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Asus VivoBook E12 E203NA (N3350, HD) Laptop Review

Lightweight. The VivoBook E12 can score with its noiselessness and long battery runtime. At a weight of around one kilogram, it is one of the lightest of its kind.

With the VivoBook E12, Asus delivers a netbook in the 11.6-inch format. The device is powered by a Celeron processor belonging to the Apollo Lake generation. Its competitors are devices such as the Acer TravelMate B117-M and the Lenovo Ideapad 120s-11IAP.

Asus VivoBook E12 E203NA-FD026T (VivoBook E12 Series)
Processor
Intel Celeron N3350 2 x 1.1 - 2.4 GHz, Apollo Lake
Graphics adapter
Intel HD Graphics 500, Core: 650 MHz, single-channel, 23.20.16.4901
Memory
2048 MB 
, DDR3L, single-channel, RAM soldered, no memory banks
Display
11.60 inch 16:9, 1366 x 768 pixel 135 PPI, AU Optronics B116XTN02.2, TN LED, glossy: yes
Storage
32 GB eMMC Flash, 32 GB 
Soundcard
Realtek ALC256 @ Intel Apollo Lake SoC - High Definition Audio Controller
Connections
3 USB 3.0 / 3.1 Gen1, 1 HDMI, Audio Connections: audio combo, Card Reader: MicroSD, TPM 2.0
Networking
Qualcomm Atheros QCA9377 Wireless Network Adapter (a/b/g/n = Wi-Fi 4/ac = Wi-Fi 5/), Bluetooth 4.1
Size
height x width x depth (in mm): 21.4 x 286 x 193 ( = 0.84 x 11.26 x 7.6 in)
Battery
38 Wh, 5000 mAh Lithium-Ion, 7.6 V
Operating System
Microsoft Windows 10 Home 64 Bit
Camera
Webcam: VGA (640x480 pixels)
Additional features
Speakers: Stereo, Keyboard: Chiclet, Keyboard Light: no, McAfee LiveSafe (trial version), MS Office 365 (trial version), TeamViewer 11, WPS Office, 24 Months Warranty, fanless
Weight
992 g ( = 34.99 oz / 2.19 pounds), Power Supply: 131 g ( = 4.62 oz / 0.29 pounds)
Price
249 Euro
Note: The manufacturer may use components from different suppliers including display panels, drives or memory sticks with similar specifications.

 

Case & Connectivity

The VivoBook's entire case is made of plastic, which is not surprising. The plastic that has been used for most components is matte. The backside of the lid has received a glossy finish in addition. Our test device comes in the variety "Gray". Asus is also offering the color options "Pink" and "White". The build quality is convincing. There are no gaps or sharp edges. However, the device could be more stable as the base unit can we warped a bit too much. Peculiar: Warping the base unit caused the ClickPad to execute a mouse click. The 11.6-inch device does not offer a maintenance hatch. The battery cannot be removed.

The small netbook offers a good connectivity. The three USB ports (2x Type-A, 1x Type-C) support the USB 3.1 Gen 1 standard. A video output is available. The installed memory card reader is not the fastest. When copying big data blocks, it achieves a maximum transfer rate of 39.5 MB/s. Moving 250 JPG files (at about 5 MB each) is done at a rate of 24 MB/s. We use a reference card (Toshiba Exceria Pro M501 microSDXC 64GB) for testing memory card readers.

The VivoBook utilizes a Wi-Fi chip by Qualcomm (QCA9377). That chip not only supports the Wi-Fi standards 802.11 a/b/g/n; it also supports the fast ac standard. The transfer rates were average while recorded under ideal conditions (no other Wi-Fi devices in the immediate surroundings, short distance between laptop and server PC).

Size Comparison

291 mm / 11.5 inch 211 mm / 8.31 inch 23 mm / 0.906 inch 1.4 kg3.09 lbs292 mm / 11.5 inch 202 mm / 7.95 inch 17.8 mm / 0.701 inch 1.1 kg2.4 lbs286 mm / 11.3 inch 193 mm / 7.6 inch 21.4 mm / 0.843 inch 992 g2.19 lbs286 mm / 11.3 inch 193 mm / 7.6 inch 17.5 mm / 0.689 inch 976 g2.15 lbs287 mm / 11.3 inch 200 mm / 7.87 inch 15.9 mm / 0.626 inch 1.3 kg2.8 lbs297 mm / 11.7 inch 210 mm / 8.27 inch 1 mm / 0.03937 inch 5.7 g0.01257 lbs

