 - Total Score | |
Lenovo Ideapad 500-15ISK 80NT005WGE | |
Acer Aspire F15 F5-573G-53V1 | |
Asus VivoBook X556UQ-XO076T | |
Asus F555UB-XO043T | |
HP Pavilion 15-ab052ng |
Octane V2 - Total Score | |
Lenovo Ideapad 500-15ISK 80NT005WGE | |
Acer Aspire F15 F5-573G-53V1 | |
Asus VivoBook X556UQ-XO076T | |
Asus F555UB-XO043T | |
HP Pavilion 15-ab052ng | |
HP Pavilion 15-ab022ng | |
Acer Aspire E5-573G-5785 |
Peacekeeper - --- | |
Lenovo Ideapad 500-15ISK 80NT005WGE | |
HP Pavilion 15-ab022ng | |
Asus VivoBook X556UQ-XO076T | |
Asus F555UB-XO043T | |
Acer Aspire E5-573G-5785 | |
HP Pavilion 15-ab052ng |
* ... smaller is better
System Performance
A strong processor and quick solid state drive ensure a fast-running system. We did not encounter problems. The PCMark benchmark scores are very good. It is not possible to increase the total performance. Asus has already gone to the limits here.
Laptops like the VivoBook are normally configured with ULV dual-core processors nowadays. Users who want more overall performance will have to turn to a multimedia laptop from the premium range or a gaming laptop. These devices are usually equipped with quad-core processors. Their prices start at about 800 Euros (~$892). For example, Acer's Aspire V5-591G (with Core i5-6300HQ processor) is sold at a price starting at 799 Euros (~$891). This performance plus is, however, only noticed in applications that have been optimized for using multiple CPU cores. The extra performance is hardly noticed in routine use.
PCMark 7 Score | 5167 points | |
PCMark 8 Home Score Accelerated v2 | 3483 points | |
PCMark 8 Creative Score Accelerated v2 | 3951 points | |
PCMark 8 Work Score Accelerated v2 | 4356 points | |
Help |
Storage Device
The VivoBook sports a solid state drive by SK Hynix. It is a 2.5-inch model that has a total capacity of 256 GB. Approximately 210 GB of that can be used. The recovery partition and Windows installation reserves the rest of the storage capacity.
Graphics Card
Nvidia launched updated versions of its mid-range mobile GPUs onto the market early 2016. While some differences are seen in the GeForce 920MX compared with its predecessor due to changes in architecture (from Kepler to Maxwell), only the speeds of the 930MX and 940 MX have been increased slightly. The GeForce 940MX installed in the VivoBook clocks at a base speed of 1122 MHz. According to GPU-Z, it would be possible to boost this to 1242 MHz via Turbo. The GPU never achieves this rate, though. The maximum Turbo speed is 1176 MHz. Thus, there are virtually no differences in the 3DMark benchmark scores compared to GeForce 940M laptops.
A clear difference in scores would first appear when 940MX laptops with GDDR5 graphics memories are launched. In contrast to their predecessors, the "X" models support this memory. Performance leaps of up to 20% should be possible in conjunction with GDDR5 memories.
3DMark 06 Standard Score | 11787 points | |
3DMark 11 Performance | 2373 points | |
3DMark Ice Storm Standard Score | 63974 points | |
3DMark Cloud Gate Standard Score | 6108 points | |
3DMark Fire Strike Score | 1374 points | |
Help |
3DMark 06 - 1280x1024 Standard Score AA:0x AF:0x | |
Acer Aspire F15 F5-573G-53V1 | |
Asus VivoBook X556UQ-XO076T | |
HP Pavilion 15-ab052ng | |
Lenovo Ideapad 500-15ISK 80NT005WGE |
Gaming Performance
The VivoBook is a member of the all-rounders, and it can thus deal with computer games. The laptop renders many games smoothly in the HD resolution (1366x768 pixels) using low to medium quality settings. The quality setting can even be increased in games with moderate hardware requirements. It gets tight in performance-driven games, such as Far Cry Primal or Hitman. The resolution/quality level has to be reduced here. Another laptop is needed for more gaming power. Laptops furnished with Nvidia's next strongest graphics unit - the GeForce GTX 950M GPU - are sold at a price starting at about 800 Euros (~$892).
