When buying any laptop, the first thing you'll need to do is think about how you're planning to use it in order to choose the right brand and model. For example, the ideal laptop for business may differ in specifications to a laptop for a student or even a gamer or a graphic designer.
In this comparison guide, we've looked at two of the foremost brands in the laptop world today: Asus vs Lenovo, against a number of different categories to help you make a well-informed decision for your next purchase.
Feature | Asus | Lenovo |
|---|---|---|
Build Quality | Cell | |
Hardware & Components | Cell | |
Tech Performance | Cell | |
Durability | Cell | |
Display | ||
Innovation | ||
Battery Life | ||
Customer Support | Cell | |
Lowest Price | Cell |
Asus Laptops Overview
Asus is a brand known for its quality and durability. Their laptops are famous for being workhorses, lasting longer than many other more expensive laptops from other brands on the market.
They're also particularly associated with excellent components. As a brand that manufactures their own parts, they're able to offer some of the best, well-priced motherboards, graphics cards, monitors, and technology solutions in the world today.
Pros & Cons Of Asus Laptops
What We Like
What We Don’t Like
Lenovo Laptops Overview
Lenovo, a Taiwan company, is one of the leading technology brands on the global market. They're particularly well-known for their impressive range of laptops, each offering different durability and benefits for any user with any budget.
Lenovo has also been consistent in their offering of business laptops over the past decade, receiving high reviews from its business customers.
Pros & Cons Of Lenovo Laptops
What We Like
What We Don’t Like
Asus Vs Lenovo: Key Features Compared
Depending on how you're planning to use your new laptop, you'll have different requirements to prioritize - whether that's budget, business solutions, gaming capability, or durability.
With this in mind, let's see how both Lenovo and Asus measure up against some of the most common requirements of laptop users.
Design & Construction (Build Quality)
The build quality of Asus machines has stood the test of time. They are incredibly durable laptops with solid casings. Asus has also put a lot of thought into the design of each of their laptops.
Unlike many brands who keep their design fairly consistent across their models, Asus have diversified their range, offering unique design features across their models.
Unlike other brands, Asus isn't afraid to add some color to their laptops rather than just shades of black and grey. They're particularly well-recognized for their blue and copper Zenbook 15 and StudioBook ProArt, as well as the green and orange design of their Flip C436.
To compare, Lenovo machines are constructed well. However, they are not often lauded for their design. Particularly within their gaming range, some consumers have felt disappointed that the innovation Lenovo boasts in terms of components and features does not carry over into the aesthetics of the laptops themselves.
Lenovo doesn't fall too far behind Asus in terms of sleek, aesthetically pleasing laptop designs within the rest of their range, but each Lenovo laptop looks fairly homogenous, sticking to shades of black and grey. However, for those who value minimalism or who prioritize function over form, Lenovo is still a great choice.
Winner: Asus
Hardware & Components
Lenovo has cornered the market on thermal cooling technology through their Lenovo Thermal Transfer Module. This prevents laptops from overheating even when performing intensive tasks and boosts performance output by offering improved heat transfer and lowering heat sink temperatures.
Asus also offers some impressive hardware and components. Its GPU, RAM, and storage are all top of the line, leading to some outstanding performance from Asus laptops.
Additionally, Asus components are built to last. As a result, consumers could easily expect to purchase an Asus laptop that lasts for over 6 years with only minimal need for repairs.
Asus slides into the lead due to their use of AMD Ryzen chips. This offers performance and battery life that even the most premium brands on the market today cannot compete with.
Winner: Asus
Tech Performance
In terms of performance, both brands offer a great result. Both Lenovo and Asus have models that are capable of video gaming, streaming and editing videos, as well as running demanding software. They also both sell laptops with RTX 2080 and 3080 specs – something that's expected of high-performing laptops in 2021.
Due to the superior cooling technology from Lenovo, the performance output on their laptops is high. While they may not have some of the bells and whistles that Asus laptops can boast, you should bear in mind that cooling goes a long way in ensuring high performance.
However, Asus machines are clearly built with performance at the forefront of their design. From their gaming series to their Zenbook business range, high output is a priority for the brand whose models are known for being real powerhouses when it comes to their abilities.
Winner: Asus
Durability
For many people, the aspect that stands out about Asus laptops the most is durability. This is something the brand uses as a real selling point to differentiate themselves from the competition.
Asus laptops are known for being workhorses when it comes to their lengthy lifespan – something that even more premium brands struggle to compete with.
This is also something that's backed by consumer research. In fact, according to one study, Asus is one of the top two laptop brands on the market in terms of durability, with a low malfunction rate of 15.6% over a 3-year period compared to a 21.5% from Lenovo.
