ASUS Vivobook S14 COPILOT+ PC Review from a Mechanical Engineer's Perspective

This time, I've bought a Windows machine for the first time in a while, so I'll be reviewing it from my own unique perspective (engine design).

Up until now, I've been using a 4th generation iPad Pro (A12X Bionic) 256GB model with the official Magic Keyboard at home. It was quite convenient and good for everyday use, but it's getting a bit old, and I've started to feel it's inconvenient when writing blogs and things like that (it's difficult to do anything a little complicated).

While you can basically do almost everything on an iPad Pro that you can do on a PC, it still can't compete with a PC in terms of efficiency (there are overwhelmingly more Windows-compatible apps).

So, since I'm finally getting a new Windows machine after a long time, I decided to go for the COPILOT+PC.

I'm not an expert on the intricacies of PCs themselves, but I'll be reviewing them from the perspective of someone who has used a fair number of PCs for personal and professional purposes, as well as from the viewpoint of a mechanical designer.

About the ASUS VIVOBOOK S14 COPILOT+PC

The manufacturer is ASUS, a Taiwanese company. While they have a fairly high global PC market share of 5%, their general recognition in Japan isn't that high (though gadget enthusiasts might know them).

It all started in 1989 in Taipei, Taiwan, when four people founded a company manufacturing and selling motherboards and other related parts.

It seems that the company grew thanks to the popularity of its high-performance motherboards, and started manufacturing PCs around 2000, leading to its current state (it's like the American Dream).

It seems that even now, their market share for components other than the PC itself remains quite high.

My reasons for choosing ASUS were its high cost-performance ratio for high-performance PCs, and the fact that they develop and manufacture their own components such as motherboards, which gave me high expectations for their technical capabilities and reliability.

These days, most PCs are assembled from parts bought from other companies, but ASUS has a fair amount of parts that it develops and manufactures in-house. I choose them because I expect performance (power supply, cooling, durability, etc.) and know-how that aren't reflected in the numbers.

The next model I chose was the VIVOBOOK S14, which is compatible with COPILOT+PC, and its official model number is ASUS VIVOBOOK S14 M5406WA-AI9321W.

The VIVOBOOK series is ASUS's standard main series, offering a wide range of models in terms of price (approximately 50,000 to 300,000 yen), size (14 to 16 inches), and performance (there are so many types that it can be confusing).

This model is part of that series, featuring COPILOT+PC compatibility and an AMD Ryzen AI9 HX370 CPU.

The reason I chose this PC is that I don't frequently replace my computers, so I wanted something I could use for 5-6 years. I prioritized a high-performance CPU and 32GB of memory, and I made my decision based on a balance between those requirements and the price.

Regarding COPILOT+PC compatibility, at the time of purchase (February 2025), there aren't many outstanding special features, but considering the future, various functions are expected to be included in Windows, so I chose it with high expectations.

One aspect of it is that I simply wanted to buy a PC with decent performance, and COPILOT+PC was the one that came along.

Now let's take a look at the actual device.

Opened

Following the review style of this blog, let's start by looking at the outer box.

The outer box is simple, with the product name printed directly onto the cardboard material. In recent years, eco-friendliness has become an important selling point, so it seems that simple boxes like this are becoming popular for a variety of products.

What caught my attention on the outer box was that it listed the specifications of the box itself.

Let's open it. This is the most exciting moment.

Let's take out the contents.

Here is a list of the contents.

It's great that it has only the bare minimum of components. While having lots of accessories can be exciting at the time of purchase, in reality, you end up with a lot of unused and unreadable documents that just get in the way, so this is a good thing.

I'll go through the documents.

The included documentation is quite minimal. However, it does include a booklet introducing the keyboard backlight and ASUS's management app, which suggests these are significant selling points.

Finally, it seems the leftover outer box can be used as a PC stand. That's a pretty interesting idea.

Since we have the opportunity, let's actually try using it later.

Main unit exterior and accessories

Now let's take a look at the exterior of the device.

It's quite simple. In terms of size, it's a standard 14-inch notebook; I'll provide more detailed dimensions later.

This is the back side.

The back side has a cooling vent, speaker, and base.

As will be explained in more detail in the mechanism section, the large cooling vents and the base designed to prevent them from being blocked have a very significant impact on cooling performance.

The speakers are Harman Kardon certified speakers, featuring two 1W drivers and Dolby Atoms-compatible stereo output.