Connectivity

Right side: audio combo, USB 3.1 Gen 1 (Type-A)
Right side: audio combo, USB 3.1 Gen 1 (Type-A)
Left side: power-in, memory card reader (MicroSD), HDMI, 2x USB 3.1 Gen 1 (1x Type-A, 1x Type-C)
Left side: power-in, memory card reader (MicroSD), HDMI, 2x USB 3.1 Gen 1 (1x Type-A, 1x Type-C)
SD Card Reader
average JPG Copy Test (av. of 3 runs)
Lenovo Ideapad 120s-11IAP
  (Toshiba Exceria Pro M401)
59.9 MB/s +150%
Lenovo Ideapad 110S-11IBR
  (Toshiba Exceria Pro SDXC 64 GB UHS-II)
54 MB/s +125%
Acer TravelMate B117-M-P16Q
  (Toshiba Exceria Pro SDXC 64 GB UHS-II)
24.2 MB/s +1%
Asus VivoBook E12 E203NA-FD026T
  (Toshiba Exceria Pro M501 microSDXC 64GB)
24 MB/s
maximum AS SSD Seq Read Test (1GB)
Lenovo Ideapad 120s-11IAP
  (Toshiba Exceria Pro M401)
85.9 MB/s +117%
Asus VivoBook E12 E203NA-FD026T
  (Toshiba Exceria Pro M501 microSDXC 64GB)
39.5 MB/s
Lenovo Ideapad 110S-11IBR
  (Toshiba Exceria Pro SDXC 64 GB UHS-II)
34.2 MB/s -13%
Networking
iperf3 transmit AX12
Dell Latitude 3180
Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 7265
655 MBit/s +92%
Asus VivoBook E12 E203NA-FD026T
Qualcomm Atheros QCA9377 Wireless Network Adapter
341 MBit/s
Lenovo Ideapad 110S-11IBR
Realtek RTL8821AE 802.11ac
339 MBit/s -1%
Lenovo Ideapad 120s-11IAP
Qualcomm Atheros QCA9377 Wireless Network Adapter
330 MBit/s -3%
Asus VivoBook E200HA-FD0041TS
Qualcomm Atheros QCA9377 Wireless Network Adapter
237 MBit/s -30%
Acer Spin 1 SP111-31-C79E
Qualcomm Atheros QCA9377 Wireless Network Adapter
214 MBit/s -37%
iperf3 receive AX12
Dell Latitude 3180
Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 7265
543 MBit/s +71%
Lenovo Ideapad 120s-11IAP
Qualcomm Atheros QCA9377 Wireless Network Adapter
348 MBit/s +9%
Acer Spin 1 SP111-31-C79E
Qualcomm Atheros QCA9377 Wireless Network Adapter
338 MBit/s +6%
Asus VivoBook E12 E203NA-FD026T
Qualcomm Atheros QCA9377 Wireless Network Adapter
318 MBit/s
Asus VivoBook E200HA-FD0041TS
Qualcomm Atheros QCA9377 Wireless Network Adapter
315 MBit/s -1%
Lenovo Ideapad 110S-11IBR
Realtek RTL8821AE 802.11ac
282 MBit/s -11%

Input Devices

The flat, slightly roughened keys of the installed chiclet keyboard feature clear pressure points. The key resistance could be a bit higher. The keyboard yields slightly while typing on it - more so in the middle than at the edges. Overall, Asus delivers a decent keyboard that meets the requirements for home use. Users who need to type frequently should choose a different device.

The multi-touch ClickPad has a surface area of approximately 10.5 x 6.1 cm, so it offers sufficient room for using gesture control. Finger-gliding is facilitated by the pad's smooth surface. The pad has a short travel and a clear pressure point.

Input devices
Input devices

Display

Pixel array
Pixel array

Asus installed a reflective 11.6-inch display, working at a native resolution of 1366x768 pixels. The display's brightness is insufficient (234 cd/m²). The contrast (767:1) is acceptable. Pro: The screen shows no PWM-flickering.

