ASUS VivoBook Go 14 E1404FA Overview

The ASUS VivoBook Go 14 E1404FA feels like one of those laptops that doesn’t try too hard but still gets most things right for everyday use. It’s designed for students and casual users who just want something reliable for classes, browsing, and light work, without dealing with unnecessary complexity or a high price tag.

Design and Build Quality

Pick it up, and the first thing you notice is how light it feels at just 1.38 kg, which makes it easy to carry around all day without thinking twice. The Cool Silver finish keeps things clean and minimal, and while it doesn’t scream premium, it looks modern enough to fit in anywhere from classrooms to cafés. ASUS also throws in MIL-STD 810H durability, which is a nice bonus it’s not rugged, but it does give you a bit more confidence when tossing it into a backpack.

Display

The 14-inch Full HD IPS display does what it needs to do without trying to impress too much, offering sharp enough visuals and good viewing angles for everyday tasks like watching videos or working on documents. The anti-glare coating helps a lot in bright environments, which you’ll appreciate if you’re working near windows or under harsh lighting, but the 45% NTSC color gamut keeps it firmly in the “basic” category, so it’s not the kind of screen you’d want for serious photo or video work.

Performance

Under the hood, the Ryzen 5 processor with 4 cores and 8 threads keeps things running smoothly for daily use, whether that’s juggling multiple browser tabs, working on assignments, or streaming content in the background. It boosts up to 4.3 GHz when needed, which helps with responsiveness, and the integrated Radeon graphics are good enough for light gaming and casual creative tasks, but this isn’t a machine built for heavy workloads or demanding software.

Memory and Storage

You get 8GB of LPDDR5 RAM and a 512GB NVMe SSD, which is a solid combo for a laptop in this category, especially since the SSD keeps everything feeling quick from boot times to app launches. That said, the RAM is soldered and not upgradeable, so what you see is what you get, and while it’s fine for now, it could feel limiting if your usage grows more demanding over time.

Keyboard and Trackpad

Typing on this laptop is surprisingly comfortable thanks to the chiclet keyboard with 1.4mm key travel, which strikes a good balance between softness and feedback, making it easy to use for long typing sessions. The addition of a NumberPad function is a small but useful touch, especially for students and office users, while the precision touchpad feels responsive and accurate enough that you won’t find yourself reaching for a mouse all the time.

Ports and Connectivity

For a compact 14-inch laptop, the port selection is actually quite practical, with USB Type-C, USB Type-A options, HDMI, and a headphone jack covering most everyday needs without forcing you to carry extra adapters. On the wireless side, Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3 keep things fast and stable, which makes a noticeable difference if you’re constantly connected, though the lack of an Ethernet port might matter to a small group of users.

Audio and Webcam

The SonicMaster speakers are decent for casual use, delivering clear enough sound for YouTube videos, online classes, and video calls, though they won’t blow you away with depth or bass. The 720p webcam gets the job done for meetings, and the inclusion of a physical privacy shutter is one of those small features that quickly becomes essential once you have it, while the built-in microphones with AI noise canceling help keep your voice clear in noisy environments.

Battery Life

Battery life is pretty average here, with the 42Wh battery giving you around 4 to 6 hours depending on how you use it, which is enough for a few classes or a work session but not something you’d rely on all day without a charger nearby. The 45W adapter is compact and easy to carry, so topping up on the go isn’t much of a hassle.

Software and Features

Out of the box, it runs Windows 11, and ASUS adds its MyASUS software on top, which turns out to be more useful than you’d expect, offering features like battery health management, fan control, system diagnostics, and AI noise canceling. These aren’t headline features, but they quietly improve the overall experience in ways you’ll notice over time.