The sound quality is actually quite good, and there are plenty of settings options, which is nice. However, it's only at the level of a laptop's built-in speakers, so it falls short when compared to dedicated audio equipment or the iPad Pro 12.9-inch, which focuses on sound quality.

People who are particular about sound quality for gaming or watching movies might use external speakers of their choice, so this might not be very appealing to them. However, I listen to music and watch videos while working, so even a slight improvement in sound quality is very helpful.

Next, let's look at the left side.

From left to right, it has an HDMI port, a USB 3.2 Type-C Gen1 PD compatible port, a USB 4 Type-C port (40Gbps compatible), a microSD card reader, and a headphone jack. Upon checking the USB 4 port, it appears to support 40Gbps PCIe, PD power delivery, and video output, suggesting performance close to Thunderbolt 4. This allows for high-speed communication, offering considerable expandability.

If you make a PC too compact and simple, you might end up with a lack of external connection ports, which can be a problem, so having a full set of ports is very convenient.

It's on the right.

It has two USB Type-A ports. USB Type-A is still a commonly used port, so I think that's a good point.

We will proceed by looking straight ahead with the PC closed.

The PC did not have a locking mechanism to keep it closed.

This is the back side.

On the back, there are eight large cooling air outlets. This is also a very important point that has a significant impact on cooling, so I will describe it in more detail later.

At this point, let's check the overall size, dimensions, and weight.

Here's a comparison of the size. I'll show you an iPhone Xs and a sheet of A4 paper.

Detailed dimensions.

It's the weight.

It weighed 1295g, which is almost exactly the 1300g listed in the catalog.

In terms of overall size, it's slightly larger than A4, with a maximum thickness of 14mm and a minimum thickness of 13mm, and a light weight of 1.3kg, making it a convenient size to carry around.

While there are lightweight PCs available that weigh less than 1kg and are similar in size, they come at the cost of screen size, battery life, and durability. Personally, I think a 14-inch screen is the best option if you're looking for just one PC.

Now let's take a look at the screen and keyboard.

First, let's open it to 180 degrees.

Open it completely to 180 degrees.

The hinges are secured at two points on the left and right, and the hinges themselves are supported by pins of a fairly large diameter, so they seem sturdy.

The screen size is 14 inches, and the detailed dimensions are as follows:

The device has a camera on the top and a shutter that can be closed.

The camera is a 207-megapixel IR (infrared) camera compatible with Windows Hello facial recognition, so it works even in the dark. It's also very responsive and convenient; as an iPad and iPhone user accustomed to facial recognition, I find it extremely comfortable (it feels similar to Apple's).

Next, let's look at the keyboard.

It's a fairly standard keyboard with very few unusual key layouts.

The keyboard's size is as shown in the following photo.

While 14-inch laptops sometimes have keyboards that are too small and difficult to use, this model has a well-balanced size that feels just right.

My main concern was the spacing between keys; if they're too close together, typos increase dramatically, but this model has a good spacing. Despite the compact size of the unit, the keys are spaced reasonably far apart, which comes at the cost of making the rightmost key smaller. However, in practical use, I rarely feel any dissatisfaction or experience any typos.

The keys have a firm feel and a large stroke, making it a very comfortable keyboard to type on.

There's quite a bit of personal preference here, but I personally like the clacky feel of old-fashioned, large desktop keyboards, and this model feels similar (it doesn't clack as much as the old keyboards, but it still makes noise).

Next is the COPILOT key, which is a hallmark of COPILOT+PC.

While Windows allows one-touch access to COPILOT, I currently don't see the need for it because I have COPILOT on my taskbar and it's easily accessible through my browser (COPILOT itself is convenient).

Also, since I often use the Ctrl key with my right hand for shortcuts, I found it inconvenient, so I used the POWER TOY app to assign Ctrl to the COPILOT key (unfortunately).

Next are the power button and delete key, which don't have a very good reputation.

Personally, I don't make the mistake of pressing the wrong key, so it doesn't bother me (partly because I frequently use Backspace).

Next is the touchpad.

It appears to be 1.4 times wider than the previous model. While it's quite spacious, it's easy to use without accidentally touching the wrong keys when using a tie clip.

ASUS's unique feature is that functions are assigned to the edges of the touchpad (this can be turned off in the settings).

I mainly use it for adjusting the volume and screen brightness, and it works conveniently without any malfunctions.

The photo above shows the sticker still attached, with the message "Please remove before use," but I've left it on because the sticker makes it easy to see how to operate it. Ideally, I'd like the instructions printed directly onto the body.