240
cd/m²
243
cd/m²
231
cd/m²
236
cd/m²
253
cd/m²
231
cd/m²
230
cd/m²
221
cd/m²
221
cd/m²
Distribution of brightness
AU Optronics B116XTN02.2 tested with X-Rite i1Pro 2
Maximum: 253 cd/m² (Nits) Average: 234 cd/m² Minimum: 14.6 cd/m²
Brightness Distribution: 87 %
Center on Battery: 253 cd/m²
Contrast: 767:1 (Black: 0.33 cd/m²)
ΔE Color 10.84 | 0.5-29.43 Ø5
ΔE Greyscale 11.86 | 0.57-98 Ø5.3
57% sRGB (Argyll 1.6.3 3D)
36% AdobeRGB 1998 (Argyll 1.6.3 3D)
39.21% AdobeRGB 1998 (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
57.1% sRGB (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
37.95% Display P3 (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
Gamma: 2.72
Asus VivoBook E12 E203NA-FD026T
TN LED, 1366x768, 11.60
Acer TravelMate B117-M-P16Q
TN LED, 1366x768, 11.60
Asus VivoBook E200HA-FD0041TS
TN LED, 1366x768, 11.60
Lenovo Ideapad 120s-11IAP
TN LED, 1366x768, 11.60
Lenovo Ideapad 110S-11IBR
TN LED, 1366x768, 11.60
Dell Latitude 3180
TN LED, 1366x768, 11.60
Display
11%
15%
3%
13%
7%
Display P3 Coverage
37.95
42.04
11%
43.73
15%
39.03
3%
42.77
13%
40.78
7%
sRGB Coverage
57.1
62.9
10%
65.1
14%
58.7
3%
64.2
12%
61.4
8%
AdobeRGB 1998 Coverage
39.21
43.46
11%
45.23
15%
40.33
3%
44.2
13%
42.13
7%
Response Times
-88%
-37%
-93%
-93%
-67%
Response Time Grey 50% / Grey 80% *
41 ?(22, 19)
38 ?(18, 20)
7%
45 ?(25, 20)
-10%
72.8 ?(30.4, 42.4)
-78%
46 ?(26, 20)
-12%
40 ?(22, 18)
2%
Response Time Black / White *
11 ?(7, 4)
31 ?(14, 17)
-182%
18 ?(14, 4)
-64%
22.8 ?(16.4, 6.4)
-107%
30 ?(21, 9)
-173%
26 ?(20, 6)
-136%
PWM Frequency
24750 ?(30)
25770 ?(50)
200 ?(90)
Screen
-4%
15%
-20%
-4%
-12%
Brightness middle
253
218
-14%
267
6%
266.2
5%
243
-4%
253
0%
Brightness
234
215
-8%
265
13%
251
7%
230
-2%
236
1%
Brightness Distribution
87
85
-2%
85
-2%
90
3%
91
5%
85
-2%
Black Level *
0.33
0.38
-15%
0.35
-6%
0.67
-103%
0.4
-21%
0.47
-42%
Contrast
767
574
-25%
763
-1%
397
-48%
608
-21%
538
-30%
Colorchecker dE 2000 *
10.84
10.29
5%
6.67
38%
12.4
-14%
11.24
-4%
12.87
-19%
Colorchecker dE 2000 max. *
17.48
17.68
-1%
10.32
41%
24.5
-40%
19.82
-13%
21.99
-26%
Greyscale dE 2000 *
11.86
11.71
1%
7.84
34%
14.4
-21%
12.78
-8%
13.97
-18%
Gamma
2.72 81%
2.45 90%
2.3 96%
2.16 102%
2.33 94%
2.46 89%
CCT
12882 50%
14164 46%
8076 80%
19436 33%
15436 42%
18336 35%
Color Space (Percent of AdobeRGB 1998)
36
40
11%
42
17%
37
3%
41
14%
39
8%
Color Space (Percent of sRGB)
57
63
11%
65
14%
59
4%
64
12%
61
7%
Total Average (Program / Settings)
-27% / -12%
-2% / 8%
-37% / -25%
-28% / -13%
-24% / -16%

* ... smaller is better

Screen Flickering / PWM (Pulse-Width Modulation)

To dim the screen, some notebooks will simply cycle the backlight on and off in rapid succession - a method called Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) . This cycling frequency should ideally be undetectable to the human eye. If said frequency is too low, users with sensitive eyes may experience strain or headaches or even notice the flickering altogether.
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.

In factory settings, the DeltaE 2000 shift is 10.84 while a value lower than 3 would be desirable. Furthermore, the screen displays a bluish tint.

CalMAN - ColorChecker
CalMAN - ColorChecker
CalMAN - Grayscale
CalMAN - Grayscale
CalMAN - Saturation Sweeps
CalMAN - Saturation Sweeps

Display Response Times

Display response times show how fast the screen is able to change from one color to the next. Slow response times can lead to afterimages and can cause moving objects to appear blurry (ghosting). Gamers of fast-paced 3D titles should pay special attention to fast response times.
       Response Time Black to White
11 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined↗ 7 ms rise
↘ 4 ms fall
The screen shows good response rates in our tests, but may be too slow for competitive gamers.
In comparison, all tested devices range from 0.1 (minimum) to 240 (maximum) ms. » 24 % of all devices are better.
This means that the measured response time is better than the average of all tested devices (21.6 ms).
       Response Time 50% Grey to 80% Grey
41 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined↗ 22 ms rise
↘ 19 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. » 59 % of all devices are better.
This means that the measured response time is worse than the average of all tested devices (33.9 ms).