low | med. | high | ultra | |
Tomb Raider (2013) | 132.9 | 58.6 | 34.5 | |
BioShock Infinite (2013) | 87 | 48.3 | 39 | |
Battlefield 4 (2013) | 61.2 | 43.8 | 29.3 | |
Wolfenstein: The New Order (2014) | 59 | 57.7 | ||
Watch Dogs (2014) | 49 | 29.6 | ||
Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor (2014) | 37.6 | 24.1 | ||
Alien: Isolation (2014) | 65.6 | 42.8 | ||
Evolve (2015) | 36.1 | 25.6 | ||
Battlefield Hardline (2015) | 64.6 | 56.5 | ||
Batman: Arkham Knight (2015) | 28 | 23 | ||
Metal Gear Solid V (2015) | 60 | 45.3 | ||
Call of Duty: Black Ops 3 (2015) | 51.4 | 31.2 | ||
Star Wars Battlefront (2015) | 50.5 | 30.6 | ||
Need for Speed 2016 (2016) | 34.4 | 30.1 | ||
Mirror's Edge Catalyst (2016) | 47.8 | 25.2 |
BioShock Infinite - 1366x768 Medium Preset | |
Acer Aspire F15 F5-573G-53V1 | |
Asus F555UB-XO043T | |
Asus VivoBook X556UQ-XO076T | |
HP Pavilion 15-ab052ng | |
Lenovo Ideapad 500-15ISK 80NT005WGE |
Tomb Raider - 1366x768 Normal Preset AA:FX AF:4x | |
HP Pavilion 15-ab052ng | |
Acer Aspire E5-573G-5785 | |
HP Pavilion 15-ab022ng | |
Asus VivoBook X556UQ-XO076T | |
Lenovo Ideapad 500-15ISK 80NT005WGE |
Battlefield 4 - 1366x768 Medium Preset | |
Acer Aspire F15 F5-573G-53V1 | |
Asus VivoBook X556UQ-XO076T | |
Lenovo Ideapad 500-15ISK 80NT005WGE | |
Acer Aspire E5-552G-F62G |
Star Wars Battlefront - 1024x768 Low Preset | |
Asus F555UB-XO043T | |
Asus VivoBook X556UQ-XO076T | |
Lenovo Ideapad 500-15ISK 80NT005WGE |
Emissions
System Noise
The VivoBook does not produce much noise when idling. The fan usually spins at low speeds and sometimes is even inactive. That looks different during load. We measured a noise level of 42.3 dB in the stress test. This rate is acceptable in view of the laptop's hardware configuration.
Noise Level
Idle |
| 31.3 / 31.3 / 31.9 dB(A) |
HDD |
| 31.7 dB(A) |
DVD |
| 36.4 / dB(A) |
Load |
| 39.2 / 42.3 dB(A) |
| ||
30 dB silent 40 dB(A) audible 50 dB(A) loud |
||
min: , med: , max: Audix TM1, Arta (15 cm distance) environment noise: 31.2 dB(A) |
Asus VivoBook X556UQ-XO076T 6200U, GeForce 940MX | Asus F555UB-XO043T 6200U, GeForce 940M | Acer Aspire E5-552G-F62G FX-8800P, Radeon R8 M365DX | Acer Aspire E5-573G-5785 5200U, GeForce 940M | Lenovo Ideapad 500-15ISK 80NT005WGE 6500U, Radeon R7 M360 | HP Pavilion 15-ab052ng A10-8700P, Radeon R8 M365DX | HP Pavilion 15-ab022ng 5500U, GeForce 940M | Acer Aspire F15 F5-573G-53V1 6200U, GeForce GTX 950M | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Noise | -5% | 2% | -4% | 5% | 0% | -13% | 1% | |
off / environment * | 31.2 | 31.3 -0% | 30.5 2% | 31.2 -0% | ||||
Idle Minimum * | 31.3 | 34 -9% | 32.4 -4% | 32 -2% | 31.2 -0% | 30.7 2% | 34.5 -10% | 32.4 -4% |
Idle Average * | 31.3 | 34 -9% | 33.2 -6% | 32 -2% | 31.2 -0% | 30.7 2% | 34.5 -10% | 33.5 -7% |
Idle Maximum * | 31.9 | 34.2 -7% | 33.2 -4% | 32.2 -1% | 31.2 2% | 30.7 4% | 34.5 -8% | 33.5 -5% |
Load Average * | 39.2 | 38.9 1% | 36.5 7% | 43.1 -10% | 34.1 13% | 40.1 -2% | 44.1 -13% | 35.2 10% |
Load Maximum * | 42.3 | 43.6 -3% | 34.4 19% | 43.5 -3% | 36.2 14% | 44.3 -5% | 52.5 -24% | 38.7 9% |
* ... smaller is better
Temperature
The VivoBook performed our stress test (Prime95 and Furmark run for at least one hour) differently in AC and battery modes. The graphics unit always clocks at full speed (1176 MHz), but the processor clocks at 2.7 GHz (AC) and 400 MHz (battery). The laptop only heated up moderately during the stress test. 40 °C is only marginally surpassed on one measuring point.