Lenovo laptops, while still performing well in the long run, do tend to be slightly less reliable. The average lifespan of a Lenovo laptop is closer to 3-5 years compared to Asus, whose laptops often reach the 6-7 year mark before needing to be replaced.
Winner: Asus
Display
Asus has topped the market since 2020 in terms of their innovative display features. They've seen particular success by pushing their dual-monitor laptops within their ZenBook models.
They even offer the impressive capability to convert the touchpad on their ScreenPad 2.0 into its own display. This is truly a pioneering feat within the modern laptop world.
Over the past few years, Lenovo has seen some criticism for their displays, many of which have been called pale, faded, or faulty by consumers.
However, in 2020 and 2021, the brand has put considerable effort into improving this, which is well-reflected in consumer reviews. In addition, in 2020 they launched the first PC with a folding display, the ThinkPad X1 Fold.
Overall, both brands offer models with 144Hz screen resolution, IPS screens, and high refresh rates. So, in general, they're pretty evenly matched.
Winner: It’s a tie.
Innovation
For many years, Asus has been pushing new, innovative features, often with mixed results. However, in 2020 they released their Zephyrus G14, a gaming laptop with the longest battery life, and the ROG Mothership, the first detachable gaming laptop.
Asus is also at the frontline of innovation in 2021 with their commitment to dual-screen technology, increased battery life, and high-performance features for graphic-intensive gaming, demanding business use, as well as video editing and graphic design.
Lenovo isn't far behind in terms of innovation. This year they launched the world's first foldable PC, the ThinkPad X1 Fold. However, in 2020 and 2021, Lenovo's focus has been on improving their reliability and performance. Therefore, they've fallen slightly behind Asus in terms of innovative features.
With that being said, they are a brand that has been consistently linked with innovation in the past. They picked up several CTA Innovation Awards over the past few years and list innovation as one of their core brand values throughout their website and marketing materials.
Winner: Long-term, Lenovo. In 2021/22, Asus.
Battery Life
Asus pushes into a firm lead here in terms of gaming laptop battery life with some of the longest run times among any of the leading brands on the market right now.
Models such as the ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14 boast an impressive 5 hours of unplugged gameplay. Lenovo, on the other hand, only estimates 3 hours of unplugged gameplay for its gaming laptops.
However, outside of the gaming range, Lenovo laptops trump Asus laptops in terms of battery life. Lenovo machines are known for offering high run times of up to 15 hours without charging in comparison to many Asus machines who only run for 5-6 hours without needing to be plugged in. Asus batteries are also known for decreasing in ability over time.
Winner: Gaming range, Asus. Standard battery life outside of gaming, Lenovo
Customer Support
According to consumers, Asus’ customer tech support leaves a lot to be desired. Users report that wait times, even for simple queries, can be upwards of 20 minutes.
The Asus website does have a comprehensive Technical Support repository that allows users to receive detailed advice about common issues.
However, this requires customers to enter their serial number and registration before they are permitted to read any support articles. This can be frustrating if you have a quick problem that needs to be solved and you can’t find your registration details.
On the other hand, Lenovo offers a 24/7 support service and can even offer next-day on-site support for members of their Legion gaming platform.
Their website support information is also much more easily accessible than that of Asus. This leads to high satisfaction rates for Lenovo in terms of web support; however, due to long Lenovo phone wait times, they have received some poor reviews for their telephone support from their consumers.
Winner: Lenovo
Price
As a brand, Asus is an Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM). This means that they can keep costs down compared to other brands as they manufacture their own components. For this reason, Asus laptops are known for being great value for money.
While both brands offer low-cost laptops, Lenovo has priced themselves into the higher end of the market. According to research, Lenovo ranks number 1 in global PC sales.
For this reason, Lenovo is able to sell their laptops at generally higher prices. They've also positioned themselves as a laptop brand for business users who tend to have more money to spend on technology than consumers of other niches.
Where price is concerned, it's also important to factor in any long-term costs that come with any laptops, such as repairs and replacements. Asus laptops are known for their hardiness. They do not often need repairing and can last many years without needing replacement parts.
Asus also offers a generous warranty that, unlike some other laptop brands, covers not only theft but also accidents, manufacturing issues, third-party viruses, and more. They also offer an extended warranty for their batteries.
As Lenovo has a reputation for being generally less durable than Asus, this does mean that you will need to factor in some long-term costs for repairs or replacement parts. This also means that you might want to look into purchasing an extended warranty.
Winner: Asus
Business Laptops
Asus laptops are strong and hard-wearing, which makes them great for travel and working on the go. However, this sturdiness does mean that Asus laptops are heavier and bulkier than some of their business counterparts from other brands. So, you'll need to factor this in if you're used to traveling long distances.