I was personally very interested in the feature that allows you to use a numeric keypad with ASUS touchpads, but this model does not support that feature.

While ASUS products often feature rather flashy designs, this model has a simple and basic aesthetic. Despite its simplicity, it boasts a rich array of external interfaces such as USB ports, making it highly expandable.

Power adapter included

Let's take a look at the power adapter.

The power supply connects to the main unit via USB Type-C and the adapter provides a fairly high power output of 90W. Most laptops typically require 35W to 60W (there are two USB Type-C power ports on the main unit).

This model likely has a higher power consumption of 90W due to its high-performance CPU (AMD RYZEN AI9 HX370), large-capacity battery, and fast charging capabilities (most 14-inch class laptops use around 65W).

This is the size of the power adapter.

I think it's quite compact for a 90W class power supply.

It's the weight.

It weighs 368.5g including the power cable.

The combined weight of the device and cables is nearly 1.7 kg, and the bulkiness of the cables makes it cumbersome to carry around.

Therefore, I think it's convenient to primarily use the built-in battery when you're out and about. Also, since it uses USB Type-C for power supply, which is highly versatile, using a mobile battery with a large output and capacity is also a good idea.

However, since laptops have high power requirements and large-capacity batteries, I think that mobile batteries that do not support USB PD and have a high output will not work.

Features of the ASUS VIVOBOOK S14

From here, we'll look at the monitor, cooling system, battery, RGB keyboard, and MIL-STD-810H compliance that ASUS is promoting (CPU and other processing performance will be discussed later).

OLED monitor (ASUS Lumina OLED)

This model features a 14-inch 3K (2880 x 1800 pixels) organic display with a 120Hz refresh rate (0.2ms response time) (apparently called ASUS Lumina OLED).

It's very difficult to convey the beauty of the screen in a blog, but I'll include a picture of the screen taken with an iPhone 12.

The colors are clear and the images are very beautiful. I'm already familiar with OLED displays from my iPhone Xs and iPhone 12, but I feel like the characteristic color reproduction is even more clearly visible on a larger screen.

Furthermore, the response time is quite fast at 120Hz (0.2ms), so flickering is almost nonexistent.

For comparison, let's look at the Liquid Retina display (resolution 2732 x 2048 pixels) of the 4th generation iPad Pro.

The image on the left is an iPad, and the image on the right is a VIVOBOOK S14. I took screenshots of the screens with an iPhone 12 for comparison.

The iPad also has a nice screen, but in terms of color reproduction, the VIVOBOOK S14 looks better, as expected from an OLED display.

Next, let's look at the characteristics of OLED displays, which, compared to LCDs, are less affected by screen brightness in terms of black and color reproduction.

The conditions were that the screen brightness was set to the lowest level, and the screen was photographed and uploaded using an iPhone 12.

The colors are displayed beautifully even when the screen is dimmed. The light shining in on the left side of the screen is a reflection from the iPhone 12 itself, so it's not a display malfunction or defect (it's just difficult to photograph due to the reflection).

In addition, OLED displays are extremely thin, as is their characteristic of being thin and lightweight (and also energy-efficient).

On the other hand, a drawback of OLED displays is screen burn-in and a shorter lifespan compared to LCDs. However, ASUS seems to have incorporated OLED CARE features such as pixel shift and pixel refresh to prevent burn-in (which can apparently be turned off in the settings, but is ON by default).

Furthermore, it appears they offer free panel replacement within the warranty period (this does not apply if OLED CARE is disabled).

Although the manufacturers are different, OLED displays have been used since the iPhone X and haven't caused any major problems. Since some time has passed since their adoption, the technology has matured, so I don't think there will be many issues.

Furthermore, ASUS has been a pioneer in adopting OLED displays from an early stage, and is now the world's number one seller of OLED PCs. Therefore, they have accumulated a wealth of know-how and experience, so you can rest assured.

cooling system

Now let's take a look at the cooling system.

The cooling system is extremely important for PCs, especially laptops with limited space. If it's not cooled properly, performance will suffer, performance will degrade, and in the worst case, it can lead to damage.

I've ruined PCs with overheating in the past, so after the CPU and memory, this is the next thing I worry about (perhaps it's because of my profession).

Cooling performance is an item that doesn't often come up in catalog specifications or in sales pitches from retailers, so let's take a closer look at it.

Let's take a look at an image of the cooling system borrowed from the ASUS official website.

I've tried to translate the diagram above into a layout for the actual machine.

I'll briefly explain the cooling principle (it's pretty much the same for PC cooling, not just ASUS).