Asus equipped the VivoBook with a viewing-angle dependent TN panel. Thus, the screen is not legible from every position. Outdoors, the small laptop can only be used if the sun is not shining.

The VivoBook outdoors (picture taken in bright sunshine)
The VivoBook outdoors (picture taken in bright sunshine)

Performance

With the VivoBook E12, Asus is offering an 11.6-inch netbook in their range of products. The installed processor is sufficient for simple office and Internet applications. Our test device costs around 250 Euros (~$312). Different color options and variants with different hardware are available in a price range starting at 220 Euros (~$275).

Processor

The VivoBook is powered by a passively cooled Intel Celeron N3350 (Apollo Lake) dual-core processor which works at a base speed of 1.1 GHz. It can be boosted to 2.3 GHz (both cores) or 2.4 GHz (only one core) via Turbo. During the CPU tests we conducted, the processor worked at full speed in both AC and battery modes.

Whether the Turbo Boost is used permanently was determined via looping the Cinebench R15 Multithread test for about 30 minutes. The results drop slightly between the first and fourth iteration but remain at a constant level of about 80 points afterwards. Turbo Boost was used, but it did not work at maximum speed.

0102030405060708090100Tooltip
Cinebench R15 CPU Multi 64 Bit
Cinebench R10 Rendering Single 32Bit
1458
Cinebench R10 Rendering Multiple CPUs 32Bit
2787
Cinebench R10 Shading 32Bit
2791
Cinebench R15 CPU Single 64Bit
48 Points
Cinebench R15 CPU Multi 64Bit
92 Points
Cinebench R15 OpenGL 64Bit
13.11 fps
Cinebench R15 Ref. Match 64Bit
97.7 %
Help
Cinebench R15
CPU Single 64Bit
Dell Latitude 3180
Intel Pentium N4200
51 Points +6%
Acer Spin 1 SP111-31-C79E
Intel Celeron N3450
48 Points 0%
Asus VivoBook E12 E203NA-FD026T
Intel Celeron N3350
48 Points
Lenovo Ideapad 120s-11IAP
Intel Celeron N3350
46 Points -4%
Acer TravelMate B117-M-P16Q
Intel Pentium N3710
42 Points -12%
Lenovo Ideapad 110S-11IBR
Intel Celeron N3060
39 Points -19%
Asus VivoBook E200HA-FD0041TS
Intel Atom x5-Z8350
27 Points -44%
CPU Multi 64Bit
Dell Latitude 3180
Intel Pentium N4200
175 Points +90%
Acer TravelMate B117-M-P16Q
Intel Pentium N3710
150 Points +63%
Acer Spin 1 SP111-31-C79E
Intel Celeron N3450
135 Points +47%
Asus VivoBook E200HA-FD0041TS
Intel Atom x5-Z8350
95 Points +3%
Asus VivoBook E12 E203NA-FD026T
Intel Celeron N3350
92 Points
Lenovo Ideapad 120s-11IAP
Intel Celeron N3350
85 Points -8%
Lenovo Ideapad 110S-11IBR
Intel Celeron N3060
74 Points -20%
Cinebench R10
Rendering Single 32Bit
Dell Latitude 3180
Intel Pentium N4200
1638 Points +12%
Lenovo Ideapad 120s-11IAP
Intel Celeron N3350
1490 Points +2%
Asus VivoBook E12 E203NA-FD026T
Intel Celeron N3350
1458 Points
Acer Spin 1 SP111-31-C79E
Intel Celeron N3450
1451 Points 0%
Lenovo Ideapad 110S-11IBR
Intel Celeron N3060
1267 Points -13%
Acer TravelMate B117-M-P16Q
Intel Pentium N3710
1238 Points -15%
Rendering Multiple CPUs 32Bit
Dell Latitude 3180
Intel Pentium N4200
5440 Points +95%
Acer TravelMate B117-M-P16Q
Intel Pentium N3710
4649 Points +67%
Acer Spin 1 SP111-31-C79E
Intel Celeron N3450
3959 Points +42%
Asus VivoBook E12 E203NA-FD026T
Intel Celeron N3350
2787 Points
Lenovo Ideapad 120s-11IAP
Intel Celeron N3350
2786 Points 0%
Lenovo Ideapad 110S-11IBR
Intel Celeron N3060
2397 Points -14%
Geekbench 3
32 Bit Multi-Core Score
Dell Latitude 3180
Intel Pentium N4200
4736 Points +97%
Acer Spin 1 SP111-31-C79E
Intel Celeron N3450
3958 Points +64%
Acer TravelMate B117-M-P16Q
Intel Pentium N3710
3553 Points +47%
Asus VivoBook E12 E203NA-FD026T
Intel Celeron N3350
2409 Points
32 Bit Single-Core Score
Dell Latitude 3180
Intel Pentium N4200
1400 Points +4%
Asus VivoBook E12 E203NA-FD026T
Intel Celeron N3350
1341 Points
Acer Spin 1 SP111-31-C79E
Intel Celeron N3450
1202 Points -10%
Acer TravelMate B117-M-P16Q
Intel Pentium N3710
1023 Points -24%
Geekbench 4.0
64 Bit Multi-Core Score
Dell Latitude 3180
Intel Pentium N4200
4558 Points +80%
Acer Spin 1 SP111-31-C79E
Intel Celeron N3450
3821 Points +51%
Asus VivoBook E12 E203NA-FD026T
Intel Celeron N3350
2529 Points
64 Bit Single-Core Score
Dell Latitude 3180
Intel Pentium N4200
1541 Points +2%
Asus VivoBook E12 E203NA-FD026T
Intel Celeron N3350
1510 Points
Acer Spin 1 SP111-31-C79E
Intel Celeron N3450
1385 Points -8%
Geekbench 4.4
64 Bit Multi-Core Score
Dell Latitude 3180
Intel Pentium N4200
4719 Points +82%
Acer Spin 1 SP111-31-C79E
Intel Celeron N3450
4001 Points +54%
Asus VivoBook E12 E203NA-FD026T
Intel Celeron N3350
2593 Points
64 Bit Single-Core Score
Dell Latitude 3180
Intel Pentium N4200
1571 Points +3%
Asus VivoBook E12 E203NA-FD026T
Intel Celeron N3350
1529 Points
Acer Spin 1 SP111-31-C79E
Intel Celeron N3450
1399 Points -9%
JetStream 1.1 - Total Score
Dell Latitude 3180
Intel Pentium N4200 (Edge 40)
87.5 Points +14%
Asus VivoBook E12 E203NA-FD026T
Intel Celeron N3350 (Edge 41)
77 Points
Acer Spin 1 SP111-31-C79E
Intel Celeron N3450 (Edge 40)
76 Points -1%
Lenovo Ideapad 120s-11IAP
Intel Celeron N3350 (Microsoft Edge 41.16299.15.0)
70.8 Points -8%
Lenovo Ideapad 110S-11IBR
Intel Celeron N3060 (EDGE: 38,14393,1066,0)
55.8 Points -28%
Acer TravelMate B117-M-P16Q
Intel Pentium N3710 (IE 11)
36.78 Points -52%
Asus VivoBook E200HA-FD0041TS
Intel Atom x5-Z8350 (Edge 25.10586.672.0)
34.8 Points -55%

