ASUS Vivobook GO 14 E1404GA-NK039W Review: Budget-Friendly Powerhouse?

The ASUS Vivobook GO 14 (E1404GA-NK039W) promises a compelling blend of affordability and performance. This review dives deep into my experience with this 14-inch laptop, powered by an Intel Core i3-N305 processor, 8GB of RAM, and a 256GB SSD. I’ve put it through its paces for several weeks, testing its capabilities in everyday tasks, light multitasking, and even some basic video editing. Let’s see if it lives up to the hype.

The Vivobook GO 14 boasts a sleek, silver design. The 14-inch Full HD (1920×1080) display is surprisingly vibrant and sharp for its price point. The keyboard is comfortable for typing, although it lacks backlighting. The inclusion of a privacy shutter for the 720p webcam is a nice touch for added security. Connectivity options include a good number of USB ports and an HDMI output, which is always handy. However, the absence of an SD card reader is a minor drawback for those who frequently use external storage. The inclusion of a mute button is very helpful in today’s environment. The pre-installed Windows 11 Home operates smoothly.

The Intel Core i3-N305 processor, coupled with 8GB of DDR4 RAM and the 256GB SSD, delivers respectable performance for everyday tasks. Browsing, email, and document editing are all handled with ease. Light photo editing and video streaming were also smooth. However, demanding tasks like video editing or gaming are beyond its capabilities. The integrated Intel UHD Graphics 600 is suitable for basic tasks, but don’t expect to run high-end games smoothly. The cooling system is fairly quiet under normal usage; it does get slightly louder under heavy load, but not excessively.

Pros:

  • Affordable price
  • Decent performance for everyday tasks
  • Sharp and vibrant 14-inch Full HD display
  • Comfortable keyboard
  • Good connectivity options (USB ports and HDMI)
  • Includes a privacy webcam shutter
  • Quiet operation under normal load

Cons:

  • No SD card reader
  • Not suitable for demanding tasks or gaming
  • No keyboard backlight

The ASUS Vivobook GO 14 E1404GA-NK039W is a solid budget laptop that delivers good value for its price. It’s perfect for students, casual users, or anyone needing a reliable machine for everyday computing tasks. While it’s not going to be a powerhouse for demanding applications, its performance is more than adequate for the average user. If you’re on a budget and need a reliable laptop for basic tasks, this is definitely worth considering. However, if you’re looking for a machine capable of handling resource-intensive tasks, you’ll need to look at higher-end models.

Specification Value
Processor Speed 1.8 GHz
RAM Size 8 GB
Internal Memory 256 GB
Screen Size 14 in
Display Resolution 1920×1080
Colour Name Cool Silver
Keyboard Language English/Arabic
Graphics Processor Version Intel UHD 600
Display Type LED
Display Resolution Type Full HD
Storage Type SSD
Operating System Version Windows 11 Home
Operating System Windows
Model Series ASUS Vivobook
Processor Version Number/Generation Not Applicable
Number of Cores Octa Core
RAM Type DDR4
External Graphics Integrated
Graphic Memory 2 MB
Model Number E1404GA-NK039W
Model Name Vivobook Go 14
HDMI Output Yes
Number of USB Ports 3
SD Card Slot no
Processor Version Core i3-N305