The most premium business model from Asus, The Asus Zenbook 13, provides well-rounded and high-power business performance to its users. It’s capable of handling intense browser usage and handling the full Adobe Suite spectrum with first-class graphics.
Lenovo also has an excellent offering when it comes to business laptops. Its ThinkPad range comes highly recommended in the business world, and its Yoga and Flex models are known for being light and portable as well as offering durability. However, these are not as sturdy or as powerful as Asus’ range.
Both brands also offer laptop to tablet conversion ability within their business ranges. This is something which Lenovo has mastered with its portable, well-priced models.
However, Asus’ laptop to convertible tablet range leaves much to be desired. Its ASUS VivoBook Flip 14 comes with limited storage and is unable to handle graphics-intensive work – not ideal if you're in the field of graphic design.
Winner: Asus for general business capability, Lenovo for convertible models and on-the-go working
Gaming Laptops
Unlike Lenovo’s Legion series, Asus’ ROG series is designed as a premium brand – which of course comes with a premium price.
Early in 2021, Asus upgraded its offering by installing AMD Ryzen processors into its 14 and 15-inch gaming laptops for an even more significant gaming performance boost. This technology is truly top of the range for gamers and has brought quite a stir to the gaming community in the United States.
Lenovo, on the other hand, is more well-known for providing excellent, mid-range gaming laptops with its Legion series. Its most recent Legion 5 comes well-praised within the gaming world with plenty of RAM, a good mid-range CPU, and its ability to run demanding games fairly well.
Although, consumers have complained about the quality of the speakers within the gaming laptop range as a whole.
However, if you’re not so bothered about owning a flashy piece of machinery with all the design bells and whistles of Asus, Lenovo’s Legion models are reliable gaming laptops that quite simply get the job done.
Winner: Asus
Budget Laptops
Both Asus and Lenovo offer great laptops that won’t break the bank. Their budget models (the Ideapad series from Lenovo and the Vivobook series from Asus) come with solid performance, reliability, and a reasonable price tag.
Of course, neither of these ranges are designed to offer top-of-the-line gaming or intense usage. Asus laptops, while still well-performing and durable, tend to be a few hundred dollars cheaper than their corresponding Lenovo models. Despite the price difference, Lenovo has many laptops that are popular with students.
While Lenovo does offer budget models such as the ThinkBook 13s, you're more likely to get better use out of a similarly priced Asus Chromebook, which provides better battery life, a flip screen, and a 1080p display.
Winner: Asus
Asus Vs Lenovo Laptop FAQs
Asus Zenbook vs Lenovo Yoga 720, which is better?
Both the Zenbook and the Yoga are similarly priced, coming in at just over $1,000; however, the Lenovo Yoga 720 is ever so slightly cheaper. The Yoga is somewhat heavier with a larger display with a more powerful CPU. However, the Zenbook offers 8GB more of RAM, superior graphics, and a larger hard drive. For the difference of $100, the Zenbook is your best choice.
Lenovo Flex 14 vs Asus Zenbook Flip 14, which is better?
The Lenovo Flex 14 and the Zenbook Flip 14 are both similarly priced. While the Zenbook boasts a superior graphics card and 16GB of RAM compared to the Flex’s 12GB, the Flex comes with a superior AMD Ryzen processor that just cannot be beaten.
Lenovo Ideapad 120s vs Asus VivoBook E12, which is better?
As the budget offerings from both brands, the Ideapad 120s and the Asus Vivobook E12 both sit at under $300. They're both similar in specifications, however, the Ideapad has a superior processor, making it slightly more expensive. The VivoBook, on the other hand, has a larger hard drive with 64GB SSD.
Conclusion
It seems as though Asus is the victor in this laptop comparison. Asus offers hardy machines throughout their entire range with a gaming series that Lenovo just can't compete with - even in its most premium models.
The aspect that stands out the most about Asus as a brand is its great value for money. In most cases, you'd expect laptops with the best qualities to be more expensive than competitors. However, Asus laptops can match and even surpass the quality of Lenovo laptops while in most cases being less expensive.
Jake Redman is a UK-born-digital nomad & founder of Ultimate Quality Content, a collective of high-end copywriters formed to provide detailed insight into everything technology-related. Jake is the definition of a man-nerd. He gets excited over things like processor architecture, ray-tracing, & is an avid E-Sports fan, specifically League of Legends. When he isn’t writing detailed tech-related articles, Jake can be found performing fire-breathing shows & wields a dragon staff, or on the sofa playing Mario Kart.