(+) The maximum temperature on the upper side is 34.4 °C / 94 F, compared to the average of 36.9 °C / 98 F, ranging from 21.1 to 71 °C for the class Multimedia.
(±) The bottom heats up to a maximum of 40.1 °C / 104 F, compared to the average of 39.1 °C / 102 F
(+) In idle usage, the average temperature for the upper side is 23.1 °C / 74 F, compared to the device average of 31.2 °C / 88 F.
(+) The palmrests and touchpad are cooler than skin temperature with a maximum of 25.1 °C / 77.2 F and are therefore cool to the touch.
(+) The average temperature of the palmrest area of similar devices was 28.8 °C / 83.8 F (+3.7 °C / 6.6 F).
Asus VivoBook X556UQ-XO076T 6200U, GeForce 940MX | Asus F555UB-XO043T 6200U, GeForce 940M | Acer Aspire E5-552G-F62G FX-8800P, Radeon R8 M365DX | Acer Aspire E5-573G-5785 5200U, GeForce 940M | Lenovo Ideapad 500-15ISK 80NT005WGE 6500U, Radeon R7 M360 | HP Pavilion 15-ab052ng A10-8700P, Radeon R8 M365DX | HP Pavilion 15-ab022ng 5500U, GeForce 940M | Acer Aspire F15 F5-573G-53V1 6200U, GeForce GTX 950M | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Heat | -9% | -7% | -39% | -1% | -14% | -15% | -34% | |
Maximum Upper Side * | 34.4 | 33.2 3% | 34 1% | 45.6 -33% | 40.1 -17% | 39.1 -14% | 38.7 -13% | 46.6 -35% |
Maximum Bottom * | 40.1 | 44 -10% | 39.6 1% | 61 -52% | 34 15% | 36.8 8% | 40.2 -0% | 65.4 -63% |
Idle Upper Side * | 24.3 | 28.2 -16% | 27.7 -14% | 32.5 -34% | 24.7 -2% | 30.5 -26% | 30.8 -27% | 28.9 -19% |
Idle Bottom * | 25.1 | 28.1 -12% | 29 -16% | 34.1 -36% | 25.4 -1% | 30.7 -22% | 30.4 -21% | 29.8 -19% |
* ... smaller is better
Speakers
The VivoBook's stereo speakers are situated on the underside of the casing's front edge. They produce a decent sound that also can be listened to for prolonged periods. Headphones or external speakers are recommended for better sound experience.
Energy Management
Power Consumption
The VivoBook is frugal in idle mode. We measured a maximum power consumption of 6.9 watts - a good rate. It climbed to 57.7 watts during the stress test, which is a normal rate for the hardware installed here. The requirement will range around 39 watts (+/- 5 watts) in gaming routine. The power supply has a nominal output of 65 watts.
