Asus is a well-known laptop brand responsible for 7.2% of global PC sales as of 2021. Many amateur and professional laptop users trust it because it delivers quality products at reasonable prices. Our Asus Laptop L406 review highlights one of their everyday laptops.
It's a great choice if you're on the move with lots to do because it's portable and lightweight. We'll cover all the details you need to know to decide if the Asus L406 laptop is right for you.
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Pros & Cons Of The Asus Laptop L406
The Asus L406 is clearly aimed at everyday laptop users, such as people who want to browse the web, read emails, or do typing work. That means it’s excellent for work or leisure so long as neither is too resource-intensive.
It comes with a lot of the latest software to help with this, like Windows 10 S and Microsoft Office, alongside great features, which we'll cover later in our review. But there are a few negatives, and you'll see the main ones listed below.
What We Like
What We Don’t Like
Unique Features Of The Asus L406 Laptop
Asus was founded in Taiwan over 30 years ago and has since become one of the world’s dominant laptop manufacturers. The Asus laptop L406 has become a popular model because it suits the average computer user. It does well for tasks like editing Excel spreadsheets and word processing while being affordable and convenient to use.
Intel Celeron N4000 Processor
The Asus L406 Celeron N4000 processor is a dual-core processor with speeds varying between 1.1-2.6Ghz. This marks it out as a low-end processor, and when compared to other Intel processors, it does score relatively low.
However, this is no problem as the laptop is not made for resource-intensive tasks like gaming or video editing. It also ensures its efficiency with power usage and doesn't make much noise.
Matte Display With Asus NanoEdge
One of the important features of any laptop, budget or high-end, is the display. On the Asus L406, the display is 14” and has a resolution of 1366 x 768. That’s a standard resolution for the years before HD was invented, but now it’s a significant disadvantage, especially as HD laptops are no longer expensive.
However, the display benefits from Asus NanoEdge technology, which makes it anti-glare and fits it neatly into the chassis while maximizing its size.
Thin & Lightweight Design
Any laptop that emphasizes productivity needs to be portable and compact, as you may need to travel between work and home, plus use it at a moment’s notice.
Thankfully, our Asus L406 laptop review revealed it does exactly that.
The design ensures it’s not awkward to carry, and with a total weight of less than 2.87lbs, it's far from heavy. The screen has an ultra-narrow bezel, too, complementing the sleek look.
Ergonomic Chiclet Keyboard
Typing is one of the main activities you’ll be doing on any laptop, especially one you’re using for work or other essential tasks. The chiclet keyboard on the Asus laptop L406 ensures that typing is a smooth and comfortable experience. You won’t need to worry about awkwardly-spaced keys either, as the keyboard is fully-sized and ergonomically shaped.
Fanless Design
Silence is not so easy to come by these days, and our technology is often responsible for the background noise. In laptops, that means the fans. They can whir and buzz at seemingly random times, which can be distracting depending on how loud they become.
The Asus L406 laptop solves this problem by not having any fans at all. The laptop is efficient enough at cooling itself not to require them.
High-Speed WiFi 5
The Asus L406 specs list the WiFi facilities as 802.11ac, which has been the standard for laptop WiFi since 2013. It’s also known as WiFi 5, and before it came WiFi 4, and so on. WiFi 6, the newest generation of WiFi, is only 30% faster than WiFi 5, so there is not much difference when it comes to web browsing.
eMMC Storage
When completing our Asus L406 laptop review, we noticed that the storage is not a traditional hard drive, and nor is it a more modern solid-state drive. Instead, it’s an Embedded MultiMedia Card.
Generally, eMMC’s are faster than hard drives, as they use integrated circuits and not magnetic platters. eMMC’s are like solid-state drives but cheaper and smaller. The Asus L406 only has 64GB of space, which could be a limitation if you have lots of data to store.
Asus Laptop L406 Review
Product Specifications
Operating System | Windows 10 S |
Standing Screen Display Size | 14 inches |
Max Screen Resolution | 1366 x 768 pixels |
RAM | 4GB |
Memory Speed | 2600MHz |
Storage Capacity | 64GB eMMC |
Ports | 2x USB, 1x HDMI, 1x MicroSD, 1x audio jack, |
Battery Life | 12-14 hours |
Dimensions | 12.8 x 8.9 x 0.7 inches (L x W x H) |
Design
Our Asus L406 laptop review begins with the design. It’s stylish and appealing while not being too vivid or distracting. That’s always beneficial when using it for anything professional or taking it into the office.