System Performance

The system runs smoothly and we did not encounter any problems. The SoC's processing power suffices for simple office and Internet applications. However, burdening the SoC with anything beyond these aforementioned tasks results in a system which works very sluggishly. The PCMark benchmark results are in line with the SoC's performance capability. It is not possible to increase the performance any further.

PCMark 8 Home Score Accelerated v2
1816 points
PCMark 8 Work Score Accelerated v2
2703 points
PCMark 10 Score
1173 points
Help
PCMark 8 - Home Score Accelerated v2
Dell Latitude 3180
HD Graphics 505, Pentium N4200, Liteonit CV3-8D128
2314 Points +27%
Acer TravelMate B117-M-P16Q
HD Graphics 405 (Braswell), N3710, Liteonit CV3-8D256
1999 Points +10%
Asus VivoBook E12 E203NA-FD026T
HD Graphics 500, Celeron N3350, 32 GB eMMC Flash
1816 Points
Lenovo Ideapad 120s-11IAP
HD Graphics 500, Celeron N3350, 64 GB eMMC Flash
1810 Points 0%
Lenovo Ideapad 110S-11IBR
HD Graphics 400 (Braswell), N3060, SanDisk DF4032
1771 Points -2%
Acer Spin 1 SP111-31-C79E
HD Graphics 500, Celeron N3450, Toshiba MQ01ABF050
1530 Points -16%
Asus VivoBook E200HA-FD0041TS
HD Graphics 400 (Braswell), Z8350, Hynix HBG4a2 32 GB eMMC
1464 Points -19%

Storage Solution

An eMMC module is used as the system drive. Its transfer rates are average for this type of storage. With its capacity of 32 GB, the module does not exactly offer an abundance of storage space. Out-of-the-box, 11.1 GB is available to the user. After uninstalling the included software (McAfee LiveSafe, MS Office 365, TeamViewer 11, WPS Office, Zenanywhere), the free storage space rises to about 12.7 GB. However, a maximum of 2.7 GB of this available space should be used because Windows 10 requires about 10 GB of free storage space to install its regular version updates. This does not leave much space for files or additional programs. Users who do not want to use cloud-based storage solutions will be forced to acquire a MicroSD card to expand the storage.

