ASUS Vivobook S 14 Flip TP3402VA-BS71-CB 2023, Core i7-13620H, 16GB, 1TB SSD, Quiet Blue

Great CPU and storage in a flexible 2-in-1 body, but the screen and ports are a letdown. Buy it for the specs, not the experience.

The Core i7-13620H is the star here, landing in the 72nd percentile for CPU performance, which means it'll chew through everyday multitasking, spreadsheets, and a dozen browser tabs without breaking a sweat. The 1TB SSD is also a nice touch at this price point. But the integrated graphics are a letdown, sitting in the 14th percentile, so don't expect to do any real gaming or video editing on this thing. It's a workhorse for productivity, not a creative powerhouse.

The Microsoft Surface Laptop 7th Edition is the obvious alternative if you want a better screen and build quality, though you'll pay more for it. The Apple MacBook Pro M4 Pro is in a completely different league for performance and battery life, but it's also a lot more expensive and not a 2-in-1. For pure value in this price range, the Vivobook holds its own, but the Surface is the better all-rounder if you can stretch your budget.

At CAD 1,000 for an open-box unit, this is a decent deal if you need a flexible 2-in-1 for school or office work. But you're making real compromises on the screen and ports. If you can live with those, the CPU and storage alone make it worth considering. If you can't, you'll be shopping again in a year.

The ASUS Vivobook S 14 Flip is a 2-in-1 that gets the basics right but stumbles on the details. You get a solid 10-core i7, 16GB of RAM, and a full 1TB SSD in a flexible touchscreen chassis, which sounds great on paper. But the screen quality and port selection are weak spots, and that's before we even talk about the battery complaints.

If you're looking for a laptop with a great screen, long battery life, or any kind of gaming capability, this isn't it. Go get a Microsoft Surface Laptop 7th Edition for a better display and build quality, or a Lenovo Legion 5i if you want actual gaming performance.

The Vivobook S 14 Flip is a solid budget 2-in-1 for students and office workers who prioritize CPU power and storage over everything else. The i7 and 1TB SSD are genuinely impressive for the price. But the weak screen, terrible port selection, and battery complaints mean this isn't a laptop you'll love, just one you'll tolerate. If you need a flexible touchscreen laptop and can live with the compromises, it's a reasonable buy. If you want a better overall experience, save up for the Surface Laptop 7th Edition.