At only 0.7” thick, it’s small and light enough to slip into a briefcase or backpack, and it’s easy to set up and use, even if you’re on a train or plane. The screen, touchpad, and keyboard all complement the design nicely.
Display/Screen
The screen on the Asus L406 benefits from the NanoEdge improvements, which we’ve already covered, but there are some downsides. It’s pretty dull even when the brightness is fully turned up, and its colors don’t seem as vivid as they could be.
Still, there should be no issues if you’re using it where the lighting is good enough and you’re mainly typing or web browsing. However, you may find the lack of HD a little jarring.
Performance Features
Four key components determine the performance of a laptop, and these are the CPU, storage, GPU, and RAM. Unfortunately, for the Asus L406 laptop, you’ll find that most of these are below average compared to some of the options available.
The CPU is decent for a budget everyday laptop but won’t run intensive programs. RAM is only 4GB, and the processor is not particularly fast. The GPU is integrated, and integrated graphics cards are generally low-end. Finally, the storage is eMMC, but there is only 64GB of it.
However, if you're only using the laptop for word processing, you shouldn't notice these limitations.
Like any laptop, the RAM will be found by unscrewing the back panel. From there, it should be relatively easy to access. There isn’t any mention of an Asus L406 RAM upgrade, which would have been helpful.
Keyboard & Touchpad
As we covered in the unique features section, the keyboard is ergonomic and has a chiclet design to aid ease of use. It's a full keyboard, too, so you'll have the full range of keys you can expect on a standard keyboard. As for the touchpad, it offers Smart Gestures, which are helpful for Windows 10, but its quality could be a little better.
Connectivity
There are a fair number of ports available on the Asus L406. You'll find a pair of USB Type-A 3.2 ports, an HDMI port, a microSD card reader, and a combo audio and microphone jack. Unfortunately, there is no CD drive or Ethernet port.
That means you can’t insert physical desks or use wired Internet connections. These ports are just about sufficient for everyday use, but you’d be at a disadvantage if you only had wired Internet access.
Battery Life & Energy Consumption
According to our experiences in this review, the battery life for this Asus laptop for light and moderate use varies between 12-14 hours.
That should easily give you enough time to complete a day’s work.
Energy consumption is quite efficient given how long the battery keeps its charge, and you should only need to use the charger once a day.
It also charges up to 60% in just 49 minutes, according to Asus.
Audio
The speakers on the Asus L406 laptop are unremarkable compared to similar everyday laptops. The maximum volume isn’t as high as you might think it should be, which could be an issue if you’re listening to videos a lot. But if you’re using headphones attached to the audio jack instead, this won’t be a problem.
Accessories
You can buy replacement RAM for the Asus L406 if there are technical problems, but it’s not clear whether you can upgrade the RAM as computers running with 4GB of RAM or lower use 32-bit software, whereas 64-bit software is required for higher levels of RAM. If needed, you can also get a replacement charger.
Maintenance & Warranty
Maintaining the Asus L406 laptop is quite simple, as there won’t be much to perform. Everyday laptops deliberately keep their components and layout simple, and the Asus L406 is no exception.
You might want to wipe down the screen and keyboard now and then, plus blow into the ports if any don’t seem to be working. It comes with a 1-year warranty for parts and a 1-year warranty for labor, giving it a standard warranty compared to other everyday laptops.
Price
The Asus L406 price is reasonably affordable at around $300. This is a typical price for an everyday laptop and should suit you if you’re on a tight budget. If you choose to spend more, you can get professional laptops with better components, but these shouldn’t be necessary for basic tasks.
Suitability
As we’ve mentioned in our Asus laptop L406 review, this laptop is an excellent choice if you use computers and the Internet for everyday purposes, including both leisure and work tasks.
That means if you just want to access websites, use software packages like Microsoft Office, and watch videos, the Asus L406 is ideal for you. It will also function perfectly for schoolwork if you want to buy it as a gift for a student or are a student yourself.
It won't be suitable for anyone who wants to do live streaming, play modern video games, edit videos, run 3D simulations, or need an HD screen resolution. In this case, you’ll need to spend more and get a high-end laptop.