32 GB eMMC Flash
Sequential Read: 276.6 MB/s
Sequential Write: 78.3 MB/s
512K Read: 238.1 MB/s
512K Write: 43.83 MB/s
4K Read: 8.963 MB/s
4K Write: 10.17 MB/s
4K QD32 Read: 29.66 MB/s
4K QD32 Write: 24.63 MB/s
Asus VivoBook E12 E203NA-FD026T
32 GB eMMC Flash
Asus VivoBook E200HA-FD0041TS
Hynix HBG4a2 32 GB eMMC
Acer Spin 1 SP111-31-C79E
Toshiba MQ01ABF050
Lenovo Ideapad 110S-11IBR
SanDisk DF4032
Acer TravelMate B117-M-P16Q
Liteonit CV3-8D256
Dell Latitude 3180
Liteonit CV3-8D128
CrystalDiskMark 3.0
39%
-61%
2%
281%
213%
Read Seq
276.6
163.2
-41%
109.1
-61%
158.1
-43%
506
83%
482.6
74%
Write Seq
78.3
115.3
47%
107.3
37%
98.5
26%
393.4
402%
213.2
172%
Read 512
238.1
154.9
-35%
35.89
-85%
149.3
-37%
329.1
38%
276.5
16%
Write 512
43.83
108.8
148%
45.28
3%
86.1
96%
282.5
545%
162.6
271%
Read 4k
8.963
16.62
85%
0.482
-95%
9.875
10%
23.35
161%
18.17
103%
Write 4k
10.17
19.23
89%
1.037
-90%
10.44
3%
45.56
348%
44.77
340%
Read 4k QD32
29.66
30.25
2%
1.003
-97%
31.78
7%
123.5
316%
132.7
347%
Write 4k QD32
24.63
28.32
15%
1.043
-96%
12.76
-48%
111.2
351%
118.1
379%

Graphics Card

Intel's HD Graphics 500 graphics core takes care of the video output. The GPU supports DirectX 12 and works at a speed of up to 650 MHz. The 3DMark benchmarks are at a normal level for the built-in GPU. The decoder that has been integrated into the GPU can take some load off the processor during video playback in common formats such as H.264, HEVC/H.265, VP8, and VP9.

GPU-Z
GPU-Z
DXVAChecker
DXVAChecker
3DMark 11 Performance
548 points
3DMark Cloud Gate Standard Score
2080 points
3DMark Fire Strike Score
313 points
Help
3DMark 11 - 1280x720 Performance GPU
Dell Latitude 3180
Intel HD Graphics 505, Intel Pentium N4200
825 Points +66%
Asus VivoBook E12 E203NA-FD026T
Intel HD Graphics 500, Intel Celeron N3350
497 Points
Lenovo Ideapad 120s-11IAP
Intel HD Graphics 500, Intel Celeron N3350
482 Points -3%
Acer TravelMate B117-M-P16Q
Intel HD Graphics 405 (Braswell), Intel Pentium N3710
473 Points -5%
Lenovo Ideapad 110S-11IBR
Intel HD Graphics 400 (Braswell), Intel Celeron N3060
387 Points -22%
Acer Spin 1 SP111-31-C79E
Intel HD Graphics 500, Intel Celeron N3450
368 Points -26%
Asus VivoBook E200HA-FD0041TS
Intel HD Graphics 400 (Braswell), Intel Atom x5-Z8350
348 Points -30%

Gaming Performance

The VivoBook's combination of CPU and GPU can smoothly run a handful of the games in our database - at a low resolution and on low quality settings. A much wider selection of playable titles is available in the category "Casual Games" in the Microsoft Store.

low med. high ultra
Trackmania Nations Forever (2008) 119 27.2

Emissions & Energy

System Noise

The VivoBook works noiselessly.

Temperature

The VivoBook in the stress test.
The VivoBook in the stress test.

The VivoBook had similar results in both AC and battery modes during our stress test (Prime95 and Furmark ran for at least one hour). The processor and the graphics core started the test at 1.6 GHz and 250 MHz respectively. Subsequently, the speeds dropped to between 1.3 and 1.4 GHz and 100 MHz, respectively, and they remained at that level.

The device does not heat up particularly. Three measurement segments reached a temperature of over 40 °C during the stress test.

