As a millennial freelancer juggling multiple roles—a content consultant in advertising, a reporter in the media world, a blogger/content creator, and a serial hobbyist (from aerial to toy collecting)—finding a laptop that can keep up with my chaotic schedule has always been a struggle. There are times when I thought I found “the one” in terms of specs but would have to let it go purely due to its heavy weight and size. My days are usually filled with a mix of creative sprints, meetings, event coverage, and hobby projects that stretch well into the weekend, so I’m looking for something with both performance and portability. Could theASUS Vivobook S 14 (S5406), with its ultraportable AI-enhanced features, handle it all? I took it to a one-week test to find out!

Morning Hustle: Advertising Mode

Freelancing in advertising means starting the day with back-to-back tasks and, on not-so-good days, meetings! I’m jumping between Photoshop for visuals, PowerPoint presentations for content calendars, Clipchamp for editing reels, researching trends, and updating online files across multiple browser tabs. Good thing the laptop comes with free lifetime access to the most popular office and education productivity apps—from Word to Excel.

So far, switching from program to program has been seamless, and the dedicated Copilot key serves as my built-in assistant for times when I have questions about trending social formats. It helped streamline repetitive tasks and brainstorm creative ideas with me using its AI tools, making it seem like I’m working with a bigger team.

Thanks to its Intel Core Ultra 7 processor and AI-boosted performance, the ASUS Vivobook S 14 kept up without breaking a sweat. Its 27-hour battery life also meant I could power through the day without worrying about running out of juice for my other freelance tasks.

Mid-week Grind: News Reporting

When I’m not handling brands, I’m talking about business. The life of a freelance reporter involves conducting interviews, jumping from one online call to another, transcribing recordings, and researching technical topics on the spot.

The ASUS Vivobook S 14’s 14-inch FHD ASUS Lumina OLED display has been a standout for me during interviews, offering vibrant visuals with 70% less harmful blue light, making it easy on the eyes during long sessions—even with all the studio lights focused on me. The screen size is just right for Zoom and all my notes! I also appreciate the camera’s clarity and Shutter Switch, which can be slid over for privacy in between calls. When it’s time to record videos, the built-in AI noise cancellation ensures that my footage has crisp and clear audio, even in busy environments.

When it came time to listen to transcriptions, the dedicated AI tools saved me precious time by organizing my notes and improving focus. I can also type my notes during calls without any clacking sound from the RGB ErgoSense Keyboard!

Afternoon Spark: Blogging and Editing

Late afternoons are for content creation—whether editing videos for my blog or curating photos for social media. The Vivobook S 14 handled video editing tools like Clipchamp and CapCut effortlessly, with its dedicated NPU ensuring smooth rendering and faster processing times—all while on the go. The Vivobook S 14’s lightweight 1.3 kg design and 1.39 slim all-metal profile made it easy to slip into my bag (or my arms) as I dashed from one coffee shop to the next event.

Its Pantone-validated OLED display made editing easier as it delivers true-to-life colors that enhanced the final output of my videos and photos. I know some of you may also be wondering how I manage to edit content without a mouse, but believe me, it’s possible when you have a big touchpad.

Evening Wind-Down: Netflix and Chill (Or More Work!)

After a full day of hustling, I usually unwind with a Netflix marathon—or catch up on additional projects while lying down. Good thing its screen can be tilted up to 180 degrees, adjusting to my eye level wherever I choose to work. The high-contrast OLED screen complemented by a Dolby Atmos Harman/Kardon makes my viewing experience more immersive—may I be absorbed in the latest K-Drama or hooked on the newest animations like Arcane. The laptop’s fast charging feature also ensures that I can power up quickly for a late-night work session if needed.

As a Weekend Warrior: Hobbies and Side Projects

Freelancing doesn’t stop on weekends, but that’s when I focus on my hobbies. I dive into toy photography, edit videos of my aerial performances, and even play games. The ASUS Vivobook S 14’s Intel Core Ultra 7 processor paired with 16GB LPDDR5X 8533 MHz memory and 1TB PCle Gen 4.0 SSD storage work well together to keep the laptop running smoothly despite the heavy videos and files I run on the daily on top of my work tasks. After all, it also comes with extra 100GB cloud storage in Microsoft 365!

And just when I thought that all these would make the laptop overheat, especially with me only hitting “Sleep”, it seldom did! The ASUS IceCool Thermal Technology makes it comfortable to use even when I’m sprawled on the couch.

Before a new week begins, I also like to do pre-work every Sunday night, ensuring that everything has been covered before I add on more things to my plate. The key to making this easier? Plugging in the laptop into multiple monitors for multitasking and overview of anything pending. The ASUS Vivobook S 14 also comes with full I/O ports—2x Thunderbolt 4.2 x USB 3.2 Type-A Gen 1, an HDMI 2.1 TMDS, a MicroSD card reader, and even an audio jack to make this possible.

Verdict: Can It Keep Up with a Millennial Freelancer?

Absolutely. The ASUS Vivobook S 14 was able to meet my expectations across all my roles—whether it be supporting intensive tasks for advertising, providing seamless tools for reporting, or enhancing my creative process as a content creator. Its ultraportable design, AI-driven performance, and long-lasting battery life make it a freelancer’s dream laptop. Add to that the versatility to support my hobbies and downtime, and it’s clear that the Vivobook S 14 is built for today’s multitasking millennials.

On top of everything else, owning an ASUS laptop comes with peace of mind, knowing that they have an award-winning after-sales service. ASUS ensures that any issues or repairs are addressed efficiently within multiple service centers nationwide. I can rest easy knowing that help is always within reach.

The ASUS Vivobook S 14 (S5406) is now available in the Philippines in ASUS Stores and authorized resellers for Php 82,995—more affordable than newly released high-end smartphones in the country. The ASUS Vivobook S 14 is also part of the ASUS Share 2024 promo which includes a Php 5,000 Sole Academy e-voucher, adding even more value to every purchase.

Ready to upgrade your work-life balance? The ASUS Vivobook S 14 might just be the companion your busy schedule needs.

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