Verdict
The Asus L406 is a decent but flawed laptop, but it gets the job done. The flaws will only become apparent if you’ve bought it for tasks that are too demanding for it or if you want to go beyond the basics with it. Otherwise, it ticks all the boxes, and you’ll pay a great price for it.
Comparing With Other Laptops (Is The L406 Good?)
Asus is an outstanding laptop brand because it's a big name and has been around for decades. The Asus L406 laptop we've looked at today is a solid choice for doing essential work and leisure tasks. However, there are some alternatives.
Asus L406 Vs Vivobook E203MA
- Intel Celeron Dual Core N4000 Processor...
- 11.6-Inch HD LED backlight display (1366 x...
- Thin and lightweight design: 0.7" Thin and...
- 64GB eMMC flash storage and 4GB DDR3 RAM for...
Compared to the Asus L406, the Vivobook E203MA is very similar. It has the same processor, graphics card, resolution, thickness, storage type and capacity, and RAM.
There are still 2 USB ports, but one is a USB-C type port, and the other is a USB 3.0 port. It weighs 2.18lbs, and you'll get a 180-degree hinge. You'll only pay about $270, but the screen size is 11.6", and the battery life is just 10 hours.
Asus L406 Vs Acer Chromebook 315
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The Acer Chromebook 315 is priced at around $280, making it a little more expensive than the Vivobook but cheaper than the Asus L406. However, it’s a definite step down from both models. There is only 32GB of eMMC storage, which you’ll use quickly.
The larger 15.6” screen doesn’t compensate for this, as it’s still only 1366 x 768. You’ll get some additional USB ports, plus Chrome OS. Battery life is decent at 12.5 hours. You can read our full head-to-head comparison of Asus vs Acer here.
Asus L406 Vs Samsung XE350XBA
- Large and immersive 15.6” display in a...
- Military-grade durability
- Ultra-fast connectivity with Gigabit Wi-Fi
- Advanced security with multiple layers of...
The Samsung XE350XBA looks almost identical to the Asus L406, but there are some differences. The storage is only 32GB of eMMC, but you can benefit from 200GB of cloud storage with Google One. The screen is larger at 15.6", but battery life is only 10.5 hours.
On the other hand, it has a Full HD resolution of 1920 x 1080, which is a significant advantage. It is heavier than the Asus L406, at 3.8 pounds, but promises military-grade durability. Plus, it’s an excellent Chromebook for only around $200.
People Also Ask (FAQs)
Is the Asus L406 upgradeable?
The Asus L406 is difficult to upgrade because it’s a budget everyday laptop. The RAM is quite simple to access and replace, with RAM for the L406 available online. But there isn’t much information on upgradability, and the operating system may need upgrading to a 64-bit version if you increase the RAM.
How do I factory reset the Asus L406 laptop?
Performing a factory reset for the Asus L406 can be done through Windows 10 S. You can go to Settings, click Change PC Settings, click Update and Recovery, and then click Recovery. Then, under the 'Remove everything and reinstall Windows' section, click Get Started. This will initiate a factory reset.
Is the Asus Laptop L406 good for video editing?
Because the Asus L406 is built for basic everyday tasks like word processing and web browsing, it doesn’t have a dedicated graphics card. Integrated graphics are very limited and will not be up to the task of editing videos. So that means the Asus L406 as a whole cannot do this. You’ll need to choose a higher-end laptop designed for video and photo editing.
Can you play games on the Asus L406?
The Asus L406 laptop is not made for gaming and lacks the graphics, storage, memory, and CPU specifications to make gaming a worthwhile experience. However, if you want to play retro games that don’t have detailed graphics or ample storage and memory requirements, then this may be possible. If you are interested in a high-end gaming laptop, you can find our full review here.
Where is the best place to buy this popular Asus laptop?
You can check out the Asus L406 Walmart page to get this laptop, although you might pay a higher price than the average as Walmart chooses its own prices for the items it sells. We recommend looking at the wide selection of Asus laptops available on Amazon.
Conclusion
The Asus L406 laptop will serve you well if you only need it for essential work and leisure tasks, and the slightly higher price is justified compared to other models. You’ll be getting a solid laptop from an established brand, so you shouldn’t have any concerns about buying this laptop.
- Intel Celeron N4000 Processor (4M Cache, up...
- 1 year Microsoft 365 Personal subscription...
- Windows 10 Home in S mode (upgradeable to...
- 14.0'' HD (1366x768), matte display with ASUS...
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.