Max. Load
 42 °C
108 F
38.6 °C
101 F
27.9 °C
82 F
 
 40 °C
104 F
36.9 °C
98 F
27.7 °C
82 F
 
 32.9 °C
91 F
28 °C
82 F
26.6 °C
80 F
 
Maximum: 42 °C = 108 F
Average: 33.4 °C = 92 F
28.2 °C
83 F
32.6 °C
91 F
43.2 °C
110 F
27.4 °C
81 F
32.5 °C
91 F
40.6 °C
105 F
27 °C
81 F
28.9 °C
84 F
34 °C
93 F
Maximum: 43.2 °C = 110 F
Average: 32.7 °C = 91 F
Power Supply (max.)  40.6 °C = 105 F | Room Temperature 23.9 °C = 75 F | FIRT 550-Pocket
(±) The average temperature for the upper side under maximal load is 33.4 °C / 92 F, compared to the average of 30.7 °C / 87 F for the devices in the class Subnotebook.
(±) The maximum temperature on the upper side is 42 °C / 108 F, compared to the average of 35.9 °C / 97 F, ranging from 21.4 to 59 °C for the class Subnotebook.
(±) The bottom heats up to a maximum of 43.2 °C / 110 F, compared to the average of 39.4 °C / 103 F
(+) In idle usage, the average temperature for the upper side is 28.7 °C / 84 F, compared to the device average of 30.7 °C / 87 F.
(+) The palmrests and touchpad are reaching skin temperature as a maximum (32.9 °C / 91.2 F) and are therefore not hot.
(-) The average temperature of the palmrest area of similar devices was 28.3 °C / 82.9 F (-4.6 °C / -8.3 F).
Temperature development load (top)
Temperature development load (top)
Temperature development load (bottom)
Temperature development load (bottom)
Temperature development idle (top)
Temperature development idle (top)
Temperature development idle (bottom)
Temperature development idle (bottom)

Speakers

The VivoBook's stereo speakers are located on the device's underside. They create a rich but slightly hollow sound that could do with more bass. We have had to listen to worse speakers in the past. However, headphones or external speakers are recommended for a better sound experience.

dB(A) 0102030405060708090Deep BassMiddle BassHigh BassLower RangeMidsHigher MidsLower HighsMid HighsUpper HighsSuper Highs2042.241.342.22538.437.838.43138.530.738.54040.731.540.75040.628.640.66339.931.139.98041.930.441.910044.33244.312545.525.845.516047.526.147.520050.424.950.425053.724.253.731556.52356.540058.121.858.150060.821.260.863062.620.362.68006919.569100069.318.669.3125070.617.970.6160065.517.465.5200065.81765.8250066.516.766.5315063.916.463.940006616.366500066.216.166.26300711671800075.815.975.81000077.21677.2125007416741600065.216.165.2SPL81.830.281.8N50.81.450.8median 65.5median 17.9median 65.5Delta6.52.96.535.335.132.931.831.83236.535.132.428.93328.936.328.848.32761.52752.924.860.92462.822.763.32269.521.267.82174.82075.919.472.718.97117.770.117.86917.671.817.668.117.671.417.673.717.670.417.571.617.671.617.669.617.459.717.583.630.662.51.5median 69.6median 17.84.72.4hearing rangehide median Pink NoiseAsus VivoBook E12 E203NA-FD026TApple MacBook 12 (Early 2016) 1.1 GHz
Asus VivoBook E12 E203NA-FD026T audio analysis

(±) | speaker loudness is average but good (77.2 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(-) | nearly no bass - on average 15.8% lower than median
(+) | bass is linear (5.1% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(+) | balanced mids - only 3.5% away from median
(+) | mids are linear (5.1% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(+) | balanced highs - only 4.5% away from median
(+) | highs are linear (5% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(±) | linearity of overall sound is average (16.3% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 34% of all tested devices in this class were better, 4% similar, 62% worse
» The best had a delta of 5%, average was 19%, worst was 53%
Compared to all devices tested
» 22% of all tested devices were better, 5% similar, 73% worse
» The best had a delta of 4%, average was 25%, worst was 134%

Apple MacBook 12 (Early 2016) 1.1 GHz audio analysis

(+) | speakers can play relatively loud (83.6 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(±) | reduced bass - on average 11.3% lower than median
(±) | linearity of bass is average (14.2% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(+) | balanced mids - only 2.4% away from median
(+) | mids are linear (5.5% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(+) | balanced highs - only 2% away from median
(+) | highs are linear (4.5% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(+) | overall sound is linear (10.2% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 5% of all tested devices in this class were better, 2% similar, 93% worse
» The best had a delta of 5%, average was 19%, worst was 53%
Compared to all devices tested
» 3% of all tested devices were better, 1% similar, 96% worse
» The best had a delta of 4%, average was 25%, worst was 134%

Frequency diagram in comparison (checkboxes can be turned on/off!)

