The Asus Vivobook 15 is a popular choice for those who need a low-priced laptop. It’s got a recent processor, a roomy 15.6-inch screen, and most importantly for me, 16GB of RAM. Today, Staples is selling it online for $479.99, nearly $200 off the retail price. But if you can get to a physical Staples store, you could even get it for $379.99.
It’s a tale of two product listings. See, the same laptop is listed for sale here (available for delivery only, to most places in the United States) as well as here (available for pickup at Staples retail stores that still have it in stock). If you happen to be near one, you can get it for an extra $100 off with that latter listing. The online deal is already a great price for a new, budget laptop; the local deal is downright unbeatable for the specs.
The Asus Vivobook 15 isn’t a powerhouse, but with a Core 5 120U processor, 16GB of RAM, and 512GB of storage, it’ll handle everything you can throw at it for basic tasks. Ordinary users and light students (don’t try to run the latest 3D games or heavy media production programs) will find it ideal. I also like that it’s got a bumper pad on the keyboard, making good use of that extra screen space.
Note that it’s not a touchscreen laptop, and since it has a barrel charging port, I don’t know whether or not it’ll charge via USB-C (just one port). You do get plenty of other connection options with triple USB-A and full-sized HDMI. But these budget Asus laptops tend to have mediocre battery life at best, and there are a few other compromises that aren’t unreasonable for a laptop in this budget range.
If you happen to be near a Staples retail store, you have a chance to get a great deal here, warts and all. Otherwise, snag it online while you can. For more like this, check out our favorite laptops under $500.
Get an Asus laptop with 16GB of RAM for just $480Author: Michael Crider, Staff Writer, PCWorld
Michael is a 10-year veteran of technology journalism, covering everything from Apple to ZTE. On PCWorld he's the resident keyboard nut, always using a new one for a review and building a new mechanical board or expanding his desktop "battlestation" in his off hours. Michael's previous bylines include Android Police, Digital Trends, Wired, Lifehacker, and How-To Geek, and he's covered events like CES and Mobile World Congress live. Michael lives in Pennsylvania where he's always looking forward to his next kayaking trip.