This is how it's cooled, and ASUS systems use two thick, long heat pipes, resulting in a very high-performance cooling system (heat exchange is proportional to the surface area).

The fact that these two heat pipes are cooled by two cooling fans suggests that the cooling performance is quite high.

Furthermore, it's a very carefully designed system, as it includes not only heat pipes but also a heat sink for natural convection cooling.

Other manufacturers' 14-inch class drives typically have one heat pipe and one fan (they don't have a heatsink for air cooling).

Next, let's look at the fans themselves.

Notebook PCs typically use centrifugal fans instead of the axial fans found in desktop PCs, and centrifugal fans can be broadly categorized into two types: turbo fans and sirocco fans.

It's likely that they've opted for two centrifugal fans to balance airflow and noise (it's hard to tell from the video on ASUS's official website, as the rotation directions are different on the left and right sides).

The performance of a sirocco fan is proportional to its diameter, the number of blades, and its rotational speed, with the airflow increasing in proportion to these factors. As airflow increases, so does the noise, so it is common practice to design the blade shape to reduce noise.

Analyzing the fan in the video on the ASUS official website, it appears to have around 100 blades, a 3D shape, and a high-speed, compact, and easy-to-control brushless motor, making it a very high-performance design.

Based on these specifications, I believe this fan offers the highest level of performance in terms of balancing airflow and noise levels.

Based on what we've discussed so far, let's take a look at the airflow using the actual equipment.

The layout is good, with large areas allocated for both the air intake and exhaust. The air intake is not just for the fan, but also quite large, so a considerable cooling effect from natural heat dissipation of the entire circuit board can be expected.

On the other hand, the wide air intake makes me worry about dust and debris being sucked in, but it seems like it will be fine since there is a dust filter covering the entire air intake.

Even with such a carefully designed cooling system, it's pointless if the air intake is blocked, so a base is attached to the bottom to ensure the unit is properly elevated.

Even though it comes with a stand, try to avoid blocking the air intake as much as possible during use (such as using it for extended periods on your lap).

For reference, although it's a bit old, the air intake and exhaust layout of a certain Japanese-made 14-inch notebook PC with an Intel Core i7 processor is as shown in the photo below (it was a fairly high-performance notebook PC at the time, and this is not a bad specification, but rather a typical one).

If you compare them, you'll see that this design pays a lot of attention to cooling.

The actual cooling performance is also very high; it rarely gets hot during normal use, and it's so quiet that you hardly notice the fan is running (the sound of the room's air conditioner is louder).

While it does make some noise when running benchmark tests or heavy-duty tasks with the fan at full speed, it doesn't get too hot and cools down quickly, returning to its original quiet state.

This powerful cooling system should allow the CPU and other components to perform at their full potential, maintaining high performance for a long period of time (this was one of the main reasons I chose ASUS). Furthermore, the fact that it's a 14-inch size—not too compact—is likely what allows for such a sophisticated cooling system.

This is an area where a PC manufacturer's philosophy, technical capabilities, and overall performance are clearly revealed, so if you're interested, I think it would be interesting to check the backs of display models in electronics stores, as you'll get a clear picture of what's going on.

battery

The battery is quite large, with a capacity of 75Wh, and the manufacturer has published a stated battery life of 11 hours using the JEITA 2.0 measurement method.

I think the ability to accommodate such a large battery is one of the strengths of a 14-inch screen, which isn't quite as small.

Based on the specifications of the actual battery, estimated from Windows PowerShell and compatible batteries for other models, it appears to be a lithium-ion battery with 4 cells, 15.56V, and a capacity of 4880mAh.

Typically, 4-cell batteries have a voltage of 14.4-14.8V, but this model seems to have a slightly higher voltage of 15.56V, possibly due to the device's high power requirements. Looking at compatible batteries from other manufacturers, most are around 15V at most.

At 15.56V, it produces 75Wh (voltage x current x time), so the capacity naturally increases in proportion to the voltage, and with 4880mAh it lasts a very long time.

It makes sense that the power supply requires 90W.

When I actually used the device normally without taking any power-saving measures such as dimming the screen brightness or activating power-saving mode, and ran it solely on battery power, the battery capacity dropped from 76% to 26% after 5 hours of almost continuous use (with a 1-hour break in between).
(How I use it: I play videos and music on YouTube while simultaneously writing blog posts, editing photos, browsing the internet, etc.)