Off / Standby | 0.3 / 0.62 Watt |
Idle | 3.2 / 6.5 / 6.9 Watt |
Load |
38.9 / 57.7 Watt |
Asus VivoBook X556UQ-XO076T 6200U, GeForce 940MX | Asus F555UB-XO043T 6200U, GeForce 940M | Acer Aspire E5-552G-F62G FX-8800P, Radeon R8 M365DX | Acer Aspire E5-573G-5785 5200U, GeForce 940M | Lenovo Ideapad 500-15ISK 80NT005WGE 6500U, Radeon R7 M360 | HP Pavilion 15-ab052ng A10-8700P, Radeon R8 M365DX | HP Pavilion 15-ab022ng 5500U, GeForce 940M | Acer Aspire F15 F5-573G-53V1 6200U, GeForce GTX 950M | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Power Consumption | -12% | -37% | -15% | -2% | -67% | -22% | -87% | |
Idle Minimum * | 3.2 | 4.7 -47% | 6.7 -109% | 4.8 -50% | 4 -25% | 6.9 -116% | 4.8 -50% | 8.3 -159% |
Idle Average * | 6.5 | 6.5 -0% | 9.8 -51% | 7 -8% | 6.7 -3% | 11 -69% | 8.1 -25% | 12.1 -86% |
Idle Maximum * | 6.9 | 6.8 1% | 10.6 -54% | 7 -1% | 7.1 -3% | 12.1 -75% | 8.3 -20% | 15.4 -123% |
Load Average * | 38.9 | 42.7 -10% | 46 -18% | 44.5 -14% | 35 10% | 61.3 -58% | 42.5 -9% | 56 -44% |
Load Maximum * | 57.7 | 59 -2% | 32 45% | 58 -1% | 50.3 13% | 66.5 -15% | 61.1 -6% | 70 -21% |
* ... smaller is better
Battery Runtime
The VivoBook achieved a runtime of 6:48 hours in our practical Wi-Fi test. We simulate the load needed for opening websites via a script. The "Balanced" profile is enabled and the energy-saving functions are disabled, and the screen's brightness is set to approximately 150 cd/m². Our video test shows how long videos can be watched on one battery charge. We loop the short movie Big Buck Bunny (H.264 encoding, 1920x1080 pixels) while both the radio modules and energy saving functions are disabled. The screen's brightness is dimmed to 150 cd/m². The VivoBook shut down after 6:20 hours. In total, Asus' laptop provides good battery runtimes. There is nothing to complain about here.
Asus VivoBook X556UQ-XO076T 38 Wh | Asus F555UB-XO043T 37 Wh | Acer Aspire E5-552G-F62G 37 Wh | Acer Aspire E5-573G-5785 37 Wh | Lenovo Ideapad 500-15ISK 80NT005WGE 32 Wh | HP Pavilion 15-ab052ng 41 Wh | HP Pavilion 15-ab022ng 41 Wh | Acer Aspire F15 F5-573G-53V1 62 Wh | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Battery Runtime | -13% | -55% | -5% | -29% | -56% | -26% | 4% | |
Reader / Idle | 818 | 400 -51% | 731 -11% | 715 -13% | 222 -73% | 563 -31% | 667 -18% | |
H.264 | 380 | 357 -6% | 305 -20% | 154 -59% | 294 -23% | 335 -12% | ||
WiFi v1.3 | 408 | 355 -13% | 168 -59% | 347 -15% | 248 -39% | 137 -66% | 267 -35% | 386 -5% |
Load | 101 | 112 11% | 57 -44% | 75 -26% | 88 -13% | 152 50% |
Pros
Cons
Verdict
With the VivoBook X556UQ, Asus delivers a 15.6-inch multimedia all-rounder that has enough computing power for all common application scenarios. The GeForce graphics unit allows playing computer games. The laptop runs quietly during routine use and hardly heats up in total. A quick solid state drive ensures a fast-running system. Replacing the SSD would be possible. However, the casing has to be opened for this. We overall liked the keyboard a bit more than the one installed in former models. The battery life is very good. Like in so many other laptops, the VivoBook's screen is the weak point. Asus does not install a particularly bright or high-contrast model here.
Asus' VivoBook X556UQ is a rounded versatile device from the low-cost sector. Improvements compared with the predecessor are apparent.
Our review sample is presently sold at about 750 to 770 Euros (~$836 to ~$859). Users who do not need an SSD and are happy with a conventional (1 TB) hard drive can already purchase the laptop for 650 Euros (~$725).
Asus VivoBook X556UQ-XO076T
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06/24/2016 v5.1(old)
Sascha Mölck