Power Consumption

Since the VivoBook is equipped with a feeble SoC, it does not require much energy, regardless of the load. While idling, we measured a maximum power consumption of 4.4 watts. During the stress test, the power consumption rose to only 14.2 watts. This value would be higher if the CPU and GPU were working at their respective maximum speeds. The power supply has a nominal output of 33.25 watts.

Power Consumption
Off / Standbydarklight 0.39 / 0.46 Watt
Idledarkmidlight 2 / 3.6 / 4.4 Watt
Load midlight 16.5 / 14.2 Watt
 color bar
Key: min: dark, med: mid, max: light        Metrahit Energy
Currently we use the Metrahit Energy, a professional single phase power quality and energy measurement digital multimeter, for our measurements. Find out more about it here. All of our test methods can be found here.

Battery Runtime

We simulated the load of accessing websites via a script in our practical Wi-Fi test. The energy profile "balanced" was activated, energy-saving functions were disabled, and the display brightness was set to about 150 cd/m². The VivoBook achieved a runtime of 8:13 h.

Our test device's battery showed a wear level of 4%. The battery runtime should be increased by a few more minutes with a fully functional battery.

Battery Runtime
WiFi Websurfing (Edge 41)
8h 13min
Battery Runtime - WiFi Websurfing
Dell Latitude 3180
Pentium N4200, HD Graphics 505, 42 Wh
621 min +26%
Acer TravelMate B117-M-P16Q
N3710, HD Graphics 405 (Braswell), 49 Wh
584 min +18%
Acer Spin 1 SP111-31-C79E
Celeron N3450, HD Graphics 500, 48.9 Wh
564 min +14%
Asus VivoBook E200HA-FD0041TS
Z8350, HD Graphics 400 (Braswell), 38 Wh
534 min +8%
Asus VivoBook E12 E203NA-FD026T
Celeron N3350, HD Graphics 500, 38 Wh
493 min
Lenovo Ideapad 120s-11IAP
Celeron N3350, HD Graphics 500, 32 Wh
434 min -12%
Lenovo Ideapad 110S-11IBR
N3060, HD Graphics 400 (Braswell), 39.1 Wh
384 min -22%

Pros

+ works noiselessly
+ barely heats up
+ good battery runtimes
+ lightweight
+ AC Wi-Fi
+ Type-C USB

Cons

- dark, viewing-angle dependent screen
- low amount of storage space
- only 2 GB of RAM

Verdict

The Asus VivoBook E12 E202NA-FD026T, courtesy of notebooksbilliger.de
The Asus VivoBook E12 E202NA-FD026T, courtesy of notebooksbilliger.de

With the VivoBook E12, the user receives a very lightweight 11.6-inch netbook with an Apollo Lake processor that offers enough processing power for simple office and Internet applications. A decoder that has been integrated into the GPU relieves the load on the processor during video playback. The device works noiselessly and does not heat up particularly.

Asus delivers a simple, lightweight and mobile device for typing, surfing and video playback.

The installed keyboard leaves a decent impression overall. Furthermore, the device has a good battery runtime and a warranty of two years. The glossy 11.6-inch display will not cause much enthusiasm. Asus used a dark, viewing-angle dependent model. Only the contrast is decent.

Users who purchase the VivoBook will not be spoiled by an overabundance of storage space. The system drive has a total capacity of 32 GB. Out-of-the-box, about 11.1 GB is usable. After subtracting the 10 GB required for installing Windows 10 version updates, only slightly more than 1 GB of storage space remains. To play it safe, the purchase of a microSD card is recommended.

The VivoBook is available for about 250 Euros (~$312) - an acceptable price. Users looking to save money should consider the Lenovo Ideapad 120s-11IAP 81A4005UGE, which is equipped with the same hardware platform and which is available for 180 Euros (~$225). However, it uses Windows 10 S as operating system. Microsoft is still offering a free upgrade to Windows 10 Pro until March 31, 2018.

Asus VivoBook E12 E203NA-FD026T - 02/08/2018 v6(old)
Sascha Mölck

Chassis
75 /  98 → 77%
Keyboard
73%
Pointing Device
83%
Connectivity
37 / 80 → 47%
Weight
75 / 35-78 → 93%
Battery
91%
Display
74%
Games Performance
47 / 68 → 69%
Application Performance
47 / 87 → 54%
Temperature
90 / 91 → 99%
Noise
100%
Audio
56 / 91 → 62%
Camera
27 / 85 → 32%
Average
67%
80%
Subnotebook - Weighted Average

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> Expert Reviews and News on Laptops, Smartphones and Tech Innovations > Reviews > Asus VivoBook E12 E203NA (N3350, HD) Laptop Review
Sascha Mölck, 2018-02-15 (Update: 2020-05-19)