In my case, as you can see from the graph, the battery drains at a fairly uniform rate, so if I charge it to 100% and then it goes down to 0%, it will last about 10 hours. In a more realistic scenario, if I charge it to 100% and then leave 20% remaining, it will last about 8 hours.

The figures above represent the time spent using the PC continuously, so in reality, I don't think many people use their PCs on battery power alone for 8 hours straight, even for work. Therefore, it should last approximately 1 to 1.5 days (plus power saving).

If you're still worried, this model uses USB Type-C for power, so you can also use a mobile battery to charge it further. However, since the PC's battery is 15.56V and 4880mAh, you'll need a mobile battery with comparable specifications.

For reference, a typical 5V mobile battery can theoretically be fully charged with around 15000mAh, but considering charging losses and voltage boosting losses, I think around 20000mAh is necessary.

Ideally, the output should be the same as the power supply, around 90W, but at least 60W is desirable, so a USB PD compatible power supply with a large output would be best (the calculation method is voltage x current; for example, 5V and 1A output is 5W, and 5V and 5A is 25W).

I actually tried it with a suitable portable battery I had on hand (5V 2A, 10W), but it didn't work at all and wouldn't charge.

If you're going to buy a new one, I think it's best to go with a 100W mobile battery, even if it's a bit more expensive. Using a good quality mobile battery will allow you to fully utilize the device's charging capabilities, charging it from empty to full in just 1.8 hours, which is less than 2 hours. I think the benefits more than justify the price difference.

• Mobile battery compatible with laptops
Considering the balance between price, performance, and size, this seems like a good option. It should provide one full charge.

Also, since this model uses USB Type-C, it can be powered by means other than the included power adapter, such as a USB hub via a cable. However, the output is still an issue, and you should be aware that you basically need the same 90W as the power supply.

RGB keyboard

RGB keyboards are a feature that ASUS excels at, allowing you to illuminate the keyboard with backlights in any color you like.

Here, we'll actually light up an RGB keyboard. You can change the colors and patterns in Windows Settings → Personalization → Dynamic Lighting.

First up is the basic blue.

It's red.

It's green.

Other interesting features include breathing modes where the color changes over time, and various other modes such as WAVE and wheel modes.

Breathing mode (video)

WAVE mode (video)

Wheel mode (video)

It's a pretty interesting feature and quite satisfying, but when you increase the brightness and make a prominent color like red the main focus, moving the light in modes like WAVE can be distracting and cause eye strain.

I've been using the setting with a faint blue light because it seems to reduce eye strain, which I find to be quite nice.

These features are interesting and typical of ASUS, a company known for its gaming PCs.

Regarding compliance with MIL-STD-810H

This product conforms to the MIL-STD-810H standard, which has been popular for several years now. While not all products in ASUS's lineup comply with this standard, it seems that the number of such products is gradually increasing.

In recent years, products other than ASUS PCs have started to claim MIL-STD compliance, and I think there are some people who are not familiar with it, so I'll explain it a little (it's also called MIL-SPEC).

MIL-STD (Military Standard) is a set of standards established by the U.S. Department of Defense to organize and standardize materials procured for the U.S. military. To give a familiar example, it's similar to JIS or ISO (like JIS and ISO, MIL-STD is basically public information).

Many people have probably heard of or seen the MIL-STD Picatinny rail, a well-known example of a standardized rail (before this was standardized, there was absolutely no uniformity).

MIL STD encompasses a wide range of regulations, including not only standards for physical objects but also programming languages ​​and radio wave regulations.

The MIL-STD-810H standard, which is the subject of this discussion, is a type of environmental testing standard. Simply put, it describes "testing methods to ensure that equipment does not break down due to external factors (water, dust, vibration, etc.) within its service life."

The actual content is quite extensive. Since it's publicly available information, if you actually download it, it's over 1000 pages in PDF format, and I only glanced at it and didn't read the whole thing.

If we pick one of those and simplify it considerably, it would be something like, "The method for the drop impact test is to drop an object with hardness YY from a height of XXm in the Z direction."

This regulation only specifies the approach to testing, various testing methods, and procedures. Therefore, the crucial point is that the implementer must decide and judge for each item, such as "Which items should be tested? Is one test sufficient? If repeated, how many times? Is it acceptable if the unit is damaged during testing as long as it continues to function?", as well as evaluate the results and set target values ​​(this can lead to differences, such as Company A conducting similar tests 5 times while Company B conducts them 10 times).

Therefore, even if something is generally described as compliant with MIL-STD-810H, it's important to consider what items were tested, the appropriateness of the number of tests performed, and whether the results were evaluated correctly.

In other words, simply being compliant with MIL-STD-810H does not mean that it will have the same performance and durability as military equipment (JIS and ISO compliant products are not the same as high-performance products).

Actual military equipment is adopted only after the required test items and the required values ​​for the test results have been clearly specified and passed (although this is generally classified information, it is sometimes made public in the requirements specifications).

For example, even with the same type of computer as this product, the computers used by soldiers on the front lines, who have a wide range of durability requirements and high target values, are monstrously robust, resembling attaché cases (and are actually sold, but at a high price).

On the other hand, inside the base and in secure positions, they use the same regular laptops that we use.

Even within the U.S. military, when procuring equipment in accordance with the same MIL-STD-810H standard, you can see significant differences depending on which items were requested and what the results of those requests were (for office use, the balance between security, performance, durability, and cost is important, and for some reason, Dell is often chosen).

Therefore, if a general product claims to meet MIL-STD-810H standards, it's important to check which test items were used and what the test results were, as this is not very helpful (in extreme cases, they might only test one item once).

Generally, any reputable company that claims MIL-STD compliance, not just for PCs, should have published some kind of report, so I recommend checking it out (it's quite interesting).

Based on the above, when we look at this product's compliance with MIL-STD-810H, it appears that the following 12 categories and 26 types of test items were adopted.

The table above is a list I created based on information from the ASUS official website, showing what test items and content were tested.

While I've omitted the specific test content and evaluation methods from the table I created, they are listed on the ASUS official website. This makes using MIL-STD-810H very meaningful, as it reveals what ASUS anticipates and what level of durability they are ensuring.

ASUS's efforts toward MIL-STD-810H

Furthermore, when I roughly looked into the test items of products from other companies that claim to meet MIL-STD-810 standards, they generally conduct tests on an average of 7 to 10 categories, so it's clear that ASUS puts a lot of effort into this.

Looking at the test results report, I couldn't find any test results for this model, the VIVOBOOK S14 (M5406WA), but looking at a similar model, the VIVOBOOK S14 OLED (S5404V), the results were as follows (perhaps because there are many older models and the reports haven't been updated yet?).

Out of 26 items, 23 were approved, but it seems that 3 items were not passed.

The following three points are the areas of the exam I failed:

12. Use in high-temperature, low-humidity environments: Power on, 32-49°C, 72 hours

21. Freezing and thawing test... 95% humidity RH, 30°C/-10°C, 1 hour for 3 cycles.

23. Thermal shock test: Power off, -51°C to 71°C, 1 hour for 3 cycles.

In all cases, it appears that the test failed, particularly the high-temperature side, which is related to heat.

Although it didn't pass the test, the test conditions were quite harsh and extreme, so I think it has sufficient durability for use in Japan.

This result is very useful because if you are particularly concerned, you can consider taking measures such as "letting the device rest for a while when using it in high-temperature environments exceeding 30°C."

The 23 tests that were passed were extremely rigorous, demonstrating that the product boasts exceptionally high durability.

As evidence of durability, several companies conduct failure rate surveys by manufacturer. The latest 2023 survey results show that ASUS's failure rate is lower compared to other manufacturers, indicating that it is a highly reliable manufacturer (the survey details are not specified, so this is for reference only and I will not go into further detail).

ASUS's commitment to MIL-STD-810H only really began in earnest in 2023, so you can expect even greater durability and feel more confident using their products (they also provide thorough reports, which makes them trustworthy).

If you're interested, ASUS has a detailed report on their official website, so please take a look. It's quite interesting.

ASUS consumer notebook PC MIL-STD-810H test report

Performance check

Here, I'll discuss performance. However, since I'm a mechanical engineer and not a PC expert, I'll focus on actual usability rather than a detailed performance review.

The main components installed in this model are listed below.

This laptop has a fairly high-performance configuration.

Looking at the CPU in more detail, it is equipped with an AMD RYZEN AI9 HX370, and its main specifications are as follows:

Based on the specs, I'm quite amazed to see that it performs at least as well as, if not better than, the massive, professional workstation I used about 10 years ago for high-end CAD like CATIA V5, as well as for transient structural and fluid analysis—an Intel Xeon 12-core, 24-thread machine (I recall it costing over 100 million yen).

It's amazing that this machine, even though it's from over 10 years ago, is equivalent to or better than the machines used in cutting-edge engine design, performing not only CAD but also engine intake and exhaust simulations and in-cylinder fluid analysis (it's a huge machine, nearly 80cm tall and weighing over 10kg).

In actual use, it's a high-performance chip as advertised. Looking at the usage in Task Manager, it only reaches about 40% when launching software, and generally stays below 10%, at just a few percent.

Because it's designed to be energy-efficient, has good performance, a low load, and high cooling performance, you hardly feel any heat generation. The cooling fan does run, but it operates at a low speed (500-2000 rpm) and is very quiet, so it's almost silent.

The GPU has decent performance, slightly below the Geforce RTX 3050 mobile released in 2021, so with some adjustments to the screen settings, it should be able to consistently run FPS games like Call of Duty at 60 FPS (though Call of Duty Warzone seems to be a challenge).

The GPU shares memory with the main unit and is basically allocated automatically, but the included AMD app allows you to allocate up to 24GB. Since this model has 32GB of memory, being able to easily allocate memory to the GPU with plenty of headroom is a significant advantage.

Also, AMD's app is interesting because it lets you see the GPU's activity status, similar to a task manager.

Regarding AI performance, as of February 2025, there are very few applications that utilize the NPU, and it's impossible to even see the NPU in action, so it's difficult to say for sure. However, the overall specs are 80 TOPS, with 50 TOPS for the NPU, which is among the highest for a laptop, so we can expect great things from the AI ​​features that will likely be released in the future.

We'll take a closer look at these CPUs and GPUs later with some simple benchmark tests.

With a large 32GB of RAM, I can work quite comfortably. RAM capacity was a key point of focus for me when I bought it. When I use my PC, I listen to music on YouTube and Music, have about 10 browser tabs open, and also use AI programs like COPILOT and Gemini, so I'm constantly using nearly 40% of the RAM (I'm using it rather lavishly because I have plenty of headroom).

If it were 16GB, it would already be using 75-80% of its capacity at this point, approaching its limit, so this is a huge help.

The memory transfer speed is 7500 MT/sec, which seems quite fast, but I couldn't really tell the difference.

Regarding SSDs, I didn't have much of a preference since I use cloud services and external HDDs, but this model only came in a 1TB configuration, so I just went with that. That said, a large-capacity SSD is never a hindrance, so I'm using it quite conveniently.

The card is PCI Express 4.0 compliant, and since it seems to have fast write and read speeds, I tested the transfer speed and got the following results.

Fast SSDs in laptops typically exceed 3GB for both read and write speeds, but this model was just over 2GB. Generally, anything over 1GB is considered quite fast, so this is more than sufficient performance (with irregular data, it achieved an astonishing read speed of over 13GB and a write speed of over 35GB). In actual use, transferring photos and other data is incredibly fast (though limited by the recipient's speed).

The device features the latest Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 4, the previous Wi-Fi 6E, and Bluetooth 5.3, but performance in these areas is largely determined by the Wi-Fi environment and the Bluetooth capabilities of the other device, so it's unlikely to be a problem (it's mostly dependent on the internet environment, including Wi-Fi, rather than the PC itself).

Overall, for a device in the 20 yen price range, it offers remarkably high performance, and since it uses almost the latest devices, I think it's a cost-effective model that can be used comfortably for a long time (it seems like it could last for about 7-8 years in terms of performance).

CPU benchmark test

We will check the CPU performance using Passmark and the GPU performance using 3DMark.

Since it's my personal equipment, I won't be using a setup that's too focused on scoring, but rather measuring it in its usual, everyday configuration.

For the setup, we'll measure performance using two fan modes that you normally switch between while the power is connected: Standard Mode and Performance Mode (which can be easily changed using the included My ASUS app).

This is the Passmark measurement result for the CPU in standard fan mode.

There are various numbers, but the ones to look at are the overall performance (CPU Mark 35915) and the single-core performance (CPU Single Threaded 4206).

Generally, a total score exceeding 30000 is considered high performance, capable of handling 3D processing and CAD, but this model easily surpassed that with a score of 35925. Furthermore, looking at the PassMark database for the same CPU, the score is approximately 35201, indicating that this model is performing quite well.

Next are the results measured in fan mode at full speed.

To my surprise, the overall score increased by about 2000 to 38148, so it must be because the overall package, including the cooling performance and motherboard, is good.

Let's compare it to the CPUs of laptops in a similar price range (for reference only).

In terms of overall performance, it ranks first, and while the Intel Core Ultra 9 285H appears to be faster in single-threaded tests, the numbers are comparable.

In Passmark's overall comparison of laptop CPUs, it ranks in the top 15, and using a measured fan speed of 38148, it's about the same as Apple's M4 PRO, placing it in the top 10, so it's a considerably fast CPU.

AMD has always had a reputation for being cost-effective and having high multi-core performance, and the results confirmed that.

Next, we'll check the GPU's capabilities using 3DMark's Time Spy (performance measurement in a DIRECT12X environment).

First, we'll measure the memory allocation to the GPU in fan mode with the default automatic setting.

I think 3954 is a pretty high score for an integrated GPU.

We will measure the performance with the fan mode set to full speed and the GPU memory allocation set to 16GB.

Regarding the GPU, there wasn't much change in performance depending on the settings, but the score exceeded 4000.

This score roughly falls between the GeForce GTX 1650 (around 4000, depending on PC configuration) and the GeForce RTX 3050 Mobile (similarly 4000-5000). I think it's positioned above entry-level GPUs but slightly below mid-range.

This performance from the integrated GPU is quite impressive, and I think you can play a lot of games with it. If you lower the graphics quality and frame rate in the settings, you should be able to play most games. If you want to play with high graphics quality and frame rate, this device has USB 4 for high-speed communication, so you could use an external GPU.

Summary

Equipped with an AMD Ryzen AI9 HX370 (Radeon 890M), 32GB of memory, and a 1TB SSD, this model offers extremely high performance while remaining very affordable at around 210,000 yen.

Actual performance test results show it's on par with or better than a higher-end PC (it seems to have an advantage of around 5 to 10 yen).

Even the less visible components, such as the memory, SSD communication standards, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth modules, are almost entirely up-to-date and show no signs of cutting corners.

Not only are the internal components high-quality, but the overall packaging is also top-notch, featuring a beautiful, high-performance OLED display, a solid keyboard, and a wide range of external connection ports.

In particular, the USB 4 Type-C port supports 40Gbps PCIe, Power Drive standards, and video output, offering performance close to Thunderbolt 4. This allows for high-speed communication with external SSDs and GPUs, making it highly expandable and extremely convenient.

Personally, what I found most impressive about the packaging technology was the cooling system, which features dual fans in a compact 14-inch notebook (not only are the specifications good, but the design of the cooling system itself is also excellent).

In reality, the cooling performance is quite powerful, positively impacting the performance score and resulting in higher-than-average values ​​(the quality of our own motherboard likely contributes to this as well). Furthermore, it rarely feels hot during use, which I believe will have a significant positive effect on preventing degradation of internal components (it's also very quiet).

Furthermore, it has diligently addressed MIL-STD-810H standards, incorporating many of its features and achieving excellent results, so it should have high durability against external factors and last a long time (it should last about 7-8 years overall).

The main unit is 14 inches, which isn't particularly compact by today's standards, but it's lightweight at 1.3 kg and has a large-capacity built-in battery, so I think it's suitable for carrying around (although I haven't taken it out that much yet).

On the other hand, some points of concern are that the OLED panel has strong light reflection, it would be even more convenient if it had a touch panel, and I hope that AI functions that utilize an NPU will be released soon.

Panel reflections can be addressed with an anti-reflective film, touch panel functionality is unfortunately being abandoned, and AI seems to be something to look forward to in the future.

Overall, this is a very well-rounded laptop, and I'm extremely satisfied with it after actually purchasing and using it, so I can highly recommend it.

I hope this will be helpful for those considering purchasing this product.

・ASUS Vivobook S14 COPILOT+PC M5406-AI9321W
These are the models I reviewed.

・ASUS Vivobook S14 COPILOT+PC M5406WA-AI9245W
This model has essentially the same design but features an AMD Ryzen AI9 HX365 CPU, 24GB of memory, and a 512GB SSD, making it an entry-level model at an affordable price of around 155,000 yen. It's an ASUS Store exclusive model. *It offers excellent value for money, and I had a hard time deciding which one to get.

This model is basically the same design as the other models in the series, but it features an Intel Core Ultra series CPU and GPU. It also has some upgrades, including WiFi 7, Bluetooth 5.4, and two USB Type-C Thunderbolt 4 ports.

・ASUS Vivobook S14 COPILOT+PC S5406SA-U5165W
It features an Intel Core 5 226V processor, 16GB of memory, and a 512GB SSD, and is priced at around 160,000 yen.

・ASUS Vivobook S14 COPILOT+PC S5406SA-U7321W
It features an Intel Core Ultra 7 258V processor, 32GB of memory, and a 1TB SSD, and is priced at around 200,000 yen.

I also do reviews of other gadgets, so please check them out if you're interested.